Best Makeup for 2021 – Foundation, Concealer, Bronzer, Eyes & More

*Links marked with asterisks are affiliate links, these help Ree with running costs of the blog

Here are my best makeup recommendations for 2021. This includes skin bases, concealers, powder, contour and bronzers, blush, highlighter, eyeshadow, mascara, brows and lips!

2020 was quite a different year for makeup and it played a very unique role for making us look and feel better, even if we weren’t seeing anyone! Natural looking skin perfectors were a big focus, with foundations and tinted moisturisers playing key roles. Also eyes truly got their time in the limelight and mask-wearing made them more on show than ever.

Although loads of beauty addicts focused on skincare even more last year and continue to do that in 2021, makeup played a very important part in keeping us all going.

Whenever I needed a boost, I got on a full face of makeup and did my hair, even if I wasn’t leaving the house. I discovered lots of gorgeous new products.

For everything you need for skin, make sure you read Best Skincare Products for 2021.

Best Makeup for 2021 – Face Primers

I didn’t used to be much of a primer girl. When I use them, I tend to think of them as an addition to my skincare regime, so I like them to have skincare benefits.

Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter – The Glow Giver

This product was definitely going to appear in my makeup favourites post, but the problem was deciding which was the best category for it. It does so much and you can use it in a lot of different ways.

I love it as a primer to add serious yet natural looking glow, boost hydration, and softly perfect flaws. It is amazing. I also love it mixed into foundation to amp up the dew factor. It blends effortlessly into any medium and the shade range recently expanded to suit even more skin tones.

You can purchase it for £34 at:

• Charlotte Tilbury*
• Space NK*
• Selfridges*
• Cult Beauty*
• John Lewis*

Read the full Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter review..

Smashbox Photo Finish Vitamin Glow Primer – Antioxidant Booster

Smashbox really know primer so I knew this would be good. It feels hydrating and quenching and gives the skin a lovely juicy, plumped up look as soon as you apply it. It has a lovely melting texture that spreads and glides over the skin and feels super comfortable.

It’s a lightweight formula that uses vitamins B, C and E for antioxidant protection. Team it with a good SPF and you’re all protected!

You can purchase it for £30 at:

• Smashbox*
• lookfantastic*
• Feel Unique*

Read the full Smashbox Photo Finish Vitamin Glow Primer review.

Guerlain L’Essentiel Pore-Minimising Primer – Pore Minimiser

Guerlain is one of my favourite makeup brands because they have so much heritage and history, yet they are constantly innovating. The Guerlain L’Essentiel Pore-Minimising Primer is a a true skincare formula with 97% naturally derived ingredients in a Pre- and Probiotic blend.

It includes Avocado Extract to help absorb excess sebum while White Cocoa Bean Extract helps to refine the look of pores and supports skin’s natural balance and barrier.

It’s a lightweight formula that works like a protective barrier between the skin and foundation. It creates a super smooth base for foundation to be applied over and means you can use less foundation to achieve really good coverage.

It is available for £38 at:

• Selfridges*
• John Lewis*
• Feelunique*

Read the full Guerlain L’Essentiel Pore-Minimising Primer review.

Glossier Priming Moisturizer Balance – Soft Mattifier

I don’t do full matte so I like the newest primer from Glossier as it leaves a dewy-matte finish. This means it works well to diffuse the look of pores, and while it has a soft mattifying effect, it still leaves the skin looking radiant and just the right amount of dewy.

There’s plenty of skincare in here with Niacinamide and Willow Bark Extract to improve skin texture and Apple extract to lock in moisture. It sits nicely under SPF and makeup, as you’d expect, and works well to keep a shiny t-zone under control.

It is available for £23 at Glossier*.

Read the full Glossier Priming Moisturizer Balance review..

Victoria Beckham Cell Rejuvenating Priming Moisturiser Golden – the Golden Glow

I really like the Original version* of this primer that VB created in collaboration skincare experts Augustinus Bader. Last year the new Golden version was added to the line up and it’s fabulous for getting that really natural radiance with lots of lovely warmth and glow.

Infused with Professor Bader’s proprietary Cell Rejuvenating complex, this formula is as much skincare as it is makeup. You can use it under foundation, over foundation or alone for a super flattering healthy glow.  I really like this alone with some concealer just where I need it.

You can buy it for £95 and £140 at:

• Cult Beauty*
• Net a Porter*

Read the full Victoria Beckham Cell Rejuvenating Priming Moisturiser Golden review.

Best Makeup for 2021 – Tinted Moisturiser

La Mer Radiant SkinTint – Great Coverage & High Protection

I think this skin base from La Mer is potentially my favourite multi-tasking base right now. It is dreamy.

So this is a lightweight base designed to deliver light coverage but what I love about it is that you can really build to a very natural level of flawlessness. I think this is down to its clever skin perfecting properties.

It has a beautiful balmy texture and is so glowy and skin perfecting, yet literally looks like you are wearing nothing at all on the skin. I love that it has SPF50 in such an elegant formula. You would never guess that it’s so loaded with protection. It just feels like luxury skincare.

It is available at:

• La Mer UK*
• Selfridges*
• John Lewis*
• Harvey Nichols*

Read the full La Mer Radiant SkinTint review.

Armani Neo Nude True-To-Skin Natural Glow Foundation – Water Light Hydration

This is technically a foundation, but I am putting this in my tinted moisturiser category.

This base promises to fuse the best of skincare with the best of foundation and it’s a really lovely base. The formula is more than 50% water, so if you are looking for a hit of hydration, this will do the trick. It is infused with hyaluronic acid and glycerin for long lasting hydration and is so comfortable on the skin.

It has the most gorgeous firm gel serum texture which melts into the skin effortlessly. As you smooth it on there is the sensation of water droplets bursting over the skin and it feels instantly hydrating and refreshing. It offers sheer to light coverage that you can build up in weightless layers. There are 24 shades, I use shade 4.

It is available at:

• LOOKFANTASTIC*
• Feelunique*
• Selfridges*
• John Lewis*
• Armani Beauty*.

Read the full Armani Neo Nude True-To-Skin Natural Glow Foundation review..

Sisley Phyto Hydra Teint Beautifying Tinted Moisturizer – Updated Classic

In 2020, Sisley updated their much loved tinted moisturiser formula and now it’s even better.

I love this tinted moisturiser because it’s so easy to use and really looks beautiful on the skin. You need minimal skin prep because it is so moisturising and hydrating. Shade 1 adjusts perfectly to my skin tone and evens out redness and imperfections.

The finish is velvety finish, but not flat and it imparts a very natural radiance. It feels just like skincare, and is super comfortable to wear.

It is available at:

• Space NK*
• Selfridges*
• Harrods*
• Harvey Nichols*.

Read the full Sisley Phyto Hydra Teint Beautifying Tinted Moisturizer review.

Tom Ford Glow Tinted Moisturizer SPF15 – Super Glow

This tinted moisturiser has a gorgeous creamy formula and gives the skin a wonderful glow.

It is a sheer yet buildable formula, that is infused with hyaluronic acid and jojoba oils for nourishing hydration. It gives the skin a lovely smooth finish with a weightless texture, and it’s great on blurring fine lines and wrinkles, and balancing out hyperpigmentation.

It is available at:

• Feelunique*
• Selfridges*
• John Lewis*

Read the full Tom Ford Glow Tinted Moisturizer SPF15 review.

L’Oreal Paris Skin Paradise Tinted Water-Cream – Budget Option

If you want something similar to Armani Neo Nude without the price tag, check this out.

I have always been impressed with L’Oreal Paris’ offering. They use a lot of their technology from the group’s luxury brands (Lancome, Armani, YSL etc.) and filter it down to their high street ranges.

This is a 70% water formula infused with Aloe Vera, Ginger and Witch Hazel, so even more water-heavy than the Neo Nude. It promises 24 hour moisturisation and also has an SPF20 sunscreen. I love how luminous and juicy this makes the complexion. It feels lovely and moisturising and is really easy to apply and blend.

It is available at:

• LOOKFANTASTIC*
• Amazon*
• Boots*
• Superdrug*

Read the full L’Oreal Paris Skin Paradise Tinted Water-Cream review.

Best Makeup for 2021 – Foundation

I love a good foundation. I think it’s up there with my absolute favourite products in the makeup category. I love all these options and they all offer up something different.

Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Foundation – Glowy high protection

This foundation is pretty gorgeous in every way. First of all, the packaging is a complete work of art. It’s absolutely stunning.

The full name is the Shade and Illuminate Soft Radiance Foundation SPF 50/PA++++ and right there are two of the reasons I love this foundation so much – soft radiance and high sun protection.

It has a wonderful skincare formula which features Hyaluronic Acid, Noni fruit extract, and a trio of natural oils including Balsam Copaiba, Andiroba, and Acai. This is combined with advanced elastomers and light-diffusing powders for juicy-looking perfected skin.

The formula uses a combination of physical and chemical sunscreen which I believe gives the best protection. I love the finish on my skin, and even though it’s a luminous finish, it sets itself really well without powder and lasts very well throughout the day.

It is available at:

• Harvey Nichols*
• Harrods*
• John Lewis*

Read the full Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Foundation review.

BY TERRY Hyaluronic Hydra Foundation SPF30 – Lightweight Fluid

If you like a very fluid, liquidy formula, then this is one to check out.

It uses a weightless liquid texture that you can build up in layers to enhance coverage. Like the Hydra powders, the formula is infused with hyaluronic acid for hydration and skin plumping. It feels like skincare and it melts into the skin effortlessly. Once applied, it literally feels like you’re just wearing a serum. It doesn’t feel tacky or sticky, just smooth and plump.

It does a great job of smoothing out skin texture and concealing imperfections. You can use a small amount for a sheer coverage, or go in with a lot more product for a more skin-perfecting, fuller coverage.

It is available at:

• Space NK*
• LOOKFANTASTIC*
• By Terry*
• Feelunique*

Read the full BY TERRY Hyaluronic Hydra Foundation SPF30 review.

Estee Lauder Futurist Hydra Rescue Moisturizing Makeup – Full Coverage Care

This is a real skincare and makeup hybrid that offers full coverage in a hydrating, protective formula with prebiotics. It has been formulated with Estee Lauder’s specially-created ‘Ion-Charged Water’ to deeply hydrate the skin, plus probiotic technology and chia-seed extract, rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, to replenish.

It  also has SPF 45 and pigments and polymers provide superior adhesion to allow the full-coverage makeup to wear comfortably all day.

Porcelain is my shade in this formula, and it kept selling it out over this summer. It was a popular shade!

If you need help choosing your shade, I have a chart in my Estee Lauder Futurist Hydra Rescue Moisturizing Makeup blog post.

Futurist has a lovely creamy texture which lends itself well to being applied like skincare and worked into the skin with fingers. You can also use a brush if you prefer. It gives my skin a soft, velvety radiance that perfects the skin, minimises redness and evens out tone. Love it.

It is available at:

• Selfridges*
• LOOKFANTASTIC*
• Feel Unique*
• Estee Lauder*
• John Lewis*

Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Foundation – Poreless & Flawless

I used this foundation quite a lot in 2020. I love it mixed with CT’s Flawless Filter, mentioned in the primer section above.

The coverage in this foundation is incredible and it covers everything including pores, hyperpigmentation and redness. I use this when I want my skin to look flawless and it’s super long-lasting so great if you have a long day. It is pretty thick, so you only need a little bit.

Technically, the finish is matte, but it gives the skin a gorgeous radiance. If you want to see all the shades, I have swatches of all of them via the link below.

It is available at:

• Charlotte Tilbury*
• Space NK*
• Selfridges*
• Cult Beauty*
• Feelunique*
• John Lewis*
• ASOS*

Read the full Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Foundation review.

Tom Ford Traceless Soft Matte Foundation – Natural Soft Radiance

This is a newer discovery from 2020 and one I absolutely love! It is matte, but it gives my skin a gorgeous multi-dimensional glow and keeps it looking like skin. There’s a brilliant shade range – see all my Tom Ford Traceless Soft Matte Foundation swatches..

This is a medium-full coverage foundation in a super lightweight, fresh long-wear formula with a liquidy texture. It is easy to blend and doesn’t settle into my lines and pores. I find it really flattering and think it’s perfect for my combination skin. I have tested it quite a lot, and never have to use powder with it. It has even survived Peloton rides!

It is available at:

• Selfridges*
• LOOKFANTASTIC*
• John Lewis*
• NET-A-PORTER*
• Harrods*
• Harvey Nichols*

NYX Born to Glow Foundation – Glow on a Budget

This foundation was one of my best budget discoveries for 2021. I’m always looking for a good quality, affordable foundation and this is definitely one of them. It has a lovely radiant finish.

It has a buildable medium coverage and comes in 45 shades, so you should definitely find one that suits you. It softly blurs the skin and covers redness with ease.

It is available for £10 at:

• LOOKFANTASTIC*
• FeelUnique*
• Boots*

Read the full NYX Born to Glow Foundation review.

Best Makeup for 2021 – Concealer

I love concealer as much as I love foundation, so this is a fun one.

By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra-Concealer – The New Kid on the block

I have been testing this new skincare concealer for a while and love it! It is an 87% skincare formula yet it gives great coverage and deals with darkness and imperfections instantly.

It is packed with Hyaluronic Acid to hydrate and smooth the skin and it sets itself nicely to a semi-luminous finish. I have been using shade 100 for extra brightness under the eyes, and 200 for everywhere elso.

It is available at By Terry* now.

Armani Luminous Silk Multi Purpose Glow Concealer – Glowy Do It All No Powder Needed

I love this new addition to Armani Beauty’s complexion line up.

Amino acid-coated mineral pigments provide good coverage in a super light formula. It is great for balancing darkness under the eyes and it has a lovely hydrating and moisturising texture. It’s creamy but not at all sticky, and I find that it melts into the skin effortlessly. It is available at:

• Selfridges*
• lookfantastic*
• Feel Unique*
• Harvey Nichols*
• Armani Beauty*

Read the full Armani Luminous Silk Multi Purpose Glow Concealer review.

Dior Forever Skin Correct Concealer – Creamy Liquid

You get a lot of product in this Dior concealer which actually makes it really good value for money.

The creamy texture of this concealer is lovely. It gives a brilliant coverage yet blends out really easily. It conceals all kinds of imperfections, but still looks like skin with a lovely natural finish and moisturising feel. It is comfortable and lightweight on the skin, and I set it with tiny bit of powder.

It is available at:

• Selfridges*
• Escentual*
• Feel Unique*
• John Lewis*
• Dior*

Read the full Dior Forever Skin Correct Concealer review.

Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Concealer – Full Coverage

This is a great on all imperfections and can be used under eyes, on redness and for spot concealing.

It is a full coverage, weightless, waterproof concealer formula and uses microspherical powders that blur and brighten with 16 hour wear. It gives a matte finish so will be great for combination and oily skins. A little goes a long way.

It is available at:

• Space NK*
• Selfridges*
• Harvey Nichols*
• Cult Beauty*
• Feel Unique*
• Liberty*
• John Lewis*

Read the full Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Concealer review.

NUDESTIX NudeFix Cream Concealer – Dewy Cream

This concealer is lovely! It has a lovely glowy, creamy finish and is perfect if you like your skin dewy.

It glides over the skin in a silky way and is so easy to blend. It feel very hydrating on the delicate eye area and really brings light and softens the look of lines and wrinkles.

It is available at:

• Selfridges*
• Cult Beauty*
• Beauty Bay*

Read the full NUDESTIX NudeFix Cream Concealer review.

The Ordinary Concealer High Coverage Formula – The Budget Option

If you want to pick up a few different shades for a bit of concealing, sculpting and highlighting, this is the one because it’s less than £5 each.

This matte formula comes in 36 shades and is very good at concealing all kinds of imperfections. I use it on top of a very glowy moisturiser as I want my skin to be luminous. If matte is your thing, it will be ideal. I like to buff it in to my skin in very light layers for diffused coverage.

I have a full Q&A in my The Ordinary Concealer High Coverage Formula blog post.

It is available at:

• The Ordinary*
• Cult Beauty*.

Best Makeup for 2021 – Powder

This is always an unexpected section because, as you may know if you’re a regular here, I am not a huge fan of powder. I’d rather look sweaty than cakey, and I don’t want to take down any glow. But there are times when I feel I need it, and when I do, these are the ones I use.

By Terry Hyaluronic Pressed Hydra-Powder – The Skincare Powder

I love this powder because it does the opposite to what most powders do – it hydrates. This is the same formula as By Terry’s iconic loose hydra-powder, but in an easy to use pressed compact.

I actually prefer this to the original as I find I can pick up less product, which is perfect for micro-powdering. I never put powder all over my face, and focus on the few little areas that need setting.

The formula is enriched with hyaluronic acid to plump and prevent drying and has Mica Pearls provide a soft-focus and light-diffusing effect. It absorbs oil whilst delivering a luminous matte finish.

It is available at:

• Space NK*
• Cult Beauty*
• By Terry*
• LOOKFANTASTIC*

Read the full By Terry Hyaluronic Pressed Hydra-Powder review.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Infinity Powder – The Finishing Powder

If powder scares you, this is one for you! Hourglass mixed two parts ambient lighting powder, with one part ambient strobe highlighter, so it’s all about the glow.

So this is designed as a finishing powder, so you are supposed to use it after setting. However, I’d say that you also could be use this as a glowy setting powder, as well as a finishing powder, because it is absolutely amazing at perfecting the appearance of the skin whilst holding other products in place. It blurs texture and pores and is the perfect last step for me, after I have applied my base products.

It is available at:

• Space NK*
• Cult Beauty*
• Feelunique*

Read the full Hourglass Ambient Lighting Infinity Powder review.

Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Powder – The Classic

This has become quite a classic when it comes to invisible setting powders. This absorbs oils and makes makeup last without any cakiness and you don’t lose the glow. It’s fantastic.

You just have to trust that CT never does anything that dampens the glow! It never cakes or sits in lines.

It is available at:

• Space NK*
• Selfridges*
• Cult Beauty*
• John Lewis*
• ASOS*
• Feelunique*

La Mer Soft Moisture Powder Foundation SPF 30 – Extra Flawlessness

This isn’t technically a powder, but a foundation, however I love it to set my makeup. It’s also a great handbag product.

Used as a setting powder, Soft Moisture Powder Foundation enhances the coverage of any base and I particularly love it on top of a dewy product. It’s amazing over the Radiant Skintint from La Mer, mentioned above. If you like natural looking flawlessness, this is definitely one to try. The bonus is that it means you can top up your SPF too!

It is available at:

• La Mer UK*
• Selfridges*
• Harvey Nichols*
• John Lewis*

Read the full La Mer Soft Moisture Powder Foundation SPF 30 review.

Best Makeup for 2021 – Bronzer & Contour

Bronzer was huge in 2020 and so we are set up with so many good products for 2021.

Guerlain Terracotta Nude – Universal Radiance

Terracotta Nude was one of my biggest makeup discoveries of 2020. I am obsessed with it and so many of you are too! It just kept selling out!

This is such a special product. It is a nude glow powder designed to deliver a bare skin effect in a long lasting formula. It is a perfect illuminator for someone that craves a really natural, skin-like radiance that makes skin appear lit-from-within with a bronzy warmth. It is the kind of product that you can’t overdo because the texture melts into the skin, and the tone adapts to individual complexions.

It is really smoothing and kind on all kinds of skin texture. It is fabulous.

Available at:

• Selfridges*
• Feelunique*
• Escentual*
• John Lewis*

Read the full Guerlain Terracotta Nude review.

La Mer The Bronzing Powder – Three in One Skin Sculptor

Every time I wear this product, I get questions about what is on my cheeks.

It’s so amazing because it one swipe, you can bronze, blush and highlighter with the most flattering tones. I love it.The bronzer is a beautiful tone, warm without being orange on my skin. I love the shade of the highlight – it is a very beautiful soft gold and it lights up the complexion beautifully and works really well with the bronzer shade on my skin tone. The blush is the perfect pick me up.

The texture of the powders is beautiful. They are super soft and all infused with La Mer’s skincare complex. This is limited edition but you can still pick it up at:

• Selfridges*
• Harvey Nichols*
• John Lewis*

Read the full La Mer The Bronzing Powder review.

Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Bronzer – Skin Perfecting Flawlessness

This is one of the best new bronzer launches in a long time. It uses Charlotte’s iconic perfecting powder formula infused with Hyaluronic Acid for skin smoothing radiance.

It’s such a beautiful bronzer to apply and blend, and I love it because I can use it straight over foundation without the need for powder. It makes skin look flawless with a glowy matte finish. Fabulous.

It is available at:

• Space NK*
• Cult Beauty*
• Selfridges*
• Feelunique*
• John Lewis*
• Charlotte Tilbury*

Read the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Bronzer review.

Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Bronzer – The Classic Cream

The iconic Soleil Tan de Chanel had an update in 2020 which both excited and horrified beauty junkies all at one and the same time!

The new formula contains coconut oil which gives is a gorgeous smell. It is a non-comedegenic formula which means it won’t block pores and it is really easy to apply and blend. The product glides on and gives the skin a very soft-focus, super flattering finish, that’s matte in a velvety way, and not at all flat. It’s a lovely warm tone that picks up my complexion in an instant.

It is available at:

• Selfridges*
• Harvey Nichols*
• Boots*

Fenty Beauty Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Bronzer – Affordable Cream Option

So the good news is that if you can’t stretch to the Chanel price tag for a cream bronzer, then Fenty Beauty has you covered.

They have a cream bronzer called Cheeks Out in shade Butta Biscuit which is very similar to the Chanel shade. It is slightly more dewy in finish, which will please the glow getters too!

Plus, if you are looking for a cooler-tones shade, then Amber is amazing and make a great contour shade on my skin tone.

They are available at:

• Harvey Nichols*
• Boots*

Check out my full Fenty Beauty Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Bronzer review & swatches.

Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow – Contour & Highlight

If you want an all in one bronzer, contour and highlight palette, you can beat the Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronzer & Glow.

The deeper shade has a lovely tone that is cool enough to double well as a contour shade and a bronzer, and the highlighter gives a beautiful soft radiance. Both are very buildable, so you can amp up the effect as much as you like.

It is available at:

• Space NK*
• Selfridges*
• Cult Beauty*
• Feelunique*
• John Lewis*

If you need more help choosing the best bronzer for your skin tone and skin type, make sure you check out Best Bronzers 2021 – Which is the Right One For You?

Best Makeup for 2021 – Highlighter

Oooh this is one of my most favourite topics ever!! I do love a highlighter!

Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Superstar Glow Highlighter – Universal Champagne

CT launched a gorgeous new highlighter last year in a beautiful big compact.

First of all, you will be pleased to know this is a refillable compact. The texture of the highlighter itself is super light and the powders are very finely milled. It blends like liquid on the skin and leaves a lovely smooth finish. It also contains skincare hero Squalane for conditioning and luminosity.

It is available at:

• Space NK*
• Charlotte Tilbury*
• John Lewis*
• Harvey Nichols*
• Harrods*

It is limited edition, so snap it up. Read the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Superstar Glow Highlighter review.

MAC Strobe Face Glaze – Glossy Gel

This was a wonderful discovery last year and a brilliant extension of MAC’s Strobe franchise.

It is a gorgeous glossy face highlighter that gives skin a lovely dewy glow. It feels balmy on the skin and gives such a beautiful natural, wet-look luminosity. The formula is hydrating which is a great bonus, and it’s long lasting too.

It is available at MAC Cosmetics*. It’s pretty much sold and they seriously need to bring it back!

Read the full MAC Strobe Face Glaze review.

BECCA Ignite Liquified Light Highlighter – Supersize Liquid Glow

This is a gorgeous liquid gel highlighter with a similar texture to MAC’s glaze but more liquidy. And it comes in a HUGE bottle!

Ignite is a brand new formula from BECCA that uses micro-pearls suspended in a crystal-gel formula. It gives skin a super glow and the blend is enriched with Sunflower Oil and Vitamin E to nourish and soften. You can go light, or really layer up, so it is super versatile.

It is available at:

• Space NK*
• Cult Beauty*
• LOOKFANTASTIC*
• Boots*
• John Lewis*
• ASOS*

Check out the BECCA Ignite Liquified Light Highlighter shade swatches and review.

VIEVE Nova Glow Highlighter – The New Kid

VIEVE is Jamie Genevieve’s new brand which is literally flying. They launched only a few months ago and have already secured a retailer deal with Cult Beauty* and have sold out several times.

The Nova Glow are highlighters are individual compacts in three shades of silky glowy goodness. The powders are really finely milled with a gorgeous twinkle that is anything but chunky. It delivers the high shine glam factor without the disco ball. They are fab, and I love the packaging too.

Read the full review and see the VIEVE Nova Glow Highlighter swatches.

Best Makeup for 2021 – Blush

Blush is one of my all time favourite tricks for faking the look of feeling fresh and awake!

MAC Glow Play Blush – Cream Blush with a Twist

I absolutely love this innovative new formula from MAC. It’s one of the best launches of the year in my opinion.

It has been blended to capture the luminous flush of a natural blush in a bouncy jelly texture that blends into the skin effortless. It gives the prettiest velvety finish with sheen that’s really long lasting. If you love blush and haven’t tried these yet, you must!

It is available at MAC*.

Read the MAC Glow Play Blush review.

Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Lip & Cheek Glow – Glossy Glow

The formula of this blush is really beautiful and very much like the absolutely gorgeous Colour of Youth Lip & Cheek Glow from the amazing Norman Parkiness collection that I still treasure.

These give cheeks and lips a gorgeous dewy, glossy tint with lots of skincare. The formula uses Micronised Powders for enhanced blendability and smoothness. Raspberry Leaf Stem Cell Extract and Vitamin E moisturise and condition.

It is available at Charlotte Tilbury*. It is limited edition so snap it up.

Read the full Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Lip & Cheek Glow review.

NARS Blush – for the widest shade range

NARS have the most beautiful blush shades and added some amazing new colours last year.

The formula blends effortlessly on the skin and is super long lasting. If you want strong colours they are there for you, and you can also opt for a soft natural flush.

They are available at:

• Space NK*
• Selfridges*
• Cult Beauty*
• John Lewis*
• LOOKFANTASTIC*

See swatches in my NARS Blush blog post.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in At Night – New Shade

Hourglass blush is just beautiful, and the At Night shade is such a beautiful warm and glowy colour, designed to give your skin a soft yet vibrant fireside gleam.

It gives skin a gorgeous muted deep coral glow with soft gold. It’s super unique and really flattering.

It is available at:

• Space NK*
• Feelunique*

Best Makeup for 2021 – Eyeshadow

Victoria Beckham Lid Lustre – Single Shade Sparkle

VB added two new shades to her gorgeous Lid Lustres – Honey and Tea Rose have now joined the collection. Honey is my favourite.

These shadows have a gorgeous wet-look cream texture with great colour payoff and a high shine finish. They feel super light on the lids and the wear time is excellent.

Lid Lustre are available at:

• Cult Beauty*
• Net-A-Porter*

Check out the Victoria Beckham Lid Lustre swatches.

MAC Powder Kiss – Best Matte Singles

If you are after velvety, diffused, skin-smoothing eye colour, then you need to check out the new Powder Kiss shadows from MAC.

The shades are designed to give a gorgeous soft-focus eye effect with a cloud-like and diffused finish. It’s a lovely velvet formula that’s easy to blend and easy to wear. My favourite shades are What Clout and Strike a Pose.

Available at:

• LOOKFANTASTIC*
• MAC Cosmetics*
• Boots*
• John Lewis*

See the full MAC Powder Kiss eyeshadow review.

Too Faced Melted Chocolate Eye Shadow – Best Liquid Matte

These shadows from Too Faced are super pigmented, ultra long lasting and come in a range of stunning shades.

If you love matte shadow, you will fall in love with these. The performance is incredible. They are easy to apply, even easier to blend and they literally don’t budge. There’s no fading, creasing, smudging or peeling – just smooth perfection all day long. No primer needed.

They are available at:

• Cult Beauty*
• LOOKFANTASTIC*
• ASOS*
• John Lewis*

Check out Too Faced Melted Chocolate Eye Shadow review.

Charlotte Tilbury Bejewelled Eyes To Hypnotise – Palette for Shine

This is my favourite of CT’s Instant Eye Palettes so far. It is absolutely stunning!!

The shades and textures in this super luxe palette are so flattering. Even the high shine shades flatter mature skin and the formula smooths the delicate skin. They apply and blend effortlessly, and the finish lasts all day. Love it.

It is available at:

• Charlotte Tilbury*
• Space NK*
• Cult Beauty*
• Feelunique*
• John Lewis*

Read the Charlotte Tilbury Bejewelled Eyes To Hypnotise review with swatches.

VIEVE The Essential Eyeshadow Palette – Best Neutrals Palette

Another appearance from VIEVE and Jamie Genevieve in my favourites! This palette is absolutely amazing and practically blends itself!

I absolutely love the shade range. The finishes are mostly matte; there are seven easy to blend, pigmented matte shades, two shimmers with fine sparkle, and one shimmer that’s more finely milled (Glimmer, which Jamie said she basically created for her inner corner).

The formula is stunning and this is a palette that even eyeshadow newbies can’t go wrong with.

It is available at Cult Beauty*.

See the full VIEVE The Essential Eyeshadow Palette review.

Tom Ford Visionaire – Best Quad

Quads are perfect if you want to create an eye look, but don’t want to be confused by too many colours. And this one is gorgeous.

Visionnaire is one of the new Emotionproof quads added in 2020 and it is super pretty and very wearable. I love the pink and gold. The shades stay colour true and have long lasting skin adhesion.

Available at:

• Harvey Nichols*
• Net-A-Porter*

See the Tom Ford Visionaire swatches.

Best Makeup for 2021 – Mascara

There were lots of mascaras to enjoy in 2020!

Bareminerals Strength & Length – Lash Care Option

I love this mascara and use it most days. It gives a lovely lengthened and defined look and has genuinely strengthened my lashes and helped them grow thicker and longer. It is so good!

It is available at:

• Bareminerals*
• LOOKFANTASTIC*
• Feelunique*
• John Lewis*
• Boots*

Read the Bareminerals Strength & Length review.

Hourglass Unlocked Instant Extensions Mascara – the tubing mascara

So one of the first things you need to know is that this is what’s generally referred to as a tubing mascara. That means that when you want to remove it, you simply wet the lashes with warm water and then the mascara slides off in tubes.

The formula is an excellent one for staying put and great if you have sensitive eyes. The mascara coats each lash in lghtweight fibers that lock in place and you het a Delivers a high-impact, fanned-out finish and smudge-proof wear. It’s very pretty.

It is available at:

• Space NK*
• Selfridges*
• Cult Beauty*
• Feelunique*
• Harvey Nichols*
• John Lewis*

Read the full Hourglass Unlocked Instant Extensions Mascara review with before & after photos.

NARS Climax Extreme Mascara – Instant Drama

This is a real favourite of mine now. It is far superior to NARS’ original Climax formula in the red packaging.

With this, you can get major lashes in just one coat and even bigger, thicker lashes in two coats. It uses latex-like black pigment, and the formula is really creamy so it coats the lashes effortlessly. I love the super black, dramatic curled effect.

It is available at:

• Space NK*
• Selfridges*
• Cult Beauty*
• LOOKFANTASTIC*
• John Lewis*
• Boots*

Read the full NARS Climax Extreme Mascara review.

Best Makeup for 2021 – Lip Products

The focus for lips has changed a lot this year and there’s a big emphasis on care. Check out the best Lip Balms in my Best Skincare 2021 post.

Fenty Slip Shine – Sheer Shiny Tint

This is a gorgeous formula. It is creamy, soft, buttery, moisturising, and long lasting, plus the shades are super pretty. My favourites are Makeout Break, Glazed, Retro Rose and Goji Gang but they are all super wearable.

They are available at:

• Harvey Nichols*
• Boots*

Check out all the Fenty Slip Shine swatches and lip swatches.

Charlotte Tilbury Hyaluronic Happikiss – Pigmented Shiny Balms

So these are a little similar to Fenty’s Slip Shine, but they are way more pigmented and are much more of a skincare formula with claims to improve the lip line over time. I love them.

They are available at Charlotte Tilbury.com*.

Read the full Charlotte Tilbury Hyaluronic Happikiss review and swatches.

Dior Addict Stellar Gloss – The perfect nude

Every time I wear 640 J’Adior in this gloss, I get questions about what it is. It’s the perfect shiny nude.

It is super creamy and cushiony and literally glides on to the lips in one swipe. It feels amazing.

It is available:

• Selfridges*
• Feelunique*
• John Lewis*
• Boots*

See the Dior Addict Stellar Gloss swatches.

YSL The Slim Matte Glow – Luminous Matte

I love the glowy matte finish of these Slims. They have a lovely comfortable feel on the lips and are very lightweight. The coverage is medium and the shape of the bullet makes them so easy to apply. You can line, define and fill in really quickly for the perfect soft, pillowy pout with glowing colour.

They are available at:

• YSL Beauty UK*
• LOOKFANTASTIC*
• Feelunique*
• John Lewis*
• Boots*

See all the YSL The Slim Matte Glow swatches.

Charlotte Tilbury Tinted Magic Lip Oil – Tinted Balm

Charlotte’s Magic Lip Oil in its original version made it into my best skincare products for 2021, and here it is in its tinted form for makeup!

These new additions to the line up – Rose Lust and Berry Bliss – are super pretty and make the perfect simple pick me up in a makeup plus care formula.

They have exactly the same feel and texture as the original clear lip oil but just with this super flattering, soft juicy tint.

They are available at Charlotte Tilbury*.

Read the full Charlotte Tilbury Tinted Magic Lip Oil review.

I have lots of more of these 2021 favourites post coming, so stay tuned – these include Best Hair & Body products and Best Beauty Tools, and I am very happy to take requests!!

Please let me know if you have any questions, and stay tuned to the homepage and Instagram for news on all the latest launches and products. The Facebook page is here.

Ree

XXX