Cosmo Makeup Awards 2019 Winners: Best Beauty Products

The world of beauty is ever-evolving, and 2019 was a year of remarkable innovation, creativity, and stunning product launches. At the highly-anticipated Cosmo Makeup Awards 2019, leading editors, beauty experts, and industry insiders came together to identify and celebrate the best in makeup, skincare, and haircare. Drawing on rigorous testing and honest reviews from hundreds of panelists—including make-up artists, dermatologists, celebrities, and influencers—the awards ceremony revealed not just the year’s winners but also the most influential trends steering the beauty industry. From revolutionary hair devices to cult-favorite complexion products, discover the products that redefined our beauty routines and earned their coveted Cosmo accolade.

How the Winners Were Selected

The Cosmo Makeup Awards are renowned for their transparent and intensive selection process. This year, over a hundred panelists—including beauty editors, celebrity stylists, dermatologists, make-up artists, and influencers—painstakingly tested thousands of products across categories. Each product was reviewed for performance, formula innovation, value, and packaging. The final awards honored inclusivity by spotlighting indie and emerging brands alongside global powerhouses, ensuring that every beauty lover can find a winner suited to their needs.

• 2000+ products submitted across makeup, hair, and skin categories
• Diverse judging panel of 100+ beauty professionals
• Months of product testing and review
• Special attention given to indie brands and innovation

Editor’s Choice: Best Innovations

Every year, a few products emerge as true industry game-changers. For 2019, the editors gave special recognition to the best hair device and best facial cleansing device—devices that elevated daily routines through advanced technology and mesmerizing results.

• Best Hair Device: Dyson Airwrap – Harnessing the power of air to curl, wave, smooth, and volumize hair without extreme heat (redefining at-home styling).
• Best Facial Product: FOREO Luna 3 – An advanced facial cleansing and firming device using T-Sonic pulsations, designed for gentle yet deep daily cleansing for all skin types.

Both devices set new standards for luxury beauty tech, offering effective, user-friendly solutions to common hair and skincare goals.

Best in Makeup: Iconic Winners of 2019

From perfectly defined brows to radiant complexions and bold lips, these makeup winners became instant staples for professionals and enthusiasts alike.

• Best Eyelashes: Huda Beauty Lottie Lush Silk Lash — Volumizing, glamorous, and incredibly lightweight for comfortable all-day wear.
• Best Eyeliner: Inglot Gel Liner — Known for its intense pigment, smudge-proof finish, and easy application for both dramatic and subtle looks.
• Best Mascara: Givenchy Noir Couture — Delivers dramatic length and lift without clumping, perfect for achieving voluminous lashes.
• Best Brow Kit: Anastasia Beverly Hills Best Brow Ever — A go-to for experts and beginners seeking full, natural-looking brows.
• Best Eyeshadow Palette: Huda Beauty Mercury Retrograde — Offers a cosmic range of versatile, richly pigmented shades suitable for day and evening looks.
• Best Foundation: Charlotte Tilbury AirBrush Flawless Foundation — Provides full coverage with a natural finish, earning rave reviews for its skin-perfecting formula.
• Best Blush: Nudestix Nudies Matte Blush — Creamy, easy to blend, and flattering on a wide range of skin tones.
• Best Highlighter: Laura Mercier Face Illuminator Powder — Achieves a radiant, lit-from-within glow without emphasizing texture.
• Best Powder: Maybelline Fit Me Powder — Controls shine and sets makeup for a flawless, natural look at a budget-friendly price.
• Best Concealer: Maybelline Instant Age Rewind — Beloved for its creamy texture and brightening effect, especially under the eyes.
• Best Bronzer: Guerlain Terracotta — Cult-classic for adding a sun-kissed, natural warmth to the complexion.
• Best Contour Kit: NYX Contour Kit — Combines blendability and versatility to sculpt, define, and highlight facial features easily.
• Best Lip Product: Kiko Milano Unlimited Double Touch — A dual-ended product delivering vivid color and brilliant shine with long-lasting wear.

Standout Skincare and Body Winners

The Cosmo Makeup Awards also highlighted skincare essentials that deliver visible results and make self-care a truly indulgent experience. These products tackle everything from deep hydration to flawless body glow.

• Best Face Mask: Dermalogica Charcoal Rescue Masque — Detoxifies, brightens, and refines for instantly refreshed skin.
• Best Body Foundation: Fenty Beauty Body Lava — Leaves the skin luminous, enhanced, and smooth for every occasion.

Best in Haircare: Tools & Styling Products

Achieving salon-perfect hair at home is easier than ever thanks to these top haircare honorees. From cutting-edge tools to innovative mousses and styling products, here are the ones that made waves this year:

• Best Hair Volumizer: Evo Macgyver Multi-Use Mousse — Mega volume, soft touch, and versatile enough for any style or hair type. Praised as the best mousse Cosmopolitan testers encountered all decade.
• Best Hair Device: Dyson Airwrap — Its second win, celebrated for transforming hairstyling routines with air-powered technology.

Celebrating Indie and Emerging Brands

This year, the awards placed a special spotlight on indie beauty brands, which continue to shake up the industry with fresh ideas, unique narratives, and sustainable approaches. Standouts like Kiko Milano and Foreo were awarded for products that disrupted traditional standards and won the hearts of both experts and consumers with their innovation and accessibility.

Beyond the Awards: The Event Experience

The 2019 Cosmo Makeup Awards event was as glamorous as the products themselves. Held at stunning locations such as Vida Emirates Hills and The Four Seasons Mumbai, the night drew a glittering crowd of celebrities, influencers, beauty editors, and industry veterans. The event was a vibrant fusion of celebration and discovery, featuring:

• On-site hairstyling with Dyson tools, followed by social-media-ready photobooths
• Spectacular beauty product installations and immersive experiences
• Personalized goodie bags stocked with trending products (and a few sweet treats for good measure)
• Attendees including actors, stylists, fitness experts, designers, and top beauty bloggers

Guests mingled among portraits of the winning products, while editors and influencers shared live updates and Instastories capturing behind-the-scenes moments. The celebratory energy reinforced the spirit of innovation and inclusivity that guides the awards each year.

Spotlight: Award-Winning Brands & Their Signature Products

Our Goodie Bag Sponsors

The coveted event goodie bag featured both fan-favorites and fresh finds, offering attendees a taste of the very best in beauty and lifestyle treats. Special thanks went to these beloved brands that helped make the evening memorable:

• Chloe Perfumes – Signature, sophisticated fragrance classics
• Kiko Milano – Trend-forward makeup essentials
• Bioderma – Dermatologically recommended skincare
• Neuhaus – Gourmet chocolates, for a sweet event twist
• Essence – Affordable, vibrant color products
• Inglot – Longwear, high-performance makeup

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What criteria are used to select Cosmo Makeup Awards winners?

Products are evaluated on performance, formula innovation, safety, packaging design, user-friendliness, and industry impact, with real-world testing by a diverse panel of beauty professionals and influencers.

Are indie brands considered for the awards?

Yes, the Cosmopolitan Awards are recognized for their inclusivity and consistently highlight indie and emerging brands, ensuring a broad representation of innovation in beauty.

How many products are tested each year?

Panelists test and review thousands of products across all major beauty categories, from skincare to makeup and haircare, to ensure the finest selections for their final list.

Can I purchase the winning products online?

Most award-winning products are available via popular e-commerce platforms as well as specialty beauty retailers, making them widely accessible to consumers worldwide.

What makes the Cosmo Makeup Awards unique?

The awards process is grounded in transparent, expert-led testing and a deep commitment to showcasing both novel and cult-favorite brands, making them a trusted authority in annual beauty rankings.

Looking Ahead: Future of Beauty Awards

With a new decade on the horizon, the Cosmo Makeup Awards continue to push the boundaries of what beauty can be. The ongoing evolution of trends—like sustainable packaging, clean formulas, and tech-powered devices—promises another year of transformative launches and inspiring product discoveries. Beauty lovers everywhere can look forward to the next round of awards and the innovations it will bring.