Best of Black Makeup
Best Primer
Best Foundation
Lys Beauty Triple Fix
Serum Foundation
Best Mascara
Uoma Beauty Drama Bomb Mascara
The perfect foundation doesn't exi . . . oh wait, Lys Beauty Triple Fix Serum Foundation ($22) has entered the chat — and this newbie did not come to play.
Its medium coverage makes it easy to camouflage dark spots or breakouts without ever feeling cake-y, and the hydrating blend of avocado oil and hyaluronic acid gives the ideal slip to glide across skin without drying it out. The result? A near-perfect, natural-looking finish.
The only thing with more drama than an episode of Bridgerton: the Uoma Beauty Drama Bomb Mascara ($20). We're raising a wand to its smudge-free formula and hourglass-shaped bristle brush that evenly distributes product from root to tip, so you can layer for extra oomph without worrying about clumps. One swipe gives lashes a little zhuzh before a Zoom call; two or more and you might as well use them to fan Queen Charlotte.
Best Eyeshadow Palette
Pat McGrath Labs Mothership VII Eyeshadow Palette — Divine Rose
We'd be remiss not to mention the queen of being booked and blessed, Pat McGrath. The makeup artist's
Pat McGrath Labs Mothership VII Eyeshadow Palette — Divine Rose ($125) is worth every penny and features a mix of bold and neutral warm shades with a range of finishes — from matte to shimmer to chrome — that are perfect for creating different looks. Each of the 10 colors is also highly pigmented, easy to blend, and completely buildable.
Best Lipstick
The Lip Bar Bawse Lady
Liquid Matte Lipstick
Unfazed by your morning latte or
the bucket of wings you ordered for dinner, the Lip Bar Liquid Matte Lipstick in Bawse Lady ($13) is so long lasting, it's impressed everyone from Chaka Khan to Michelle Obama to Jordin Sparks. The matte formula swipes on like a gloss, dries quickly, and stays put no matter what you throw its way . . . all without drying out
your lips. The deep-red shade is also universally flattering; in fact, we haven't found one person who hasn't dug the hue.
"Holy sh*t" was the collective response from our editors after trying the Danessa Myricks Beauty Twin Flames ($26). With a bright, holographic finish that shifts color depending on where the light hits, this liquid formula is truly one of a kind and can be used on your eyelids, lips, or cheeks. Choose from 10 highly pigmented shades depending on your mood, like the pinkish-gold Amour for toned-down days or the bluish-purple True Luv when
you're feeling bold.
Best Multipurpose
Danessa Myricks Beauty
Twin Flames
Beauty Bakerie The Butter
Hydrasilk Primer
You know a good primer when you see one: it glides on easily, blurs pores in a pinch, and keeps makeup in place all day. The Beauty Bakerie The Butter Hydrasilk Primer ($24) does all that but in stick form, making it easier than ever to swipe all over or spot treat specific areas. Bonus points for the cutest-ever packaging that looks like a stick of butter you'd buy from the grocery store.