Top-Rated Beauty Products to Save You Time & Effort

Miko Lim 

What Makes A Winner

Our beauty editors narrowed down approximately 1,500 nominated new beauty products to 558 semifinalists, which were evaluated by our experts. The pros' top selections were then sent to our reader testers, who scored each on such factors as texture, scent, and ease of use to determine our winners.

Miko Lim 

Acne Blocker

Winner: Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare One Step Acne Eliminating Pads

Swipe on a complexion-clearing wipe, which contains a cocktail of exfoliating acids. ($38 for 45 pads, sephora.com) 

Runner-up: Malin+Goetz Acne Treatment Daytime ($22, malinandgoetz.com)

Miko Lim

Eye Shadow

Winner: Lorac Pocket Pro Palette

Smoky eyes in seconds: These three flattering neutral shadows (one matte, two shimmers) contour, shade, line, and define so you look glam on the fly. ($15, ulta.com) 

Runner-up: Yves Saint Laurent Couture Palette ($60, yslbeautyus.com)

Miko Lim

Tinted Moisturizer

Winner: Physicians Formula Organic Wear 100% Natural Origin CC Color + Correction Cream 

Your moisturizer, primer, foundation, and sunscreen in one—this lightweight skin-perfector evens out skintone and texture. Bonus: It's natural! ($15, drugstores) 

Runner-up: Dr. Jart+ Dis-A-Pore Beauty Balm ($36, sephora.com)

Miko Lim 

Multitasker

Winner: Flower Kiss Me Twice Lip + Cheek Chubby

The ultimate throw-and-go for your purse, this self-sharpening stick offers sheer, buildable color for lips and cheeks. ($10, Walmart stores) 

Miko Lim 

Leave-In Conditioner

Winner: Toni&Guy Hair Meet Wardrobe Prep Leave In Conditioner

Comb a dollor of this instant hair tamer through damp strands to nix frizz and amplify shine. ($15, drugstores) 

Runner-up: Klorane Leave-in Cream with Desert Date ($16, klorane.com)

Miko Lim 

Heat Protectant

Winner: Fekkai Blowout Primer

This is like an invisible shield for your hair. Spritz it on to prevent breakage and speed up blow-dry time. ($20, fekkai.com) 

Runner-up: L’Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle Sleek It Iron Straight Heatspray ($5, drugstores) 

Miko Lim 

Smoothing Product

Winner: Living Proof Perfect Hair Day 5 in 1 Styling Treatment

Condense your styling arsenal into this one cream. It smoothes, conditions, repairs, adds shine, and boosts volume—impressive! ($26, sephora.com) 

Runner-up: Marc Anthony Oil of Morocco Argan Oil 3 Day Smooth Blow Dry Cream ($8, drugstore.com)

Miko Lim 

Palette

Winner: Aerin Kaleidolight Palette

The only compact you need for eyes and cheeks. Swirl a brush over all six colors to give your face a pretty glow or zero in on each shade for bronzer, blush and eye shadow. ($70, aerin.com) 

Miko Lim

Gloss

Winner: Maybelline New York Color Sensational Color Elixir 

This game-changer combines the concentrated color of a lipstick with the hydration of a balm and the shine of a gloss, so you're just one swipe away from the pout of your dreams. ($9, drugstores) 

Runner-up: Lancôme Lip Lover ($23, lancome.com)

Miko Lim

Bronzer

Winner: Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow 

Use this bronzer-shimmer duo to contour and highlight your face or blend them together for a luminous effect. ($65, nordstrom.com)

Runner-up: Becca Shadow and Light Bronze/Contour Perfector ($40, sephora.com)