The Best Makeup of 2025, According to NewBeauty Readers

At the end of every year, the editors at NewBeauty like to look back at the products and treatments that truly delivered—and made us feel our best. This year, we’re taking it a step further, highlighting 10 makeup products that you, our readers, couldn’t get enough of. From tinted sunscreens that replaced your foundation altogether to the most stunning eyeshadow palette, this is the makeup you say was the best of the best in 2025.

1 / 10

Lancôme Idôle Café Crush Nude Eyeshadow Palette ($59)

“Cafe Crush is my interpretation of a rich nude palette, designed to flatter all personalities,” says celebrity makeup artist Sheika Daley, who collaborated on the design of Cafe Crush. She describes it as “the perfect blend of neutral shades, from light to deep, infused with a secret ingredient only Lancôme knows: a strong pink kick.”

Featured in: The Most Gorgeous Eyeshadow Palette Launches of 2025 So Far

• BUY NOW – $59

2 / 10

Benefit Cosmetics Mighty Fine Waterproof Brow Pen ($28)

The popularity of fluffy, full and defined—but not overdone—brows are going nowhere, according to our readers. Helping them fill in sparse areas with ease is Benefit Cosmetics Mighty Fine Waterproof Brow Pen, a brow pen with super-fine tips that mimic the look of natural hair.

Featured in: The Best Eyebrow Pens for Creating Natural-Looking Brows With Fine, Hair-Like Strokes

• BUY ON ULTA – $28
• BUY ON SEPHORA – $28

3 / 10

MERIT Beauty The Uniform ($38)

One of the most anticipated launches of the year was MERIT Beauty’s first-ever SPF, and the tinted formula practically replaced foundation all summer long. The 100 percent mineral sunscreen comes in 15 shades, offering light-to-medium sheer buildable coverage and a skin-like finish with a soft blur effect.

Featured in: MERIT Is Launching a Tinted Sunscreen and It’s Our New Summer Uniform, Aestheticians Share Their Favorite Skin Care-Makeup Hybrid Products

• BUY NOW – $38

4 / 10

Tarte Maracuja Juicy Lip Plumping Gloss ($27)

“Juicy lips” was a big trend in 2025, and according to our readers, the best product to get the look was Tarte’s Maracuja Juicy Lip Plumping Gloss. Our readers are in good company—SJP loves the hyaluronic acid-rich lip plumper, too.

Featured in: Shop Sarah Jessica Parker’s $27 Plumping Lip Gloss, The Best Products to Get the Trending ‘Juicy Lips’ Look

• BUY ON TARTE – $27
• BUY ON ULTA – $27

5 / 10

Jones Road Beauty The Classic Lip ($30)

“If you’ve ever found lipsticks too dry or uncomfortable, then The Classic Lip is for you,” reports our editor of Jones Road’s first-ever lipstick. Born from founder Bobbi Brown’s disillusionment with “dry and powdery” lipsticks, The Classic Lip is “checks all the boxes,” says Brown. “Smooth, satiny, lightweight, comfortable.”

Featured in: Jones Road Just Launched Lipsticks and They’re a Game-Changer for Mature Lips

• BUY NOW – $30

6 / 10

No7 Pro Artist Soft Glow Cream Bronzer ($19)

This year’s Awards winner for Best Cream Bronzer is sun-kissed warmth year-round. The velvety texture is never muddy, brassy or orange, and it blends so seamlessly. “It’s moved to the front of the line as one of my favorite secret weapons in my makeup bag,” says one editor.

Featured in: Bethenny Frankel Found a Chanel Bronzer Dupe—and TikTok Is Rightfully Freaking Out, 15 Award-Winning Makeup Products That Flatter Mature Skin

• BUY ON AMAZON – $19
• BUY ON TARGET – $19

7 / 10

CHANEL Joues Contraste Intense Cream-to-Powder Blush ($55)

The belle of the ball at the 2025 Academy Awards was CHANEL’s Joues Contraste Intense blush. We spotted it on several celebs in various shades, all to stunning effect.

Featured in: These 4 Celebs Wore the Same Cream Blush to the Oscars

• BUY NOW – $55

8 / 10

Maybelline TattooStudio Gel Pencil Eyeliner ($9)

According to shoppers over 40, the best budget-friendly eyeliner is from Maybelline’s TattooStudio Gel Pencil because it glides smoothly over fine lines and is incredibly versatile. Use it on your waterline to tightline, blend it to create a brown, smoky eye or draw on for a smooth, dramatic cat eye—this under-$10 pick can do it all.

Featured in: The Best Eyeliners for Mature Eyes, Per Shoppers 40 and Over

 

• BUY ON AMAZON – $9
• BUY ON TARGET – $10

9 / 10

Laura Geller Baked Starter Kit ($90)

During Laura Geller Beauty’s annual National Mature Women’s Day, the most popular purchase was hands down the Baked Starter Kit. The three-piece set includes a Baked Balance-n-Brighten Color Correcting Foundation, a Best of the Best Baked Face Palette and a Retractable Angled Kabuki Brush.

Featured in: Laura Geller’s Age-Based Sale Is Back for One Day Only—and the Deals Are Unrivaled

• BUY ON LAURA GELLER BEAUTY – $90
• BUY ON AMAZON – $90

10 / 10

Live Tinted Legacy Lash Volumizing & Lengthening Mascara ($28)

When Live Tinted launched its eye collection early this year, our readers flocked to snag the hybrid lash-serum-meets-mascara, and it did not disappoint. “Wow, elongated eyelashes, separated and up all day long,” raves one reviewer. “Not to mention that the applicator is excellent. That little brush at the tip was excellent for the eyelashes of the corners and the lower ones.”

Featured in: Live Tinted Expands to All Ulta Stores, Launches New Eye Collection

• BUY NOW – $28