With masks mostly off this year, makeup is back on. And while sales may have dipped during the pandemic, in 2022, everyone is making up for lost time with creative looks. Colorful abstract eyeliner and bold eyeshadow are now a means of self-expression, whether you're coordinating your eyeshadow shades to your back-to-office fits, or wearing a neon cat-eye to your first concert since the pandemic. And some days, a second-skin finish foundation, dewy highlighter, and a few coats of lengthening mascara are all you need to feel ready to take on the world.
Whatever your current vibe, the 2022 InStyle Best Beauty Buys will help you achieve it. From a waterproof mascara that will hold up against sweat and tears to a foundation brush that delivers a seamless application every single time, our panel of experts cut through the noise and narrowed down the products that are good enough for your face right now.
Ahead, the best makeup products and tools of 2022.
Complexion
Giorgio Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Foundation
- Winning Category: Liquid Foundation
This Armani Beauty foundation is beloved by celebrities and makeup artists alike because it delivers a glowy, your-skin-but-better look.
Maybelline Fit Me Dewy + Smooth Foundation
- Winning Category: Inexpensive Foundation
This lightweight, dewy foundation is your straight shot to glazed-doughnut skin. What's more, it provides SPF 18 protection.
Make Up For Ever Matte Velvet Powder Foundation
- Winning Category: Best Powder Foundation
Overactive oil glands don't stand a chance against this Make Up For Ever powder foundation. The formula absorbs excess shine and minimizes the look of pores, leaving skin with a smooth, matte finish.
Shiseido Self-Refreshing Foundation
- Winning Category: Oil-Free Foundation
Shiseido's lightweight foundation does the unthinkable: it withstands sweat, humidity, oil, and facial movements for an always-fresh finish. Plus, it offers SPF 30 protection.
Nars Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer
- Winning Category: Best Tinted Moisturizer/BB Cream
Even skin tone while hydrating with this tinted moisturizer. In addition to smoothing and nourishing skin, it also brightens and protects with SPF 30.
Hourglass Foundation Brush
- Winning Category: Foundation Brush
A tool that lives up to its name, this brush delivers a seamless foundation application every single time. The crimped bristles help with control, and the unique shape fits the contours of the face.
Exa High Fidelity Foundation
- Winning Category: Clean/Natural Foundation
Unsurprisingly, Credo Beauty's makeup brand Exa makes the best clean foundation. Available in 43 shades and infused with skincare actives like hyaluronic acid, microalgae, and maqui berry and acai fruit oils, the satin-finish formula feels weightless whether it's applied sheer or built up for full coverage.
Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Foundation
- Winning Category: Best Shade-Inclusive Complexion Collection
Rihanna set a new standard for makeup brands when she launched Fenty Beauty with 40 shades of foundation in 2017. Now available in 50 shades, the Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation range is still unparalleled.
Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder
- Winning Category: Best Loose/Translucent Setting Powder
Top makeup artists swear by Laura Mercier's Translucent Loose Setting Powder because it has a blurring effect and extends the life of foundation with zero flashback.
beautyblender Concealer
- Winning Category: Concealer
If you're after full coverage that doesn't settle into fine lines or dry out skin, Beautyblender's hyaluronic acid and peptide-infused hydrating concealer is your match.
Tatcha The Liquid Silk Canvas Primer
- Winning Category: Primer
The perfect base starts with a primer that will help your makeup hold up. This Tatcha one contains silk extracts to smooth skin and protect against pollution.
Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray
- Winning Category: Setting Spray
Like renter's insurance for makeup, Urban Decay's setting spray ensures your beat is always nothing short of perfection.
Contour & Highlight
MAKEUP BY MARIO Powder Blush
- Winning Category: Best Blush
Add a pop of color to your complexion with Makeup by Mario's inexplicably silky smooth powder blush.
Nudestix Nudies All Over Face Color
- Winning Category: Best Multi-Use Blush
Create a subtle — or bold — monochrome look with this color stick that can be used on the eyes, cheeks, lips, and anywhere else you decide to apply it.
KOSAS Color & Light Palette
- Winning Category: Best Two-in-One Blush
Get the perfect pairing of blush and highlighter with this two-in-one deal that will have you glowing all day long.
Fenty Beauty Sun Stalk’r Instant Warmth Bronzer
- Winning Category: Bronzer
While inclusivity is still lacking in the bronzer category, Fenty is leading the way. Sun Stalk'r comes in nine shades to complement a wide range of skin tones and has a soft, buttery texture that blends seamlessly to add warmth or contour.
Westman Atelier powder bronzer
- Winning Category: Clean/Natural Bronzer
Use this glowy bronzer to add a sun-kissed glow to skin. The velvety formula is supercharged with nourishing ingredients to boost hydration.
Chanel Baume Multi-Use Glow Stick
- Winning Category: Highlighter
With a smooth, silky texture, this moisturizing balm adds a dewy (not shimmery) natural glow to your skin.
SURRATT BEAUTY Artistique Cheek Brush
- Winning Category: Blush Brush
The rounded bristles of Surratt's brush ensure you get just the right amount of blush every time. Use it to add a pop of color to the skin or swirl on setting powder to reduce shine and lock foundation in place.
Eyes
Danessa Myricks Beauty Cheek & Lip Cream Pigment
- Winning Category: Multi-Use Product
Getting a full face of color is as easy as one, two, three with this cult-favorite product from Danessa Myricks. Simply apply to the cheeks, eyes, and lips, then blend to your liking.
Ilia Chromatic Eye Tint
- Winning Category: Liquid Eyeshadow
On the go and not in the mood for a powder eyeshadow? Well, thanks to Ilia's Liquid Powder Chromatic Eye Tint, you can give your eyes a quick wash of color any time.
111Skin Sub-Zero De-Puffing Eye Mask
- Winning Category: Under Eye Mask
Had a long night? Well, no one else has to know. Apply the De-Puffing Eye Masks 20 minutes before starting your makeup for a flawless finish.
DIOR EYESHADOW BRUSH N° 21
- Winning Category: Eyeshadow Brush
If you've come to the conclusion that the perfect eyeshadow brush doesn't exist, think again. Easily create the blended finish of your dreams with this tool, then go ahead and get dressed so you can hit the town.
Kevyn Aucoin The Eyelash Curler
- Winning Category: Best Eyelash Curler
If your lashes need a little more lift, look no further. Made with a wide-opening curve, not only will this eyelash curler work with all eye shapes, but the red silicone pad ensures you can get right down to the lash line without pinching your skin.
Charlotte Tilbury Eyeliner Pencil
- Winning Category: Best Pencil Eyeliner
Looking to create a smoky eye? Or maybe you just want to emphasize your waterline. Charlotte Tilbury's Rock 'n' Kohl liner in Bedroom Black will give you everything you're looking for and more. Plus with 14-hour waterproof wear, you can forget about smudges.
Makeup by Mario Master Mattes Eyeshadow Palette
- Winning Category: Best Neutral Eyeshadow
Love eyeshadow but want to go for a more natural or subdued look? Then this one, a Makeup by Mario product, is perfect for you. With 12 glorious shades to choose from, you can create a different "nude" finish for each day of the week.
Inglot AMC Eyeliner Gel
- Winning Category: Best Gel Eyeliner
For the more experienced makeup lovers, trust that this creamy eyeliner gel will give you smudge-free finish that will last until you're ready to take it off.
Ardell False Lashes
- Winning Category: Faux Lashes
You don't always need to reach for a mascara to achieve show-stopping lashes — cause Ardell's Demi Wispies will do the trick and then some. Trust us on this one.
Pat McGrath Labs Mothership IX Eyeshadow Palette
- Winning Category: Eyeshadow Palette
When it comes to Mother, you know everything in her makeup arsenal is going to be major — and this palette is no exception. With this, you'll have no problem creating the most dreamy finish.
KVD Liquid Eyeliner
- Winning Category: Liquid Eyeliner
Get a flawless cat-eye with the precision tip and long-lasting formula.
Dior Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Waterproof Mascara
- Winning Category: Mascara
The recently revamped mascara still delivers the long-lasting lift and curl you know and love – plus is infused with cotton nectar for stronger, shinier lashes.
Maybelline The Falsies Lash Lift Mascara
- Winning Category: Waterproof Mascara
Not only is this Maybelline mascara a lash lift in a bottle, the water-resistant formula doesn't smudge or flake.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Tinted Brow Gel
- Winning Category: Brow Gel
No microblading appointment required: Fill and set sparse brows with Anastasia Beverly Hills' tinted gel, available in seven shades.
Benefit Brow Microfilling Pen
- Winning Category: Brow Pencil
With a three-pronged tip that fills in brows with realistic hair-like strokes, you can ditch your microblading appointment for this pencil.
Bioderma H2O Micellar Water
- Winning Category: Makeup Remover
No rinsing required: Bioderma's micellar water removes makeup (including waterproof mascara!) without the need to rub and tug your skin.
Lips
MAC Satin Lipstick Cream
- Winning Category: Lipstick
This silky lipstick is the fluffy robe of lipsticks. It feels soft on the lips whether you've applied a single sheer coat or a few for full coverage.
YSL Beauty GLOSSY STAIN
- Winning Category: Lip Stain
A long-wear glossy stain with impressive color payoff that doesn't settle into lip lines? Say no more.
Merit Shade Slick Tinted Lip Oil
- Winning Category: Best Clean/Natural Lip Product
Part lip oil, part tint, MERIT's Shade Slick leaves lips pillowy soft with a subtle pop of color.
Fenty Beauty Stunna Lip Paint
- Winning Category: Liquid Lipstick
This liquid lipstick offers long-lasting, full coverage in a single swipe. What's more, it doesn't feather, flake, or dry out lips. But would you expect anything less from Rihanna?
Glossier Lip Gloss
- Winning Category: Lip Gloss
Y2K beauty looks might be trending again, but you can leave sticky lip glosses in the early aughts. All four shades of Glossier's long-wear lip gloss provide a high-shine finish that isn't goopy or tacky.
Tower 28 ShineOn Lip Jelly Gloss
- Winning Category: Inexpensive Lip Gloss
Lips are definitely ready for this jelly: Tower 28's gloss has the high-shine finish you crave with the comfort and hydration of a balm.
Burt's Bees Matte Lip Crayon
- Winning Category: Inexpensive Lipstick
This crayon is the perfect mix of a nourishing lip balm and traditional matte lipstick. It leaves lips with bold color while the formula's shea butter and jojoba oil treat your pout.
La Mer Lip Balm
- Winning Category: Lip Balm
Prep lips with La Mer's luxurious nourishing balm for smooth, even lipstick application.
Ami Colé Lip Treatment Oil
- Winning Category: Most Innovative Launch
This lip oil is like no other: it conditions and protects lips while adding a sheer tint. The universal neutral shade looks gorgeous on everyone, especially those with melanin-rich skin.
The Lip Lip Bar
- Winning Category: Best Black-Owned Makeup Line
Even former First Lady Michelle Obama is a fan of The Lip Bar's Liquid Matte Lipstick. Along with the hero product, the Detroit-based brand offers a full collecion of color cosmetics with high-performance formulas and inclusive shade ranges.