Announcing The Winners of the 2021 Beauty Awards!

Welcome back to another edition of my yearly Beauty Awards!

For background, when I was a magazine editor we used to do beauty awards and I really wanted to find a way to incorporate that concept into my own content creation.

I hosted my first Beauty Awards three years ago on my YouTube channel but since I’ve changed my YouTube content to focus primarily on creator tips, I thought it’d be fun to bring the beauty awards over to the blog.

I’m a full-time beauty and fashion content creator and part of my job 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 even two or three time winners, so pay extra close attention to those.

I am the one and only judge here, so keep in mind if I’m recommending a shade of a certain product that that is the shade I use and 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.

Alright, enough chatter. Without further ado, presenting the 62 best beauty products of 2021 according to, well, me!

best of beauty 2021: Skin

I have to say that overall, this has been one of the best years for my skin so far! I feel like I’ve found a rhythm with days were I do a more treatment-heavy routine and a more moisturizing routine. See below for my top skin products of this year!

Best Clay Mask: Kiehl’s Rare Earth Deep Pore Minimizing Cleansing Mask

Best Overnight Mask: Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask

Best Cleanser: Fresh Soy Makeup Removing Face Wash (Two Time Winner)

Best Cleansing Balm: Versed Day Dissolve Cleansing Balm

Best Face Mist: Florence by Mills Lilly Jasmine Face Mist (Two Time Winner)

Best Toner: Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant (Three Time Winner)

Best Makeup Remover: Glossier Milky Oil Cleanser

Best Face Serum: Kiehl’s Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum

Best Face Oil: Pixi Jasmine Oil Blend (Three Time Winner)

Best Pimple Patches: Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patch Original

Best Sheet Mask: Innisfree My Real Squeeze Mask Pomegranate

Best Eye Masks: Wander Beauty Baggage Claim Eye Masks in Gold

Best Face Sunscreen: Versed Guards Up Sunscreen (Two Time Winner)

Best Eye Cream: First Aid Beauty Eye Duty Niacinamide Brightening Eye Cream (Two Time Winner)

Best Moisturizer: First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream

Shop these skincare products:

 

best of beauty 2021: Hair

As a beauty creator, I get sent tons of hair products to try, but it’s amazing how many drugstore favorites always end up back on the rack in my shower (with one splurge exception that I think you’ll know when you see.) See below for my top hair products of the year!

 

Best of beauty 2021: Lips

When it comes to lip care, my products are typically tried and true favorites. But for lip color, I love playing around and testing new products! You know, on days when I’m not wearing a mask. See below for my top lip products of the year!

Best Liquid Lipstick: Pixi MatteLast Liquid Lipstick in Real Red (Three Time Winner)

Best Lip Kit: Charlotte Tillbury Pillowtalk Lip Kit

Best Lipstick: Glossier Ultralip in Fêtê

Best Lip Gloss: Tower28 Clean ShineOn Jelly Lip Gloss in XOXO (Two Time Winner)

Best Lip Mask: Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask in Berry (Three Time Winner)

Best Lip Scrub: Fresh Sugar Lip Polish (Two Time Winner)

Shop these lip products:

 

best of beauty 2021: 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 2021. See below for my top face products of the year!

Best Primer: First Aid Beauty Hello FAB Coconut Skin Smoothie Priming Moisturizer

Best Powder Blush: Charlotte Tilbury Cheek to Chic Blush in Ectasy (Two Time WInner)

Best Powder Contour: Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Glow Light to Medium (Two Time Winner)

Best Powder Bronzer: Benefit Cosmetics Hoola Matte Bronzer (Two Time Winner)

Best Powder Highlighter: Wet N Wild MegaGlo Highlighting Powder in Precious Petals (Two Time Winner)

Best Cream Blush: Rare Beauty Stay Vulnerable Melting Cream Blush in Nearly Natural

Best Cream Bronzer: Fenty Beauty Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Bronzer in Butta Biscuit (Two Time Winner) 

Best Cream Highlighter: Wander Beauty On-The-Glow Illuminator in Nude Glow (Two Time Winner)

Best Setting Powder: Kosas Cloud Set Baked Setting Powder in Breezy

Best Setting Spray: Tarte Shape Tape Stay Spray (Two Time Winner)

Best Concealer: Tarte Shape Tape Ultra Creamy Concealer

Best Foundation: Make Up For Ever Reboot Foundation in R230 (Two Time Winner)

Best CC Cream: It Cosmetics CC+ Cream with SPF 50 (Three Time Winner, both original and illumination)

Best Skin Tint: Fenty Beauty Eaze Drop Skin Tint in Shade 4

Shop these face products:

 

Best of beauty 2021: eyes

The eyes have it! 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 my top eye products of the year!

Best Brow Pencil: e.l.f. Cosmetics Instant Lift Brow Pencil in Medium Brown (Three Time Winner)

Best Tinted Brow Gel: Morphe 2 Brow Crush Tinted Brow Gel in Medium Brown

Best Clear Brow Gel: Kosas Air Brow Clear + Clean Lifting Treatment Eyebrow Gel with Lamination in Clear

Best Small Eyeshadow Palette: Glossier Monochromes in Teak

Best Eyeshadow Palette: Huda Beauty Naughty Nude Palette (Two Time Winner)

Best Everyday Mascara:  Glossier Lash Slick (Three Time Winner)

Best Volumizing Mascara: It Cosmetics Superhero Mascara in Super Black

Best Eyeshadow Single Shade: Maybelline Eyeshadow Singles in Nude Glow (Three Time Winner)

Best Liquid Eyeliner: Tarte Tarteist Double Take Eyeliner in Black (Two Time Winner)

Best Eyeshadow Primer: Smashbox 24 Hour Photo Finish Shadow Primer (Two Time Winner)

Shop these eye products:

 

Best of Beauty 2021: Nails

Sometimes, two simple products is all you need. See below for my top nail products of the year!

Best Polish: Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Nail Color in Buff and Tumble

Best Remover: Zoya Remove Plus Nail Polish Remover (Two Time Winner)

Shop these nail products:

 

Best of beauty 2021: 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 top body products of the year!

Best Body Wash: Olay Moisture Ribbons Plus Shea + Lavender Oil Body Wash

Best Body Cream: Curél Ultra Healing Lotion, Hand and Body Moisturizer

Best Body Sunscreen: Paula’s Choice Extra Care Non-Greasy Sunscreen SPF 50 (Three Time Winner)

Best Body Oil: Fur Oil (Two Time Winner)

Best Hand Cream: Glossier Hand Cream

Best Razor: Joy Razor (Three TIme Winner)

Shop these body products:

 

Best of beauty 2021: 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 (Three Time Winner) and use code AUSTEN20 for 20% off 

Best Rollerball: Fresh Rose Morning Eau de Parfum Rollerball (Three Time Winner)

 

Best of beauty 2021: Product of the year

I thought long and hard about what to crown my favorite product of 2021, and while I am still convinced Ultralip is one of the best products Glossier has EVER released and that Eaze Drop will be my staple skin tint for everyday looks, I knew that this Kiehl’s Retinol Serum was going to take home the prize. It contains pure retinol in its most potent form, but the low dosage makes it tolerable even for sensitive skin. I’ve loved how my skin looks after using this product and it’s safe to say it’s become a staple in my evening skincare routine.

 

Best of beauty 2021: best new brand launch

The first IRL event I attended after almost a year and a half on the bench due to Covid, was on a rooftop in Manhattan at sunset for the launch of Darya Hope. Not only did I get to meet the wicked smart chemists and female founders at the event, but wow do I love these products. I use the three step cleansing system in the shower when I want to feel extra fancy. It’s a bit of a splurge compared to my other recommendations, but if you’re going to drop $$ on anything, let it be this.

Winner: Darya Hope Skincare


Want to catch up on previous years? Check out the 2020, 2019 and 2018 beauty awards!

Best of 2020

Best of 2019

Best of 2018

yours,

Austen

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