The Best Beauty Products of 2020

Here are the best beauty products we discovered in 2020. Find out which makeup, skincare, fragrance, and body care won me over this year.

Staying home for most of this year left us with a lot of time on our hands. Some chose to use this time to take up a new hobby, work on new goals, and adapt to their new remote lives. Well, I spent some of that time (a lot) online shopping. I don’t know what came over me but retail therapy was one of the ways I got through this pandemic and I discovered some amazing products along the way. Read on below to discover the best beauty products I tried in 2020.

Makeup

NARS Tinted Glow Booster in Tangsi – As I mentioned in my most recent favorites post, I have been obsessed with this glowy gel highlighter/primer/makeup mixer. I love how versatile it is and how it gives the most natural looking glow without overdoing it.

Dior Forever Skin Correct Concealer – This has been the only concealer I‘ve used since I purchased it in July. It’s super creamy, has a big doe foot applicator that I love, and conceals without being cakey. It has a skin-like finish and it just might be my holy grail.

YSL Touche Éclat Blur Primer – This has a silicone feel that I sometimes need to just blur and smooth out my pores. The silver flecks help give my skin a natural-looking radiant glow. I also love the glass packaging. Full review here

Pat McGrath Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection Foundation – Another skin-like complexion product that I’ve been loving. I do need to powder throughout the day otherwise my skin would look oily within a few hours. This is something I overlook because I love how this foundation perfects my skin without the cakey-ness of a full-coverage matte foundation. Full review here

Chanel Joues Contrast Blush in Alezane – a beautiful bronze blush with discreet flecks of gold shimmer to give a radiant glow. Full review here

Chanel Le Volume De Chanel Mascara – I’ve always wondered if the hype about this mascara was true and spoiler, it is. This mascara gives my lashes volume and length without clumpiness or flaking. Full review here

Hourglass Cosmetics Arch Brow Pencil – I have the hardest time with my brows and this wax mechanical pencil makes things so much easier. I love the slanted shape for carving out and filling in my brows and it gives the perfect amount of pigmentation.

Pat McGrath Divine Rose ll Eyeshadow Palette – The formula of Pat McGrath’s eyeshadows are so good, so it’s no surprise that I fell in love with this palette. I also love the fun color story and can see this being my go-to for more glam and playful looks whenever we’re able to go to events again. Full review here

Fragrance

Byredo Gypsy Water – I only recently got this fragrance but it’s quickly become my favorite. I spray on every day even when I’m not leaving out because I just love the way it smells. It’s a bit warm but also clean and citrusy. Since it’s so light, it doesn’t last that long but I will be purchasing the perfume oil and body wash to layer and help it last longer.

Byredo Bal D’Afrique Body Wash – This has been my favorite way to treat myself every day during my nightly baths and showers. I’ll use it as a bubble bath and a body wash and the smell lingers all night. I will definitely be trying other scents from the brand.

Bioderma Cleansing Oil – I love cleansing oils for my face and always wondered about formulas for the body. The Bioderma Cleansing Oil is fragrance-free but it’s so nourishing and moisturizing. It does lather quite a bit which I was pleasantly surprised by, so it doesn’t leave a film or residue on your skin. I used up the small size and will be repurchasing it in my larger size from now on.

Skincare

Chanel La Mousse Cleansing Cream to Foam Cleanser – I love this thick, creamy cleanser to deep clean more pores without stripping my skin. The texture is just so luxe and I love how it works with my Clarisonic brush. I have a full review on this so I won’t rave about it too much but just know that this is now a staple in my routine. Full review here

Shani Darden Sake Toning Essence – I loved using this after cleansing to make sure I got everything off of my skin while also adding back some hydration. This toning essence was so refreshing and helped to improve the look of my pores. I’m looking forward to adding this back into my routine after I use up my current essence.

Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Acid Cloud Cream Hydrating Moisturizer – I used a sample of this a while ago and loved it, so when it was on sale for Black Friday, I quickly added it to my cart. It’s a simple hyaluronic acid moisturizer that feels like a burst of water when you apply it, which is just what I need during the winter months.

Peter Thomas Roth 24K Gold Lift & Firm Hydra-Gel Eye Patches – Another Black Friday purchase, these are the missing piece in my at-home pamper routine and I’m so happy to have them now. I can’t say if they’re doing anything for my fine lines or dark circles but I keep them in my skincare fridge for the cooling, depuffing effect while I relax and do my skincare routine.

StriVectin R&R Eye Cream – This eye cream is so creamy and moisturizing, which checks both boxes of what I want in this type of product. I can’t speak to the long-term benefits since I haven’t noticed any but I love the texture and how smooth it makes my under-eye area feel. It also plays well with makeup.

Misses

Those were the best beauty products I tried in 2020. However, every product I tried this year hasn’t been the perfect match. Below are some of the products I could have passed on. Click on the name to read a more in-depth explanation for why I didn’t love it.