23 best makeup buys topping the GLAMOUR Beauty Power List Awards 2023

The makeup you need to know about…
23 best makeup buys topping the GLAMOUR Beauty Power List Awards 2023

Jones Road What The Foundation, £42

Best under-eye concealer

Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer

This cult concealer from Nars needs no introduction. A backstage beauty kit essential, the creamy formula (which is available in 30 shades) expertly brightens dark circles without creasing or settling into fine lines. Truly iconic, one tube sells every five seconds – it really is that good.

Shortlist:

Maybelline Instant Anti-Age Eraser Multi-Use Concealer, £9.99

Tarte Shape Tape Concealer, £27

Natasha Denona Hy-Glam Concealer, £32

Best spot concealer

L’Oréal Paris Infallible 24H More Than Concealer

Winning the best spot concealer category is this heavy-duty, full-coverage formula from L’Oréal Paris. Long-wearing and easy to blend, the highly pigmented liquid is the perfect pick for camouflaging dark spots and blemishes. Simply dot on and leave to air-dry before blending it in with a small stippling brush.

Shortlist:

Nars Soft Matte Complete Concealer, £26

Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Wear All Over Concealer, £28

Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage, £31.50

Best highlighter

Rare Beauty Positive Light Liquid Luminizer

We’re huge fans of Rare Beauty and this liquid luminiser is one of the brand’s hero products. Packed with light-reflecting pearl pigments, the weightless formula blends effortlessly over other creams, liquids and even powders to bestow a seamless dewy sheen. Know that a little goes a very long way.

Shortlist:

Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Glow Glide Face Architect Highlighter, £38

Dior Backstage Glow Face Palette, £36

ICONIC London Illuminator, £30

Best blush

Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush

A viral sensation, Rare Beauty’s Soft Pinch Liquid Blush is totally worth the hype. It comes in 13 easy-to-wear shades that all melt into skin to deliver a post-workout glow. And, as with the Liquid Luminizer, all you need are a few taps with the wand – which means you get serious bang for your buck.

Shortlist:

Charlotte Tilbury Matte Beauty Blush Wand, £30

Elf Halo Glow Blush Beauty Wand, £9

Nudestix Nudies Blush Stick, £30

Best bronzer

Benefit Hoola Matte Bronzer

The best bronzer in the business? Your vote was overwhelmingly for Benefit’s Hoola. Completely shimmer-free, the buttery-soft powder minimises shine while adding sun-baked warmth that looks healthy and natural. The slim packaging and compact brush make it touch-up and travel-friendly, too.

Shortlist:

Nars Laguna Bronzing Powder, £33

Fenty Beauty Sun Stalk’r Instant Warmth Bronzer, £29

Saie Sun Melt Cream-Balm Bronzer, £26

Best contour

Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Contour Wand

To create killer cheekbones, look no further. This iconic beauty wand from Charlotte Tilbury is a total dream to apply. Complete with a cushion applicator, press a little onto the high points of the face before blending the creamy formula in with fingertips for a sculpted look.

Shortlist:

Fenty Beauty Match Stix Contour Skinstick, £25

Milk Makeup Sculpt Stick, £16

Westman Atelier Face Trace Contour Stick, £44

Best primer

Elf Power Grip Primer

The primer that sent TikTok into a frenzy, this £10 hero grips your makeup for all-day and night wear. Refreshingly lightweight, the gel-based formula also soothes skin and delivers a hefty dose of hydration (thanks to hyaluronic acid) for a plumper complexion. We’re obsessed.

Shortlist:

Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base, £78

Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer Blurring, £35.50

Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer, £35

Best setting product

Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish

We defy anyone not to fall head over heels for this featherweight Flawless Finish powder from Charlotte Tilbury. Blended with soft-focus micro powders, the silky formula blurs pores, sets foundation and reduces shine without starving skin of glow. It also contains skin-loving ingredients, such as rose wax and almond oil.

Shortlist:

Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray, £28

Huda Beauty Easy Bake Loose Baking & Setting Powder, £34

Anastasia Beverly Hills Loose Setting Powder, £39

Best brush range

Real Techniques Everyday Essentials Makeup Brush Set

As the saying goes, your makeup is only as good as the tools you use – which is why this pro-level set from Real Techniques is a GLAMOUR Beauty Power List winner. With four fluffy brushes made from soft synthetic bristles and one flexible foam sponge, this kit has all your highlighter, blush and eyeshadow needs covered.

Shortlist:

Morphe X Ariel Signature Look 12-Piece Face & Eye Brush Set, £95

Jones Road, from £22

Spectrum Sculpt 30 Piece Brush Set in Tube Bag, £195

Best lip colour

Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet

With the comfort of a balm and the pigment of a matte lipstick, Chanel’s Rouge Allure Velvet is a clear winner. Spiked with jojoba oil and shea butter, the creamy bullet deeply moisturises lips while delivering intense pigment for a stamped-on lip look in your choice of 20 standout shades.

Shortlist:

Fenty Beauty Icon Velvet Liquid Lipstick, £24

Bobbi Brown Luxe Lipstick, £35

Juvia’s Place The Nude Velvety Matte Lipstick, £14

Best glossy lip colour

Dior Lip Glow Oil

Glossy, not sticky – this lightweight oil instantly moisturises lips thanks to cherry oil (the starring ingredient in every colour). For an elegant, light-reflecting sheen, we recommend the clear option. Or, for a hint of pink, try Cherry. Whichever hue you choose, expect a plumper-looking pout.

Shortlist:

Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer, £18

Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Tinted Lip Oil, £20

Merit Shade Slick Tinted Lip Oil, £26

Best lip liner

Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat

No lip look is complete without liner, and this one from Charlotte Tilbury comes out on top. The super smooth pencil effortlessly glides along the lip line to add shape and definition without snagging. Available in a wide array of shades, there is something for everyone – and every occasion.

Shortlist:

Mac Lip Pencil, £20

Rare Beauty Kind Words Matte Lip Liner, £15

Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil, £19

Best brow pencil/pen

Benefit Precisely, My Brow Pencil

There is so much to love about Benefit’s Precisely, My Brow Pencil. First, the ultra-fine nib can be used to mimic even the finest hairs for a natural finish. Second, it comes with a fluffy brush to shape brows and blend in the colour. And finally, it is waterproof, meaning your handiwork will last for 12 hours straight. No wonder it won your votes as best brow pencil.

Shortlist:

NYX Micro Brow Pencil, £10

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz, £23

Refy Brow Pencil, £14

Best brow gel

Benefit 24-HR Brow Setter

Benefit knows a thing or two about brows. For this reason, its Brow Setter is the only setting gel you need to lean on for brushed-up, Cara Delevingne-esque arches. On one side of the brush, you’ll find long bristles to coat every hair. On the other, short bristles will sculpt and shape those hairs into place for a laminated look.

Shortlist:

Schwarzkopf Got2b Glued 4 Brows & Edges, £5.50

Refy Brow Sculpt, £16

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Freeze, £24

Best mascara

Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara

The mascara that broke the internet, this unbeatable formula lengthens lashes like no other while delivering just the right amount of volume without clumping. A GLAMOUR Beauty Power List Awards winner for the third year in a row, it really is sensational. Oh, and thanks to bamboo extract, it doesn’t weigh lashes down.

Shortlist:

YSL Beauty Lash Clash Mascara, £29

L’Oréal Paris Telescopic Lift Mascara, £12.99

Sculpted By Aimee My Mascara, £17

Best pencil eyeliner

Mac Eye Pencil

Sometimes, the easiest way to pull a look together is with a kohl eyeliner smudged along the lashline. This eye pencil from Mac is your top-rated tool for the job. Highly pigmented, smudgeable and easy to apply, this pencil can be used to create a sharp line as well as a soft, smokey effect.

Shortlist:

Victoria Beckham Beauty Satin Kajal Liner, £26

NYX Epic Wear Liner Stick, £7

Too Faced Killer Liner 36-Hour Waterproof Gel Eyeliner Pencil, £19

Best liquid eyeliner

Benefit Roller Liner True Matte Liquid Eyeliner

Get your fiercest feline flick yet with Benefit’s Roller Liner. Quick-drying, water-resistant and long-wearing, the matte formula is second to none and glides on effortlessly for a smooth, continuous line (thanks to the flexible felt-tip nib). Choose between matte black and deep brown.

Shortlist:

KVD Beauty Tattoo Liner, £21

Pat McGrath Labs Perma Precision Liquid Eyeliner, £30

Collection Fast Stroke Eyeliner, £2.99

Best eyeshadow

Mac Eyeshadow

No one does eyeshadow like Mac. The brand’s iconic formula is pigment-packed and easy to buff in, saturating lids in a choice of over 80 colours. From muted tones to bold brights, you’re guaranteed to find your perfect hue.

Shortlist:

Urban Decay 24/7 Moondust Shadow, from £18.50

Pat McGrath Labs Mothership VII: Divine Rose, £119

Danessa Myricks Beauty Lightwork IV Transcendence Palette, £125

Best false lashes

Eylure ProMagnetic Magnetic Eyeliner & Lash System

Magnetic lashes are the best way to fake a fuller flutter without the stickiness of glue. The winning set? These re-usable falsies from Eylure, which seamlessly adhere to the included magnetic liner. Simply glide the liner along your lash line, then attach your lashes – easy!

Shortlist:

Ardell Demi Wispies, £5.99

Tatti Lashes Artisté Half Lash, £7.95

Kiss Falscara Starter Kit, £24.99


Photographer: Mateusz Sitek

Stylist: Michelle Duguid

Makeup: Marco Antonio

Hair: Craig Marsden

Manicure: Metta Francis

Models: Fallon Havanna @ Select London, Carmen Garitano @ PRM, Isabella Moore @ Milk Management

Beauty Director: Camilla Kay

Design Director: Dennis Lye

Visuals Director: Dalia Nassimi