Hey beauty lovers, Maya here! Ready to refresh your makeup bag for 2024? From dewy balms to skin-loving concealers, I’ve curated this year’s ultimate beauty guide. Whether you're a no-makeup makeup girl or a full-glam goddess, these cosmetic must-haves deserve a spot in your rotation.
Let’s dive into the best makeup products of 2024 — as chosen by yours truly!
Top Makeup Essentials for Every Makeup Bag
Not all makeup bags are created equal — but a great one always has these heroes:
- A skin-perfecting primer
- A radiance-boosting blush
- A lash-lifting mascara
- A breathable foundation
- A glow-giving bronzer
- A hydrating concealer
- A glossy lip gloss
- A swipe-and-go eyeshadow
- A skin-quenching setting spray
- A luminous balm or lipstick
Skincare meets makeup in 2024 — because why not look good and do good for your skin?
Trending Makeup Brands in 2024
In 2024, the trend is clear: hybrid beauty is in. Brands are blurring the line between skincare and makeup.
- Rare Beauty – Hydrating blushes, buttery lip glosses, and weightless concealers.
- Haus Labs by Lady Gaga – Clean formulas powered by ingredients like hyaluronic acid.
- Saie – Glow-enhancing cosmetics that also hydrate and nourish.
- Makeup by Mario – Blendable textures that double as skin-enhancers.
How to Choose the Best Makeup Products
This year, we’re shopping smarter. When curating your makeup kit, think of these four words: hydrate, multitask, nourish, last.
Look for products with:
- Skincare ingredients like hyaluronic acid, squalane, or peptides
- Creamy formulas that double as skincare + makeup (hello, balm blushes!)
- Flexible coverage in foundations, concealers, and bronzers
- Dewy finishes that mimic healthy skin
Which Blush Products Should You Try in 2024?
Blush isn’t just about colour — it’s about complexion. The right formula can hydrate, soften, and bring your skin to life.
Best Blush Formulas for a Flawless Finish
- Cream and balm blushes: Lightweight, dewy, and packed with skincare benefits
- Hybrid tints: Use on cheeks, lips, and lids — fewer steps, more glow
- Powder blushes: Perfect for oilier skin types who want staying power
Try balm-based blushes with hyaluronic acid for a double-duty flush and hydration boost.
Liquid vs. Powder: Which Blush is Right for You?
- Liquid and balm formulas are perfect if your skin leans dry or you love that just-pinched sheen.
- Powders are great for setting cream products or mattifying oily zones.
Pro tip: Layer a balm or liquid under powder for blush that won’t budge.
Popular Blush Brands to Look Out For
- Tower 28 – Known for its clean, hydrating cream blushes
- Pat McGrath Labs – Bold pigment, luxe feel
- Glossier – Sheer, buildable, and super wearable
How to Select the Best Primer for Your Skin
Primers do more than prep — in 2024, they’re infused with skincare benefits like hyaluronic acid to smooth, blur, and boost hydration.
Benefits of Using a Primer Before Makeup
- Helps foundation and concealer grip longer
- Blurs fine lines
- Minimises shine or boosts glow
- Adds a layer of hydration or oil control
Best Primers for Oily and Dry Skin
- Oily Skin: Milk Makeup Pore Eclipse
- Dry Skin: Tatcha The Silk Canvas, infused with nourishing botanicals
- Combination Skin: Glow Recipe Dew Drops – makeup + skincare in one
What Makes a Great Mascara in 2024?
The perfect mascara lengthens, lifts, and defines — without the flakes.
Key Features of the Best Mascaras
- Long-wearing yet gentle on lashes
- Smudge-proof but easy to remove
- Some even contain skincare ingredients like hyaluronic acid to nourish your lash line
What are the Best Foundations for Different Skin Types?
Your foundation should look like skin, but better — and with so many skin-first cosmetic brands, it’s easier than ever.
Full Coverage vs. Light Coverage Foundations
- Full coverage is best for events or when you want max polish
- Light coverage with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid is ideal for everyday glow
Best Liquid Foundations for a Natural Look
- ILIA Super Serum Foundation – Makeup-meets-skincare and packed with SPF
- Armani Luminous Silk – Smooth and undetectable
How to Choose the Right Setting Spray
A few spritzes go a long way in making your makeup — and skincare — last all day.
Best Setting Sprays for Long-Lasting Makeup
- Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless – Locks everything in, without drying out
- MAC Fix+ Stay Over – Adds glow and hydration
- Bonus tip: Mist before applying foundation to lock in moisture
Which Highlighter Products are Trending in 2024?
Think sheer, glossy, and skin-synced. The best highlighters this year feel like lip gloss for your cheeks — but glowier.
Best Highlighters for a Dewy Finish
- Saie Glowy Super Gel – Sheer radiance in a bottle
- Chanel Baume Essentiel – A luxe balm that gives lit-from-within sheen
How to Apply Highlighter for Different Makeup Looks
- Tap onto cheekbones, brow bone, and inner corners of the eyes
- Use it on lips for a pop of glow over lipstick or gloss
Don’t Forget the Lips: Lipstick, Balm, and Gloss Must-Haves
Let’s talk lips. In 2024, it’s all about juicy, comfortable textures.
- Lipstick: Go bold with creamy, hydrating formulas (check out Rare Beauty or MAC)
- Lip balm: Tinted or clear, choose ones with hyaluronic acid or squalane
- Lip gloss: Non-sticky is the new standard. Fenty Beauty’s Gloss Bomb is still top-tier
Hot tip: For the illusion of fuller lips, dab a highlighter or gloss at the centre of your pout.
Final Thoughts from Maya
2024’s best beauty buys are multitaskers — equal parts skincare and style. From complexion-perfecting concealers to glow-enhancing highlighters, every product I’ve featured here is designed to enhance your natural beauty and take care of your skin.
So go ahead — declutter, refresh, and glow up your cosmetic collection with confidence.
Until next time — stay glossy, glowing, and gorgeously you. ✨
– Maya, your Beauty BFF at Fashion Weekly
