The GOAT, or at least 2022.
Can you believe that 2022 is almost over? I know, with less than a month to go, there’s no better time to reflect on the year than now. If you’re reading this, then it’s safe to say you love either makeup or fashion or both—that makes two of us. For many people, myself included, we can get stuck in the same routine, especially when it comes to makeup. Make no mistake that it can be hard to part ways from those holy-grail products we swear by, but there are so many out there that you’ll be missing out on if you don’t expand your horizons. We’re not saying to ditch everything in your makeup bag, but be open minded to the possibility that your next favorite makeup product might be in this article. And nobody knows more about makeup than beauty editors, which is why we asked them for the beauty product that defined 2022 for them. For some, it was volumizing mascaras, while for others, it was bold eyeliners. Regardless of the pick, these beauty products are good to keep in the back of your mind whether you’re shopping for yourself this holiday season or looking for a gift for the makeup lover in your life.
“I’ve come to think of my makeup collection as pre–Future Skin and post–Future Skin. I’m so picky about foundation and find something I don’t like about nearly all of them, but not this Chantecaille one. It’s light as air, and you’d think the coverage would be super sheer, but it’s more medium—just enough to even out my skin tone and make it look simultaneously glowy and air-brushed. My only complaint is that they haven’t come out with a smaller size for travel yet.” — Allyson Payer, Senior Fashion Editor
“Not to brag, but ‘your skin is glowing’ is a comment I’ve received over and over again this year, and I blame it all on the Vitamin C Lactic Acid Serum from Dr. Dennis Gross. I’ve tried dozens of vitamin C serums at this point, but none has had quite as intense of an effect as this one thanks to its winning combination of the two ingredients plus lactic acid that does wonders to firm, brighten, and re-energize my skin. It does have a strong burnt scent, and the orange color is prone to staining any fabrics it comes in contact with, but to me, those feel like small prices to pay for all the benefits. Needless to say, I’ve already placed an order for a second bottle.” — Anna LaPlaca, Fashion Editor
“Call me dramatic, but I’ve had a very enlightening, life-changing experience with this $10 mascara. Before adding this to my makeup bag, I was on somewhat of a mascara hiatus—only using it for special occasions—because my eyes became so darn sensitive. This little tube of magic changed everything for me. It doesn’t cause my eyes any irritation, and it gives me the longest lashes ever thanks to the flexible wand (Maybelline calls it its Flex Tower brush), with bristles that grip and reach for every lash, including those teeny tiny ones that are hard to coat. While it may not be the best formula for volume, the length it gives my lashes is all I need to feel super confident in myself again.” — Caitie Schlisserman, Beauty Director, Branded Content
“This is perhaps the hardest question I could be asked, and it took me three whole days of deliberation to come up with an answer. I almost said my Dyson Airwrap or one of the many mascara launches that stole my heart this year, but at the end of the day, as a fragrance girl, I had to go with a perfume. As I’ve previously written about, I think Byredo’s Vanille Antique is set to become the next iconic fragrance, in the same realm as Le Labo’s Santal 33 or Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s Baccarat Rouge 540. I always match my perfume to my mood, but since getting this fragrance, I’ve found myself reaching for it more than any of my other go-to scents. This alluring fragrance is vanilla on its worst behavior—and I mean that in the very best way possible. It’s smoky and heady and smells good on absolutely everyone who wears it.” — Katie Berohn, Beauty Editor
“I have a love-hate relationship with my hair, so I don’t always look forward to washdays. However, after discovering Ceremonia’s Guava Hydrating Leave-In Conditioner, I have a fresh outlook on life—well, at least a new attitude about my hair. Typically after shampooing and conditioning, my hair is at its driest and frizziest, but this product is incredibly moisturizing. Another huge reason I love it is the delicious guava scent, which instantly transports me to Hawaii. I am literally so excited to use it after every shower, which is the best marker of a great product. I’ve gotten so many compliments on the smell, and it has helped my self-esteem by putting me on the path to loving my hair again.” — Erin Fitzpatrick, Senior News Editor
“I’ve never been able to find a concealer that worked for me, no matter how hard I’ve tried and how many I’ve tested. Blame it on the way they combine with my skin, but it’s one product that simply doesn’t mesh with my skin. Then, in the spring, I received a bottle of this Natura Bissé tinted under-eye cream. From the first use, I was hooked. It provides just the right amount of sheer coverage, but since it’s an eye cream, it doesn’t dry out or crease and actually leaves my under-eye area super hydrated all day. I’m sad that it’s so pricey, but I can’t imagine going to an event or anything that calls for other makeup without it.” — Eliza Huber, Fashion Editor
“Eyeliner has always been a big part of my beauty routine—I remember perfecting my winged cat eye in my senior year of high school and never looking back. As I’ve grown older, I’ve learned that I don’t always want the powerful black liner look for every day and would rather save that for special days or occasions. I got to try out Kulfi Beauty’s kajal in its brown Cheeky Chiku shade, and it’s been life-changing. Brown liners rarely show up on my skin tone, but this one is pigmented enough and not as harsh as a black liner, making it more suitable for more casual makeup days.” — Yusra Siddiqui, Assistant Fashion Editor
“Translucent powder was never in my makeup drawers, since I have very dry skin, but after spending a lot of time on TikTok, I was convinced to give it a try. I was personally inspired by a few of my favorite creators to start ‘baking’ my face, and now it’s part of my daily routine. Some of you might laugh, as this has been a thing for quite some time, but hey, I’m new here! I especially love the technique of powdering the sides of the nose for a more snatched final look.” — Sierra Mayhew, Associate Fashion Editor
“While it’s difficult for me to choose just one beauty product out of the hundreds I’ve used this year, I think it has to come down to sunscreen. Not just any sunscreen, but this Korean one I purchased rather spontaneously on Amazon. It was love at first swipe. The formula is smooth and silky, and my skin basically drinks it up. There’s absolutely no white cast, and, the best part, it hydrates as well as some of my favorite serums thanks to hyaluronic acid. I’ve used it pretty much every single day since I first discovered it back in April or May, and I know I’ll continue to well into the New Year. (I recently discovered the brand makes a stick version; there’s no doubt that it will be my next Amazon order.)” — Kaitlyn McLintock, Associate Beauty Editor
“I have naturally thick eyelashes that look amazing with the right mascara but tend to also curl in all the wrong directions. I’ve been on a total Rose Inc. kick lately and happened to discover its Ultra-Black Lash Lift Serum Mascara. This mascara that lifts, darkens, and lengthens my lashes without clumping. It’s packed with argan oil, peptides, and goji berry oil extracts, so my lashes stay hydrated and damage-free. It also has a curved brush and long and short bristles that do an amazing job of separating my lashes.” — Maya Thomas, Assistant Beauty Editor
“This year for me was all about glowy skin. I have traveled more in 2022 than in any other year, and while usually my makeup focus is on my face, I really wanted an allover body glow for every trip or special occasion I went to. I tried the Patrick Ta allover glow balm in the shade She’s on Vacation, and let me tell you if you have brown skin, this is a holy-grail body glow product. It makes you look like a glowing goddess with the perfect amount of shimmer and bronzer. I must warn you: When you put it on your skin ,you can definitely feel that the product is there. It doesn’t absorb into the skin like other body oils or a lotion. And if you are wearing white, be careful, because it can definitely transfer onto fabric. With that said, I still love this product and will happily add it to my list of holy grail beauty products I discovered this year.” — Grace O’Connell Joshua, Assistant Shopping Editor
“This has been my only consistent go-to product for the past few years. It hydrates while also protecting and strengthening my skin, keeping it supple and glowy. I use both morning and night everyday whether under makeup or as a pre-bedtime moisturizer.” — Copelyn Bengel, Associate Shopping Editor
“Twenty twenty-two was the year I finally found my perfect foundation. In fact, I love Kosas’s Revealer Skin-Improving Foundation so much, I wrote an entire review about it, which you can read here. Not only is this the one and only foundation with nontoxic ingredients I’ve ever loved (so many turn my face into an oil slick), but it’s also the only foundation that’s ever won me a truly insane number of compliments on my skin. (Again, not my makeup, but my skin.) It has buildable, breathable coverage, it makes your skin look smooth, bright, and dewy, and it’s loaded up with so many high-quality skincare-grade ingredients that it will actually improve your makeup-free complexion while it’s sitting on your face. I wouldn’t recommend it, but I’ve accidentally fallen asleep with it on, and not one pimple has formed in the days afterward. This stuff is a miracle in a bottle, and I can’t imagine ever wanting to use anything else.” — Erin Jahns, Beauty Director
“I didn’t realize how much I loved body oil until I tried Osea Undaria Algae Body Oil. After having two babies, I have somewhat neglected my dry skin, yet I’ve been yearning for something to help improve my skin’s elasticity and get my skin glowing again. This seaweed-infused body oil does all that and more. It’s rich in antioxidants, which soften, hydrate, nourish, and firm like no other. My skin actually looks more toned and sculpted after using it. It never feels greasy—in fact it glides onto the skin beautifully—and smells absolutely divine! It’s become a rather luxurious and therapeutic part of my daily post-shower and -bath routine.” — Judith Jones, Senior Market Editor
“Most moisturizers get the job done, but none have wowed me quite like U Beauty’s super hydrator—a product that truly lives up to its name. The unique long-chain hyaluronic acid formula is unlike others I’ve tried, with a texture that is equal parts creamy and gel-like and melts into your skin, leaving it feeling dewy all day long. I had heard rave reviews about the award-winning product, and now I’m telling everyone I know that it is worth the hype.” — Kristen Nichols, Senior Fashion Editor. Next up, check out I Asked a Makeup Artist, Facialist, and Derm to Shop on Amazon: See Their Carts
