21 best makeup products that are too good to gatekeep
With countless new launches and a robust roster of cult classics to choose from, it’s a wonder that we were able to narrow down the makeup category at all. Whether you’re a makeup minimalist or a full-beat fan, everyone has their favourites, so this was arguably the toughest and most-contested category in the Glamour Beauty and Wellness Awards 2026.
From foundations that stay the day (and then some) to blushers that make you look like you’ve had your eight hours even when you haven’t, we celebrate them all. Read on to find out which are your worthy winners.
Best full-coverage foundation
Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Foundation
If you’re in the market for a foundation that you can rely on to conceal and cover everything, from broken veins and blemishes to pigmentation, there’s really no other contender. Estée Lauder’s Double Wear Stay-In-Place Foundation is legendary, and is lauded for its full-coverage, buildable and blendable formula. Delivering a pristine matte finish in a great range of shades, it’s no wonder this got the votes it did.
Shortlist:
Nars Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Foundation
Best skin tint
Hourglass Veil Hydrating Skin Tint
Offering lightweight coverage and a built-in glow, this gorgeous skin perfector evens out blemishes and redness, while drenching skin in hydration. The result is a dewy, glowy and virtually flawless finish. Perfect for days when you want something, but nothing.
Shortlist:
Lisa Eldridge Seamless Skin Enhancing Tint
Victoria Beckham Beauty The Foundation Drops Victoria Beckham By Augustinus Bader
Best under-eye concealer
Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer
We weren’t surprised to see this nab the top spot: it really is unmatched when it comes to banishing bags, diminishing dark circles and generally just making you look like you’ve had more sleep than you actually have. The reason it can do all of this with ease is the decadently creamy formula, which is a cinch to blend out but never looks cakey or settles into fine lines.
Shortlist:
Haus Labs Triclone Skin Tech Concealer
Kosas Revealer Super Creamy + Brightening Concealer
Vieve Modern Radiance Concealer
Best concealer
L’Oréal Paris True Match Radiant Serum Concealer
This fluid formula is adept at covering all manner of imperfections thanks to its skincare-packed ingredients list, which includes cushioning hyaluronic acid and energising caffeine. That means that, as well as camouflaging what you need it to, it does so without drying your skin out or going flaky as the day wears on.
Shortlist:
Lisa Eldridge Seamless Skin Pinpoint Concealer Micro Correcting Pencil
Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Concealer
Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection Concealer
Best highlighter
Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Light Wand
No one can deliver a Hollywood glam-worthy glow quite like Charlotte, and this illuminating cream-gel formula has rightly taken the top spot. Each of the seven shades (ranging from rosy pink to golden) is infused with luminous, light-reflecting pigments that add a show-stopping radiance to skin.
Shortlist:
Rare Beauty Positive Light Liquid Luminizer
Vieve Skin Dew Glow Multi-Tasker
Merit Day Glow Highlighting Balm
Best blush
Nars The Multiple
There have been myriad new blush formulations since François Nars came up with the idea for The Multiple 30 years ago, but it’s testament to just how good it is that it remains No1 after all these years. The creamy stick is idiotproof when it comes to application, while its pigments melt beautifully into skin and deliver a natural lit-from-within glow. Now available in a host of different shades and finishes, we predict it’ll claim the crown for many more years to come.
Shortlist:
Dior Backstage Rosy Glow Stick
Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush
Best bronzer
Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Sun-Kissed Glow Bronzer
If there’s one product to convince you of the transformative power of makeup, it’s the humble bronzer. With the ability to bring tired, dull skin to life with just a few strokes of a brush, we love this cream bronzer as much as you do. Oh, and we haven’t even mentioned the fact it’s loaded with hydrating hyaluronic acid and vitamin D3 for a natural, healthy-looking glow.
Shortlist:
Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream
Best contour product
Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Contour Wand
Even if you’re not looking for dramatically chiselled cheekbones, there’s no denying the confidence-boosting power of a great contour product. This one has it all: a creamy, highly blendable liquid formula that sculpts and defines cheekbones, jawlines, eye sockets, browbones and temples for an instant lifting effect. Use as sparingly or heavily as you like, depending on the effect you’re after.
Shortlist:
Makeup By Mario SoftSculpt Shaping Stick
Westman Atelier Face Trace Contour Stick
Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Contour
Best primer
Elf Power Grip Primer
If you’ve not yet discovered the, frankly, life-changing power of a primer, let this affordable, high-street gem be your starting point. Like us, you rate the incredible staying power that one layer of this non-sticky gel formula offers. You also love that it is non-comedogenic and suitable for all skin types, including oily.
Shortlist:
Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder
Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops
Best setting spray
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray
An undisputed titan of setting sprays, this beloved mist can be found in the makeup bags of almost all A-listers, as well as you, our discerning Glamour readers. The reason it can’t be beat? Mainly because it does exactly what it says on the bottle, delivering a hydrating, waterproof layer between your skin and your makeup to ensure that it sets products for up to 16 hours without disrobing your careful application.
Shortlist:
Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray
Laura Mercier Translucent Hydrating Setting Spray Ultra-Blur
Morphe Continuous Setting Mist
Best powder
Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder
This might be an old favourite, but its ultra-fine formulation feels thoroughly modern, giving us everything we want from a good powder. Gently absorbing excess oil and shine, the finish is matte without being flat. Better still, it doesn’t settle in fine lines and never looks cakey or heavy. A worthy winner.
Shortlist:
Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Pressed Powder
Givenchy Prisme Libre 4-Color Loose Powder
Huda Beauty Easy Bake Loose Baking & Setting Powder
Best lipstick
Mac Macximal Silky Matte Lipstick
Snagging the top spot in a category like lipstick is no mean feat, but MAC, naturally, manages it with ease. You love everything about these lipsticks, from the comfortable matte-satin texture that glides across lips smoothly to the intense, long-lasting pigments and the incredible shade range. Who are we to argue with that?
Shortlist:
Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey
Best lip gloss
Dior Addict Lip Maximizer
Consider this the Rolls-Royce of lip gloss. Yes, you get vinyl shine and a great shade selection as standard, but a swift swipe across lips will also deposit a layer of the cherry-oil-and-hyaluronic-acid-infused formula that softens and hydrates. If you like having options to play with, you’ll love the intense holographic and shimmering versions, too.
Shortlist:
Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer
Best lip oil
Dior Addict Lip Glow Oil
Part makeup, part skincare, this lip oil is a fan favourite for lots of reasons. First – and arguably, most importantly – it does a great job of hydrating lips, making them feel cushioned and comfortable even if they’re dry and chapped. Second, it’s also nicely shiny without being glossy, and the pH-reactive formula means everyone who wears it will get a slightly different, custom shade.
Shortlist:
L’Oréal Paris Plump Ambition Hyaluron Lip Oil
Best lip liner
Mac Lip Pencil
Great for shaping, lining, sculpting and filling, Mac’s iconic lip liners have a reputation for being unmatched and it seems you agree. As well as admiring the sizeable shade selection that complements Mac’s lipstick range, you also liked the gliding, creamy formula that doesn’t pull or drag, plus the ability to get a sharp, precise line.
Shortlist:
Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil Extreme
Best brow pencil
Benefit Precisely, My Brow Pencil
There’s really no brow dilemma that this ingenious pencil can’t sort. Brows need filling in, brushing up, taming or tweaking? This is the tool for the job. While the spoolie deserves a mention for its exceptional sturdiness, the real hero is the ultra-fine nib, which deposits miniscule amounts of pigment, allowing you to build up slowly and with precision.
Shortlist:
Kosas Brow Pop Dual-Action Defining Pencil
Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz
Best brow gel
Benefit 24-Hr Brow Setter
If you’re serious about your eyebrows, you’ll know that a good setting gel is a non-negotiable if you want bushy, brushed-up brows that stay put. While this does offer strong hold – so the hairs won’t droop – it’s also a nicely flexible formula, meaning they never look crunchy or stuck on. The dual-sided wand is an extra touch, adding more control if you need it.
Shortlist:
Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Freeze Gel
Best mascara
Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara
Call us dramatic, but we think winning a category like Best Mascara is the equivalent of winning the Best Picture Oscar, so hats off to this excellent formula for nabbing the top spot. That said, it’s easy to see why you loved it. As well as delivering visible length and volume, the flexible brush is designed to coat each hair – no matter how small – with virtually zero clumping.
Shortlist:
L’Oréal Paris Volume Million Lashes Panorama Mascara
Best eyeliner
Maybelline Tattoo Liner Gel Pencil
Although it might fly under the radar somewhat, a good eyeliner is not to be underestimated. Depending on the shade and finish you choose, it can totally transform a look with a swift flick of the wrist. Case in point, this collection of excellent eye pencils is hard to beat. The gliding gel formula is smooth and creamy, meaning a seamless line can be easily scribbled across lids, while the long-lasting pigments are intense and interesting. Stardust Chrome eyeliner, anyone?
Shortlist:
Victoria Beckham Beauty Satin Kajal Liner
Pat McGrath Labs PermaGel Ultra Glide Eye Pencil
Best eyeshadow
Mac Eyeshadow
Some products stand the test of time because they truly can’t be beaten, and Mac’s incredible selection of single shadows is a perfect example. Richly pigmented, the eye shadows are available in a huge range of finishes and textures, and offer a smooth, even application whether used wet or dry. If it ain’t broke…
Shortlist:
Armani Beauty Eye Tint Liquid Eyeshadow
Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick
Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Shadow
Best false lashes
Eylure London Light & Wispy
No one wants to spend hours trimming, gluing and applying fiddly false lashes, something that the team at Eylure has clearly taken note of. The extensive collection of lashes consistently came out on top thanks to the flexible lash bands, wide range of finishes, latex-free lash glue and reusability.
Shortlist:
Sweed The Signature No Lash-Lash
Model photo shoot crew credits:
Photographer: Ruo Bing Li @robinlirb
Stylist: Herin Choi @herinchoi1
Hair: Kyle Malone @kyledavidmalone
Makeup: Maki Ryoke @makiryoke
Manicure: Yukie Miyakawa @yukie_miyakawa_nails
Models: Alexis Ruby, Anyiang Yak, Baylee Winkel, Kenza Safsaf, Xun Seon @lexpfromthevill @anyiangyak @bayleewinkel @kenzasafsaf @kissthexun
Producer: Petty Cash Production @petty_cash_production
Still life credits:
Photographer: Tais Sirote @taissirote
Prop Stylist: Lucy Webster @lucywebsterstudio
