Here Are Allure Editors’ Most-Loved Beauty Products of 2022: Editor Reviews, See Photos
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Trying out every single new beauty launch is a straight-up impossible task but, amongst the entire Allure team, we try our best to get our hands on as many as possible — so we can differentiate the “amazing” products from the “just average” and “overhyped” ones, and pass on that information to you, our wonderful readers.
Inevitably, a small number of said launches sneak their way into our everyday rotations and reach “can’t-live-without” statuses, constantly adorning our faces, lashes, and lips, hydrating our complexions, and perfecting our hairstyles. In a way, you can consider these product picks the hyper-personalized iterations of our beloved annual Best of Beauty Awards. After all, beauty — down to the very last drop — has always been based on our individual preferences, needs, and goals. (You do you, babe.)
With 2023 in sight, we (along with the rest of the world) are looking back at 2022 and reminscing about all of the new-to-market products that we fell in love with over the past 12 months. We hope you’ll find your next go-to lip tint or hair gel as you read through our testimonies, or, at the very least, discover something you hadn’t know existed before clicking on this article.
Without further ado, let’s dive into 16 makeup, fragrance, skin-care, and hair-care launches we fell in love with.
Most-Loved Makeup of 2022
Nars Laguna Cream Bronzer
Courtesy of Angela Trakoshis for Allure
“I’ve never met a Nars product I didn’t like and the Laguna Cream Bronzer is no different. Its creamy formula glides onto my skin and blends out so easily and seamlessly that you’d think I just got back from a tropical vacation.” —Angela Trakoshis, senior commerce writer
Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Foundation
Courtesy of Sarah Han for Allure
“It seems like there’s a new buzz-worthy skin tint launching each month but I’m a gal who still appreciates a bit more coverage to camouflage those pesky post-acne dark spots and all of the redness on and around my nose. Charlotte Tilbury’s Beautiful Skin Foundation masks what it needs to and leaves me with the dewy finish I so adore from skin tints. This buildable formula melts and blends into my skin like butter and applies beautifully on top of any sunscreen or primer I’ve tried. Even without thinking, this is the foundation I reach for most days I’m wearing any makeup at all.” —Sarah Han, commerce editor
Tower 28 Beauty MakeWaves Lengthening + Volumizing Mascara
Courtesy of Sarah Kinonen for Allure
“During the summer, a nondescript tube of mascara arrived at my doorstep. The lab sample was from Tower 28, and it was the brand’s debut mascara, MakeWaves Lengthening + Volumizing Mascara. As a big fan of the brand already, I was stoked to try it — and once I did, it was love at first swipe. The sensitive-friendly formula coated — but not clumped — my measly lashes, instantly giving them extra length and a bit of volume. I only needed one coat to give the soft, feathery look I was hoping for, but because I loved it so much, I layered on another just for fun. And half a year later, I’m still double-swiping and loving it.” —Sarah Kinonen, associate beauty director
Keys Soulcare Comforting Tinted Lip Balm in Gratitude
Courtesy of Sarah Hoffmann / Allure
“The Keys Soulcare Comforting Tinted Lip Balm in Gratitude has been living in my bag since August and I wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s super comfortable and moisturizing thanks to avocado oil in the formula, and the reddish-brown terra cotta shade is so stunning. Once you build it up, the color turns into a warm, earthy red with a slight sheen that looks good with any amount of other makeup, or all on its own. I’m a serial tote bag switcher and adding this to the bag-du-jour is as important as making sure I have my wallet and keys with me. Did I mention it won a (well-deserved) 2022 Best of Beauty Award?” —Sarah Hoffmann, commerce producer
Fenty Beauty Poutsicle Hydrating Lip Stain
Courtesy of Sarah Han for Allure
“I already wrote an entire ode to Fenty Beauty’s Poutsicle Hydrating Lip Stains for allure.com — and what about it? Since then, they’ve snagged a Best of Beauty Award, so I think they deserve yet another shoutout. Oh-so-buildable, highly pigmented (even with just one swipe), lends a healthy sheen, and fades beautifully throughout the day — what more could you want? For a lip-color-obsessed person like myself, the fact that this has been a mainstay in my lip rotation since July is a crowning achievement, and I don’t plan on taking them out any time soon. I’m wearing Strawberry Sangria in the photo but I really do love all four shades practically equally — another triumph.” —Sarah Han, commerce editor
Most-Loved Fragrances of 2022
Ellis Brooklyn Vanilla Milk Eau de Parfum
Courtesy of Kara McGrath for Allure
“It was truly the year of the vanilla fragrance, and while I found many I loved, I kept coming back to this EDP. It’s cookie-sweet without being sickening, thanks to some light floral accents that offset two types of vanilla bean and ‘creamy milk accord.'” —Kara McGrath, deputy digital director
Kayali Lovefest Burning Cherry 48
Courtesy of Annie Blay for Allure
“I mainly wear vanilla-based fragrances but this lush cherry scent from Kayali coaxed me out of my gourmand comfort zone into fruiter territories. I love how complex this scent feels — the deep cherry note comes out immediately but as it dries down you get more of the floral rose and woody palo santo notes. The first time I wore this perfume out I got a compliment within five minutes of being outside of the house and that’s really all I needed to know that this fragrance is one of 2022’s best launches.” —Annie Blay, associate beauty editor
Most-Loved Skin Care & Body Care of 2022
Supergoop Every. Single. Face. Watery Lotion SPF 50
Courtesy of Sarah Kinonen for Allure
“When it comes to sunscreen, as long as it has at least SPF 30, I’ll wear it. I’m not picky nor do I gravitate to any one product for sun protection. But perhaps I’m lying because such is not the case with the Supergoop Every. Single. Face. Watery Lotion SPF 50. The fluid formula is incredibly lightweight, blends in easily, and doesn’t lead to piling during makeup application. The look, feel, and texture remind me of K-beauty sunscreens, which we all know are some of the most innovative products on the market. Needless to say, since its launch earlier this year, I’ve gone through two (almost three) bottles — and am in desperate need of a third!” —Sarah Kinonen, associate beauty director
Youth to the People Polypeptide-121 Future Cream
Courtesy of Annie Blay for Allure
“I’m usually not a fan of heavier face creams, I stick to lightweight water creams or gel moisturizers but this 2022 launch from Youth to The People firmly changed my mind. The peptide-filled moisturizer manages to be lightweight, creamy in texture, and intensely moisturizing all at the same time. It doesn’t leave my already oily skin greasy and its claim to firm the skin has certainly proved true for me — my face looks firmer with less-pronounced fine lines after just a few months of use.” —Annie Blay, associate beauty editor
Paula’s Choice 5% Niacinamide Body Serum
Courtesy of brand
“I love niacinamide as an ingredient but never really considered using it in my body products until this Paula’s Choice body serum came along. This quickly became my go-to body serum to layer under my favorite body oils and butters. In the thick of summer, this came in clutch when I needed a lightweight body moisturizer that didn’t leave me greasy. Not to mention, the five percent niacinamide helped even out the complexion on my chest and arms and left me with smooth, glowing skin.” —Annie Blay, associate beauty editor
Naturium Niacinamide Cleansing Gelée 3%
Courtesy of Talia Gutierrez for Allure
“I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it twice: Naturium has transformed my skin, specifically with its Niacinamide Cleansing Gel. I’ll use two pumps worth of product after washing my face with the brand’s Purple Ginseng Cleansing Balm, ridding my skin of any dirt or excess makeup on my skin. With a subtle yet noticeable lather, the cleansers’ rejuvenating ingredients, like three percent niacinamide, vitamin C, and hyaluronic acid, have come together to drastically brighten and clear my uneven skin tone from past cystic acne marks — leaving nothing but a bouncy, clear complexion. All this for just $18, too. I’ve already picked up my third bottle at my local Target.” —Talia Gutierrez, editorial assistant
Superegg Phyto Bounce Eye Contour Solution
Courtesy of Sarah Han for Allure
“I’ll admit I’m not loyal to any particular eye cream but I do have a few preferences. I prefer not have to dip my fingers repeatedly into a tiny jar and I need a fast-absorbing formula since I like to apply my eye cream after serum and prior to moisturizer. Superegg‘s latest, the Phyto Bounce Eye Contour Solution, has a light-as-air, gel-like consistency that dispenses the perfect amount — therefore checking off both of my boxes. What’s more? While my expectations for brighter, less-tired undereyes are generally, shall we say, quite low, I do think Phyto Bounce’s concentrated mix of vitamins B3 and C, caffeine, hyaluronic acid, and peptides (six types, in fact) has made my eye area look plumper, more even-toned, and more awake after two weeks of daily use.” —Sarah Han, commerce editor
Medicube Age-R Booster-H
Courtesy of Medicube
“I’ll go through a seven-step nighttime skin-care routine with no issues, but adding in a skin-care device? My lazy self thinks not. Leave it to Medicube to change my mind — and also infiltrate my TikTok FYP with its #CEOOppa content. (No, I won’t be elaborating further.) While they have an impressive lineup of at-home devices to choose from, I’ve gravitated towards the Age-R Booster-H, which creates temporary passageways on the skin — painlessly, most importantly, and without needles — to promote deeper absorption of your skin-care products. I love gliding this over or pressing it into my skin (for targeted treatment) after applying a hydrating serum or oil, and it literally couldn’t be easier to use. (Remember that part about me being lazy? Yep.) There’s only one button that turns on the device and allows you to toggle between five levels of intensies; the device announces each minute that has passed, and it’s super lightweight at just eight ounces. Hello, dewier skin in just a few minutes. —Sarah Han, commerce editor
Most Loved Hair Care of 2022
Dyson Airwrap Multi Complete
“It was about damn time Dyson created an Airwrap that doesn’t need hundreds of attachments (OK, I’m being dramatic) but seriously, the Airwrap Multi-Styler Complete does everything the original does, but you don’t have to switch out the barrels for the different sides of your head — we love technology.” —Angela Trakoshis, senior commerce writer
Ceremonia Pequi Styling Gel
“This gel has mostly been lauded for its ability to create sleek styles, but I like it best for giving my loose waves definition. I scrunch it into my hair on wash days, then brush it through after everything’s dry. The result is a super soft texture that I can easily reactivate with some water on days 2 and 3.” —Kara McGrath, deputy digital director
