Presenting: The Winners of the 2022 Beauty Awards!
Welcome back to my annual Beauty Awards!
For context, back in the day when I was a magazine editor we used to do beauty awards each year and I absolutely loved the concept. It was such a great way to rank products that editors loved and compile a complete list of the best of the best. I wanted to find a way to incorporate that concept into my own content creation, and thus the beauty awards was born!
Presenting: The Winners of the 2022 Beauty Awards!
I hosted my first Beauty Awards four years ago (!!!) on my YouTube channel but since I’ve changed my YouTube content to focus primarily on creator tips, I’ve decided to host the awards on the blog for the second year in a row.
Part of my job as a beauty creator is testing products and reviewing them all so you don’t have to.
As a reminder that means that often I am gifted products from brands but I am under no obligation to give them a positive review, recommend them, or even talk about them at all unless I choose to do so at my own editorial discretion. Like right now!
So, with that being said every product I’m sharing here are products I genuinely love and recommend that you check out. As you’ll see there are some products that are two, three or even four time winners, so pay extra close attention to those because you’ll know they stand the test of time and that they’ve become staples in my collection.
I am the one and only judge here, so keep in mind if I’m recommending a product, I’ll be sure to mention the shade I use but that may not be the shade that would work best for you. Also I have straight hair and normal/dry skin if that helps you decide if a product is worth checking out.
Let’s get on with the show: without further ado, presenting the 70 best beauty products of 2022 according to, well, me!
best of beauty 2022: Skin
My skincare routine is one of my favorite parts of my day. I feel like I’ve found a rhythm where I’ll alternate and do a more treatment-heavy routine and then swap in a more moisturizing routine. See below for links to my top skin products of this year!
Best Clay Mask: Kiehl’s Rare Earth Deep Pore Minimizing Cleansing Mask (Two Time Winner)
Best Overnight Mask: Laneige Water Bank Sleeping Mask With Squalene
Best Cleanser: Glossier Milky Oil Cleanser
Best Cleansing Balm: Versed Day Dissolve Cleansing Balm (Two Time Winner)
Best Face Mist: Florence by Mills Lilly Jasmine Face Mist (Three Time Winner)
Best Toner: Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant (Four Time Winner)
Best Makeup Remover: Glossier Milky Oil Cleanser
Best Face Serum: Paula’s Choice Niacinamide 20% Treatment Serum
Best Face Oil: Pili Ani Self Care Night Recovery Oil
Best Pimple Patches: Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patch Original (Two Time Winner)
Best Skin Treatment: Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel Pads
Best Sheet Mask: Innisfree My Real Squeeze Mask Pomegranate (Two Time Winner)
Best Eye Masks: Peter Thomas Roth Cucumber Detox Hydra Gel Eye Patches
Best Face Sunscreen: Versed Guards Up Sunscreen (Three Time Winner)
Best Eye Product: Sunday Riley 5 Stars Retinol and Niacinamide Eye Serum
Best Moisturizer: It Cosmetics Confidence in a Cream Hydrating Moisturizer
Shop these skincare products:
best of beauty 2022: Hair
As a beauty creator, I get sent tons of hair products, and luckily for you I generally seem to gravitate to the more affordable ones, with a few splurge exceptions. Scroll down to find links for all of my best hair products of the year.
Best Hairspray: Tresemme TRES Two Extra Hold Hair Spray (Two Time Winner)
Best Dry Shampoo: amika Perk Up Plus Dry Shampoo
Best Shampoo: Pantene Pro-V Shampoo (Two Time Winner)
Best Conditioner: Pantene Pro-V Conditioner (Two Time Winner)
Best Hair Oil: Act + Acre Cold Processed Hair Oil (use code AUSTENTOSONE at checkout to save)
Best Scalp Scrub: Christophe Robin Purifying Scalp Scrub with Sea Salt (Two Time Winner)
Best Hair Mask: Garnier Fructis 1 Minute Hair Mask in Papaya (Two Time Winner)
Best Shine Spray: Garnier Fructis Style Brilliantine Shine Glossing Spray
Best Texturizing Spray: Davines This is a Dry Texturizer Spray
Shop these hair products:
Best of beauty 2022: Lips
When it comes to lip care, you’ll often find me reaching for my tried and true favorites. But for lip color, I love playing around and testing new products! See below for my top lip products of the year!
Best Liquid Lipstick: Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Cream Color Drip Lip Cream
Best Lip Kit: Charlotte Tillbury Pillowtalk Lip Kit (Two Time Winner)
Best Lipstick: Glossier Ultralip in Fêtê (Two Time Winner)
Best Lip Gloss: Tower28 Clean ShineOn Jelly Lip Gloss in XOXO (Three Time Winner)
Best Lip Mask: Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask in Berry (Four Time Winner)
Best Lip Scrub: Florence by Mills Pout Party Coffee Lip Scrub
Shop these lip products:
best of beauty 2022: Face
This category was heavy on repeat favorites that I really feel stand the test of time, but I also got to try some new products that quickly found their way to the front of my makeup drawer in 2022 (even resulting in me wearing a few to my engagement shoot!). See below for my top face products of the year!
Best Primer: Rare Beauty Always An Optimist Illuminating Primer
Best Powder Blush: Charlotte Tilbury Cheek to Chic Blush in Ectasy (Three Time WInner)
Best Powder Contour: Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Glow Light to Medium (Three Time Winner)
Best Powder Bronzer: Maybelline City Bronzer Light 100
Best Powder Highlighter: Wet N Wild MegaGlo Highlighting Powder in Precious Petals (Three Time Winner)
Best Cream Blush: Rare Beauty Stay Vulnerable Melting Cream Blush in Nearly Natural (Two Time Winner)
Best Cream Bronzer: Fenty Beauty Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Bronzer in Butta Biscuit (Three Time Winner)
Best Cream Highlighter: Wander Beauty On-The-Glow Illuminator in Nude Glow (ThreeTime Winner)
Best Setting Powder: Kosas Cloud Set Baked Setting Powder in Breezy (Two Time Winner)
Best Setting Spray: Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray
Best Concealer: Morphe Filter Effect Soft Radiance Concealer in Light 6
Best Foundation: Make Up For Ever Reboot Foundation in R230 (Three Time Winner)
Best CC Cream: It Cosmetics CC+ Cream Nude Glow (Four Time Winner, both original and illumination were previous winners too)
Best Skin Tint: Fenty Beauty Eaze Drop Skin Tint in Shade 4 (Two Time Winner)
Shop these face products:
Best of beauty 2022: eyes
The eyes have it! (I make this joke every year let me live) My eye routine now is one that I feel super comfortable with and I know I’ve truly got some 10/10 products in this category that have wow-ed me. See below for links to my top eye products of 2022.
Best Brow Pencil: It Cosmetics Universal Brow Powder Universal in Taupe
Best Tinted Brow Gel: Morphe 2 Brow Crush Tinted Brow Gel in Medium Brown (Two Time Winner)
Best Clear Brow Gel: Kosas Air Brow Clear + Clean Lifting Treatment Eyebrow Gel with Lamination in Clear (Two Time Winner)
Best Small Eyeshadow Palette: Mini Naked 3 Eyeshadow Palette
Best Eyeshadow Palette: Huda Beauty Naughty Nude Palette (Two Time Winner)
Best Everyday Mascara: Tarte Tartelette Mascara in Black
Best Volumizing Mascara: Benefit Cosmetics Bad Gal BANG Volumizing Mascara
Best Eyeshadow Single Shade: Maybelline Eyeshadow Singles in Nude Glow (Four Time Winner)
Best Liquid Eyeliner: Covergirl Exhibitionist Lash Enhancing Liquid Eyeliner
Best Eyeshadow Primer: Milk Makeup Hydrogrip Eyeshadow and Concealer Primer
Shop these eye products:
Best of Beauty 2022: Nails
Sometimes, a few simple products are all you need. I’ve discovered press-ons this year though and no I won’t stop talking about them. See below for links to my top nail products of the year!
Best Regular Nail Polish: Essie Pinks Nail Polish in Ballet Slippers
Best Clear Top Coat: Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Nail Polish Shiny Top Coat
Best Remover: Zoya Remove Plus Nail Polish Remover (Three Time Winner)
Best Nail File: Olive & June Nail File 3 Pack
Best Nail Repair Treatment: Sally Hansen Repair + Rescue Super Strength Defense
Best Press-On Nails: imPRESS Press-On Nails (all of them that I’ve tried are amazing, but especially loved these)
Shop these nail products:
Best of beauty 2022: body
Body is another category where I believe you don’t need to splurge to have high impact. We place so much focus on skincare, but caring for your skin from the neck down is key. See below for my links to top body products of 2022.
Best Body Wash: Olay Moisture Ribbons Plus Shea + Lavender Oil Body Wash (Two Time Winner)
Best Body Cream: Curél Ultra Healing Lotion, Hand and Body Moisturizer (Two Time Winner)
Best Body Sunscreen: Paula’s Choice Extra Care Non-Greasy Sunscreen SPF 50 (Four Time Winner)
Best Body Oil: Fur Oil (Three Time Winner)
Best Hand Cream: Glossier Hand Cream (Two Time Winner)
Best Razor: Joy Razor (Four TIme Winner)
Best Hand Wash: Shinery Radiance Jewelry Wash (great for cleaning my ring!)
Shop these body products:
Best of beauty 2022: fragrance
Well, I really am a creature of habit when it comes to fragrance. I know what I like and I stick with it. See below for my top fragrance products of the year!
Best Perfume: Olfactory Custom Austen Scent (Four Time Winner) and use code AUSTEN20 for 20% off
Best Rollerball: Fresh Rose Morning Eau de Parfum Rollerball (Three Time Winner)
Best Body Mist: & Other Stories Midnight Encore
Best of beauty 2022: Product of the year
I thought long and hard about what to crown my favorite product of 2022, and when I tell you that nothing impressed me more than the It Cosmetics Nude Glow CC+ Cream, it’s the truth. This product is the perfect balance of coverage and dewiness that you’d want in a base. It Cosmetics has continued to iterate on its very successful collection of CC Creams and I feel like they can really only go up from here.
Winner: It Cosmetics Nude Glow CC+ Cream (I wear the shade Fair Light)
Best of beauty 2022: brand of the year
Choosing a brand for brand of the year is so hard especially when you have brands doing such great work—but if you ask me, no one tops Rare Beauty right now. For one, the brand seeks to expand access to mental health resources and founder Selena Gomez’s presence at the White House Youth Summit this year brought more awareness to the cause. Next, the products are just top tier—great names, packaging, formulation and staying power. And lastly, they are killing it on the social media and marketing front. Whether it’s Selena collaborating with popular TikTok creators or CMO Katie Welch sharing the behind-the-scenes for people who want to work in beauty, the Rare Beauty team is doing the WORK.
Winner: Rare Beauty
Honorable Mentions: Paula’s Choice, Kosas, Charlotte Tilbury
Want to catch up on previous years? Check out the 2021, 2020, 2019 and 2018 beauty awards!
Best of 2021
Best of 2020
Best of 2019
Best of 2018
yours,
Austen