The Best Makeup Products of 2025 from the PEOPLE Beauty Awards

2025 was a good year to be a makeup enthusiast: foundations boomed, lip liner reigned supreme and every brand had a new mascara. But, with so many new options to choose from, it’s easy to have no clue where to begin. That’s where we come in! We spent months blending and buffing, swatching and swiping to find the best primers, skin tints, bronzers and more to sort what of the latest is destined to be among the greatest. Happy shopping!

THE BEST MAKEUP OF 2025

Best Primer: Laura Geller Spackle Skin Perfecting Primer SPF 30

This SPF left a “noticeable smoothing effect” under makeup and was also praised for not pilling.

Best Color Corrector: Kosas Revealer Extra Bright Serum-Powered Color Corrector

A “game-changer,” reported a tester of this formula, which made her “look well-rested for the first time” in her life.

Best Concealer: IT Cosmetics Do It All Radiant Concealer

Testers lauded this vitamin-infused, medium coverage formula’s shade range (there are 30 hues) and natural finish. 

Best Complexion Enhancer: tarte Creaseless Glow Skin Filter

Lit-from-within skin is easy to achieve with this radiance-booster you can wear solo or pair with other products.

Best Skin Tint: Versed Skin Solution Multi-Serum Skin Tint Foundation SPF 40

SPF makeup is better than ever and this lightweight skin tint, which evens the skin tone while also protecting it, is proof.

Best Foundation: Benefit Cosmetics The POREfessional Foundation  

“It’s like they bottled an Instagram filter,” one tester said of this natural-matte finish formula that instantly smooths texture.

Best Foundation with SPF: Clinique Even Better Clinical Vitamin Makeup Broad Spectrum SPF 45

Even when you build up the coverage, this SPF foundation “feels like you’ve got nothing on,” said a tester. “Highly recommend.”

Best Cream Blush: Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Matte Bouncy Blush

“Effortless,” one tester said of this cream-to-powder formula that worked for looks that were barely-there or bold. 

Best Liquid Blush: Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dewy Flush

Technically, it’s a tinted cheek serum designed to brighten skin, but our testers loved the gorgeous color payoff.

Best Blush Stick: Charlotte Tilbury Unreal Blush Healthy Glow Stick

The makeup guru’s blush “applied evenly, blended beautifully and left the prettiest flush,” said a tester.

Best Bronzer: Makeup by Mario SoftSculpt Blurring Bronzer

Testers said this sweat-and humidity-proof bronzer warms up skin like no other.

Best Highlighter Stick: Haus Labs by Lady Gaga Bio-Radiant Glassy Highlighter Balm

Testers declared Lady Gaga’s hydrating stick a star because of its slim tip and light-reflecting finish.

Best Liquid Highlighter: Revlon ColorStay Face + Body Glow Lotion

This liquid, which can also be used on your body, made our sleep-deprived testers’ faces look more radiant.  

Best Contour Stick: Make Up For Ever Artist Color Crayon

Testers were drawn to the waterproof matte-finish sticks’ ability to do just about anything, most notably create dimension.

Best Lip & Cheek Color: Almay Color & Care Tint Stick

This dual-purpose stick fits in your pocket but you probably won’t even need to reapply it because it’s got major staying power.

Best Eyeliner: Kevyn Aucoin Beauty In Perspective Eyeliner Pencil

“I don’t know how I could use anything else now,” said a tester after gliding this “stay put” liner on her eyes.

Best Eye Shadow Stick: MAC Cosmetics Dazzleshadow Eye Shadow Stick

“Fabulous,” one tester called this pigment-packed metallic cream eye shadow that makes eyes stand out.

Best Eye Shadow Palette: Hourglass Cosmetics Curator Eyeshadow Palette

Each one of this luxe quad’s six palettes, which go from universal mattes to wearable metallics, impressed testers.

Best Lengthening Mascara: Armani beauty Vertigo Lift Mascara

Testers said this lengthens and separates lashes, helping them get “that feathery, fanned-out effect” in a few strokes. 

Best Tubing Mascara: Grande Cosmetics GrandeWRAP Tubing Mascara

Tubing mascaras use polymers to make lashes fuller and longer, and are super-easy to remove. This delivered all three with ease.

Best Volumizing Mascara: Maybelline New York Colossal Bubble Mascara

“This is the best mascara I’ve ever used,” said a tester of the formula that layered without creating a single clump.

Best Brow Pencil: Anastasia Beverly Hills Microstroke Brow Pen 

A fine pen on one end and a spoolie on the other, it reaffirmed why Anastasia Soare is a brow whisperer.

Best Brow Gel: Rye Beauty Tinted Brow Milk

“It provides the perfect hit of pigment for a natural look,” a tester said of this conditioning gel-pomade that comes in four shades.

Best Lip Liner: Milani Keep It Full Plumping Lip Liner

You’ll definitely pucker up after applying this spicy chili fruit extract and ginger root oil-spiked formula.

Best Gloss Stick: Estée Lauder Pure Color Melt-On Glosstick

Gloss is hot and this solid version soared thanks to its “grown-up” colors and high-shine finish with zero stickiness. 

Best Lip Oil: Glossier Lip Glaze

It coats lips with a sheer wash of color (choose from brown, coral, rose and more) and even has a refreshing cooling sensation thanks to a touch of menthol.

Best Lip Stain: Clarins Water Lip Stain

This formula, packed with hyaluronic acid and aloe vera, takes lipcare to the next level when it comes to instant hydration.

Best Lipstick: Dior Rouge Dior On Stage Lipstick

It’s “comfortable” like a balm but has a “polished” high-shine finish which inspired one tester to say, “I can see myself wearing it all the time.”

Best Tinted Lip Balm: e.l.f. Cosmetics Glow Reviver Melting Lip Balm

This cocoa, mango and shea butter balm was so hydrating a tester was shocked to discover it wasn’t three times the price.

Best Tinted Lip SPF: Iris&Romeo Weekend Skin Lip SPF 30 

Nothing about this mineral SPF balm-oil hybrid felt sunscreen-y, and that’s exactly why it appealed to testers.