The best blush overall
If you follow me on Instagram or have met me in real life, you know that my daily makeup routine is about 95% Glossier. It's a tough call, but Cloud Paint might be my favorite product from the brand.
First of all, the packaging mimics real paint tubes and is 10 times cuter than the average blush compact. But Cloud Paint doesn't just look good on the shelf.
The formula is a collagen-infused cross between gel and liquid that blends like a dream, leaving behind a natural-looking flush and dewy finish, minus the streaks or patches you get with drier cream blushes. I typically pat it on with my fingertips as it helps distribute the color on my cheeks easily and quickly. You can also use a flat stippling brush, especially if you apply too much product (which can happen because the tube is opaque so you won't know you've squeezed out too much until it's too late).
Glossier is known for light coverage, but these babies are super pigmented. I've use at least one of the six shades almost every day for more than a year and I haven't run out of a single one. And speaking of shades, they are Beam (a coral/peach), Puff (bright pink), Haze (berry purple), Dusk (terracotta nude — I use this as a bronzer and blush combo for a sunkissed look in the summer), Dawn (bright orange), and Storm (deep rose).
I do use all six depending on my mood and overall makeup look, but some are more intense than others. For deeper skin tones, I especially recommend Haze, Dawn, and Storm.
Pros: Easy to use, buildable, lasts (maybe) forever, great for makeup beginners
Cons: Opaque packaging makes it hard to see how much you're squeezing out
Buy Cloud Paint at Glossier for $18The best glowy blush
I don't typically advocate spending close to $40 on a blush, but I'll make an exception for Hourglass. The brand's powders are stunning. I had a hunch I'd fall in love with the brand's Ambient Lighting Blushes before I even tried it because Hourglass makes my favorite bronzer of all time — the Ambient Lighting Bronzer in the shade "Nude Bronze Light." One swirl later and I was hooked.
Like the bronzers, Hourglass' blushes are swirled through with the brand's cult favorite Ambient Lighting Powders for a natural, luminous glow that won't enhance pores or texture. Powder blushes can suck the life out of your complexion, but the subtle luminosity of these prevents it from looking flat.
The Ambient Lighting Blush formula comes in four shimmery shades and six radiant shades. My favorites are Dim Infusion and Luminous Flush, but they're all really beautiful, buildable, and delightful to use. These are also hugely popular with makeup lovers — they have a 4.5 Sephora rating based on 1,700+ reviews.
Pros: Gorgeous luminous finish, easy to blend, versatile shades
Cons: Expensive, packaging is a little bulky, packaging also doesn't include applicator brush
Buy Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush for $40 (originally $38)The best mineral blush
Before Glossier, BECCA Mineral Blush was the first blush I really played around with. The brand's Shimmering Skin Perfectors get all the attention, but the blushes are fantastic too.
Like Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush, these are buttery smooth and blendable. They're a bit more pigmented and intense, making them a great choice for people with medium to deep skin tones, though people are more fair can still use but with a light hand.
There are eight shades, and my personal favorites are Flowerchild, which is a dusty pink with golden shimmer, and Wild Honey, a peachy nude. Sephora only stocks half of the colors, while Lantana is only available at Dermstore.
The formula is infused with good-for-your-skin vitamins and antioxidants. While I wouldn't suggest relying on makeup alone for the skin-care benefits, it's a nice bonus. BECCA Mineral Blush has a 4.7 rating with more than 550 reviews on Sephora and 4.8 with more than 480 reviews on Influenster, and has been featured on "best of" lists at Best Products and Allure.
Pros: Easy to blend, pigmented, comes in six versatile shades
Cons: Super delicate and breakable
Buy BECCA Mineral Blush for $32The best multitasking blush
I'm obsessed with all things Bite Beauty (Amuse Bouche is my favorite lipstick formula of all time), and nothing beats the brand's Multistick formula for days when I just can't be bothered to use separate products on my eyes, lips, and cheeks.
Multisticks are made for people who always start their makeup five minutes after they should've left the house and still manages to look amazing. I apply it directly from the bullet onto my cheeks and blend it in with my fingertips, or warm it up with my finger and then pat it where I want the color.
The formula is actually 35% powder, making it drier than products like Cloud Paint, which is great news if your skin is oily and cream products never stay in place. These seriously stay put even in hot weather.
In my opinion, the Bite Beauty Multisticks perform best as blushes, but they work nicely in a pinch as subtle eye color and lip stain and I love using them for creating monochromatic looks too. Their multifunctionality also makes them a great choice for travel.
Another plus side? The shade range is fairly extensive, with 20 matte shades ranging from a lilac beige Cava to dark mahogany Almond.
"I love the formula and Bite really nailed it," writes one Sephora customer. "It blends easily, it's highly pigmented, it dries to a powder-y finish (not exactly powder but not tacky anymore) and it's super comfortable to wear."
Pros: Multitasking product, cream-to-powder formula, completely matte
Cons: Formula is on the drier side so it can take a little work to blend
Buy the Bite Multistick for $24The best drugstore blush
Blush can be one of those makeup things that you wouldn't want to spend money on. You can technically use lipstick or even eyeshadow in place of actual blush, and for those blessed with naturally-rosy cheeks, you might not even need it. But if you still want to give blush a try (and I highly suggest you do), forking over $11.99 for L'Oréal's True Match Super Blendable Blush seems like a reasonable compromise.
The blush is part of the brand's shade-changing True Match line, though it doesn't have any shade-changing technology that adapts to your unique skin tone. But with 12 blendable and buildable shades that range from peach to plum, there's no need. The colors are so realistic that you might just be convinced to join #teamblush.
I find that some of the shades are so sheer and light that I need to build up the color, which makes me use up the product faster. But at $11.99, it's not a big deal to me. I actually care more about the outdated packaging than hitting the pan sooner than expected, but hey, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. — Jada Wong
Pros: Under $15, sheer colors are buildable
Cons: Outdated packaging compared to others on this list, compact doesn't include mirror or brush
Buy L'Oreéal True Match Super Blendable Blush for $11.99Check out our other makeup buying guides
If there's one thing many women never leave home without, it's mascara. It makes your eyes pop and brightens up your face in an instant. We tested dozens of mascaras to find the best, and Chanel Le Volume Mascara is our top choice because it delivers long, lush lashes that last all day.
Here are the best mascaras you can buy in 2019:
- Best overall: Chanel Le Volume Mascara
- Best drugstore brand: L'Oréal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Washable Mascara
- Best volumizing: Lancôme Monsieur Big Mascara
- Best lengthening: Estée Lauder Double Wear Zero-Smudge Lengthening Mascara
- Best curling: Benefit Roller Lash Super-Curling and Lifting Mascara
- Best waterproof: Urban Decay Cannonball Ultra Waterproof Mascara
- Best fiber formula: L'Oréal Paris Voluminous X Fiber Mascara
One of the major grievances I have with lipstick is that you apply it only to find your lips are bare the next time you look in the mirror. The solution is to amp up your beauty arsenal with a long-lasting lipstick that will stay put all day or night long.
In this guide, you'll find everything from cult favorites to drugstore steals. For luscious lips that last all day, read on in the slides below to discover our top picks.
Here are the best long-lasting lipsticks you can buy:
- Best long-lasting lipstick overall: Smashbox Always On Liquid Lipstick
- Best long-lasting lipstick to splurge on: Giorgio Armani Rouge D'Armani
- Best long-lasting lipstick on a budget: Maybelline Super Stay Matte Liquid Lipstick
- Best all-natural long-lasting lipstick:Ilia Color Block High Impact Lipstick
- Best long-lasting lipstick with a satin finish: Mac Liptensity Lipstick
Blush can add some color to your cheeks no matter your skin tone. These are the best blushes we've tried.
The right blush can help bring an entire makeup look together, wake up your face on tired mornings, or reinstate some life on your cheeks after you've blotted out your natural color with foundation.
Here are the best blushes you can buy:
- Best blush overall: Glossier Cloud Paint
- Best powder blush: BECCA Mineral Blush
- Best multitasking blush: Bite Multistick
- Best glowy blush: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush
- Best drugstore blush: L'Oréal True Match Super Blendable Blush
A good makeup setting powder must cut down on shine without caking, look natural but last for hours, mattify but enhance luminosity, and remain undetectable on most skin tones.
The right formula will lock your makeup into place and cut down on shine without mattifying you within an inch of your life or making you look cakey and overdone.
Hopefully this list of my five favorites will help you cut through the noise and find the one that's right for you.
Here are the best makeup setting powders you can buy:
- Best makeup setting powder overall: Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder
- Best luminous makeup setting powder:Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder
- Best blurring makeup setting powder: Milk Makeup Blur + Set Matte Loose Setting Powder
- Best subtle makeup setting powder: Glossier Wowder
- Best drugstore makeup setting powder:Neutrogena Shine Control Powder
Finding your ideal concealer shade is tricky, so we tested a bunch to find the best concealer you can buy.
The best formulas can make you look airbrushed with very little product required. I put a bunch of highly rated concealers to the test over several weeks. This list features my top five favorites.
Here are the best concealers you can buy:
- Best concealer overall: Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage
- Best dewy concealer:Glossier Stretch Concealer
- Best drugstore brand concealer: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Concealer
- Best full coverage concealer: Milk Makeup Flex Concealer
- Best concealer for blurring:Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion Ultra-Longwear Concealer
