Best New Makeup Formulas | 2018
One of my favorite parts about reflecting on the last year’s worth of reviews is figuring out what new formulas were released, which ones resonated, and whether any of my go-to formulas shifted as a result. Most of the top-performing products on this year’s list are lip-related, which is interesting. I’ve personally found it very difficult to keep up with all of the lip products that have launched as it is one of the more time-consuming types of products to review (from swatching to editing to actual testing).
Best of 2018
Best New Formulas
2018 was a good year for budget-friendly favorites with ColourPop’s Lux Lipsticks (and Matte Lux Lipsticks) along with L’Oreal’s Colour Riche Shines and Sephora’s LipStories. While small in quantity, Shiseido’s VisionAiry Gel Lipsticks have such a superb texture and intense pigmentation that they’ve, so far, been “worth it” to me. Guerlain’s update to the Rouge G range, which seemed to be mostly a total packaging and shade range do, as the formula remained consistent with the previous Rouge Gs.
Several of my new go-tos are here, though: Charlotte Tilbury’s Hollywood Flawless Filter (use it almost every time I wear foundation for photos), Marc Jacob’s See-quins Glam Glitter Eyeshadows (please make these permanent, MJB!), Natasha Denona Super Glows, and Pat McGrath debuted the smaller MTHRSHP palettes this year.
I love the look, feel, and application of ColourPop’s Jelly Much Shadows but would love to see a packaging update in 2019. While I wasn’t so enamored with the holiday palette featuring this formula, I did absolutely enjoy the Fenty Beauty Killwatt Foil Freestyle Duos they launched (that are permanent).
Also, an interesting theme I saw throughout this year’s “new” formulas was that many were redos of past lines… like Dior’s DiorSkin Luminizers, Guerlain’s Rouge Gs, NARS Highlighting Powders (this was the only one that was substantially different than previous variations) and Tom Ford Lip Lacquer Liquid Patents.
What new formulas did you discover this year?
P.S. — You can view swatches of my favorites here.
P.P.S. — If you enjoy reading/viewing my favorites, make sure you check out my all-time favorites here, products I’m thankful for (2018 series), and all of my editor’s recommended products here.
Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter
Top Rated Shades
ColourPop Jelly Much Eyeshadow
Top Rated Shades
ColourPop Lux Lipstick
Top Rated Shades
ColourPop Matte Lux Lipstick
Top Rated Shades
Dior DiorSkin Nude Luminizer
There was a plethora of new products and launches this year.
And what’s more amazing is that you reviewed them all! Christine, you deserve to win the lottery – you are such a hard worker.
Nealy all of these are products that I don’t own or even have seen, apart from the Colour Pop lipsticks – which I rave over. I have Liquid Courage and it is stunning.
I think PMG has really changed the landscape for eyeshadow palettes and more brands, I would like to think, are improving too.
I am also very pleased with the new Dior highlighters. I also really enjoy the Mthrshp (geez, it’s even a pain to try to type that) – the textures are really special.
PMG has been a game changer this year. I love the Sublime Bronze Temptation palette and the BlitzTrance in Nude Romantique. Love CT Flawless Filter and Guerlain Rouge G lipsticks (especially no.65 and 62).
Also, I love the new formulas from Lancôme – L’Absolu Lacquer (I have it in 315 – Energy Shot) and from YSL – Rouge Pur Couture The Slim Matte Lipstick (in 12 – Nu Incongru, 21 – Rouge Paradoxe and 1 – Rouge Extravagant).
I’m surprised you haven’t reviewed Shiseido’s Sleeping Dragon yet, as that was my favorite of the Visionairy lipsticks. I almost wore it as my wedding lipstick but went with Guerlain Love Kiss at the last second. 🙂
Sorry, I did not purchase all of them as I couldn’t afford to do. I reviewed all of the shades that I purchased!
Fair enough — not like you don’t have enough other lip products to go through as it is!
I do try to help contribute dupes when I can, so that at least gives some reference to anybody who might be googling a shade for which there isn’t a lot of info… better than nothing, I figure.
That’s why we ask for submissions 🙂 I can’t review everything, unfortunately!
I’ve wanted to purchase the CT Hollywood Flawless Filter since it was released but I can’t decide which one to purchase. I have light skin with neutral undertones (both warm and cool). I’d like to use it as a highlighter or under foundation. Any tips for choosing the right one?
I don’t know how light is light, but the first two are very similar so I don’t think it would matter!
I love reading Temptalia favorites posted this time of year! So much fun and gives me good suggestions of high quality makeup to invest in. Pat McGraft took all my money this year! And I love my new Natasha Denona and Viseart palettes. 2018 was a great year for makeup lovers!
How does the Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter compare to Becca Backlight Priming Filter? I love the Becca. I’m currently scraping what’s left on the sides of my current bottle and already have a backup.
I don’t have the Becca any more and don’t remember much about it at this point (I’m so sorry – I just can’t keep everything straight in my head much these days). I didn’t have issues with it but wasn’t a product I went to use much after I tested it!
There are so many of these I want to try out. I’m afraid to try the Pat McGrath lipsticks, because I know I’ll probably love them.
My favorite new formulas were the smaller Pat McGrath MTHRSHP palettes, Coloured Raine Vivid Pigments, ColourPop Lux/Matte Lux Lipsticks, NARS Full Vinyl Lip Lacquer, Too Faced Juicy Fruits Comfort Lip Glaze, NYX Duo Chromatic Lip Gloss, theBalm Take Home the Bronze Anti-Orange Bronzer, Igneous Cosmetics (etsy) Matte Shadows, Notoriously Morbid Premium Multichrome Semi-Loose Shadows, and Wet n Wild Shade Shifting Zombie Blush (LE).
I’ve been looking for a new matte bronzer. You’ve just settled it! I’m going to order the balm one today!
I hope it works out for you!
Just in time! I’m going cold turkey on makeup tomorrow so today is a little shopping spree. The Too Faced Life’s a Festival Palette is my favorite of the year. The duochromes are incredibly beautiful and there are so many in one place! The tacky unicorn packaging hid how wearable the shades really are. And all the olive/gold duochromes in style right now — there are three distinct ones. You can still get it at Nordstrom.
Oh, the Colourpop Lux lipsticks! I especially like the shades Dream Easy (coral red) and Uno Mas (Peachy nude) in the Creme. I’ve been incredibly impressed with the lasting power of Hi Striker (matte true red). I love the Ultra Metallic and Ultra Glossy lips as well. The Colourpop Foundation Stix is already in the running for the 2019 favorite of the year. And the Juvia’s Place Tribe and Warrior palettes. Sublime!
The Marc Jacobs See-Quins are everything. Definitely my favorite new formula. I also enjoyed the Hourglass ones but the MJB ones have more shimmer to them and the colors are more unique.
The only notable formulas that I’ve tried and liked were:
-better lip glosses (better pigmentation, comfort and wear) like Fenty’s gloss bombs, Sleek or several other brands.
-improved one-swipe pigmentation, comfort and wear on eyeshadows like Kiko Sparking Holiday Metallic Eyeshadow in All Of Blue, etc. and Sydney Grace’s eyeshadows.
And the fact that you can find such products from brands that are not expensive has been great! The only thing that I see luxury brands doing better is in the subtle color shifts, sometimes the texture, and the packaging (but not always), so I think 2019 will see that gap closing.