The year is coming to a close so I love to look back and share what my favorite items were from beauty, fashion, accessories, etc. I will be sharing a few more blog posts with my more of my 2025 favorite but today’s post is focusing on the makeup items that really impressed me this year. These are the eyes, lips and cheek products I used the most and would continuously recommend over and over.
Best of Beauty 2025 Makeup – Eyes, Lips, Cheeks
Eyes
Kosas SoulGazer Mascara
I have not liked another mascara other than the Tarte Tubing Mascara until I tried this one. It’s not tubing but does not smudge or flake. It also contains peptides to help with lash growth.
NEEN Eyeshadow Palette in The Zen Trio
I rarely use powder eyeshadows anymore because so many look horrible on mature eyelids but this palette was an exception. The formulation is so creamy and blendable.
MOB Beauty Cream Clay Shimmer Shadow in M145 Champagne (discount code: 10MAREE)
This cream eyeshadow gives the lids the softest ethereal glow without showing a ton of texture.
SheGlam Crystal Jelly Glaze Stick in Aura Blitz and Starlit Silver
Eyeshadow sticks were hugely popular this year – especially the type that were a cooling metallic shimmer stick. I tried a few of them but these by SheGlam were by far my absolute favorite. They are the perfect sparkly topper to any eyeshadow and add the perfect amount of shine.
Cheeks
Merit Beauty Flush Balm
The Merit Beauty Blush Balm is a cream blush designed to give a tint to the cheeks and a “lit-from-within” finish to the skin. The texture is very emollient and balm-like so it melts into the skin. Microfine pigments provide a touch of color without covering up your natural skin texture. They claim it is a long-wearing buildable formula that leaves a gorgeous glow on the skin that’s never cakey or heavy. The way it makes my cheeks look and the color options are absolutely beautiful so I do reach for it quite often. My favorite shades are Rouge and Bon Bon. You can read my full Merit Beauty Flush Balm Review here.
Westman Atelier Sun Tone Bronzing Drops
My skin is loving all things Westman Atelier so I ordered these bronzing drops during the Sephora sale. The formula is absolutely stunning especially for mature skin. I purchased shade 1 which is subtle enough to give a hint of warmth to the skin. It’s a matte finish but because the formulation is liquid, it doesn’t look flat or dull on the skin. My only complaint is that the packaging gets very messy. Product gets all over the inside of the cap which is frustrating but not enough of a deal breaker for me not to keep using and recommending it. Hopefully they can fix the packaging in the future.
Westman Atelier Face Trace Contour Stick
Absolutely flawless. This contour stick is smooth, creamy and easy to blend. While it is designed to be a contour product and sculpt the face, I use it in the same way I do a traditional bronzer. It’s sheer but can be built up for more intensity. My favorite shade is Biscuit which is a cooler-toned contour that looks soft and natural on the skin.
Sacheu Contour Stay-n in shade 1
If you want a true cool-toned contour, this Sacheu Contour Stay-N is the product to get. It’s a liquid texture that blends like a dream and lasts all day long!
Rhode Pocket Blush
The Rhode Pocket Blush is a cream blush formula designed to give a diffused wash of color with a satin finish. They are a lightweight formula that melts into the skin easily without leaving a tacky or greasy feel. These were by far my most reached for blush product of the entire year. My favorite shade is Juicebox. Read my full review here!
Make Beauty Dewy Gel Cheek Tint in Feverish
These cheek tints are very different from anything I have yet an absolute dream for dry or mature skin. It’s a gel tint that gives just a sheer wash of color to the cheeks. I was worried it would wear off quickly because of transparent formula but it was much more long wearing than I anticipated. If you are someone who loves a no makeup makeup look, these gel tints would be perfect.
Makeup by Mario F4 Brush
So many people recommended this brush to me and I finally bought it during the Sephora sale. I am not usually someone who likes dual-ended brushes but this is one of the few exceptions. It is absolute perfection. I use it for concealer, cream bronzer, blush, highlighter – it works for any and everything.
Lips
Rhode Peptide Lip Shape Liners
The Rhode Peptide Lip Shape liners are designed to be a soft-focus blurring formula that enhances the lip shape while also delivering skincare benefits. They are meant to give the lips definition and dimension without any harsh lines. It gives the lips a more contoured appearance. And enhances the shape of the lip in a soft and subtle way. I’ve truly never tried something like this before so I didn’t even realize what I was missing! The blurred finish of these lip liners is so flattering without looking messy. I also can use them a bit outside my natural lip line without looking like I’ve over lined my lips. The soft focus formula creates a contour that looks natural and subtle. Hands down my holy grail lip liner formula and the one that I recommend to everyone. My favorite shades are Lift and Press.
Kosas Wet Lip Oil Gloss in Malibu
For those of you who don’t want a warm pink and everything skews too orange on you, this lip color from Kosas may be the perfect solution. It’s a cooler pink that isn’t too light or too dark. It’s truly my version of the perfect spring pink lip. The Kosas lip oil formula is very shiny and a tad tingly because it is designed to have a plumping effect. The tingling is relatively mild compared to some of my other plumping lip formulas. The finish to this lip oil is very glassy and makes the lips look almost wet.
Sarah Creal Beauty No Further Questions High Glide Peptide Lip Gloss
I love almost everything I’ve tried from Sarah Creal Beauty but these glosses may be my top pick. The formula is creamy and intensely nourishing while the pigment is just opaque enough to give the perfect amount of color. My two favorite shades are Deal With It and Calm Down.
Make Up For Ever Super Boost Plumping Lip Gloss in Daring Candy
Usually plumping glosses are hit or miss with me – these were a definite hit. There is no burning or irritation with them and the plumping is very slight. The formula is what I feel in love with however. It’s smooth and nicely pigmented without feeling sticky or tacky. A true must try for all my mature ladies!
Lawless Forget the Filler Lip Plumping Line Smoothing Gloss in Cherry Vanilla
Another plumping gloss that I loved though this does have a slight tingling sensation to it. The colors are very sheer and transparent and the line smoothing claim is pretty spot on. The texture is very glassy and smooth leaving the lips looking blurred and shiny but not an ounce of tackiness!
NEEN Glisten Up Gloss in Bye
To be honest, I wasn’t sure I was going to like this gloss because it was SO glittery. But you cannot feel the glitter and the iridescent glow it gives to the lips is absolutely stunning. One of my favorite lip toppers to wear over a lip liner or a satin lip color.
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