Cosmopolitan’s 2019 Ultimate Skin Awards: The Best Beauty Game-Changers
Celebrating the top skincare, makeup, and tools that truly transformed complexions and routines in 2019.
Cosmopolitan’s 2019 Ultimate Skin Awards
Crowning the absolute best in beauty, the 2019 Cosmopolitan Skin Awards gathered thousands of products, tested them rigorously, and spotlighted only those that proved truly worthy. Guided by a blend of science, relentless editor testing, and sheer results, these winners transformed routines and set new industry benchmarks.
The Selection Process
What does it take for a product to win a Cosmo Skin Award? Judges scoured new releases, bestsellers, and cult favorites, evaluating efficacy, innovation, and user experience. Each product faced weeks of application, side-by-side comparisons, and “real-life” tests—ensuring the selections represent the best of the best in every category.
- Products were tested by editors, beauty experts, and real users.
- Criteria focused on visible results, formula safety, and value.
- Each category highlights inclusivity, accessibility, and innovation.
Best Skincare Products of 2019
Best Cleanser
Skin starts with a clean canvas, and this year’s winning cleanser impressed with its gentle yet effective formula. Whether you wear full glam or just SPF, this product dissolves debris without stripping essential moisture, suitable for even the most sensitive complexions.
Best Exfoliator
Exfoliation is crucial for glowing skin, and the top pick delivered ultra-smoothness with a blend of physical and chemical polishers. Editors raved about its ability to slough away dullness while making pores appear smaller and skin more luminous after just one use.
Best Face Mask
The ultimate multitasking mask of 2019 detoxifies, brightens, and hydrates in a single application. Infused with activated charcoal, vitamin C, and soothing botanicals, it countered congestion and dullness in under 15 minutes, making it an instant editor favorite.
Best Moisturizer
Rich, fast-absorbing, and non-greasy—the winning moisturizer struck the perfect balance of comfort and performance. Packed with ceramides and hyaluronic acid, it quenched parched skin and doubled as a makeup primer. Suitable for all skin types, it’s become a year-round staple.
Best Eye Cream
Puffiness and dark circles beware—the editor-acclaimed eye cream utilized peptide complexes and light-reflecting particles to instantly lift and brighten the under-eye area. Lightweight and non-irritating, it’s ideal for daily use under concealer.
Best Serum
This serum outperformed the rest thanks to a high concentration of active ingredients. Its innovative blend of niacinamide and stabilized vitamin C minimized hyperpigmentation, calmed redness, and boosted luminosity. The editors noted a noticeable difference in skin tone within two weeks.
Best Face Oil
Lightweight yet nourishing, this oil combined jojoba and rosehip seed oils for deep hydration without clogging pores. It left skin soft, dewy, and visibly healthier by morning—even for those prone to breakouts.
Best Acne Spot Treatment
Fast-acting and non-drying, this industry-changing spot treatment banished blemishes overnight with a blend of salicylic acid and sulfur. Editors praised its invisible finish and lack of stinging or irritation compared to harsher formulas.
Best Sunscreen
Effective UV defense with a sheer, weightless finish made this sunscreen a clear winner. No chalky residue, no breakouts—just serious broad-spectrum protection that layers seamlessly under makeup.
Breakthrough Skin Care Tools and Devices
Best At-Home Device
What others are reading
Skincare gadgets took off in 2019, and this tool set a new standard for home facial treatments. Using sonic pulsations, it cleansed deeper than traditional methods, boosting glow and tightening pores in minutes.
Best Jade Roller/Gua Sha
Editors celebrated the new generation of sculpting tools. The best pick soothed puffiness, enhanced product absorption, and provided a spa-like facial massage, turning self-care routines into sacred rituals.
Standout Makeup Essentials
Best Foundation
Meet-your-skin-but-better coverage: This year’s best foundation offered a flawless, long-lasting finish, wide shade range, and breathable feel—all while resisting humidity and sweat. Editors highlighted its adaptability from natural to full glam looks.
Best Concealer
The ultimate undereye eraser with buildable coverage, lightweight texture, and a crease-proof formula. Its wide array of shades made it inclusive and user-friendly for all skin tones.
Best Powder
This featherweight powder kept complexions matte without ever looking cakey. Baked minerals and oil-absorbing microspheres controlled shine, blurred pores, and set makeup for all-day wear.
Best Blush
Creamy, blendable pigment that fuses with skin for a natural flush—this blush won over test panels for its on-the-go stick format and versatile shades, compatible with any complexion.
Best Bronzer
Warm just-back-from-vacation radiance in a compact: The winner imparted a subtle, buildable glow with finely-milled powders that layered seamlessly without streaking.
Best Highlighter
This shimmering powder set the benchmark for the year, delivering a lit-from-within glow with zero glitter fallout. Available in multiple undertones, it catered to diverse skin tones with a natural yet showstopping gleam.
Best Contour Kit
Editors loved the blendable powders that went from sculpted subtlety to dramatic chisel with a few brush strokes. The universally flattering shades made mastering contour surprisingly easy, even for beginners.
Best Eyeshadow Palette
True pigment payoff and a balance of mattes and shimmers propelled this palette to the top. Editors appreciated the high-impact color, blendability, and mix of wearable neutrals and eye-catching metallics.
Best Eyeliner
This familiar gel liner offered rich color payoff and impressive longevity, gliding easily along lash lines without tugging or smudging.
Best Mascara
Delivering major length, curl, and definition without flakes or clumps, this mascara became an instant favorite among testers seeking dramatic, buildable lashes.
Best Eyelash Product
For instant volume and drama, these silk lashes offered natural-looking fullness with light, flexible bands—making application a breeze, even for beginners.
Best Brow Kit
From powders to gels, this comprehensive kit helped all users find their perfect brow, regardless of experience or brow shape.
Best Lip Color
This two-step lip color system impressed with its saturated pigment and serious staying power—no cracking or feathering in sight.
Best Body Foundation
Offering a smooth, radiant finish for limbs and décolletage, this body foundation set the standard for even coverage while feeling light, never sticky.
Innovations in Body Care
Best Body Moisturizer
Deep hydration without sticky residue defined this year’s best. Infused with nourishing oils and antioxidants, it revitalized skin from head to toe after just one use.
Best Hand Cream
Editors sought a fast-absorbing, super-soothing formula that repaired dryness and left hands touchably soft but not greasy—ideal for on-the-go hydration, especially in harsh climates.
Best Skin Supplement
Supplements received higher scrutiny in 2019, but this award winner convinced the panel with strong results in skin plumpness, youthfulness, and overall texture. Formulated with marine collagen and antioxidants, testers noted visible improvements within a month.
Editor and Expert Special Mentions
- Best Hair Device: A multi-styling tool delivering effortless waves, volume, and sleekness with minimal heat damage.
- Editors’ Choice Face Tool: A high-tech cleansing brush providing gentle yet deep cleaning, perfect for daily use.
- Best Scent in a Beauty Product: Several products were praised for their addictive fragrances, elevating the skincare ritual.
Goodie Bag Favorites
No Cosmo Awards celebration is complete without covetable goodie bags. Highlights from this year’s sponsors included indulgent chocolates and editor-approved beauty minis—a perfect sampler of top picks for every guest to enjoy at home.
- Designer perfumes
- Skincare bestsellers
- Innovative makeup staples
- Luxe haircare treatments
- Handcrafted chocolates
Editor Faves and Pro Tips
- Always patch test before using new skincare or makeup to avoid reactions.
- Invest in products that multitask—saving time and space in your routine.
- Remember consistency is key: stick to the winners daily for best results.
- Don’t be afraid to experiment. Today’s top products deliver both performance and versatility.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: How are the Cosmopolitan Skin Awards winners chosen?
A: Products undergo weeks of hands-on testing by editors and expert panels, evaluating visible results, overall experience, and ingredient safety. Categories are refined yearly to reflect new trends and solve real skincare/makeup challenges.
Q: Can I buy all the winning products online?
A: Yes. Most winners are available at leading beauty retailers or directly from brand websites. Many winners also ship internationally for global accessibility.
Q: Are the awarded products suitable for sensitive skin?
A: While many featured products are formulated for sensitive or reactive skin, always review ingredients and conduct a patch test if you’re prone to irritation.
Q: Why do some categories have both expert and readers’ choice winners?
A: To showcase truly inclusive picks, Cosmopolitan includes jury selections as well as public voting, reflecting diverse preferences and real-life results.
Q: What if I can’t afford the winning products?
A: Editors always spotlight high-performing budget-friendly winners in each category—quality and results, not just price tags, drive award decisions.
Q: Can I nominate products for next year’s awards?
A: Cosmopolitan welcomes nominations from brands, consumers, and beauty professionals via their annual submission portal for the next awards cycle.
| Category | 2019 Winner | Highlight |
|---|---|---|
| Hair Device | Dyson Airwrap | Multi-styling, minimal heat damage |
| Facial Cleansing Tool | FOREO Luna 3 | Gentle sonic cleansing, deep clean |
| Eyelashes | Huda Beauty Silk Lash | Realistic fullness, flexible band |
| Eyeliner | Inglot Gel Liner | Rich pigment,long-wear |
| Mascara | Givenchy Noir Couture | Bold, voluminous lashes |
| Brow Kit | Anastasia Beverly Hills | All-in-one, natural look |
| Eyeshadow Palette | Huda Beauty Mercury Retrograde | Pigmented, versatile shades |
| Face Mask | Dermalogica Charcoal Rescue Masque | Brightens, purifies skin |
| Foundation | Charlotte Tilbury AirBrush Flawless | Flawless, weightless coverage |
| Blush | Nudestix Nudies Matte Blush | Creamy, portable |
| Highlighter | Laura Mercier Face Illuminator | Radiant, natural shimmer |
| Powder | Maybelline Fit Me | Light, matte finish |
| Concealer | Maybelline Instant Age Rewind | Affordable, effective |
| Bronzer | Guerlain Terracotta | Sun-kissed look |
| Body Foundation | Fenty Beauty Body Lava | Radiant, smooth coverage |
| Lip Product | Kiko Milano Double Touch | Long-wear, vibrant color |
| Contour Kit | NYX | Easy blending, affordable |
References
- https://www.cosmopolitanme.com/beauty/26730-cosmo-beauty-awards-2019-the-winners
- https://www.medis.com/en/news/news-single/news/merz-spezial-cream-mousse-hyaluron-winner-of-cosmo-beauty-award/
- https://indeedlabs.com/en-us/pages/awards
- https://www.cosmopolitanme.com/beauty/26736-highlights-of-the-cosmo-beauty-awards-2019
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3x5SgADQWLc
- https://camerareadycosmetics.com/collections/cosmopolitan-beauty-awards
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