FASHION‘s Annual Beauty Awards: 2017’s Best Products and Innovations

Lesa Hannah, Beauty Director, FASHION Magazine. @lesahannah

Souzan Michael, Beauty Editor, FASHION Magazine. @suziemichael_

Alyssa Garrison, blogger. @randomactsofpastel

Dr. Lisa Kellett, dermatologist and founder of DLK on Avenue

Emily McConnell, FASHION reader

Kaitlyn Peterson, FASHION reader

Laurel Freedman, FASHION reader

Leeanne Colley, manicurist and owner of Tips Nail Bar. @tipsnailbar

Luis Pacheco, Colourist and Founder of Medulla & Co. @luiscolourist

Madeline Della Mora, FASHION reader

Marian Bendeth, fragrance expert and owner of Sixth Scents

Meghan Young, blogger. @meghanyuriyoung

Pauline
Bakowski, facialist at Laya Spa

Sarah Dunk, vlogger. @sarahdunk

Simone Otis, makeup artist. @simoneotis

Susana Hong, hairstylist. @susana_hong

Sylvia Jade, vlogger. @hellosylviaa

BODY

Best Sunscreen (Higher Price Point)

“I like that it’s a 100ml bottle so it’s okay to bring as a carry on for vacation. Spreads nicely and repels water.” —Meghan Young

Best Sunscreen (Lower Price Point)

“Really nice, not too thick, and didn’t make my light skin look pasty.” —Pauline Bakowski

Best Teeth Whitener

Crest 3D White Whitestrips with Light

Best Body Scrub

“I am so impressed with this body scrub, I can’t believe it’s only $12! The smell is amazing, natural and fresh, like olives and flowers. I love that it was fully sealed and comes out as a very rich thick lotion which lathers up nicely leaving skin clean yet comfortable. I would recommend it to anyone.” —Madeline Della Mora

Best Body Wash

“What a unique product and applicator. I’ve used Konjac sponges for ages on my face, never thought to use one on my body. This body wash is incredibly smooth and comfortable, leaves my skin feeling clean and I enjoy the very gentle exfoliation of the sponge. It massages the product around well, way better than hands so you avoid waste. I did have a bit of trouble getting the sponge completely saturated with water, but it seems to be easier with time.” —Madeline Della Mora

Best Hand Cream

“Nice and rich, and great for dry winter weather. Not overly scented.” —Pauline Bakowski

Best Self-Tanner

“Overall performance was very good. Delivered an even, streak-free tan. Skin felt soft, sun-kissed and moisturized. Took around 8 hours to see results on my pale skin, and tan lasted for about 5 days.” —Lesa Hannah

Best New Innovation

“A great kit for easing people into natural deo!” —Lesa Hannah

COSMETICS

Best Lip Gloss (Higher Price Point)

“Very impressed with how comfortable and non-sticky this lip gloss is, considering how shiny it goes on. There’s a fair bit of sparkle to it that makes it perfect for nighttime.” —Souzan Michael

Best Lip Gloss (Lower Price Point)

“Glides on smooth. I really loved how my lips felt wearing this. Would be great to wear over a favourite lip shade.”—Leeanne Colley

Best Foundation (Higher Price Point)

“The It Cosmetics CC Cream is my all time favourite complexion product! I enjoy how it has a bit more coverage than your typical CC or BB cream. Something about the formula makes your skin look naturally radiant and flawless! I would not think twice about recommending this product to someone.” —Sarah Dunk

Best Foundation (Lower Price Point)

“Nice finish on skin. Medium to full coverage and lightweight. Very natural looking.” —Leeanne Colley

Best Blush

“I really love the packaging. The built-in brush on the end makes blending the product really easy. I also like that the brush can come off to clean. The product itself is looks really natural on the skin, blends really nicely and is long-wearing. It felt really comfortable too.” —Kaitlyn Peterson

Best Bronzer

“A well-thought-out compact, that covers all of your bases to enhance the highlights and shadows on your face. I really enjoyed mixing all 3 shades together for a really fresh look. The pans are divided nicely so that if you wish to only dip into one shade, you can easily do so. Overall I thought that each shade was very flattering and easy to work into the skin to create a natural look.” —Sarah Dunk

Best Highlighter (Higher Price Point)

“The dual-end packaging is so helpful for blending. The highlighter leaves a dewy, non-sparkly finish that lasts all day.” —Souzan Michael

Best Highlighter (Lower Price Point)

“It has a nice option of a subtle highlight using the liquid or it can be more intense with the stick.” —Leeanne Colley

Best Eyeshadow (Higher Price Point)

“This is the most luxurious eyeshadow palette I have ever tried. The colours and pigmentation are amazing and the packaging is incredibly beautiful. I love the mirror inside the palette. The colours wore all day and a little bit of product went a long way.” —Kaitlyn Peterson

Best Eyeshadow (Lower Price Point)

“This is product is beautiful and buildable. The pigmentation is stunning for the price point. I love that I can get a natural glow or build it up to get a very metallic chrome effect. I also think the texture is very different, but I like it. I think that’s what allows this product to be so buidlable. I like that I can achieve multiple looks with it.” —Kaitlyn Peterson

Best Lipstick (Higher Price Point)

“I would recommend this lipstick to anyone who is looking for a comfortable matte everyday lipstick. You just can’t go wrong with Charlotte Tilburry’s Pillow Talk. The unique shape of the lipstick bullet makes it very easy to apply. The packaging also has a nice weight to it, making it easier to find in your purse and perfect for leaving out on display. nice almost matte lipstick, goes on smoothly, doesn’t feel heavy.” —Sarah Dunk

Best Lipstick (Lower Price Point)

“The product dries down pleasantly and is super saturated.” —Souzan Michael

Best Eyeliner (Higher Price Point)

“A super smooth and delicate eyeliner, that will last in your waterline for hours. I loved using this to tight-line my upper water line, as it gave my lashes a super-full look.” —Sarah Dunk

Best Eyeliner (Lower Price Point)

“The super slim applicator tip makes it really easy to apply and draw with this eyeliner.” —Simone Otis

Best Eyebrow Product (Higher Price Point)

“This tinted gel comes with the tiniest spoolie, which is amazing and hard to find, as far as spoolies go! The ease of application is really unparalleled. You could use this while walking down the street, without a mirror, and still end up with perfect brows.” —Souzan Michael

Best Eyebrow Product (Lower Price Point)

“This product could compete with higher priced brow pencils. The tip is really precise and makes nice tiny brow hair strokes. The consistency is smooth and blendable and creates a really nice and soft brow look. I also love the brush on the end. It blends the product really nicely.” —Kaitlyn Peterson

Best Mascara (Higher Price Point)

“This mascara worked wonders on my eyelashes. Something about the combination of the wand and formula helped my lashes in looking extremely long and thick yet separated. A little bit goes a long way with this mascara. I enjoyed how easy the application process was!” —Sarah Dunk

Best Mascara (Lower Price Point)

“This is one of the best drugstore mascaras I have ever tried. It gives a lot of length and volume leaving the lashes looking full and dramatic. The only issue is I find after a few uses the brush starts to hold a lot of extra product. In order to get a nice application I have to take the time to remove a lot of excess product from the brush. Otherwise, I really love how my lashes look and feel while wearing this product.” —Kaitlyn Peterson

Best Contour Product

“I love everything about this product. Both shades in the palette are extremely flattering, and in my opinion, contain just the right amount of shimmer. The compact is constructed beautifully, and would be perfect to toss in your purse for touch-ups, or in your travel makeup bag.” —Sarah Dunk

Best Nail Polish

Best New Innovation

“A truly refreshing way to start off your makeup routine. A great all-in-one product, perfect if you are traveling, and do not want to bring multiple moisturizers and primers along with you. This little bottle is jam-packed with hydration, and sinks beautifully into the skin, prepping your face for foundation and concealer.” —Sarah Dunk

FACE

Best Cleanser (Higher Price Point)

“A facial cloth is a great bonus with this product. The cleanser smells like a spa product, and is very gentle. One of my favourites.”—Pauline Bakowski

Best Cleanser (Lower Price Point)

“This removed all makeup easily. Required 5 to 6 pumps to cover my whole face. After massaging it onto face you could see the makeup being lifted off, which was nice. Packaging is sleek and cute, however not much product comes out with each pump, so you have to push pump a few times before actually getting the right amount.” —Lesa Hannah

Best Moisturizer (Higher Price Point)

“Love the rose scent and that it’s a pure rose ingredient. It’s super hydrating and melts into your skin.” —Meghan Young

Best Moisturizer (Lower Price Point)

“The cream is housed in a lightweight plastic jar. It’s clinical packaging, but simple and cute (usual French pharmacy type packaging). Comes with a plastic spatula, which is very useful and a nice touch for a cream at a lower price point. Product itself is exactly what it says on packaging: rich, soft, creamy. The cream is thick, and absorbs well overnight. Easy and straightforward to use.” —Lesa Hannah

Best Eye Cream (Higher Price Point)

“Great for all skin types, reduces the appearance of dark circles and puffiness, reduces wrinkles and sits well under makeup.” —Madeline Della Mora

Best Eye Cream (Lower Price Point)

“Gentle, soothing, frangrance-free, and hydrates well. Lightweight and absorbs quickly- nice for daytime combined with some gentle face sunscreen over top.” —Pauline Bakowski

Best Face Oil (Higher Price Point)

“Good active ingredients in this oil, with a nice finish and pleasant scent” —Dr. Lisa Kellett

Best Face Oil (Lower Price Point)

“High quality ingredients make this a lovely daily face oil, with oils that are similar to the natural oils in the skin and therefore aren’t going to be too heavy for most skin types. Tinted glass bottle helps prevent product from oxidization and dropper is easy to use.” —Pauline Bakowski

Best Face Mask (Higher Price Point)

“The two part mask is clever, and stays on better than most sheet masks. I’ve never felt such immediate results from a skin product.” —Lesa Hannah

Best Face Mask (Lower Price Point)

“Time-crunched skincare junkies will appreciate a five-minute rinse-free product that absorbs directly into the skin after use.” —Lesa Hannah

Best Serum

“This is my perfect hydrating serum. 10/10. I love everything from Avène, they can do no wrong in my eyes! This serum feels like a cloud of comfort.” —Madeline Della Mora

Best Acne Product (Higher Price Point)

“A high quality gentle exfoliating lotion. Ingredients like willow bark extract, Aloe Vera, green and white clay, citric, salicylic, hyaluronic and glycolic acids and a base of jojoba and shea butters makes this an excellent choice for a long term home care routine.
Also this product boasts no parabens, sulfates, mineral oils.or colourants and is not tested on animals, so is a good choice for the ethical consumer.
Slight tingling upon application in more congested areas in very mild and the lotion absorbs well into the skin, not leaving a greasy feel.” —Pauline Bakowski

Best Acne Product (Lower Price Point)

“I loved these pads! Easy to use and left my skin feeling clean and not tight. After a few weeks of use, my skin felt softer. Would definitely continue using.” —Lesa Hannah

Best Exfoliator (Higher Price Point)

“The microcrystals are gentle and very effective. Skin feels incredibly smooth after use. A little goes a long way! This product should last you a long time.” —Pauline Bakowski

Best Exfoliator (Lower Price Point)

“Best toner/liquid exfoliant at the drugstore. Gentle, effective, cute and compact. Does exactly as it says and deserves all the awards. Perfect for sensitive skin, and any skin type or texture.” —Madeline Della Mora

Best Makeup Remover

“Beautycounter has the most amazing packaging, and a beautiful formula for all of their products. I found this powerful makeup remover to feel only slightly oily, but overall quite comfortable. I would absolutely recommend the brand and this product to anyone, it removes waterproof makeup in a jiffy.” —Madeline Della Mora

Best Lip Balm

“This lip balm is the best one I’ve tried to date. Everything about it is top notch – great ingredients, fantastic texture, I love the packaging and I think it’ll last for a really long time. Will repurchase for sure. Love that Bite is a Canadian company, too!” —Madeline Della Mora

Best New Innovation

“I loved this experience. Super easy with no mess. The fact that I can reuse it again is a bonus. Plus it left an interesting (yet not unpleasant) residue on my skin that made me feel like it really did do something.” —Meghan Young

FRAGRANCE

Best Men’s Fragrance (Higher Price Point)

“A warm and sensual scent, L’Homme is more feminine than a traditional mens fragrance. Its classic and intellectual. Less sexy than it is romantic and approachable”—Alyssa Garrison

Best Men’s Fragrance (Lower Price Point)

“This is a great cologne for a man who is not shy about wearing cologne. The scent is fairly strong, but in a good way. It lasts all day and does not fade like some of the other colognes. Because this scent is so strong, it is easy to go overboard. One spray of Prada Luna Rossa Carbon is plenty!”— Laurel Freedman

Best Women’s Fragrance (Higher Price Point)

“This sumptuous floral has a gorgeous elegance that has classical roots in it’s blend. Still a powerhouse.” —Marian Bendeth

Best Women’s Fragrance (Lower Price Point)

“Loved how the scent developed on skin (but I’m a sucker for spice) and lasted for hours. Packaging is unique.” —Lesa Hannah

Best Body Oil

“This is a great product. It makes your skin so soft and smell so good. You are not left with that sticky feeling afterwards like you are when using moisturizer. This is also a great product for hair as well when used in small doses to avoid getting to oily.” —Laurel Freedman

Best New Innovation

“I am absolutely enchanted by this magnificent scent. Floral yet sexy, mature yet vibrant. The tuberose blends perfectly with the blend of flowers used. 10/10 across the board.” —Alyssa Garrison

HAIR

Best Shampoo (Higher Price Point)

“Love it. Made my hair unbelievably shiny”—
Luis Pacheco

Best Shampoo (Lower Price Point)

“Very concentrated so very little is needed. Lathers up nicely.” —
Susana Hong

Best Conditioner (Higher Price Point)

“A little goes a long way and my hair felt smooth and silky, with no residue.” —Sylvia Jade

Best Conditioner (Lower Price Point)

“Made my hair feel very smooth!” —Emily McConnell

Best Styling Product

“The oil is ultra-nourishing, resulting in shine that’s immediately noticeable.” —Souzan Michael

Best Hair Tool

Best Hair Colour Product

A cool idea and fun way to play with colour with no commitment. Works well on any colour hair as it’s very opaque.” —Sylvia Jade

Best Dry Shampoo

“Absolutely love this product. One of the best dry shampoos on the market at a great price. Doesn’t add too much grit while completely absorbing oil.” —Susana Hong

Best New Innovation

“A true game-changer in hair styling. Each of the three variations of this product does exactly what it says. They are so easy to use and leave no heaviness, stickiness or residue in hair. Have gone through several bottles since the product was released last year.” —Souzan Michael