Whether your vibe skews barely there or full-faced, this roster of universally loved pots, pigments, and tubes is calling to your makeup bag.

Whether your vibe skews barely there or full-faced, this roster of universally loved pots, pigments, and tubes is calling to your makeup bag.

and Kara Jillian Brown

A dab of concealer to help you fake eight hours of sleep. A sweep of bronzer that makes you look as if you just got back from a beach vacation. A pitch-perfect lipstick that causes strangers to stop you on the street asking, “What’s that shade?” Makeup can work magic while also serving as a transformative tool for confidence, connection, and self-expression.

Below, find the 21 best makeup products of 2024.

Best Volumizing Mascara:

Lancôme Hypnose Drama Mascara, $33.00 Shop Now

The name says it all. If you, like me, need a heavy dose of drama to make your lashes come alive, this mascara from Lancôme is your new bestie. Thanks to the formula’s 2% Bonding Complex, you can build and sculpt your lashes like a pro. What I love most is that it delivers the impossible combination of length, volume, and separation without being difficult to remove—my oil cleanser truly cuts right through. Grab yourself some for lashes that are built different. You won’t regret it. —Madeline Hirsch Stamp, fashion features director

Best Lengthening Mascara:

Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions, $26.00 Shop Now

This has been my favorite mascara for two or three years now. Padma Lakshmi and I are slightly mascara-obsessed, and she introduced this to me ahead of a season of filming. I love it because it has a deep and inky black pigment that doesn’t fade as it dries. It stays put and holds a curl well, doesn’t flake, and washes off easily. It is a fool-proof product. —Bob Scott, celebrity makeup artist

Best Brow Gel:

Benefit 24-HR Brow Setter Gel, $26.00 Shop Now

This product keeps every brow hair it encounters in place, and truly wont budge under most conditions. It even imparts hold after its been dried and brushed through. I don't like when I can feel a brow product holding its form and this product keeps its place without making my brows feel crunchy. —B.S.

Best Eyeliner:

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Pencil, $23.00 Shop Now

This is another favorite of mine introduced to me by Padma, whose favorite shade is Sabbath. It goes into every makeup look we do. The matte shades of this pencil are among my most frequently reached-for pencils because they apply almost like a cream liner in a pot; it is a great foundation for color and a solid choice for tight lines. —B.S.

Best Powder Eyeshadow:

MAC Eyeshadow, $23.00 Shop Now

This is simply the most trustworthy eyeshadow in any palette I have in my kit in terms of purity of pigment and staying power. Discontinued shades are talked about as legends backstage at shows. They have every finish and shade needed for the most dedicated artist and everyday perfectionist, as well as the newcomer to color. —B.S.

Best Liquid Eyeshadow:

Violette_FR Yeux Paint, $31.00 Shop Now

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. Since French makeup artist Violette launched her richly pigmented Yeux Paint liquid eyeshadows, I’ve been obsessed with every single matte and twinkling shade. Not only is each hue pitch-perfect (from golden Scarabée d’Or to Yves Klein Blue-esque Dieu Bleu), but the color payoff is unrivaled, yet easy to blend and ultra long-lasting. —Lauren Valenti, beauty director

Best Primer:

e.l.f. Power Grip Primer, $10.00 Shop Now

I’ve never been much of a primer girly, but this one converted me. It has a slightly tacky texture that grips onto my makeup and keeps it in place. Whether I’m donning a full face or going for a minimalist look, this primer is my non-negotiable base. —Kara Jillian Brown, beauty editor

Best Skin Tint:

Tower 28 Beauty SunnyDays SPF 30, $32.00 Shop Now

Since this skin tint launched a few years back, it has remained my favorite. So much so that I once cried on a trip once when I realized I'd lost it. It has the perfect smooth and lightweight formula for my barely-there makeup days, while adding an extra veil of SPF. —K.J.B.

Best Foundation Stick:

Mented Cosmetics Foundation Stick, $30.00 Shop Now

I love this product for the shades it provides throughout its range. It has all the best qualities of a foundation stick: hydrating ingredients to drive it into the skin, buildable coverage, and a natural, soft finish. —B.S.

Best Liquid Foundation:

Fenty Beauty Soft’Lit Naturally Luminous Longwear Foundation, $40.00 Shop Now

This foundation goes on light but offers medium coverage that sticks around all day. It’s hydrating but not heavy, which is perfect for my combination skin. The watery consistency is great for summer when you don’t want much on your skin but still crave some coverage. I love the glowy finish—true to its name. —Emily Kelleher, evergreen editor

Best Face Powder:

Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder, $36.00 Shop Now

Determining the best category for this product was admittedly difficult because it does oh so much. We settled on "Face Powder," but know this is not your average powder. It has an innovative balm-to-powder finish and functions as a primer, highlight, contour, setting powder, skin tint, or foundation. Get a few shades to explore all the different uses and see just how fast you, too, fall in love. —K.J.B.

Best Concealer:

NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer, $32.00 Shop Now

This concealer instantly brightens darkness under the eyes—a true game-changer. if you are battling dark circles, this will cancel them out instantly. —Romy Solemani, celebrity makeup artist

Best Highlighter:

Dior Forever Glow Maximizer, $45.00 Shop Now

I’m particular about highlighters, as my fair and flushed complexion can’t pull off anything that is too luminous or shimmery. Striking the right balance of color, shine, and pearlescent effect with its ultra-finely pigments, Dior’s Forever Glow Maximizer gives me just the soft, ethereal glow I’m looking for. I love to use it on the highs of my cheeks and swept across the lids for an easy, coordinated dose of color and dimension. —L.V.

Best Powder Blush:

Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish: Divine Blush, $39.00 Shop Now

Pat McGrath has figured out how to deliver a blush that mimics the prism-like nature of a cheek that is flush with color. The surface of the skin itself has a sheen, and the depths beneath it contain a color that glows. It is very easy to lose this dazzling aspect of skin when layering makeup products, and that's why I love this blush. It captures that specific divinity of a moment when emotion rushes to our face and causes our cheeks to flush and gleam. —B.S.

Best Cream Blush:

Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks Blush Stick, $48.00 Shop Now

I am truly a broken record with how much I’ve waxed poetic about Westman Atelier’s Baby Cheeks blush, but that’s just what happens when something is *that good*. For one, I love how convenient the chic stick is and the way the formula glides on like butter, as it imparts stunning color and skin-loving ingredients like jojoba seed oil. And the shades! Does it get more delicious than luminous peach Minette or poppy pink Poppete? —L.V.

Best Liquid Bronzer:

Maybelline Sun Patch Sunkisser, $10.00 Shop Now

Maybelline’s answer to the liquid blush craze is the most affordable way to get that sun-kissed look all summer without sacrificing your SPF. First and foremost, this formula lasts. I’ve worn this to the beach and on the subway to great success, and it plays nice with the creamier face tints I favor in warm weather. The colors range from a true mauve to more bronze-peach hybrids, so there’s a shade for every type of glow you’re looking for. It’s basically bronzer for blush girls. —M.H.S.

Best Powder Bronzer:

YSL Beauty All Hours Hyper Bronzer, $65.00 Shop Now

The first time I ever encountered this product was through a makeup artist. I’m not normally a powder lover, but I looked so artfully sculpted after a few layers of this bronzer, I couldn’t help but rethink my stance. But what really makes this product sing is its buttery-smooth formula that builds and blends like a dream. Plus, with its super luxurious packaging and cushiony feel, this pressed bronzer would make anyone a convert. —M.H.S.

Best Contour Stick:

Victoria Beckham Beauty Contour Stylus, $38.00 Shop Now

I love this product for contouring. It is slim in size and allows you to fine-tune the contours of your face. I also love that it comes in four shades and blends beautifully. —R.S.

Best Lip Gloss:

Armani Beauty Prisma Glass Lip Gloss, $38.00 Shop Now

Stick factor is my number one ick with lip glosses, and I’m happy to report Armani Beauty’s Prisma gloss feels as good as it looks. The formula is hydrating thanks to a healthy dose of squalene to seal in any moisture, and the color range delivers a gorgeous wash of color that’s the perfect pop for an everyday look. —M.H.S.

Best Lip Oil:

Ami Colé Lip Treatment Oil, $20.00 Shop Now

I'll admit it—I was late to discovering the wonders of this lip oil. And I'm kicking myself for every day I spent using an alternative. This formula is like no other. It gives the shine of a gloss with the nourishment of a balm. And as the color wears, you don't have to worry about any stickiness or pilling, allowing for smooth and easy reapplication. —K.J.B.

Best Lip Compact:

Fara Homidi Essentials Lip Compact, $88.00 Shop Now

It simply doesn’t get cooler than makeup artist Fara Homidi’s impossibly chic baby blue lip compact. I relish taking it out of my bag for touch-ups! It’s a two-in-one featuring a cushiony priming baume and a saturated matte lip color you can blend on with your finger or her special lip brush. Each shade is insanely flattering. Believe the hype!—L.V.

Best Lipstick:

Le Rouge Français Lipstick, $52.00 Shop Now

Creamy, smooth, and stunning are the best words to describe this French lipstick. It glides on like a second skin while adding high-impact color. Plus, it leaves my lips feeling cushioned and looking gorgeous. —K.J.B.