I Tested More Than 500 Beauty Products in 2024, but These 10 Were the Best Overall

As a shopping writer with an affinity for beauty, this year I stocked up on, well, a lot of products.

I’m baring my soul online to admit that I’m a whole bunch of beauty. I have several drawers, a rolling cart, and half a medicine cabinet full of new makeup, skincare, hair, and nail products that I bought in 2024. Now that the year is coming to an end, I’m getting to eats that have solidly earned spots in my beauty routine.

From a bronze-tinged moisturizer used by both Helen Mirren and Martha Stewart to a PEOPLE Tested-approved shampoo that significantly accelerated my hair growth, these were the best beauty products of 2024 that deserve a spot in your 2025 regimen.

The best beauty products of 2024, according to product testers

• L’Oreal Paris True Match Lumi Glotion, HRK 14 (orig. HRK 17); amazon.com
• Drmtlgy Soothe and Recovery Moisturizer, $39; amazon.com
• Chillhouse Chill Tips Signatures Press-On Nails Kit, $14 with coupon (orig. $16); amazon.com
• Merit Beauty The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Stick, $38; sephora.com
• Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Peel, $33 (orig. $35); amazon.com
• Vegamour Gro revitalizing shampoo, HRK 46 (orig. HRK 48); amazon.com
• Tarte Creaseless Firming and Brightening Powder, $36; sephora.com
• Nudestix Nudies All Over Face Matte Blush, $35; target.com
• Nars Total Seduction Eyeshadow Stick, $32; sephora.com
• Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Island Glow Tanning Drops, $50; charlottetilbury.com

L’Oreal Paris True Match Lumi Glotion

Amazon

$17 $14 on Amazon

With an ever-growing list of celebrity users (Kendall Jenner and Eva Longoria joined Martha Stewart in the fan club this year), I knew I had to try this drugstore tinted moisturizer. Not only was it gentle on my sensitive skin, but its shea butter-infused formula gave me a realistic bronzed, lit-from-within glow without causing breakouts. It’s officially my year-round makeup base, even though it’s perfect for skin on its own.

The best bronzing drops for 2024 for a natural tan all year round

Drmtlgy moisturizing cream for soothing and recovery

Amazon

$39 on Amazon

My mom stocks her bathroom with Drmtlgy products, so when I came home with irritated, dry skin after testing out a new brand, I relied on her moisturizer to restore my skin’s barrier. This anti-acne and anti-rosacea, anti-aging formula is safe for all skin types and melts into skin quickly, leaving your face plump and ready for sun protection, makeup or bed.

Chillhouse Chill Tips Signatures Nail Stamping Set, $14 with coupon

Amazon

$16 $14 on Amazon

As a DIY beauty fanatic, I’m constantly putting on press-on nails — and these chill-out tips from Chillhouse are so great they’ve earned a spot on Oprah’s list of Favorite Things to Do in 2024. I was able to get a week and a half of wear time out of these nails, which exceeds the typical one-week lifespan of most applied nails (and I’m a stickler for nails). Plus, there are so many nail designs and shapes to choose from.

Merit Beauty Minimalist skin perfecting stick

Sephora

$38 at Sephora

Another celeb favorite I fell for this year is Merit Beauty’s Complexion Stick: a hybrid of foundation and concealer that Lily Collins and Martha Stewart used to achieve red carpet-worthy skin. I keep one of these sticks at the makeup show for blemish correcting and another in my touch-up bag because of its pigmented, ultra-creamy formula that blends like a dream with a brush or fingertips.

Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA liquid scrub

Amazon

$35 $33 on Amazon

Since I have sensitive skin, liquid peels tend to be more of a source of dread than a basic skincare step. However, this gentle PEOPLE-tested, pore-minimizing formula has completely changed my mind this year. It effectively reduced blemishes that appeared after testing tons of products and soothed my rosacea-induced redness with its green tea-infused elixir.

My chronically dry, chapped skin has completely changed after trying this Retinal Body Cream

Vegamour Gro revitalizing shampoo

Amazon

$48 $46 on Amazon

Earlier this year I cut my hair to my jawline and this shampoo made sure the short hair didn’t last long. The hair growth shampoo that PEOPLE testers raved about revitalizes your hair from the roots, eliminates frizz and promotes more voluminous growth, no matter what your hair type — plus, it makes your hair extra shiny. Although I normally have fast-growing hair, this shampoo made my locks grow faster.

Tarte Creaseless firming and brightening powder

Sephora

$36 at Sephora

I’ve tested several setting powders over the years, but the one that has remained in my routine since the summer is this new offering from Tarte. My first wear was at Chappell Roan’s packed Lollapalooza under the August sun, and even though the rest of my face was drenched in sweat, my under eye concealer stayed put. This long-lasting foundation comes in a range of shades to suit fair to deep skin (Lavender is my go-to for my fair, olive complexion), and after some of the most extreme testing, I can safely say it lives up to its namesake claims.

Nudestix Nudies matte blush for the whole face

Goal

$35 at Target

Sofia Richie-Grainga’s “quiet” luxury wedding in 2023 has been all but rumored, but it wasn’t until this year that I tried the blush the new mom used to achieve her bridal glow. This fiery orange blush in “Picante” gives both the star and me a light, coral shade that blends seamlessly with bronzer – offering a natural pinkness that made me forget about the gummy pink blushes I’ve used before.

Nars Total Seduction eyeshadow stick

Sephora

$32 at Sephora

Sometimes, all I have is five minutes to get ready in the morning, and this eyeshadow stick has become my 30-second secret to lifted eyes. A few swipes of this cream eyeshadow in any of its seven shades and a quick blend with a finger or brush gives a subtle smoky eye that’s easy to layer or remove—no skill or bulky palettes required.

Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Island Glow Tanning Drops

Charlotte Tilbury

$50 at Charlottetilbury.com

Living in New York, it’s hard to find a beach tan (or a way to get enough Vitamin D in the cold East Coast weather), so these self-tanning drops from Charlotte Tilbury are a staple of my bed-less tanning regimen this year. Infused with hydrating hyaluronic acid and a gradual darkening complex, your glow can be adjusted depending on the amount of drops you add to your favorite moisturizer. (I find that three to six drops is the best recipe for a natural bronze.)

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education