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To have a beauty routine that makes you feel good, you’ve got to nail down the basics. Find the mascara that gives you length and volume with ease, the concealer that helps you fake a good night’s sleep, the complexion products that give you an effortless glow, and the lippies that add the perfect flush of color. And in 2022, our readers did just that.
Experts in This Article
Los Angeles-based freelance makeup artist
is a New York City-based makeup artist
They shopped our expert-backed recommendations and all 10 of our top-selling makeup items fell into that good-basics category. Learn about and shop the items our readers couldn’t stop buying in 2022.
Our 10 top-selling makeup items in 2022
essence Lash Princess Waterproof Mascara — $5.00
Writer Dominique Michelle Astorino tested 20 of the top-rated mascaras and found that this one was one of the best. “It stood out even among the mascaras that were six times (or more!!) pricier,” she says. “As for the waterproof component, I tested this at an Elton John concert in which I knew I’d be crying, and it absolutely lasted all night. That said, I almost felt like I needed a chisel to remove at the end of that excursion.”
Winky Lux Peeper Perfect Under-Eye Concealer — $16.00
This concealer went viral during the spring after TikTok user Abby Rivera (@abbythebadassmom) shared that it helped her conceal a skin condition called xanthelasma that leaves bag-like fat deposits under her eyes. “I have found the most perfect concealer,” Rivera shares in the one-minute video. “It is an amazing consistency, not too thick, not too thin. It has hyaluronic acid and collagen in it. I am literally obsessed. Obsessed.”
Yves Saint Laurent Beauty Touche Éclat All-Over Brightening Concealer Pen — $38.00
To make your eyes appear more lifted, Sandy Linter, a celebrity makeup artist in her 70s, says to color in your brows, brushing them up, and apply a brow gel to keep them in place all day. Then, apply some highlighter—like the YSL’s Touché Éclat—which will brighten and lift your brows.
Lawless Beauty Forget the Filler Overnight Lip-Plumping Mask — $21.00
If you want to make your lips appear fuller, this tinted mask is perfect. “The best lip plumper, in my opinion—which I use every morning and night and with every client—is the Lawless Lip Plumping Mask,” says Hailey Hoff, makeup artist to Hailee Steinfeld and Sofia Richie
Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Radiant Concealer — $33.00
Celebrity makeup artist Denika Bedrossian used this product along with a slew of other Charlotte Tilbury faves to create an “effortless, romantic, and delicate” bridal look for actress Sarah Hyland. And when our senior beauty editor Zoë Weiner tested it, she loved it. “Because of its buildable coverage and ‘your skin but better’ finish, I can use it all over my face—I apply one layer under my eyes and two on top of any severe discoloration, then blend it out with a sponge,” says Weiner. “When I’m done, my skin looks so even that I don’t even need to bother with foundation. This stuff has pared my complexion routine down to a single step, and for that I am endlessly grateful.”
L'Oreal Paris Lumi Glotion — $16.00
Our editorial assistant Amelia McBride says this affordable “glotion” is the perfect dupe for the always-sold-out Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter. “Just like the Hollywood Flawless Filter, the Lumi Glotion can either be worn under your favorite foundation to add a boost of radiance or alone for maximum luminosity,” says McBride. “The Lumi Glotion has the same blurring, complexion-evening effects of the Flawless Filter with the added hydration benefits of glycerin and shea butter.”
NYX Professional Makeup Bare With Me Concealer Serum — $11.00
“The NYX Bare With Me Concealer is my favorite concealer at the drugstore,” says professional makeup artist Janelle Mariss in a TikTok video. “It goes so smooth under the eye, doesn’t crease, and it has a nice natural finish.”
Laura Geller Baked Balance-n-Brighten Color Correcting Foundation — $36.00
Powder foundation can be tricky for 40+ skin, because it’s naturally matte, and our skin gets drier as we age. So powder foundation can make the skin look even drier, which makes fine lines and wrinkles more obvious. But writer Jen Bramon found that this one worked wonders on her skin. “This foundation is a great option for anyone dealing with redness or discoloration,” says Bramon. “It has color-correcting swirls baked into its pigment, which help to even out blotchiness and dark spots. It’s a medium-coverage foundation, and I love that I don’t need to use a color-corrector with it to tame my redness.”
Chanel Inimitable Intense — $32.00
Astorino also loved this mascara—and has for over 15 years. “It’s got a solid lengthening-style brush with defining, comb-like bristles, and is buildable for many coats (though you likely won’t need more than, say, one and a half). The brush is also medium size, perhaps a bit on the smaller side, allowing for more control and precision,” she says. “This formula thickens, curls, lengthens, and defines, creating spectacular lashes that tread the line between false lashes and are-they-real natural. It lasts hours upon hours, with no fallout, no flaking, and no smudging.”
Maybelline New York Lash Discovery Waterproof Mascara — $7.00
If you’ve got thin lashes, “I highly recommend a lightweight, non-whipped or creamy formula, something that dries fast, that’s also defining and volumizing,” says Isabel Y Rosado, a makeup artist in New York City. She loves using this mascara on lashes that already have length but need a little oomph.
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