One of the best perks of our job is the opportunity to try all kinds of new beauty launches throughout the year. We sample the latest and greatest in makeup, skincare, haircare, and bath and body. It’s hard to narrow it down, but after lots of consideration, these are the best beauty products we tried in 2020.
Best Exfoliator
HoliFrog Como Popp-E Renewal Scrubby Wash
Please don’t ever take this perfect face scrub away from me. Poppy seeds gently exfoliate away dead skin and black currant seed oil keeps it feeling silky smooth. It’s such a treat for your skin.
Best Nail Polish
Heavily pigmented, vegan nail polishes that actually last? It’s true! These fun polishes from Cute Nail Studio come in a variety of super fun, unique colors with quirky names to match.
Best Mascara
I thought I’d never find a clean mascara to replace my beloved “Better Than Sex,” but when I tried Kosas’s new mascara, I fell in love. This clean beauty mascara gives you big, fluffy lashes powered by haircare actives that help support the natural hair growth and repair cycle.
Best Tinted Serum
ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40
A weightless, hydrating serum that actually provides coverage? And it’s clean to boot? It almost sounds too good to be true, but I recently repurchased my second bottle and recommend it to anyone who listens. This bottle of gold fuses skincare, makeup and sun protection all in one.
Best Face Mask
Versed Skincare Doctor’s Visit Instant Resurfacing Mask
A triple-threat of AHA, BHA and enzyme exfoliation, it tackles hyperpigmentation and boosts cell turnover for brighter, smoother, rejuvenated skin. The lactic and glycolic acids dissolve dull, dead skin and help fade dark spots, while salicylic acid minimizes the appearance of pores and redness. No tingling, no burning, just a post-facial glow in a flash.
Best Moisturizer
Peach & Lily Glass Skin Water-Gel Moisturizer
This moisturizer instantly hydrates, balances and strengthens your skin with the power of vegan pre- and probiotics and hyaluronic acid for skin that’s resilient, balanced, clarified and luminous from a healthier skin ecosystem. I love how it leaves my skin feeling hydrated and dewy all day long, even under makeup.
Best Hair Oil
Briogeo Strengthening Treatment Hair Oil
This lightweight hair oil helps restore and replenish hair with clinically proven repair technology. It works on even the finest hair without weighing it down (like mine!) and helps repair damage and breakage while leaving hairy glossy and nourished.
Best Leave-In Treatment
Rahua Leave-In Treatment Light
With ingredients including rahua oil, quinoa, organic sunflower, shea butter, lavender and eucalyptus, this product is a protective and healing anti-frizz treatment, perfect for heat styling or air drying. By helping to prevent split ends, Leave-In Treatment Light allows hair to grow longer and stronger while elevating shine.
Best Acne-Prone Skincare
If you deal with issues like hormonal, adult acne or even just sensitive skin, you know how important the ingredients in your skincare are. For the ClearBalm formula, in addition to using skincare powerhouses like hyaluronic acid, plant-based actives like Bixa orellana seed extract and hemp-derived CBD to tackle inflammation and redness.
Best Clarifying Treatment
This daily serum effortlessly fights acne to reveal clearer- and smoother-looking skin. Its lightweight formula with two percent salicylic acid and powerful skin soothers minimizes the appearance of current and future blemishes while absorbing oil and brightening the look of post-breakout spots.
Best Cleanser
Milk Makeup Vegan Milk Cleanser
Vegan Milk Cleanser is a gentle-yet-effective, sulfate-free cleanser formulated with a blend of vegan milks to wash away dirt, impurities and makeup without stripping skin. Free from icky things like fragrance, parabens, sulfates, silicones, gluten, dairy and as always, cruelty-free, it will be your sensitive skin’s new best friend.
Best Lip Gloss
Gloss Bomb Cream Color Drip Lip Cream
Your lips will look fuller with these five, shimmer-free shades that flatter all skintones as the ultimate finishing touch to any look. You’re left with pure, creamy and deliciously rich color to keep your lips looking voluminous and silky smooth.
Best Pedicure System
I think we can all admit how much we’ve missed trips to the nail salon this year. Luckily, Olive & June is making it easy to get that salon-perfect pedicure at home with their new Pedi System. It’s an all-in-one system that includes everything you need from tools and footcare to perfectly pigmented polishes. Pampered feet are happy feet!
Best Shampoo + Conditioner
Odele Volumnizing Shampoo | Odele Volumizing Conditioner
Odele haircare checks all the boxes for us:
☑ Clean ingredients
☑ Budget-friendly
☑ Available at Target
Female-owned and -operated, Odele has created a simplified selection of haircare products that are cruelty-free, vegan, dermatologist-tested, EU compliant and have a 100 percent natural gender neutral fragrance.
Shop our favorite beauty products of 2020:
