✨ The Best New Products of the Year
As a beauty professional, I am constantly trying new products — some gifted, some purchased, all evaluated with the same rigor. Each year brings formulas that surprise me, disappoint me, or genuinely elevate the industry.
This list highlights ten products that stood out this year because of their performance, formulation, ease of use, and thoughtful design.
As a beauty professional, I am constantly trying new products — some gifted, some purchased, all evaluated with the same rigor. Each year brings formulas that surprise me, disappoint me, or genuinely elevate the industry.
This list highlights ten products that stood out this year because of their performance, formulation, ease of use, and thoughtful design.
My Criteria
For a product to earn a place in my kit (or my heart), it must meet specific standards:
✔ Formula
Effective ingredients, stability, comfort on the skin, and performance across different conditions.
✔ Packaging
Not how pretty it is — but how practical.
Does it seal properly?
Is it hygienic?
Is it easy to dispense?
✔ Efficiency
Does it do what it claims to do?
Does it work across multiple skin types?
✔ Ease of Use
Some products are intuitive.
Others require education — which is fine, as long as the result is worth the learning curve.
A product needing guidance doesn’t fall into a “negative” category; it simply deserves a mention for technique.
Thank You to Clin d’oeil
For five years now, I’ve been a judge for Clin d’œil magazine’s annual beauty awards — the Prix Beauté – Choix des Experts. It’s a privilege to test products alongside makeup artists, hairstylists, estheticians, teachers, and industry professionals from across Québec.
Each year, we receive a large box curated to our preferences (skin type, age, and specialty). After weeks of testing, we submit our evaluations in complete confidentiality until the results are published.
Now that the article is live, I can finally share some of my personal favorites.
If you’d like to see the official Top 40 selected by myself and my colleagues, click below:
Please note:
I have no partnerships — official or unofficial — with any brands on this list. These recommendations are based solely on performance and merit.
To make browsing easier, I’ve grouped the products into three categories:
Body Care
Makeup
Skincare
✨ Body Care Recommendations
A creamy, non-foaming cleanser packed with niacinamide, collagen peptides, vitamins C & E, and BHA. It smooths the skin while brightening and gently exfoliating.
The pump bottle makes it effortless to use.
Important note: the fragrance is strong — not ideal for sensitive skin.
Pros:
• Easy to use
• Excellent hydration
Con:
• Heavy fragrance
A winter lifesaver for dry, irritated, or reactive skin.
Fragrance-free, soothing, deeply hydrating, and very user-friendly thanks to the pump dispenser.
Works on both the face and the body!
Pros:
• Non-irritating
• Relieves dryness and itchiness
Con:
• Air can enter the pump — remove the oxidized portion before use
✨ Makeup Recommendations
A fragrance-free, colorless pressed powder made in Italy, ideal for setting liquid or cream formulas without changing their color.
Minimal fallout, tightly pressed, and suitable for most skin tones — since it is colorless it does not offer color correction.
Pros:
• Fragrance-free
• One shade works for most
Cons:
• Minimalist packaging
• No color correction, post cream and liquid
As a former MAC artist, Studio Fix has been part of my DNA for decades.
With the talc ban, I was skeptical — but the reformulation is a success.
Excellent coverage, a matte finish, and a wide shade range.
However, the shades do not match the old lineup and tend to run darker.
Pros:
• Beautiful coverage
• Inclusive shade range
• Refillable
Cons:
• Lots of kickback in the pan
• Old shade references are no longer accurate
One of MUFE’s strongest launches in years.
Hydrating, plumping, glossy, and comfortable — without the harsh tingling that many plumping formulas cause.
The shade range is stellar.
“Festive Lilac” and “Limitless Brown” are personal standouts.
Pros:
• Hydrating and reflective
• Gorgeous shades
• Easy applicator
Con:
• Sticky texture
A pigment-rich, creamy blush that blends effortlessly and doubles as a lip tint.
Beautiful shades, hydrating formula, and incredibly easy to work with — a dream for both everyday users and pro artists.
Pros:
• High blendability
• Harmonizes cheeks + lips
• Great shade selection
Cons:
• White compact gets dirty
• Colors fade quickly on the lips
✨ Skincare Recommendations
My favorite moisturizer this year.
Rich, buttery, deeply hydrating, and surprisingly non-comedogenic.
Delivers a true “glass skin” finish without feeling greasy.
Pros:
• Deep moisture
• Luminous finish
• Gentle on all skin types
Cons:
• Thick texture
• Slight menthol-like scent
A fast-absorbing gel suitable for all genders and ideal for oily/combination skin.
Clear, fragrance-free, no fuss — just effective hydration.
Pros:
• Lightweight
• Fragrance-free
• Works under makeup
Cons:
• Not hydrating enough for dry skin
• Needs an additional occlusive layer for very dehydrated skin
A gel-cream that hydrates sensitive and acne-prone skin without causing breakouts.
Refillable, air-tight container, and excellent texture — though the scent is unusual.
Pros:
• Hydrating
• Fragrance-free
• Hygienic pump
Cons:
• Expensive
• Has a slight off-putting scent
A gentle, fragrance-free cleanser that removes dirt and makeup without stripping the skin.
Affordable, effective, and soothing — though the bottle was difficult to open the first time.
Pros:
• Inexpensive
• Hydrating
• Fragrance-free
Con:
• Pump can be stiff initially
A Final Note
Product performance varies dramatically depending on your skin type, climate, and routine. What works beautifully for one person may fall flat for another — and that’s normal.
The best advice?
Finish what you already own before buying something new.
Your wallet — and your skin — will thank you.
If you try any of these products, I’d love to hear your thoughts.
If these product discoveries inspired you, you may also enjoy my complete guide to kit curation: Kit Building for the Professional Makeup Artist.
It includes my full product recommendations — from complexion and eyes to skincare and tools — designed to help artists build a kit that performs on every set.