I’m so excited to announce for the 2nd year in a row, I judged the 2017 Glamour Beauty Awards — this year they even put me in the magazine (Page 88! I’m wearing winner Tom Ford Lips & Boys in shade Logan!). And they gave all of the judges a lovely shout out on glamour.com!
Glamour selected a long list of their favorites, looking at every launch from the past year, and from there they selected 45 judges, myself included and broke down the nominees by category — I judged the Designer & Luxury category! Together with the other judges and categories the 73 best new products were chosen, as well as 17 Cult Classics, which you should all pay attention to. Those winners have stood the test of time and I can vouch for the majority of them! Without further adieu the winners in my category and mini reviews on why I love them below!
The Best Lip Color: Tom Ford Lips & Boys Lip Color
I’m such a Tom Ford fan, so to be wearing a lipstick from his collection in Glamour to announce this winner is so major for me. I love the mini clutch-approved size of the Lips & Boys lipsticks, and of course iconic packaging. Each shade is inspired by the men in Mr. Ford’s life. The lipstick goes on smooth, packs a strong pigment with the most beautiful sheen, it feels amazing on.
The Best Face Mask: Lancome Energie De vie The Overnight Recovery Sleeping Mask
This is literally my holy grail and secret to looking like I actually sleep. Overnight it cleans pores, refines their size, smoothes the texture of the skin, plumps and brightens. The quickest fix for dry, tired skin so you wake up like a million bucks. The entire collection is incredible — I started with the Energie vie De Vie Liquid Care (also exceptional) and fell so in love I now own the whole collection.
The Best Blush: Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Luminous Blush
It’s a stunning shade range — one I don’t feel like I can turn to any other brand for something comparable. They are truly unique and stunning. The formula is beautifully buildable, and a little goes a long way. You hardly need any product to make your skin glow!
The Best SPF: Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 50+ for Sensitive Skin & Children
I’ve long admired Shiseido’s sunscreens, this one is no exception and comes with a story. I consider myself the SPF police, especially for my family and my step-mother called me one day and said that my little brother was having a hard time finding an SPF that he didn’t react to. I had just tried this one and the fact that it was formulated for sensitive skin, safe for kids, and had an SPF 50, I sent it his way. It worked amazingly and I can not be more excited that it won. Out of all the sunscreens in the world to have picked one that worked for him — and on my first try, makes me so happy. I highly recommend it for adults, especially if you have sensitive skin and when I texted him to let him know it won, he notified me my bottle is currently in the Bahamas with him. It’s all good, I have since replenished my stash.
The Best Brow Product: Benefit Precisely My Brow Pencil
It’s waterproof, lasts all day and the precision tip enables you to shape, and fill in brows with ease. It’s virtually dummy-proof!
The Best Foundation: Giorgio Armani Beauty Maestro Glow
This is the definition of no makeup makeup. It’s super lightweight, and delivers the most flawless, natural glow.
The Best Cleanser: Caudalie Make-up Removing Cleansing Oil
I use it before my face wash to cleanse the day away and makeup off my face. I love that it’s 100% natural, and leaves my skin feeling so moisturized and good after.
The Best Mist: Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Miracle Hydrating Mist
Packed with antioxidants and vitamins, I just want to spray this on my face all day. But realistically only do when my skin is feeling dry, or needs a pick-me-up.
The Best Device: Clarisonic Mia Fit
The classic Clarisonic brush we love in a redefined shape that’s so much more portable and comfortable to hold. And it takes up less space in the shower. Double win!
The Best Bronzer: Kevyn Aucoin The Neo Bronzer
It’s the perfect highlight, blush and contour palette in one portable and convenient palette. It’s everything you need for sun-kissed, luminous, skin!
The Best Self-Tanner: St. Tropez Gradual Tan In Shower Lotion in Medium
It glides over moist skin easily and gets you tan ready without streaking, fresh out of the shower. It’s never orange and leaves me perfectly tan and bronzed. Just make sure to follow the directions and evenly apply.
The Best Exfoliator: Dr. Dennis Gross Ferulic + Retinol Wrinkle Recovery Peel
All of the Dr. Dennis Gross Ferlic + Retinol products are exceptional (the eye products are some of my all time favorites). It’s one of the best anti-aging lines on the market and this peel exfoliates and retexturizes skin beautifully.
The Best Eye Cream: By Terry Cellularose Liftessence Eye Contour
This eye cream is one for the skeptics… it’s the real deal! It instantly fills in lines and tightens the under eye area.
The Best Serum: SK-II Facial Treatment Oil
I’m on the Pitera wagon, The SK-II Essence has had a permanent residency in my bathroom for the past 2 years. Although I’m newer to this treatment oil, which takes their miracle ingredient and blends it with a balance of nourishing oils including jojoba, olive oil and squalene for intense hydration and to combat environmental stressors.
The Best Lip Treatment: Dior Addict Lip Glow Pomade
From the packaging to the application and formula it’s a pleasure to apply. It plumps, and self adjusts to your perfect rosy tint while deeply hydrating chapped lips.
The other winners in my category include La Mer The Moisturizing Soft Lotion for Best Moisturizer, OPI Gel Break Nail Color for The Best Nail Polish, Jo Malone London Rare Teas Collection for winning best fragrance, Kiehl’s Dermatologist Solutions Breakout Control Targeted Acne Spot Treatment for Best Acne Treatment, Bobbi Brown Nude Finish Illuminating Powder for winning Best Setting Powder, Hourglass Curator Lash Instrument and Curator Realist Defining Mascara for Best Mascara, and Laura Mercier Foundation Primer Blemish-less for winning Best Primer.
As I mentioned before I judged the Designer & Luxury category, but there are several others categories including: Natural & Organic, Cult Classics, Drugstore Buys, and Hair. While there are beauty products in this world I haven’t tried (although very few when I realize the majority of the winners were in my bathroom — I’m kidding… kind of!), I did want to shout out some of the ones that have graced my shelves over the years, especially in the Drugstore and Cult Classics category which in addition to Luxury, I consider my specialty. I have an extensive background in beauty from working for so many brands but they were always in skincare and cosmetics as were my trainings, so hair is still not one of those categories I consider myself a true expert in. Although I go to enough educational events, that I’m getting there! Naturals is another category I’m trying to learn more about. I worked for Kiehl’s and Jurlique in my corporate marketing past life so I have an appreciation for nature and science together, but the world of natural, organic or clean beauty on it’s own is so much more complex but the advances over the past few years have peaked my interest and it’s an area I want to grow in. Stores like Whole Foods, Credo and Follain are outstanding for finding brands in this category and have been a great resource for me. Enough of my geeking out though, a special congratulations to all the winners, especially the below ones. I may not have been a part of you winning the award but you all have won shelf space in my vanity and are outstanding. And the winners are…
The Best Blush in Cult Classics (designer): NARS Orgasm Blush
The Best Palette in Cult Classics: Urban Decay Naked Palette 2
The Best Mascara (designer) in Cult Classics: Benefit They’re Real Lengthening Mascara
The Best Mascara (drugstore) in Cult Classics: Maybelline New York Great Lash Mascara
The Best Nail Color in Cult Classics: Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Color Coat in Wine Stock
The Best Moisturizer in Cult Classics: Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+
The Best Serum in Cult Classics (designer): Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II
The Best Body Product in Cult Classics: Jergens Natural Glow
The Best Beauty Tool in Cult Classics: The Original Beautyblender
The Best Nail Polish in Drugstore Buys: Essie Gel Couture Nail Color
The Best Foundation in Drugstore Buys: L’Oreal Paris True Match Lumi Cushion Foundation
The Best Blush in Drugstore Buys: NYX Professional Makeup Ombre Blush
The Best Bronzer in Drugstore Buys: Physicians Formula Super BB #InstaReady Filter BB Bronzer SPF 30
The Best Lip Color: Maybelline New York Color Sensational The Loaded Bolds.
The Best Moisturizer in Drugstore Buys: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel SPF 15
The Best Eye Cream in Drugstore Buys: Olay Eyes DePuffing Eye Roller
The Best Cleanser in Drugstore Buys: Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water All-in-1 Cleanser & Makeup Remover
Best Face Mask in Natural & Organic Category: Tata Harper Purifying Mask
Best Mascara in Natural & Organic Category: Juice Beauty Phyto-Pigments Ultra-Natural Mascara
See all the winners in the April 2017 issue, now on stands and on glamour.com
Thank you Glamour magazine for inviting me to judge your awards, I don’t even have the words on how happy it makes me after over a decade in the beauty industry to put my passion and endless years of being a guinea pig to good use. I’m beyond elated to see my face in the April issue wearing Tom Ford — I bow down to this brand and your publication, so it’s truly been an honor.