For most of us, base makeup — foundation, skin tints, contouring powders, and so on — went on a bit of a hiatus during the last two years. I mean, we just didn’t really see a point of putting it on just to have it lie beneath (and then transfer onto) a face covering. Now that life is slowly and surely regaining a little normalcy in 2022, we’re back to beating our faces to the fullest extent.
What does that include? Well, it’s different for everyone. Some depend on a primer, a full-coverage foundation, and a concealer while others are out the door after a single swipe of tinted moisturizer. Regardless, base makeup is back, baby, and we couldn’t be happier to present the Best of Beauty Awards: Base category winners to you.
In the past few years, you might have missed out on some of this category’s new launches due to lack of interest (and we honestly can’t blame you if you did). But the good news is that here at Allure, we never miss a beat in the base category. For months, our team has been testing hundreds of foundations, concealers, blushes, highlighters, bronzers, and more to find the best of the best — and not to brag or anything, but boy, we did that.
Whether you’re looking to bring newfound color to your cheeks (may we recommend the Makeup by Mario Soft Sculpt Shaping Stick?) or just want a new way to cover up pesky blemishes (looking at you, Maybelline New York Super Stay Activewear Concealer), we have you covered (in some cases, literally).
Without further ado, we present to you (and your face) the best base makeup products of the year. Scroll below to shop every winner, then see our full list of 2022 Best of Beauty winners.
Best of Beauty Awards 2022: Base Makeup
Jump to your favorite category or keep reading to see every foundation, primer, and bronzer:
Best Primer
Smashbox Photofinish Primizer+ Hydrating
Photofinish Mattifying
Why it won: If you want your makeup to last (and who doesn’t?) it’s not a question of whether you should use a primer, but which one. Smashbox Photo Finish Primerizer+ Super Hydrating Primer uses three forms of hyaluronic acid plus niacinamide to make your skin appear plumper and smoother. If you’re more concerned about controlling oil, try Smashbox Photo Finish Control Mattifying Primer, which mattifies skin rather than stripping it dry thanks to salicylic acid, witch hazel, and zinc. (Yep, Smashbox pretty much has the primer market cornered.)
Best Foundation (Powder)
BareMinreals BarePro 16HR 16 Hour Skin-Perfecting Powder Foundation
Why it won: BareMinerals BarePro 16HR Skin-Perfecting Powder Foundation won’t leave you looking one-dimensional like a pancake or flaky like a croissant. Apply this powder (enriched with a brightening pineapple complex and hydrating squalane).
Best Foundation (Stick)
Westman Atelier Vital Skin Foundation Stick
Why it won: Swiping a foundation stick across our cheeks always makes us feel like a linebacker. But the creamy consistency of Westman Atelier Vital Skin Foundation Stick blends so seamlessly, we can hardly tell where our bare skin stops and our foundation begins. Touchdown!
Best Foundation (Liquid)
Nars Cosmetics Light Reflecting Foundation
Why it won: “Nars Light Reflecting Foundation has a luminous finish that makes you glow, even if you skipped some of your skin-care routine,” says associate news editor Gabriela Thorne. That may be because its ingredient list reads like a skin-care product in itself: The medium-coverage formula is loaded with turmeric, algae, oat, and peptides.
Best Blush (Powder)
One/Size Cheek Clapper 3D Blush Trio
Why it won: You can never have too much blush (in your makeup collection, not necessarily on your face) which is why One/Size Cheek Clapper 3D Blush Trio Palette contains not one, not two, but three of them in different finishes. For a multidimensional look, pat on a layer of cream before adding a dusting of either matte or metallic powder.
Best Blush (Cream)
Bloomeffects Tulip Tint Lip & Cheek Balm (tube)
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Why it won: If you’re after a barely there flush, use your finger to dab on just a touch of Bloomeffects Tulip Tint Lip & Cheek Balm (it’s more pigmented than you might expect, says beauty and wellness editor Taylore Glynn) at the center of your lips and the tops of your cheeks.
Huda Cheeky Tint Cream Blush Stick (stick)
Why it won: Huda Beauty Cheeky Tint Blush Stick makes it simple to build up color intensity: Just swipe, blend, then swipe again.
Best Blush (Liquid)
Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush
Why it won: They way we editors “ooh” and “aah” over Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush, you’d think we’d never used anything other than powder before. We have; we’ve just never encountered a liquid that feels so airy and blends so beautifully.
Best Highlighter (Liquid)
Milk Makeup Bionic Glow
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Why it won: You can mix Milk Makeup Bionic Glow into moisturizer or foundation for a lit-from-within glow or you can use it alone for a glow that’s lit, period. Beauty editor Alaina Demopoulos calls its subtle duochrome finish “super cool.”
Best Highlighter (Powder)
Deck of Scarlet Mirror Glaze Highlighting Trio
Why it won: If you’ve ever been tempted to use highlighter as eye shadow, Deck of Scarlet Mirror Glaze Highlighting Trio will put you over the edge. Create a monochromatic look by dusting one of two powders where light would naturally hit your face, then pat the cream over your lids. Or… do the opposite! There’s no wrong way to use these illuminators.
Best Bronzer (Powder)
L’Oréal Paris Infallible Fresh Wear 24HR Bronzer
Why it won: L’Oréal Paris Infallible Up To 24HR Fresh Wear Soft Matte Bronzer comes in eight shades that complement a wide range of skin tones. That’s an extra good thing because once you’ve got this powder on, it isn’t going anywhere for a long while — even if you swim or sweat.
Best Bronzer (Cream)
Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream
Why it won: We’re happily hypnotized by a spiral of mousse like bronzer every time we open a jar of Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream. Apply it with a fluffy brush to add a warm glow all over, or use one with denser bristles to sculpt cheekbones. Either way, the cream melts into skin and sets to a velvety, soft-focus finish.
Best Bronzer (Stick)
Makeup by Mario Soft Sculpt Shaping Stick
Why it won: Mario Dedivanovic took contouring mainstream about 10 years ago, with the help of one very famous client (okay, it was Kim Kardashian). Now he’s ushering the technique into a new decade with Makeup by Mario Soft Sculpt Shaping Stick, which adds warmth to your face while subtly shaping — but not full-on contouring — it.
Best Bronzer (Liquid)
Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Contour Wand
Why it won: We can’t say for sure if Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Contour Wand is called a wand because of the way it’s packaged or because it’s the closest thing in our makeup drawer to magic. The easy-to-blend liquid formula has just the right amount of sheen and the cushion applicator lets you dot it exactly where you want it.
Best Multi-Use Stick
Live Tinted Huestick
Why it won: We use Live Tinted Huestick down to the nub because the smooth, creamy formula works on eyes, cheeks, and lips. Our only bone to pick is why we can’t buy all 11 shades at once like a box of crayons.
Best Powder (Pressed)
Laura Mercier Pressed Setting Powder
Why it won: If you travel a lot or if you’re a control freak (and especially if you’re a control freak who travels a lot), you may prefer a pressed setting powder to a loose one: It’s less likely to make a mess and allows for more precise application. Laura Mercier Translucent Pressed Setting Powder melts into skin and resists humidity.
Best Powder (Loose)
Nars Light Reflecting Loose Setting Powder
Why it won: Deputy digital director Kara McGrath calls Nars Light Reflecting Loose Setting Powder “an Instagram filter in a pot.” With that, you’ve probably already added it to your cart — but we’d also like to note that it’s weightless and not at all drying.
Best Concealer (Undereyes)
Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Wear All Over Concealer
Why it won: When wearing sunglasses isn’t an option, there’s Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Wear All Over Concealer. The formula is pigmented enough to cover dark circles and lightweight enough that it doesn’t crease, cake, or otherwise draw attention to areas you’re trying to mask.
Best Concealer (Blemishes)
Maybelline New York Super Stay Activewear Concealer
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Why it won: In our experience, the key to covering blemishes is to apply concealer in ultra thin layers. Maybelline New York Super Stay Active Wear Concealer makes that easy, thanks to a flexible applicator that resembles a teeny spatula. And its full-coverage formula doesn’t budge throughout the day.
Best Facial Self-Tanner
Lux Unfiltered No 12 Bronzing Face Drops
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Why it won: We can’t recommend acquiring a tan naturally, but we can recommend adding +Lux Unfiltered N°12 Bronzing Face Drops to your moisturizer if you want to look like you did. Start with two to three drops, then reassess depending on your skin tone and your desired level of bronze.
Best Setting Spray
MAC Fix + Stayover Setting Spray
Why it won: We could go on and on about how MAC Fix+ Stay Over Setting Spray feels like a delicate rain shower or how soothing it is, thanks to cucumber and green tea extracts. But all that really matters? A spritz of this stuff will keep your makeup in place for up to 16 hours.
Like what you see from Allure‘s Best of Beauty Awards?
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