2011 Editor’s Choice Awards – Part 2: Eyes

Whew!  I added a few more categories this year, partially based on readers’ suggestions over the year but also in response to commonly asked questions (what’s your favorite x, favorite y, etc.!).

URBAN DECAY 24/7 GLIDE-ON PENCIL
Best Pencil Eyeliner (High-End)

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils wear well, apply softly and smoothly, and come in a variety of colors. I love the shade range as well as the texture! (See my review here.)

Past Winners: Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Pencil (2008, 2009)

MILANI LIQUIF’EYE EYELINER
Best Pencil Eyeliner (Budget)

Milani’s Liquif’Eye Eyeliners have such a soft, creamy texture paired with excellent pigmentation and long-wearing prowess, they’re impossible not to love. Here’s hoping for more shades in 2011! (See my review here.)

Past Winners: L’Oreal HIP Chrome Eyeliner (2009)

MAC FLUIDLINE
Best Gel Eyeliner (High-End)

Fluidlines have that smooth, rich consistency of gel eyeliner and apply seamlessly. They don’t smudge, budge, or fade at all. I love how pigmented they are, because you can do a thick or thin line and always get great, consistent results.

Past Winners: MAC Fluidline (2009)

WET ‘N’ WILD MEGAEYES CREME LINER
Best Gel Eyeliner (Budget)

MegaEyes Creme Liners are affordable and apply smoothly with nice color pay off and no dragging or patchiness.

Past Winners: Sonia Kashuk Gel Eyeliner (2009)

See lots more award winners from eyeliner to eyeshadow to curlers!

MAC SUPERSLICK LIQUID EYELINER
Best Liquid Eyeliner (High-End)

The pen-type liquid liners always seem easier to use–I think it might be that the pigmentation/product is controlled, so you never end up with too much product on the liner tip. Superslick came out with a bang: lots of shades with a budge- and smudge-rpoof formula. (Granted, we also saw several other brands bring out the exact same eyeliner, but Superslick is the cheapest and has the largest color range.) (See my review here.)

Past Winners: MAC Penultimate (2009)

REVLON COLORSTAY LIQUID EYELINER
Best Liquid Eyeliner (Budget)

Tried and true, Revlon ColorStay’s Liquid Eyeliner is but a humble product found in black and brown. It doesn’t move once it dries down–stays in place and looks beautiful the entire time.

Past Winners: Wet ‘n’ Wild MegaEyes Liquid Liner (2009)

CHANEL EXCEPTIONNEL MASCARA
Best Mascara (High-end)

It’s a dramatic mascara that gives longer, thicker, more voluminous lashes–my absolute favorite, even if it comes at a price. If $30 is a bit steep for you, my second favorite is still MAC Plushlash, which yields similar results, though just slightly less dramatic results — but it’s also half the price — but worth an honorable mention. (See my review here.)

Past Winners: Chanel Exceptionnel (2009), MAC Plushlash (2008)

MAYBELLINE FULL ‘N SOFT MASCARA
Best Mascara (Budget)

This is one of my all-time favorite mascaras, because it consistently delivers soft, plush lashes with length and volume. Not the most dramatic mascara but a beautiful one nonetheless.

Past Winners: Maybelline Full ‘n Soft (2009)

KIEHL’S MARVELOUS MINERAL MASCARA
Best Natural Mascara (High-end)

If you want soft, natural-looking lashes, Kiehl’s delivers on all accounts while being flake-free and smudge-proof. (See my review here.)

MAYBELLINE FULL ‘N SOFT MASCARA
Best Natural Mascara (Budget)

This is one of my all-time favorite mascaras, because it consistently delivers soft, plush lashes with length and volume. Not the most dramatic mascara but a beautiful one nonetheless.

BARE ESCENTUALS BUXOM LASH MASCARA
Best Lengthening Mascara (High-end)

I’ve used Buxom Lash many times over the past several months, and I like it, but I never fall in love – why? Because it just delivers length and I always seek more in my mascara (which is why mascara can be so personal!). It is amazing for length, though; mile-high lashes, none of the clumping, and excellent separation, too.

COVERGIRL LASHBLAST MASCARA
Best Lengthening Mascara (Budget)

CoverGirl’s LashBlast–the original–is a good multi-tasking mascara, but it is particularly good at length (surprisingly better at it than it’s LashBlast Length sister!).

CHANEL INIMITABLE INTENSE MASCARA
Best Dramatic Mascara (High-end)

This mascara is all about the drama–longer, thicker, richer lashes–with ultra black pigmentation. (See my review here.)

L’OREAL TELESCOPIC MASCARA
Best Dramatic Mascara (Budget)

Telescopic delivers a nice amount of length, along with a little thickening and an excellent blackness in the color.

URBAN DECAY FALSE EYELASHES
Best False Eyelashes (High-end)

New for 2010, Urban Decay’s False Eyelashes brought a nice variety available in a nice flexible band, transparent glue, and they’re fairly easy to apply (even for the false eyelash-challenged, like myself). I really like that they include glue with each pair, and the lashes have this lightness to them that is not always found in other false eyelashes.

Past Winners: shu uemura (2009)

REVLON FALSE EYELASHES
Best False Eyelashes (Budget)

I like the variety in Revlon’s False Eyelashes line, and I also love that they have self-adhesive lashes, too (which I tried per readers’ recommendations last year!)–they’re even easier to apply than Revlon’s regular False Eyelashes. They’re good for multiple uses, too.

Past Winners: Revlon (2009)

NARS SMUDGEPROOF EYESHADOW BASE
Best Eyeshadow Base (High-end)

It’s been my go-to eyeshadow base since I first started using it! It’s nearly transparent when applied and light-as-air. I love that it helps my eyeshadow stay on all day without creasing but doesn’t mute the vibrancy, either. The matte finish also allows me to wear matte eyeshadows without changing the texture. (See my review here.)

Past Winners: MAC Paint Pot (2009), MAC Mixing Medium (2007, 2008)

NYX EYESHADOW BASE
Best Eyeshadow Base (Budget)

NYX Eyeshadow Base is a short and sweet product in three different shades (White, Pearl, and Skin Tone). I find Pearl is nice under more shimmery shades, but Skin Tone is good in a variety of situations, so it’s more versatile. It does a good job of extending the wear of your eyeshadow and giving you a base for the color to grab onto and look true to form.

Past Winners: NYX Eyeshadow Base (2009)

HOURGLASS VISIONAIRE EYESHADOW
Best Eyeshadow (High-end)

The pigmentation of these eyeshadows is absolutely insane–so vibrant, so smooth. The texture is excellent; smooth, soft, buttery, and easy to blend. They have a few really unique shades within the line, though other shades are more basic (but beautiful!). I hope to see Hourglass put out new duos this year! (See my reviews here.)

Past Winners: MAC Eyeshadow (2009)

WET ‘N’ WILD COLOR ICON EYESHADOW
Best Eyeshadow (Budget)

Wet ‘n’ Wild hit a home run with their new Color Icon Eyeshadow formula–it’s soft, smooth, and nicely pigmented and won’t empty your wallet either. With singles, trios, and palettes, you may find yourself with a whole new stash for under $20. (Review to come.)

Past Winners: Sonia Kashuk Eyeshadow (2009)

ILLAMASQUA PURE PIGMENT
Best Loose Eyeshadow (High-end)

Illamasqua’s Pure Pigment won me over this year with the uniqueness of their shades. They have always had a beautiful texture–so finely milled and pigmented. The packaging does drive me nuts. (See my review here.)

SUGARPILL CHROMALUST
Best Loose Eyeshadow (Budget)

Like Illamasqua, Sugarpill’s Chromalusts are very finely milled and come in a variety of shades–lots of different and unique shades with varying textures. (See my review here.)

BENEFIT CREASELESS CREAM SHADOW/LINER
Best Cream Eyeshadow (High-end)

Benefit Cosmetics Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liner are creamy, smooth eyeshadows that can be used as a base, liner, or worn alone or mixed together. I absolutely love the shade range–there are lots of shades that are perfect for everyday, but then there are a few “fun” shades, too. (See my review here.)

Past Winners: Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liner (2009)

L’OREAL HIP CREAM SHADOW PAINT
Best Cream Eyeshadow (Budget)

These are easy to store, and I’ve always found the paint tubes to be better at staying fresh, as opposed to jars, which sometimes can dry out. Nice pigmentation, smooth, and easy to blend out.

Past Winners: Wet ‘n’ Wild MegaEyes Cream Eyeshadow (2009)

CHANEL KASKA BEIGE EYESHADOW QUAD
Best Eyeshadow Palette (High-end)

Easily one of the most flattering eyeshadow palettes on across skin tones. (See my review here.)

Past Winners: Urban Decay Eyeshadow Palettes (2009)

NYX NUDE ON NUDE EYESHADOW PALETTE
Best Eyeshadow Palette (Budget)

For a natural eyeshadow palette that doesn’t break the bank, Nude on Nude delivered quite well. (See my review here.)

Past Winners: NYX Eyeshadow Palettes (2009)

SHU UEMURA EYELASH CURLER
Best Eyelash Curler (High-end)

shu uemura Eyelash Curler is easily my favorite curler, and it has been since I first had it. I used to have a Revlon one, and I didn’t even realize that an eyelash curler could really have levels of quality. Shu’s is easy to use, works well, and it lasts awhile. It sucks that you can only buy it online now, though.

Past Winners: shu uemura Eyelash Curler (2009)

E.L.F. MECHANICAL EYELASH CURLER
Best Eyelash Curler (Budget)

e.l.f. professional Mechanical Eyelash Curler gets the job done, no matter how tight your budget. It’s handy, easy-to-use, and gives lashes a nice curl. It’s not quite as comfortable use as shu’s, but you’re not using it for long, anyway.

Past Winners: e.l.f. Mechanical Eyelash Curler (2009)

TWEEZERMAN SLANTED TIP TWEEZERS
Best Tweezers

I have so many pairs of Tweezerman Slanted Tweezers around my house — everywhere! From my desk to the bathroom to my nightstand, these are a must-have for me. (See my review here.)