2011 Editor’s Choice Awards – Part 4: Lips, Nails, Tools

This section includes awards for lip products, nail polishes and the like, along with a few beauty tools.

LE METIER DE BEAUTE LIP CREME
Best Lipgloss (High-end)

I always find this to be one of the more challenging categories to choose. I rediscovered my love for Le Metier de Beaute’s Lip Cremes this year, and they really are a fantastic gloss that doesn’t get as much recognition as I’d like–but it is expected as it is a relatively inaccessible brand (and pricey, too). So comfortable to wear, beautiful finishes and shades.(See my review here.)

Past Winners: Guerlain KissKiss Gloss (2009), Calvin Klein Light Glistening Lipgloss (2008)

REVLON SUPER LUSTROUS LIPGLOSS
Best Lipgloss (Budget)

Sheer, lightweight glosses with lots of dazzling shimmer with little to no scent (some smell synthetically sweet but subtly so while others have had no scent). It is non-sticky and lasts three to four hours on me.

Past Winners: NYX MegaShine Lipgloss (2009)

GUERLAIN ROUGE G LIPSTICK
Best Lipstick (High-end)

Rouge G delivers excellent color pay off with a full range of shades from nude to copper to red. They come in space-age packaging (though I could do without it, if it meant a price reduction!), too. The shades have such nuances to their colors, which is probably why I gravitate towards the line. (See my reviews here.)

Past Winners: Chanel Rouge Allure Laque (2009)

MAYBELLINE COLORSENSATIONAL
Best Lipstick (Budget)

Maybelline ColorSensational Lipcolor are smooth, creamy lipsticks that go on evenly and look fantastic. They have a lot of wearable shades, and the packaging feels and looks pretty nice for a budget brand. They have kind of a synthetic sweet scent, but it’s not too strong and not noticeable once you’ve applied the color. (See my review here.)

Past Winners: Maybelline ColorSensational (2009)

Check out the rest of the awards for Lips, Nails, and Tools!

CHANEL ROUGE ALLURE LAQUE
Best Liquid Lipstick (High-end)

Chanel Rouge Allure Laque are like liquid lipstick, except completely made out of awesomeness. They’re creamy and moisturizing . STILL LOVE YOU DRAGON! (See my review here.)

NYC LIQUID LIPSTICK
Best Liquid Lipstick (Budget)

It’s a smooth lipstick/gloss hybrid with the glossiness of a gloss but the color pay off of a lipstick. The texture is creamy without being too thick nor watery, and it wears for three to four hours.

SARA HAPP THE LIP SCRUB
Best Lip Scrub (High-end)

Sara Happ The Lip Scrubicon is a deliciously scented sugar-based lip scrub that exfoliates well without tearing. It always leaves my lips smooth and soft — totally necessary when you take way zoomed in photos of your lips on the regular! (See my review here.)

Past Winners: Sara Happ The Lip Scrub (2009)

JOJOBA OIL + SUGAR
Best Lip Scrub (Budget)

If you’re on a budget, picking up a bottle of jojoba oil and mixing it with a little sugar (or brown sugar) works a treat to give lips a smoother, healthier appearance.

Past Winners: Jojoba Oil + Sugar (2009)

JACK BLACK INTENSE THERAPY LIP BALM
Best Lip Balm (High-end)

I have a secret stash of these, because I love them so. I have one in every bag and area where I spend prolonged periods of time at (desk, bed, etc.). These lip balms moisturize so, so well, and they last for hours on the lips. I put it on before bed and I can still feel some of it left when I wake up eight hours later. (See my review here.)

Past Winners: Philosophy Kiss Me Intense Lip Therapy (2009)

PALMERS COCOA BUTTER FORMULA SWIVEL STICK
Best Lip Balm (Budget)

Creamy, smells of vanilla, and just works – but one interesting part about this is it’s actually a multi-tasking stick that can be used elsewhere, too. It lasts a couple of hours on lips before it needs to be re-applied.

Past Winners: Yes to Carrots Lip Butter (2009)

CHINA GLAZE
Best Nail Lacquer

China Glaze’s Nail Lacquers wear a week on me without chipping (just minor tip wear), come in a slew of shades, and always have something new on the horizon. (See my reviews here.)

Past Winners: China Glaze (2009)

SECHE VITE
Best Top Coat

If you want ultra shine, Seche Vite is perfect. It gives nails a beautiful, fresh and shiny look.

Past Winners: Seche Vite (2009)

ZOYA ANCHOR
Best Base Coat

I’m a big fan of Zoya’s Color Lock System, and I really love Anchor, which helps to keep my polish on for a week at a time.

Past Winners: Zoya Anchor (2009)

SALLY HANSEN INSTA-DRI
Best Fast-Drying Top Coat

This is a really nice quick-drying coat that cuts the drying time down infinitely while also providing the added benefit of chip-resistance.

MAC BRUSHES
Best Makeup Brushes (High-end)

MAC Brushes are soft, durable, and well-made. I love that MAC has a huge variety of brushes to choose from with different shapes, sizes, and materials. (See my eye brush reviews here, face brush reviews here.)

Past Winners: MAC Brushes (2009)

SONIA KASHUK BRUSHES
Best Makeup Brushes (Budget)

Sonia Kashuk Brushes are a great budget-friendly alternative for quality brushes. She always has sets available, sometimes in ultra-cute pouches and bags, which are even more cost-effective. They’re soft, shaped well, and there is a good variety of tools available.

Past Winners: Sonia Kashuk Brushes (2009)

CLARISONIC MIA
Best Beauty Tool (High-end)

Clarisonic MIA takes off $50 from the original Clarisonic’s price tag and sure, it doesn’t have quite as many bells and whistles as the original (but it really didn’t lose much), it gives greater access to a really fantastic product. (See my review here.)

Past Winners: Clarisonic (2009)

EVE PEARL TRAVEL RAZOR
Best Beauty Tool (Budget)

This is an absolute must-have for any person who finds themselves with unwanted facial hair (above the lip, between the brows, peach fuzz, whatever).

Past Winners: Tweezerman Slanted Tip Tweezers (2009)