Holy Grail Beauty Awards 2025: The Ultimate Makeup Winners Revealed
Discover the standout makeup products that earned the coveted Cosmopolitan Holy Grail Beauty Awards 2025, chosen by expert editors and real users.
Holy Grail Beauty Awards 2025: The Ultimate Makeup Winners
Each year, Cosmopolitan meticulously curates and bestows its Holy Grail Beauty Awards upon a select group of innovative, effective, and cutting-edge beauty products. The 2025 round brings a thoughtfully chosen roster of makeup essentials, crowned by editors and praised for their transformative formulas, inclusivity, and influence on the beauty world. This guide dives deep into each honored product, their features, what makes them standout among competitors, and expert-tested benefits that ensure they will earn a permanent place in your vanity.
What Are the Holy Grail Beauty Awards?
The Holy Grail Beauty Awards are Cosmopolitan’s annual selection of the most exceptional makeup and skincare products on the market. The editorial team, known for their discerning taste and deep industry experience, spends months testing, swatching, and reviewing hundreds of products in every category.
- Winners must deliver outstanding results for a diverse range of skin tones and types.
- Products are judged for innovation, wearability, inclusivity, and overall real-world performance.
- The selection process is celebrated for being transparent, competitive, and trusted in the industry.
How the Winners Are Chosen
Cosmopolitan’s editors rely on their decades of combined experience in reviewing beauty products, but they also incorporate rigorous wear tests and feedback from real-world users. In 2025, editors had to navigate thousands of launches, narrowing it down to only the best-performing, most universally loved makeup, regardless of hype or price point.
- All winners have been used extensively by editors, judged in different lighting, conditions, and makeup styles.
- User reviews and industry feedback supplement editor evaluations.
- Selection is extremely exclusive; only two eyeshadow palettes made the 190-product list, highlighting the award’s tough competition.
Cosmopolitan’s Must-Have Makeup Picks for 2025
This year’s makeup winners span every core category, from complexion products to vivid eye palettes and super-blendable blushes. Editors highlighted products that solve real problems, enhance creativity, and represent new benchmarks for beauty innovation.
Best Foundation
- Jones Road Just Enough Tinted Moisturizer
A hybrid formula that bridges foundation and moisturizer is a new favorite for those seeking natural, buildable coverage with skin-loving benefits. Editor and user reviews describe it as “hydrating, with a thicker moisturizer texture that provides subtle but effective coverage.” Many praised its ability to deliver a healthy glow without heaviness or cakiness. - Haus Labs Triclone Skin Tech Foundation
This foundation helped users “rediscover their love of makeup” thanks to its weightless feel, longevity, and shade inclusivity. It suits all skin tones and is celebrated for its smooth, easy application.
Best Powder Foundation
- MAC Cosmetics Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation
Waterproof, available in nearly 70 shades for all skin tones, and an unbeatable oil-control formula. Editors dubbed it “a must-have” for blurring imperfections and providing matte, lasting coverage, especially for oily skin types.
What others are reading
Top Tinted Moisturizer
- NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Praised for combining skincare benefits, SPF protection, and a radiant finish. Users and editors agree it’s a “go-to” product that improves skin appearance and maintains comfort all day.
Best Contour & Bronzer
- Rare Beauty Warm Wishes Effortless Bronzer Stick
Over half of surveyed readers and editors professed their “unending love” for this ultra-creamy, super blendable formula. It makes contouring foolproof for beginners and pros alike, with no risk of harsh lines.
Best Blush
- Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush
Selena Gomez’s game-changing liquid blush formula deservedly made the list for its intense pigment, seamless blend, and universal appeal across skin tones. Editors highlight its “iconic” ability to deliver a fresh, vibrant glow.
Best Eyeshadow Palette
- Ace Beaute Flair Palette
One of only two palettes to make the cut, the Ace Beaute Flair Palette received recognition as the best bright eyeshadow palette. Editors adored the 15 versatile shades, noting their unique color story and blendability: “There are very few palettes that I use every single color of, but this is one of them.”- Features powdery oranges, shimmering blues, and wearable brights for any look.
- All shades compliment each other and offer unmatched versatility.
- Perfect for creative individuals and staple for both beginners and experts.
Best Brow Product
- Benefit Cosmetics Brow Zings Pro Palette
Lauded for its user-friendly format, variety of shades, and tools that help sculpt and set brows to perfection. Editors attribute its success to “reliable hold and seamless blending.”
Best Mascara
- L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara
Editors and readers consistently praise it for dramatic volume, length, and all-day wear without smudging. “Deserves an award for delivering luxury-level lashes on a drugstore budget.”
Best Lip Product
- Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick
Celebrated for its pigmentation, longevity (up to 16 hours), and comfort—even under masks. Editors note its range of shades, from nudes to bold reds and purples.
Key Trends From This Year’s Award Winners
- Inclusivity: Nearly every winning complexion product offers an extensive shade range, striving to serve all skin tones and undertones.
- Hybrid Formulations: Most winners blur the lines between makeup and skincare, offering benefits like hydration, SPF, antioxidants, and soothing ingredients.
- Simplicity & Ease: Products that perform quickly and effortlessly, with beginner-friendly blends and packaging, dominated the list.
- Bold Colors & Creativity: From bright eyeshadow palettes to deeply pigmented blushes, 2025 was all about embracing color and self-expression.
Editor Insights and Testing Process
Cosmopolitan’s editors don’t just rely on press releases—they rigorously test each finalist in real life, with different skin conditions, lighting setups, and over extended periods. Their selection process includes:
- Swatching products on multiple skin tones.
- Using for weeks in various climates and scenarios.
- Consulting with guest experts and dermatologists.
- Gathering feedback from both staffers and community testers.
Winners must outperform competitors in terms of efficacy, comfort, and “wow factor.” Commentary—such as “This is the only palette where I use every shade”—is weighed alongside metric-based ratings.
Breakdown of the Makeup Award Categories
| Category | Winning Product | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation/Tint | Jones Road Just Enough Tinted Moisturizer | Moisturizing, natural coverage, hydrating |
| Powder Foundation | MAC Studio Fix Plus | Waterproof, oil control, inclusive shades |
| Tinted Moisturizer | NARS Pure Radiant | SPF, radiant finish, doubles as skincare |
| Bronzer/Contour | Rare Beauty Bronzer Stick | Creamy, blendable, beginner-friendly |
| Blush | Rare Beauty Liquid Blush | Intense pigment, seamless blend |
| Eyeshadow | Ace Beaute Flair Palette | Bright colors, high versatility |
| Brow | Benefit Brow Zings | Multi-shade, precise sculpting |
| Mascara | L’Oréal Lash Paradise | Volume, length, smudge-resistance |
| Lipstick | Maybelline SuperStay Ink | Long wear, bold shade range |
Expert Quotes
“There are very few palettes that I use every single color of, but this is one of them. From a fiery-orange to a shimmery light blue, these hues aren’t for the timid—but also aren’t too wild for anyone wanting to give their look a bit of wow!” — Julee Wilson, Cosmo Beauty Editor
The editorial consensus is that each winner genuinely elevates the category and brings something fresh and reliable to everyday routines.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What makes the Holy Grail Beauty Awards so respected?
Cosmopolitan Holy Grail Beauty Awards are highly respected due to their thorough vetting and testing process, transparent criteria, and editorial expertise. Only a small fraction of contenders become winners, making the awards a trusted buying guide for consumers.
Do these products work for all skin types?
Yes, inclusivity is a cornerstone of the awards. Winning products are tested for efficacy across dry, oily, combination, and sensitive skin, with accessible shade ranges and gentle formulas.
How do I find the winning products?
All products are widely available at major beauty retailers and online. Editors often link or mention retail locations such as Sephora, Ulta, and drugstores in their reviews.
Why didn’t my favorite product win?
The selection is extremely competitive and based on months of hands-on testing. Editors prioritize products that consistently outperform competitors in universal appeal, innovation, and reliability.
Conclusion: Your 2025 Makeup Staples
The Holy Grail Beauty Awards 2025 are your shortcut to the cream of the crop in makeup innovation. These winning products deliver outstanding color payoff, blendability, skin benefits, and long wear, handpicked by expert editors who put every claim to the test. Whether you’re seeking a radiant base, bold color for eyes or lips, or next-level brow sculpting, these makeup essentials are guaranteed to elevate your routine for the year ahead.
References
- https://www.acebeaute.com/blogs/press/we-earned-a-cosmopolitan-holy-grail-beauty-award
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxsTZvCq5lo
- https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/beauty/a65321822/readers-choice-beauty-awards-2025/
- https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/beauty/a64529721/holy-grail-beauty-awards-2025/
- https://camerareadycosmetics.com/collections/cosmopolitan-beauty-awards
- https://open.spotify.com/episode/3z26gQ2NgtpFhyxn1TxEvy
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