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2018 Editor's Choice Awards | Winners Announced
2018 Editor’s Choice Awards
2018 Editor’s Choice Awards are now live, so for those curious about my all-time favorite formulas, you’ll want to check out the list of winners. There are awards for “Best of the Year,” which exclusively consider the releases from the previous year (2017), whereas all the other categories (like “Best Eye Products“) consider all products I’ve ever tested that are still presently available.
Psst, don’t forget to cast your vote in our Readers’ Choice Awards! 🙂
Christine I want to thank you for helping me discover the Claríns moisturizing lip balm last year when it made your list! Before this lip balm my lips were cracked and bleeding! No other high end lip balm had worked for me until you recommended this one! I wasn’t able to wear lipsticks or glosses because of the severity of my dry lips! So thank you so much for introducing this miracle worker into my life! Makeup may be something small and frivolous but this has truly changed my life! Yes it’s that dramatic! Lots of love!!
Wow! That is amazing, Madeline 🙂 I’m so glad it has worked that well for you. I wonder what ingredient your lips were so happy to have!
This is great! I’ve picked up many now-favorites based on this list in years past, and I have already printed the list to consider what to explore in coming months. Thanks!
Yay 🙂 Happy to hear it’s been useful to you, AB!
Wow! Great choices and very thorough. It was sad to see MUFE get knocked out of best high end shadows, but considering how the new line looks, I’m not surprised. Really, the only surprise for me was the Wet n Wild brushes get best budget brushes.
The change in Artist Shadow to Artist Color Shadow was a tricky one, too, since it happened very near to the end of the year, so I didn’t test them enough yet (to include them) but I also knew the original formula was discontinued so I couldn’t continue to consider it going forward!
I think you made the right call there. The ABH shadows were a great choice. They’re wonderful!
They are! Last year, I tended to go between MUFE, ABH, and Viseart for the most part when I reached for permanent stuff. I was really enjoying my ABH mattes to the point where I pulled them out and put them all in one larger palette so I can reach for them more easily.
Wow I am so surprised that Urban Decay has your top spot! I looked at the list of their products on your site and they had so many amazing ones too! I think I may have overlooked some (many I should say!) this past year!
I am also surprised about the Wet n Wild brushes! ? I may have to pick some up now (I can never find them in stores!!). I mostly have Real Techniques brushes from the “budget” section.
I love that ABH got your best powder eyeshadow. I tried them for the first time last year and I am so amazed by them! So easy to blend too and great color selection for a good price. I also love that Colourpop got so many nominations, they’re a favorite of mine as well.
I love that Pat MacGrath’s Luxxe Trance lipsticks made the list. They definitely made me swoon and I ended up splurging and getting one based on your reviews and swatches! ☺️
Lastly, thank you so much for putting this list together. It really helps me check out new products I may have overlooked that are great quality wise! ?
UD had some gems this year for sure 🙂 One of my favorite releases from the year was their Rebel lipstick, which I actually broke my no backup rule for, and the Heavy Metals palette was stunning. The Basquiat collab was well-done, and I really enjoyed most of their (regular) Vice Lipstick releases, plus the new 24/7 eyeliners they put out.
What are some of your favorite RT brushes? One of my favorite foundation brushes was their Expert Face brush, but the quality is significantly different today than upon initial release so I’ve soured on it quite a bit.
You’re right about the Expert Face brush. I was disappointed in that one. The brushes I have been enjoying from them include the new Blend + Blur Foundation Brush, this one is my favorite right now, easy and quick to apply foundation, only takes a few swipes and soft too (also easy to clean despite appearances). It looks big, but I feel I can go around my nose and under the eyes easily.
I also like their Powder brush for loose setting powder, very fluffy, and I like their stippling brush too to apply foundation. It gives a very natural finish. They’re Blush Brush is one that I use almost everyday, very fluffy, big and soft, but I’m still trying out other blush brush sizes and densities to see which I prefer more. Sometimes I feel it doesn’t pick up my Colourpop SSCheek too well, it gives a very light wash, so I’m trying to find another brush for those since I’m not really a fan of using my fingers. ?
Brushes I haven’t liked to much from them include their eye brushes (I tried the Eye Shade + Blend Duo). I prefer the mini kit that It Cosmetics released for Ulta for synthetic eye brushes. I didn’t really like their concealer brush either.
Sorry for such a long reply! ? I am really into finding the “perfect brushes”! It just makes me feel so glamorous so when I apply makeup! ☺️
IT brushes are really fantastic 🙂
I’ll have to check out the new Blend + Blur brush! Thank you!!
Love seeing all the ColourPop wins! I’ve been so impressed with virtually every product of theirs I’ve tried, and the Yes, Please palette is by far my favorite palette (and possibly favorite single makeup product) from the past year! Works great with my skin tone and eye color, fantastic quality, and I’m just really happy with my makeup every time I use it.
An absolutely stunning list lof products that will have all of us reading and perusing for awhile. I wasn’t really suprised at any of the choices you made because the products listed were stunning.
Thank you once again for all of the hard work you and your team do.
Thanks for all the hard work!
How much better/different do you think clarins lip balm is compared to jack Black? I am always on the hunt for an HG lip balm. Jack Black is great but I wonder how much better Clarins is.
Thank you!
I don’t think it is like 10 fold better – but I prefer enough that I’ve been repurchasing Clarins and not Jack Black!
I think you have to try Beauty Pie skincare. It would blow all of your other budget picks out of the water!
Great read! I don’t buy a lot of product but when I do, I read your reviews first. Thanks for putting together such a comprehensive list. It’s really helpful. I’ve made some impulsive purchases in the past which has made me a little gun shy. New to me, via you, tarte and BITE lipsticks which I love. Looking forward to trying some new brands in the new year.
I was pleasantly surprised by the Buxom mascara, it’s really nice for that in between natural and heavy mascara look. Normally I’m not a fan of plastic wands but that is pretty good!