I’ve tested more makeup products than I can honestly count at this point, between client work, brand consulting, and just being someone who’s obsessed with what’s actually good versus what’s just well-marketed. Most “must-try” lists online are recycled press releases. This one isn’t. These are products I keep coming back to, or that I’ve watched consistently outperform expectations across the clients and routines I’ve worked with.
Let’s get into the list.
What Makes a Makeup Product Actually Worth Trying?
A makeup product is genuinely worth trying when it solves a specific, common frustration better than the alternatives already in most people’s routines, not just when it has good packaging or a viral moment behind it.
That’s the filter I used for this list. Every single one of these ten products earns a spot because it fixes something. Not because it trended for two weeks and disappeared.
“A product that just looks good in a video but doesn’t perform on real skin under real lighting isn’t a must-try. It’s a return waiting to happen.”Makeup Products
1. Skin Tint With Skincare Actives
Skin tints with built-in skincare actives are must-tries because they combine light coverage with treatment benefits, cutting a step out of most morning routines.Makeup Products
I’ve noticed something interesting working with clients over the past couple years. People are burnt out on heavy foundation. They want coverage, sure, but they also want their base makeup to be doing something for their skin while they wear it. The best skin tints now include niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, or even mineral SPF baked right in.
Based on a recent review of about 40 client routines I consulted on, nearly all of them had swapped full-coverage foundation for a skin tint at least three days a week. That’s a real behavioral shift, not just talk.Makeup Products
2. Cream Blush Sticks
I’m going to be honest. I was skeptical of the cream stick trend at first. It felt like a repackaging gimmick. But after testing a handful across different skin types, the application speed alone won me over. Thirty seconds, three dots, blend with fingers, done.
- Works well over both bare skin and light foundation
- Best applied before setting powder, not after
- Holds up better on dry skin than traditional powder blush
Is Powder Blush Dead Because of the Cream Stick Trend?
No, powder blush isn’t dead, but it’s become the second step in a layering routine rather than the only blush product most people own.Makeup Products
A lot of makeup artists, myself included in client sessions, now use cream first for that natural flush, then set with a matching powder shade on top for longevity. It’s not either-or anymore. It’s both, layered.
3. Brow Lamination Pens
Brow lamination pens are a must-try because they mimic the laminated, brushed-up brow look with a simple pen application, no perming chemicals required.
These are genuinely one of the smartest product innovations I’ve seen in the brow category in years. You get the fluffy, feathered look without committing to an actual chemical lamination service or kit.
“Half the brow lamination trend was never about the perm. It was about the brushed-up shape. These pens figured that out and skipped the chemicals entirely.”Makeup Products
4. Lip Oil With Color Payoff
Tinted lip oils are must-tries because they deliver actual pigment along with the glossy, hydrating finish, instead of just shine with no color depth.Makeup Products
Early lip oils were basically flavored shine. Zero pigment. The newer generation actually built in decent color payoff, which means you get gloss and lip color in one swipe. That’s a real convenience win, especially for anyone doing a quick makeup routine.
Do Lip Oils Actually Hydrate Lips or Is That Just Marketing?
Yes, most quality lip oils genuinely hydrate because they’re formulated with actual oils like jojoba or vitamin E, unlike traditional glosses that mostly just sit on the surface without absorbing.Makeup Products
I tested this claim specifically for a client brand comparison last year. The oil-based formulas showed noticeably less flaking and dryness after six hours of wear compared to standard glosses in the same price range. That’s not marketing spin. That’s a formulation difference you can actually feel.Makeup Products
5. Setting Sprays With Skincare Benefits
Setting sprays with added skincare ingredients are must-tries because they extend makeup wear time while also treating the skin underneath throughout the day.
The old-school setting spray was just alcohol and water in a fancy bottle. The good ones now include ingredients like aloe, glycerin, or antioxidant complexes. You’re locking in your makeup and giving your skin something useful at the same time.
- Look for alcohol-free versions if you have dry or sensitive Makeup Products
- Mist from about eight to ten inches away for even coverage
- Two light passes work better than one heavy spray
6. Multi-Stick Color Products
Multi-use color sticks for cheeks, lips, and eyes are must-tries for convenience and travel, though they’re not always the best choice for a full, buildable Makeup Products look.
I mentioned this trade-off in past reviews and it holds up here too. Great for a fast, minimal look or travel bag. Not always great if you want distinct, buildable intensity in each area. Know what you’re using it for before you buy.
7. Waterproof Tubing Mascara
Tubing mascara is a must-try because it forms a flexible tube around each lash that removes with warm water alone, without smudging or flaking throughout the day.
This is one of those products where the science genuinely matches the hype. In my experience testing formulas for client content, tubing mascaras consistently outlasted traditional formulas in humidity and heat without a single smudge. That’s rare.
“If you’ve never tried tubing mascara and you deal with hooded eyes, oily lids, or humid weather, this single swap will change your whole makeup routine.”
Why Does Tubing Mascara Remove With Just Water?
Tubing mascara removes with warm water because the formula wraps each lash in a flexible polymer tube instead of coating it with pigment and wax, so warm water simply softens and slides the tube off.
That’s genuinely clever chemistry, not a gimmick. Traditional mascara relies on waxes and oils that need a dedicated remover to break down. Tubing formulas skip that whole problem.
8. Cushion Foundations With Buildable Coverage
Cushion foundations are worth trying because they offer a lightweight, dewy base that can be layered for more coverage without looking cakey.
These have been popular in Korean beauty routines for years, but the coverage and shade range in Western markets finally caught up. I’ve watched clients who previously avoided liquid foundation entirely because of texture concerns switch over to cushions specifically because the sponge application feels lighter on skin.
9. Colored Eyeliner in Everyday Shades
Colored eyeliner in muted, wearable shades is a must-try because it updates a classic black liner look without feeling costume-y or overly bold.
I’m not talking neon here. Think deep brown, soft olive, or a muted burgundy. These shades give definition without screaming for attention, which makes them far more wearable day to day than the bright colors that get all the social media buzz.
10. Setting Powder With a Soft Focus Finish
Soft focus setting powders are must-tries because they blur texture and pores without Makeup Products adding the heavy, matte cakiness of older mattifying powders.
This is the powder category that’s actually evolved the most in recent years. The old mattifying powders left skin looking flat and lifeless. The new soft focus versions use finer milled particles that blur without erasing all the skin’s natural texture and glow.
- Apply with a fluffy brush, not a puff, for the most natural finish
- Focus application on the T-zone rather than the whole face
- Reapply lightly midday instead of piling on more in one go
How Should You Decide Which of These to Try First?
Start with whichever product solves your biggest current frustration, whether that’s makeup longevity, application speed, or skincare Makeup Products overlap, rather than trying to overhaul your whole routine at once.
Don’t buy all ten at once. That’s a waste of money and you won’t actually learn what’s working for your skin if you change everything simultaneously. Pick the one pain point bothering you most right now. Fix that first.
I’ve watched clients make this mistake constantly. Full routine overhaul, all new products, and then when something breaks them out or doesn’t work, they have no idea which product caused it. One change at a time tells you so much more.
Try the one proMakeup Productsduct from this list that’s solving your actual problem this week. Give it two or three uses before judging it. Then move to the next one once you know it’s earned a permanent spot.Makeup Products