It’s officially award season! But we’re not just talking about any awards: The People Beauty Awards have returned with their “best of'” beauty products across skin care, makeup and hair — and these winners deserve a standing ovation.
Each product was carefully tried and selected by the People team, with hundreds of items reviewed to find the best of the best for you. From a thickening volume spray and a $10 hair serum, all the way to a viral lip oil, there’s something on this list for everyone (and every budget!).
Andrea Lavinthal, the Style and Beauty Director at People, recently stopped by the show to share some of her favorite picks from the list. Keep reading to discover the People Beauty Award winners, or click the options below.
As seen on TODAY | More People Beauty Award winners | Shop TODAY SMS | How we chose | Meet the expert
Best firming serum: InnBeauty Firming & Plumping Vegan Snail Serum
Yes, you ready that correctly. Although no snails were harmed when formulating this serum, it does contain vegan mucin from wild yam to firm, plump and intensely hydrate the skin for a more youthful and bouncy complexion.
“It has a slimy (in a good way) texture that glides on and makes skin feel plump and dewy,” notes Lavinthal.
Best firming moisturizer: BeautyStat Peptide Wrinkle Relaxing Moisturizer
This moisturizer contains two types of peptides to improve signs of aging. From smoothing fine lines and wrinkles to tightening the look of the skin, it seems like the product does it all.
Best blow dry brush: Kristen Ess Hair Blow Dry Brush
“Our [reviewers] loved how easy it was to maneuver this tool,” notes Lavinthal. In fact, one reviewer said that the tool is “not too heavy, saves you a step of using a separate brush, and best of all, it has multiple temperature settings!” This includes two speeds and three heat settings that accommodate your hair type and style.
Best hair serum: Garnier Fructis Hair Filler Moisture Repair Serum
Infused with hyaluronic acid, cermaides and vitamin C, Garnier’s Hair Filler serum promises to repair broken bonds and seal cuticles to promote healthier and softer hair. “Like a skin care serum, they have targeted ingredients to give your hair a targeted boost depending on what kind of damage you have,” Lavinthal explains.
Best hair thickener: Roz Air Thickening Spray
“This formula ‘delivers its promise of all-over fullness,’ reported one [reviewer],” says Lavinthal, with another adding that the spray “gives great texture but my hair still has touchable softness.” Lavinthal recommends applying the spray before you blow dry for more volumizing results.
Best skin tint: Lisa Eldridge Skin Tint
“If you love a ‘your skin but better’ look, this tint is a must-have,” Lavinthal suggests. “It’s a breeze to blend and hydrates and soothes skin with glycerin, prickly pear and sunflower seed oil.” She also notes that the skin tint offers less coverage than a tinted moisturizer for a more natural complexion.
Best tubing mascara: Charlotte Tilbury Exagger-Eyes Volumizing Mascara
Tubing mascara has been all the rave online, and Lavinthal says now is the time to join the trend, if you haven’t already. “This new one uses polymers to curl and plump lashes and the results last without any flaking until you take it off.” She also notes that unlike traditional mascara, you’ll notice tubing formulas form “individual ‘tubes’ around your lashes that slide off with soap and water.” Meaning, no more raccoon eyes as you’re cleansing.
Best lip oil: YSL Beauty Loveshine Lip Oil Stick
This lip oil has been all over social media, so it is no wonder it made it onto this list. It leaves gorgeous pigment like a lipstick, a shiny finish of a lip oil and all of the hydrating benefits of a lip balm. What more can you ask for?
More People Beauty Award winners
Best system for frizzy hair: Moroccanoil Frizz Control Shampoo
Lavinthal said that some reviewers noted that their hair has “never been softer” and that their frizze is now “really tamed” after trying Moroccanoil’s Frizz Control system. The shampoo in the duo promises to offer frizz control up to 72-hours with a weightless, hydrating formula.
Best system for frizzy hair: Moroccanoil Frizz Control Conditioner
Like its partner, the Frizz Control Conditioner locks in frizz and tames flyaways, but helps make hair more manageable and shiny.
Best dry shampoo: Hask Tea Tree Oil Invigorating Dry Shampoo
Best for oily hair, this rosemary and tea tree oil dry shampoo promises to quickly absorb oily without leaving the chalky residue that you sometimes get with others. It also promises to rebalance the scalp to relieve dryness and itchiness.
Best hot round brush: Mane It’s Giving Body Medium Hot Thermal Round Brush
“Our [reviewers] (including one who said she ‘can’t use a curling iron to save her life’) loved this TikTok-hyped tool,” notes Lavinthal. “It heats up in a flash and creates all kinds of waves and curls.”
Best hot round brush: Mane It’s Giving Body Large Hot Thermal Round Brush
Prefer a larger barrel? Receive the same benefits as the medium size round brush, but with a larger surface area that those with thicker and longer strands might appreciate.
Best satin finish foundation: e.l.f. Cosmetics Soft Glam Satin Foundation
According to Lavinthal, all of their reviewers “loved everything about this winner from how well it blended on skin to its ‘perfect coverage’ and ‘flawless finish.’” It doesn’t hurt that the price is under $10, which stood out most to her and the team.
Best blush stick: Haus Labs by Lady Gaga Color Fuse Glassy Blush Balm Stick
Want glass-like skin? Lavinthal says Haus Labs Blush Balm Stick is “true to its name,” offering a radiant finish that lasts throughout the day. There are seven shades that range from classic pinks to vibrant hues.
Best volumizing mascara: Lancôme Hypnôse Drama Mascara
“The brand is known for creating top shelf mascaras, and their latest volumizing formula is no exception,” boasts Laventhal. “The curved brush separates lashes while the inky-black formula builds them up.”
Best detangler: Color Wow Money Mist
This leave-in conditioner seems to be loved by everyone, from the People team, the Shop TODAY team and even TODAY host Hoda Kotb. But there’s a reason for it: With just a few spritzes, hair is less frizzy, more shiny and easier to detangle.
Best hairspray: TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Finishing Spray
We want our hair style to last, of course, but without the stiff crunch. TRESemmé’s Keratin Smooth Weightless Anti-Frizz Hairspray promises the opposite with a serum-based formula that holds your style and leaves it flexible, soft and humidity-resistant.
Best lip pencil: Glossier Lip Line Longwear Lip Liner Pencil
Enhance your pout with Glossier’s Lip Line lip pencil. It’s been raved about online and by our very own team for it’s buttery soft and long-lasting formula.
Best cleanser for sensitive skin: Tower 28 SOS Daily Balancing Gel Cleanser
This non-stripping cleanser promises to gently remove makeup, SPF and grime without drying the skin or causing irritation. Instead, it should help boost the skin’s hydration levels and leave it feeling more moisturized. The cleanser has even been awarded the National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance, so you can trust it should leave your skin feeling cleaner and smoother than ever.
Sign up for Shop TODAY SMS
Stay up to date with everything Shop TODAY. Get exclusive deals on TODAY-favorite products, info about the latest trends and expert-approved finds sent right to your phone.
How we chose
The Shop TODAY editors and writers search the internet to find the best products out there. We interview expert sources, comb through customer reviews and even use our own personal experiences to make shopping easier for our readers.
As an editorial team, we independently create content and determine coverage based on research, reporting and what we think TODAY.com readers would like to read about. The goal of our content is to provide a service and inform readers who are on the hunt for the latest products to help make their life better. Items are sold by retailer, not TODAY. Pricing and availability are accurate as of publish time.
Meet the expert
Andrea Lavinthal is the Style and Beauty Director at People.
