These Are the Best Makeup Products of 2025

Whether you embrace an elaborate, multi-step makeup routine or a more minimalist edit, one sentiment holds true: We all want to use the most effective, long-lasting products and tools. At Byrdie, we spend the whole year testing hundreds of makeup products so we can cull the best of the best. And at last, we’ve landed on our winning lineup. From the top primer to the most impressive eye shadow palette, here are the 2025 Beauty Award winners in the makeup category.

Best Primer

Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Skin Glow Serum

“Danessa Myricks knew what she was doing when she named her collection ‘Yummy Skin’ because that’s exactly what you’ll get. What I love about the brand’s Yummy Skin Glow Serum is that you can wear it as a primer before foundation or alone on days when you just want a little extra radiance. It’s infused with niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin C to boost hydration, improve skin texture, and brighten the skin and has quickly become a product I reach for three to four times per week.” — Jasmine Phillips, social media editor

Best Setting Spray

Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish: Glass 001 Legendary Glow Setting Spray

“Leave it to Pat McGrath—the undisputed queen of glass skin—to create a setting spray that’s essentially glass skin in a bottle. Whereas most dewy setting sprays leave my makeup feeling like an oil slick, the Glass 001 Legendary Glow Setting Spray somehow defies the laws of makeup chemistry, delivering the glow without the grease while also locking in makeup. Above all, this setting spray is beautifully buildable, so whether you’re craving a subtle sheen or an all-over glaze, this setting spray is your cheat code to glass skin.” — Derek Deng, associate content editor

Best Skin Tint

Milk Makeup Hydro Grip 12-Hour Hydrating Gel Skin Tint

“As far as I’m concerned, skin tints have one job, admittedly a tricky one: Blur most of my blemishes while maintaining a lightweight, fresh feeling. It’s a tall order, but Milk Makeup fulfills it with the Hydro Grip 12-Hour Hydrating Gel Skin Tint. It provides buildable light-to-medium coverage that truly feels like you’re wearing nothing at all, even after a few layers. The natural-radiant finish, which perfectly hits that ‘dewy but not greasy’ sweet spot, is achieved in part due to hydration-focused ingredients like hyaluronic acid (at three different molecular weights!), niacinamide, and squalane. And on top of all that, it really does last me from my commute into the city through any events I have at night.” — Eden Stuart, editor

Best Concealer for Under-Eyes

Make Beauty Skin Mimetic Concealer

“Historically, on the days I’ve worn concealer, I’ve reached for two: one to brighten under the eyes and the other to cover up blemishes. In my experience, most formulas are either too thick for the former (resulting in cakey creasing) or too lightweight for the latter. Make Beauty’s Skin Mimetic Concealer really is the best of both worlds thanks to a truly buildable formula. Go in light under the eyes to banish dark circles or add a few layers to cover up blemishes and dark spots without emphasizing any texture.” — Eden Stuart, editor

Best Spot Concealer

Lisa Eldridge Pinpoint Concealer Micro Correcting Pencil

“Lisa Eldridge’s reputation as the go-to makeup artist for celebs with less-than-perfect skin is, in large part, thanks to her pinpoint concealing technique. This concealer pencil is the embodiment of that technique: Featuring an ultra-precise 1.5-millimeter tip, this concealer pencil packs on pigment to strategically cover up dark spots, acne, and micro-shadows with ease. With a soft matte finish that disappears into the skin, this concealer is a reminder of just how powerful spot concealing can be when done right.” — Derek Deng, associate content editor

Best Foundation

Clinique Even Better Clinical Vitamin Makeup Broad Spectrum SPF 45 Foundation

“This is foundation for people who hate foundation. This Clinique formula definitely offers more coverage than a skin tint but still feels light as air. It’s my go-to when I want a little extra coverage or longer wear but still want my skin to look like skin.” — Holly Rhue, editorial director

Best Cream Blush

Rhode Pocket Blush

“After all of Hailey Bieber’s teasing, I was so excited to try these blushes, and I’m happy to report that they lived up to the hype. In fact, they quickly became one of my most-used products of the last year. The formula is so yummy and creamy, and they apply like a dream with no patchiness. They blend in easily with a blush, sponge, or fingers and come in the prettiest colors—I’m partial to the baby pink Piggy or hot pink Juice Box. Since this is Rhode we’re talking about, the blushes have a glowy ‘glazed’ finish thanks to the ceramides and peptides in the formula, but they also have a super impressive wear time. They’re truly a must in my makeup bag.” — Bella Cacciatore, senior news editor

Best Powder Blush

Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Matte Bouncy Blush

“When it comes to cheek products—like blush, bronzer, and highlighter—I’m usually cream or liquid all the way. But Rare Beauty’s Soft Pinch Matte Bouncy Blush has officially made me a powder convert. This velvety formula is unlike any makeup texture I’ve experienced before, gliding on like a cream before drying down to a high-pigment powder that stays on all day. I love to layer it over a cream or liquid to amplify the pigment while maintaining a skin-like finish.” — Holly Rhue, editorial director

Best Blighlighter

Dior Backstage Rosy Glow Stick in Rosewood

“Dior’s new Backstage Rosy Glow Stick in Rosewood is my ultimate lazy-day beauty product. Without even picking up a brush, I dab it straight on my skin and find that it delivers the most beautiful, multidimensional flush. It’s warmth, radiance, and life in a single swipe.” — Holly Rhue, editorial director

Best Liquid Blush

Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Cheek Tint Blush

“It’s a lightweight, silky texture that blends seamlessly into the skin, delivering a natural, radiant flush with a second-skin finish. Its fluid formula glides on effortlessly, ensuring a smooth, luminous result without streaks or patchiness.” — Zola Ganzorigt, celebrity nail artist

Best Makeup-Skincare Hybrid

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dewy Flush

“Glow Recipe’s Dewy Flush is a tinted cheek serum that looks a lot like blush, but works a lot like skincare. I love the texture, as it melts into my skin seamlessly for a natural-looking tint and glow, and I’m obsessed with the ingredients (think: niacinamide for brightening and centella asiatica to soothe and nix redness). A true multi-use, buildable product with tons of dew. I’m sold!” — Hallie Gould, editor in chief

Best Bronzer

Benefit Cosmetics Hoola Wave Bronzing Balm

“I absolutely love the O.G. Hoola Bronzer, but I’m just quite simply more of a cream gal these days. So I’m absolutely thrilled that Benefit Cosmetics launched an ultra-creamy version of Hoola (plus a shade expansion) earlier this spring. It’s the same non-orangey bronzer I love in the powder but with a buttery-smooth texture that takes zero effort to blend.” — Holly Rhue, editorial director

Best Contour

LYS No Limits Cream Bronzer & Contour Stick

“I love the buttery texture and how easily the formula melts into my skin. It’s creamy and easy to blend yet dries with a long-lasting powder-like finish. It’s like the best of both worlds. The shades warm my fair skin and sculpt and add beautiful dimension (the beveled edges really help to sharpen).” — Hallie Gould, editor in chief

Best Bronzing Drops

Westman Atelier Sun Tone Hydrating Matte Bronzing Drops

“Bronzer blindness: It’s more likely than you think. I was once a victim until I discovered these bronzing drops from Westman Atelier, which are as foolproof as they are flattering. Unlike the majority of bronzing drops on the market, these have a hydrating, glitter-free, matte finish, which makes for a realistic wash of warmth that blends seamlessly into the skin. The end result is a summery, soft-focus bronze that’s practically impossible to overdo.” — Derek Deng, associate content editor

Best Loose Powder

Makeup by Mario SurrealSkin Soft Blur Setting Powder

“Mario Dedivanovic is known for making his clients’ complexions look flawless, so it’s no surprise that his namesake makeup line is full of products that help you achieve that same airbrushed effect. Dedivanovic’s SurrealSkin Soft Blur Setting Powder stands out among its many competitors for a few reasons. The talc-free, loose powder promises to set your makeup for 12 hours, blur your skin, and provide all-day shine control—it delivers on all those claims. It also offers skincare benefits, as it’s infused with squalene to keep your skin nourished. I typically apply a light layer of this powder to my under-eye, T-zone, and mouth area, and it never makes my skin feel dry or cakey. It’s the perfect weightless blurring formula.” — Olivia Hancock, senior beauty editor

Best Liquid Highlight

Live Tinted Hueglow Liquid Highlighter Drops

“My eternal makeup ideal is a vampire who has seen the sun, aka a sparkly golden glow that transitions from picturesque terraces to dimly lit speakeasies with ease. This liquid highlighter accomplishes this beautifully: The formula is skin-forward, prioritizing dewy nourishment with squalane, hyaluronic acid, and sunflower seed oil before adding subtle micro-shimmers to the mix. I apply the highlighter with abandon day and night and find that it blends easily to leave a wearable, radiant finish that lasts for hours. Ethereal girls, rise up.” — Ali Webb, associate style editor

Best Cream Highlight

Haus Labs Bio-Radiant Glassy Balm Highlighter Stick

“If you want glass skin, this is your girl—period. This formula features zero glitter or kitschy sparkle. Instead, it delivers a glassy, wet look without the waxy texture or tackiness. It defies all logic, but such is the magic of Lady Gaga and Sarah Tanno. The Bio-Radiant Glassy Balm Highlighter Sticks feel like skincare and act like skincare but perform like makeup. I can’t get enough of these, and not a single shade is a flop.” — Holly Rhue, editorial director

Best Powder Highlight

Chanel Poudre Lumiere

“Nothing hits like a swipe of Chanel’s highlighting powder, a velvety, ultrafine formula with a cream–powder texture. It’s glinty, sheer, and luxury personified. It makes my skin come alive with a subtle glow in all the right spots.” — Hallie Gould, editor in chief

Best Eyeshadow

e.l.f. Fine As Fleck Glitter Eyeshadow

“Much like London Tipton’s instinct for bling, I often find myself evaluating my mostly complete makeup with a primal desire for a bit more sparkle. This single shadow from E.L.F.—which comes in six shades, my favorite being Champagne Showers—is exactly what I need for that finishing touch. It’s ultra-shimmery and starts sheer (which is great for layering over other shadows) but is also buildable for a high-powered look on its own. The microfine flecks ensure the formula isn’t gritty at all, plus the result easily lasts all night long. Given the smoothness and versatility, I’d be willing to bet that many of these portable shades could double as powder highlighters in a pinch.” — Ali Webb, associate style editor

Best Cream Eyeshadow

Ilia Eye Stylus Shadow Stick

“When I first learned of this Ilia Beauty shadow stick launch, my jaw dropped at the stunning range of Renaissance painting–inspired hues. Available in both mattes and shimmers, the product glides on with ease to deliver waterproof pigment made to last all day—plus the slanted tip allows you to play with both allover and accent color application. I’ve been gravitating toward several of the shades for months now: antique gold shimmer Divine is my new everyday go-to, while Nymph (a matte lilac) and Vignette (a seafoam shimmer) help me create an effortless statement when I’m craving more color.” — Ali Webb, associate style editor

Best Eyeliner Pencil

Stila Stay All Day Smudge & Set Waterproof Gel Eye Liner

“After years of being firmly on Team Liquid, Stila has converted me to the gel life. The brand’s Smudge & Set Waterproof Gel Eye Liners glide on like a dream and are available in 10 shades, ranging from your everyday black and browns to a fun shimmery blue. I like to wear them on my more natural, ‘no-makeup makeup’ days for just a little depth at the lash line, but the formula is perfect for creating the sexy smoky eyes and grungier smudged-out looks, too.” — Eden Stuart, editor

Best Liquid Eyeliner

Isamaya Micro Eye Liner

“I love Isamaya’s entire rebrand, and this eyeliner is definitely a standout from the line, which now focuses on daily—yet still unexpected and edgy—essentials. This eyeliner is everything you want from a liquid liner: It flows smoothly and has a precise micro tip, and the super-black pigment doesn’t flake or smudge throughout the day. I also think the silver packaging looks so chic on my vanity.” — Bella Cacciatore, senior news editor

Best Brow Gel

Refy Brow Sculpt

“This is the one that locks my brows in all day without that weird stiff feeling. I love how it gives structure without making your brows look overdone—I don’t really wear much makeup day to day, so I like my brows to look clean, lifted, and polished. The built-in comb actually works and makes it easy to finesse the shape.” — Sofie Pavitt, celebrity esthetician

Best Brow Pencil

Valentino Beauty Brow Trio Eyebrow Liner

“I always thought a dual-ended brow pen was the secret to achieving the perfect shape. Then I found the Valentino Beauty Brow Trio Eyebrow Liner. It includes the trusty spoolie brush to comb through each hair and buff out the tint, but having the option to swap between a flat pencil or micro-tip pen is a game changer. Create micro strokes to fill in sparse areas, a veil of even coverage, or both to create a personalized and precise brow look, no skill required.” — Adelaide Giesey, editor

Best Mascara

Lancôme Lash Idôle Flutter Extension Lengthening Mascara

“I am so picky with mascara, but this one was truly love at first swipe. The brush is teeny-tiny but super dense with bristles, so it grabs every single lash. In my case, that’s not many, but something about the rounded brush shape seems to really fan them out, making them look so full and fluttery. Usually this kind of definition means your lashes get a little crispy or clumpy, but this formula stays soft and natural-looking with no flakes or smudging. I’m truly obsessed.” — Bella Cacciatore, senior news editor

Best Tubing Mascara

Sarah Creal Back of The Cab Volumizing Longwear Tubing Mascara

“This mascara, created by industry vet and expert beauty formulator Sarah Creal, is by far the best tubing formula I have ever tried. Want proof? I’ll show you the pile of empties I’ve accumulated since it launched last summer. Looking to solve the dreadful transfer of mascara under her eyes, Creal created a formula that doesn’t smudge from your skin’s natural oils. Instead, it stays put all day while conditioning your lashes thanks to a dose of shea butter and glycerin. The hourglass wand was designed to hug each lash and deposit a light, buildable layer of product. Bonus points for the chic silver packaging, which not only looks expensive in your beauty bag but also has subtle curves to help you grip the applicator.” — Adelaide Giesey, editor

Best Matte Lipstick

Violette_FR Bisou Balm

“Matte lips are so back, but not in the way that you think. This lipstick-meets-balm hybrid leaves a sheer wash of pigment that’s less of a 2016 matte and more of a modern, effortless, just-bitten matte. My lips are notoriously dry, but this is the one matte lipstick that gives just enough hydration. Think of the most impossibly chic woman you see once on the subway and never again—French tips, worn-in leather bag, Carrie Bradshaw–esque kitten heels. She’s most definitely applying this lipstick.” — Derek Deng, associate content editor

Best Satin Lipstick

Nars Explicit Refillable Satin Lipstick

“When I want to feel especially glamorous, I reach for a classic satin lipstick. Something about a swipe of rich, pigmented color makes me feel like a real sophisticate. Nars Explicit Refillable Satin Lipstick comes in all the classic shades of pink, red, and brown that an Old Hollywood movie star would need but with a modern formula infused with hyaluronic acid and rose hip seed for comfort and hydration. Also, the packaging is so chic; When I whip these out of my bag, I look so much more put together than I actually am.” — Eden Stuart, editor

Best Lip Gloss

Merit Shade Slick Hydrating Tinted Lip Oil

“I love everything about this lip gloss from the lightweight formula to the cutie little packaging. The hydrating formula has omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, shea butter, and rose hip, jojoba, and grape-seed oils. It’s never sticky but gives my lips a pretty, subtle shine. It has almost a gel-like texture that’s super comfortable and light, and the colors are so pretty and sophisticated. I’m particularly into Twin Set, a soft mauve with subtle shimmer for the perfect everyday shade.” — Bella Cacciatore, senior news editor

Best Lip Enhancer

Pound Cake Cake Theory Lip Tone Equalizing Oil

“Pound Cake is bringing innovation and inclusivity to the lip care market. The brand’s Cake Theory Lip Tone Equalizing Oil comes in two shades—Melted Butter (a yellow hue) and Browning (a purplish brown). The lip oil is made with ingredients that even out your lip tone, boost moisture, and reduce fine lines. It also feels incredibly comfortable to wear—smooth, buttery, and non-sticky. I always keep one of these lip oils in my bag and use it to the very last drop.” — Olivia Hancock, senior beauty editor

Best Tinted Lip Balm

Victoria Beckham Posh Balm

“There’s nothing I love more than a tinted lip balm—it makes it look like you’re doing something without having to do much at all. Such is the case with Victoria Beckham Beauty’s Posh Balm in Fleur, a sheer rose pink that looks a bit glossier and rosier than my natural lip color but never looks overly done. I wear it daily with a clean face and a smile.” — Hallie Gould, editor in chief

Best Multiuse Makeup Product

Ami Colé Desert Date Cream Multistick

“Ami Colé is a brand I’m continually excited by and always raring to support. Its Desert Date Cream Multistick is the perfect cheek and lip tint for melanin-rich skin. All the vibrant shades give my skin a stunning pop of color (Pink Sel is my favorite, though), enhancing my overall makeup look. The creamy formula is equally noteworthy as it contains nourishing ingredients like desert date oil, hibiscus flower extract, and baobab seed oil. Needless to say, this easy-to-use, multipurpose product has earned a permanent spot in my makeup bag.” — Olivia Hancock, senior beauty editor

Best Makeup Brushes

Morphe Conceal & Set Tool Trio

“I’m a big fan of Morphe brushes, in general, and would recommend this set, specifically, to all the glamazons out there. It’s essentially baking in a box: It includes a concealer brush to press in liquids and creams, a dome-shaped paddle brush that makes applying and sweeping away powder a breeze, and a powder puff in a nifty diamond shape that’s plush on one side and a sponge on the other. The shape of each tool is so well thought-out and designed that you can use them to achieve beautiful results whether you’re a novice or a total pro.” — Eden Stuart, editor

Best Makeup Sponge

Beautyblender Original Beautyblender Makeup Sponge

“For that skin-like, blended base that covers all of your nooks and crannies, there’s just no better makeup sponge than a Beautyblender. It’s bouncy, soft, and created with latex-free foam that allows you to blend makeup with ease for an even result every time. I’ve used so many other types of sponges, and nothing stands up to my Beautyblender. The sponge absorbs very little product, is easy to clean, and lasts up to three months. It’s always the first thing I pack in my makeup bag and the first product I reach for every morning. It’s reliable, consistent, and reigns supreme!” — Star Donaldson, social media director

Best Makeup Palette, Eyes

Huda Beauty Icy Nude Eyeshadow Palette

“It’s astonishingly rare to come across an eye shadow palette that isn’t just a mishmash of warm-toned, bronzy shades. This palette from Huda Beauty strikes the perfect balance of cool and neutral tones, with a wide array of icy metallics, cool-toned transition shades, and pearlescent pigments that make for an endless variety of eye shadow looks. Each eye shadow is packed with pigment, and the color story allows you to do anything from alien-esque editorial looks to everyday soft glam.” — Derek Deng, associate content editor

Best Makeup Palette, Face

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit Quads

“You really can’t go wrong with this Hourglass Cosmetics palette. Once you customize your quad with your perfect shades, there’s no way to mess it up. When I’m feeling particularly lazy, I’ll swirl a kabuki brush across all four shades and swirl it into my cheeks—it sounds unhinged, but I achieve beautiful, natural-looking dimension (and radiance) every time.” — Holly Rhue, editorial director