2014 Beauty Awards: 17 Best Makeup Products
Makeup you'll crave
Does your makeup bag need an upgrade? Of course it does!
We asked Health editors and a team of pros to find us their absolute favorite, top-performing makeup products. Here's what you'll want to use for a perfect complexion, razor-sharp cat eye, clump-free lashes, and more.
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Foundation
Chanel Perfection Lumière Velvet SPF 15
($47; nordstrom.com)
Testers agree that this rich base melts right in, leaving behind a beautiful matte finish.
Fast and flawless
Too rushed to do a full face of foundation? Apply just around the cheeks and nose, then dab concealer over blemishes or dark circles. Done!
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Eyebrow filler
Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow
($18; sephora.com)
"Thanks to the waterproof formula, it doesn't smudge or sweat off," Blitzer says.
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Bronzer
Physicians Formula Bronze Booster Glow-Boosting BB bronzer SPF 20
($15; ulta.com)
This powder "isn't too orange, too muddy, too matte, or too shimmery," raves makeup artist Suzy Gerstein.
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Complexion perfector
Lancôme Visionnaire 1-Minute Blur
($55; sephora.com)
"You'll never need a selfie filter again!" Blitzer says. "The silicone and light diffusers blend into a satin finish."
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Lip gloss
Nars lip gloss
($26; sephora.com)
The reformulated pro fave leaves lips glossy, never goopy. "It can be worn alone for shine or over lipstick to smooth lines," notes makeup artist Brian Duprey.
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Tinted lip balm
Revlon ColorBurst crayons
($9; ulta.com)
"Whether you use a velvety matte or high-shine shade, the color is as good as any high-end lip color—at a fraction of the price," Duprey says.
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Eyeliner
Elizabeth Arden Beautiful Color Precision Glide eyeliner
($22; macys.com)
The payoff is gorgeous; the control, impressive: Testers created both graphic and smoky looks sans slipups.
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Undereye concealer
StriVectin Clinical Corrector anti-aging eye illuminator
($29; macys.com)
"This revived my tired eyes in seconds," Blitzer says.
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Eye shadow
Almay Shadow Softies by Intense i-Color
($5; ulta.com)
These shadows glide on for a creaseless wash of color. "The shades look just as pretty on your eyes as they do in the pan," Blitzer says.
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Mascara
CoverGirl Bombshell Volume by LashBlast mascara
($12; ulta.com)
One side lengthens and curls; the other side deposits a topcoat. "My lash curler is on hiatus," Blitzer says.
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Blush
Make Up For Ever HD blush
($26; sephora.com)
"It packs the perfect amount of pigment for a natural-looking flush," Duprey says.
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Lip balm
eos Smooth Sphere lip balm in Blueberry Acai
($3; ulta.com)
Testers liked it two ways: Used alone, it leaves lips soft for hours. With lipstick on top, color doesn't migrate.
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Concealer
Laura Mercier High Coverage concealer
($20; sephora.com)
Gerstein was wowed: "A couple of dabs is all you need to hide imperfections."
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CC cream
Bobbi Brown CC cream SPF 35
($44; sephora.com)
With SPF, hydrating glycerin and light-diffusing powders, you can "wear it alone for a glowing no-makeup look or under your foundation for a full-coverage finish," Duprey notes.
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Primer
Clinique Superprimer face primer
($27; sephora.com)
"This is the primer that made me believe in primer," Duprey says. "The peach tint solves my clients' number one complexion concern—discoloration."
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Powder
Tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian clay finishing powder
($33; sephora.com)
"The models I work with need their makeup to stay put for hours," Gerstein says. "This does the job!"
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Lipstick
Maybelline New York Color Sensational Vivids
($7; ulta.com)
Blitzer is a convert: "One swipe gives lips a subtle tint, so you won't feel like Malibu Barbie—just pretty."