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We tend to think about our makeup products in terms of two categories: “everyday” and “special.” Special makeup—a.k.a. those splurge products that feel too sacred to use on a random Tuesday—tends to be squirreled away, saved for “worthy” occasions. Everyday makeup, on the other hand, covers bare minimum to help us feel put together. For lots of us, it can feel disposable or boring. But realistically, we experience much more of our lives in everyday makeup. So shouldn’t those be the products that we really invest in, feel good about wearing, and look forward to putting on?
For our 2024 SELF Healthy Beauty Awards, we honed in on the basics: practical, useful, quality makeup with convenient daily use in mind. Our team of testers—with a diverse range of skin types, tones, and textures—spent months playing with hundreds of products to single out the best offerings of the past year. Below, you’ll find foundations and skin tints that play nicely with your SPF, concealers that will take your angriest breakouts and sleepiest dark circles in stride, mascaras built to survive an absent-minded eye rub, blushes that will help you feel fresh and lively even when you’re drained, and more.
From holy grail drugstore picks to truly worthwhile investment products, these winners are about more than just helping you look your best. We only stamp our seal of approval on products that don’t irritate skin or trigger sensitivities and are truly fun and easy to apply. These multitaskers and workhorses prove that it’s entirely possible to get excited about makeup that’s simple, reliable, and accessible. We hope that they make your daily routine feel special and that you use them down to the very last drop.
Be sure to check out the rest of SELF’s 2024 Healthy Beauty Award winners here.
Why we love it: If you prefer a lighter touch on your brows for fill-ins, this Kosas pencil is a great buildable option. You can use the retractable precision tip for subtle strokes that mimic individual hairs, or to build a soft, even base.
One tester said: “Some brow pencils are too intense, but this one was perfect if you're looking to build color on your brows without making them too bold. The pigment lasted all day and didn't smudge, and it gives such a nice, natural look that I don’t feel like I have to wear other eye makeup to balance it.”
Why we love it: Have you ever plucked an eyebrow hair and immediately wished you could put it back? This self-sharpening BareMinerals brow pencil is perfect for flicking on precise strokes to fill in sparse areas or adding depth to your entire brow. Plus, with a built-in spoolie, you can fluff, shape, and define your brows without switching products.
Bonus points, per the experts: Formulated with Argan oil to hydrate and nourish brow hair, this pencil is a true multitasker.
One tester said: “It's super easy to use and goes on smoothly. I really like the product, the match was great, and it really helped fill in my (very thin) eyebrows so that they looked full and natural.”
Why we love it: This two-in-one pen from Maybelline is like a microblading session in a tube (and for a fraction of the price). The waterproof pen creates sharp, tapering strokes that make brows look denser without weighing them down, and, on the other end, a clear sealing gel locks in both color and shape.
One tester said: “This is the best brow product I've ever used. The pen creates hairlike lines and makes my brows look naturally full—without looking too heavy or overly filled in—and the gel does a great job of holding that fluffed-out look. It’s just perfect.”
Why we love it: Fluffing up your brows in the morning is easy, but keeping them in shape all day is a different story. Our testers said that this clear, wallet-friendly E.L.F. gel gave their brows an effortless lift, and worked overtime to keep it intact.
One tester said: “This gel combed through each individual hair to give my brows a sculpted, brushed-up look, which is what I like to go for. For me, it outperformed more expensive options, and I one hundred percent would buy again.”
Why we love it: If faux lashes are outside of your everyday makeup comfort zone, this Revlon mascara can help you achieve that too-good-to-be-true length every day. Testers found that it separated, defined, and elongated their lashes beautifully, without any clumps or flaky buildup.
One tester said: “I'll admit this mascara doesn't deliver on volume (nor does it claim to), but it DEFINITELY brings the length! I absolutely loved that it didn't smudge—I never wore mascara on my lower lashes for that reason, until now. It definitely made my eyes pop in a natural, not-spidery way.”
Why we love it: A good volumizing mascara should make your lashes look thick and lush, without feeling like it’s weighing down your lids. This Neen pick nails the delicate balance, delivering feather-light volume that won’t have you itching to rub your eyes all day.
Bonus points, per the experts: With hydrating ingredients like castor oil and glycerin, this mascara will amp up your lashes without drying them out.
One tester said: “This mascara was soft, gentle, and didn’t make my eyes feel irritated, but I think what struck me most was the volume and length it delivered. I have super short lashes, and I felt like I was giving full on 60s It Girl vibes with this product on. It’s not waterproof, but it stays put perfectly unless you’re actually crying.”
Why we love it: Bold mascara can overpower a natural makeup look, but this lengthening option from Covergirl is a perfect complement to a basic routine. Testers said it made their lashes look long and lifted without coating them too heavily, and eliminated under-eye rings altogether.
Bonus points, per the experts: This mascara also contains castor oil, which supports healthy lash growth by helping to keep them moisturized.
One tester said: “This is my new holy grail. My mascara ALWAYS smudges by the end of the day, but this one doesn't. It doesn’t deliver a dramatic, dark-eye look or lots of volume, but I love it for that reason. It enhances my natural lashes in a way that brightens and brings attention to my eyes for everyday wear. Plus, it’s super easy to wash off and doesn’t pull off my lashes!”
Why we love it: The SPF-obsessed among us are all about a natural flush that has nothing to do with sun damage. This dewy balm from Kylie Cosmetics is a seamless addition to an everyday makeup routine—or bare skin—if you’re looking to add some subtle life to your face. Swipe it onto your cheeks, lips, nose, or anywhere else you’d like a little (safe) color.
Bonus points, per the experts: This product contains squalane—a common moisturizing ingredient in skin care products—which helps give it a hydrating feel.
One tester said: “This product has become an everyday staple for me since I started testing it: I feel like it makes me look instantly refreshed. It also blends beautifully and is really easy to move around on your face when you first put it on. The packaging (a matte translucent compact) is also unique and pretty.”
Why we love it: Ariana Grande spends enough time playing with soft, pink, ethereal aesthetics to be a trustworthy source for blush. This matte powder from R.E.M., Grande’s beauty brand, impressed testers with its silky texture and variety of buildable, versatile shades.
One tester said: “I’m not usually a blush person but, I think I’m officially converted. I tried on four different shades of this R.E.M. blush—some very bright, some more natural—and every single one looked great. For a matte blush, it feels super soft and non-drying, and the accompanying brush was so soft and velvety.”
Why we love it: This multitasking tint from Relevant feels convenient and luxurious all at once. Testers raved about the smooth application, easy blending, and buildable color for both lips and cheeks.
Bonus points, per the experts: This product doesn’t just look dewy—it’s formulated with aloe vera to help hydrate skin.
One tester said: “This lip and cheek multi-tint has completely replaced my powder blush, and I am excited to put it on every day. It can be as subtle or as dramatic as you want it. It gives my face some color back after I use tinted SPF that evens out my skin tone, and it leaves me with a healthy glow, rather making my dry skin look patchy.”
Why we love it: A few dots of this concentrated liquid blush from Saie go a long way in terms of color, but it still feels light and dewy on skin. The shades may be soft and dreamy, but the pigment really makes this product pop (and last all day).
Bonus points, per the experts: This product contains glycerin, a light moisturizer.
One tester said: “As someone with really sensitive skin, I can confidently say that Saie has the BEST liquid blush! A lot of other ones break me out because there are so many oils and color additives that irritate my skin. Saie never clogs my pores, and it’s so pigmented that a little really goes a long way.”
Why we love it: Concealer—the first line of defense against dark circles, pimples, and hyperpigmentation—is an everyday essential for a lot of people, and being able to grab it at the drugstore is ideal. According to testers, this multitasker from Rimmer is up for every challenge.
Bonus points, per the experts: This concealer contains dimethicone—a hydrating ingredient that’s found in lots of skin care products—so it can help soothe dry patches on areas you want to cover.
One tester said: “This concealer just does what needs to be done. I apply it after all of my normal skin prep in combination with the other steps in my beauty routine. A little bit goes a long way, which I appreciate, and it doesn’t feel cakey or irritate my sensitive skin. Great addition to a simple makeup routine.”
Why we love it: If you’re going to invest a little more in any part of your basic makeup routine, concealer might be the most worthwhile product. A cover-up that truly matches your skin, stands up to blemishes, and doesn’t crease or pill under your eyes is worth its weight in gold. For our testers, this Laura Mercier pick did all that and more, with impressive staying power to boot.
Bonus points, per the experts: This concealer contains glycerin and dimethicone, so it’s a good match for dry skin.
One tester said: “I will never be without this again. It transforms my skin in ways other lightweight-but-full-coverage concealers ALMOST do, but not quite: It brightens my undereyes, does away with any redness around my nose, and lightens up my nasolabial folds. It's worth the money, because I don't think I've been using as much expensive foundation now that this has graced my morning routine.”
Why we love it: This tinted brightening primer from Glo Skin Beauty evens tone, smooths over texture, and gives skin a luminous glow. It’s a hardworking first step that can make the rest of your makeup last longer, but when your base is this good, you might not need additional coverage.
Bonus points, per the experts: This primer uses common skin care ingredients vitamin C (to brighten skin) and squalane (to moisturize).
One tester said: “This product goes on incredibly smoothly and feels very lightweight. I love that it has a bit of a tint to it, so even if I don't want to add any more makeup on top of it, I can use it to even out my skin tone and still feel like I have a bit of an extra glow. It lasts all day, even in warm weather, and delivers on its promises beyond expectations.”
Just so you know: If you have oily or acne-prone skin, the castor oil in this product—an occlusive ingredient that can help with moisture retention—might clog your pores.
Why we love it: Dewy makeup may be having its (glistening) moment in the sun, but sometimes a basic powder foundation is hard to beat. This matte option from Sephora Collection provides soft, even, lasting coverage—creating the perfect canvas to play with other products. And, with an impressive 40 shades to choose from, you should be able to find your ideal match.
Bonus points, per the experts: Some powder foundations can feel dry on your face, but this one uses dimethicone to lock in moisture.
One tester said: “I loved this full coverage matte powder foundation. It’s easy to apply, feels silky going on, it’s super long lasting, the color was perfect for my skin tone, and it noticeably minimized the appearance of my pores.”
Why we love it: Youthforia boldly claims that you can break a cardinal skin care rule for this foundation: You can sleep in it. Okay, maybe that feels aggressive (and TBH we wouldn’t recommend doing it on purpose), but with more active skin care ingredients than your average foundation and lasting, buildable coverage, testers felt great about using it on the daily.
Bonus points, per the experts: This serum contains hyaluronic acid, a light hydrator that’s recommended for acne prone or oily skin.
One tester said: “I am obsessed! This foundation is not heavy but not too airy either; it feels great. You don't need a lot of product to get great coverage. It's not cakey, it blends in so naturally, and it lasts all day. It also washes off clean and doesn’t leave any residue when I follow up with a cotton pad covered in toner.”
Why we love it: If you hate the feeling of heavy foundations, this tinted serum is a great lightweight alternative. Testers were impressed with the level of coverage given the barely-there texture, and even more impressed with the quality level for a $10 product.
Bonus points, per the experts: The dimethicone and hyaluronic acid in this product are light moisturizers that are especially great for hydrating dry skin.
One tester said: “I underestimated this product because of the price tag, but it DELIVERS. It's been great for my sensitive skin and blends in more like a skin care product than makeup. The best part is that it doesn't cake, crack, or pill (which usually happens for me, because I wear serums under my moisturizer/sunscreen).”
Just so you know: This foundation contains vitamin E, which can clog pores and is not generally recommended for oily or acne-prone skin.
Why we love it: This multi-use glaze might just be the only bronzing product you use from here on out. Our testers confirmed that you can use it as a primer (or mix it with moisturizer) for an all-over tint, or to build color and depth in certain areas, like you would a classic bronzer. No matter how you apply it, you can count on a shimmering sun-kissed glow.
Bonus points, per the experts: With gentle moisturizing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, squalane, and ceramides, this glaze supports more than just a surface-level glow.
One tester said: “This was a great multipurpose bronzing product! The applicator was easy to use, and the gel/cream formula applied nicely and wore well throughout the day. It was a really nice option for the winter because it did add just a nice, gentle glow that gave my skin some life.”
