Makeup Madness Challenge 2022: CHAMPION REVEALED - Check out the winner and Community Favorite makeup products!

[TeamBIC]

March has made its way to us, and to celebrate, we’re breaking out the beauty brackets for our second annual Makeup Madness Challenge in the BIC! For the next few weeks, eight popular makeup categories will go head-to-head in a showdown to snag the title of 2022 Community Champion makeup category. It’s up to YOU to vote on the winner … and share some tried-and-true beauty recs along the way (because why not?!). 😉

We kicked off round 1 with a matchup that sparked serious passion last year: lipstick vs. mascara. 🔥 Mascara ended up taking the crown in 2021, but who knows what will happen this year… especially since we’ll be adding new makeup categories to the mix in future rounds. 😏 Stay tuned!

TO VOTE, hit the reply button below and tag a product you love that represents the category you’re voting for. For example, the lovely lipstick lover @WinglessOne might reply with “Lipstick! PAT McGRATH LABS MatteTrance™ Lipstick” 🥰💄

Let the games begin! Each new round of voting starts Fridays, and ends the following Thursday at 2pm PT:

• ROUND 1 (3/4 – 3/10): Lipstick vs. Mascara (👑)
• ROUND 2 (3/11 – 3/17): Primer vs Setting Powder (👑)
• ROUND 3 (3/18 – 3/24): Concealer vs. Foundation (👑)
• ROUND 4 (3/25 – 3/31): Contour vs. Highlighter (👑) 
• ROUND 5 (4/1 – 4/7): Lipstick (👑) vs. Setting Powder 
• ROUND 6 (4/8 – 4/14): Foundation (👑) vs. Highlighter 
• FINAL ROUND (4/15 – 4/21): Lipstick (👑) vs. Foundation
• CHAMPION REVEALED (4/22): 👑 Lipstick 👑

Click the “Reply” button below and vote for your favorite product (lipstick or foundation!), use the “#” sign to tag a specific one you love, then check back for the results and the next round of voting!

UPDATE 4/22/21: Thank you to everyone who participated in Makeup Madness 2022! This year's champion is 💄lipstick💋 - no pouting for our fellow lip lovers! Here were Community members' top-tagged lipsticks from your votes throughout the challenge:

1. PAT McGRATH LABS MatteTrance™ Lipstick 
2. Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Hydrating Lipstick 
3. MERIT Signature Lip Lightweight Satin Lipstick 
4. GXVE BY GWEN STEFANI I’m Still Here Longwear Clean Matte Liquid Lipstick Original Recipe 
5. TOM FORD Lip Color Lipstick 

We're also showing love to the most-tagged products in all the Makeup Madness categories this year - check them out here:

• Foundation: Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Perfect Glow Flawless Oil-Free Foundation 
• Highlighter:
  • La Mer The Hydrating Illuminator Highlighter and Primer 1.4 oz/ 41 mL 
  • Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter 
• Setting Powder: Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder 
• Mascara: Wander Beauty Upgraded Lashes™ Thickening Mascara 
• Primer: Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat Blur Face Primer Blur Primer Gold 
• Concealer: Kosas Revealer Super Creamy + Brightening Concealer with Caffeine and Hyaluronic Acid 
• Contour: KVD Beauty Shade + Light Refillable Powder Face Contour Palette 

[Loretta55]

I am a member of team foundation. I have been using Tarte Amazonian Clay Gem Powder Foundation since the beginning of the year. I really like this newer version of the reformulated powder foundation. It goes on smooth and lasts all day with minimal creasing. Also for once I am not seeing any foundation rub off onto my clothing. It now comes with a powder puff for application. I still have my blur brush that I have been using. I really hope that Sephora will be carrying this foundation.

[itsfi]

@Loretta55, the new Tarte powder foundation sounds amazing! 😃  Are the shades in the new version similar (or similar enough) to the older version or the shade in other powder / foundation ranges from the brand?

[Loretta55]

I always found that the Tarte foundation line to be I consistent with shade matching unfortunately @itsfi. When I did find a good match I found that it really worked well for me.

[IciclePop]

Concealer.  I use DIOR Dior Forever Skin Correct Full-Coverage Concealer. 

[itsfi]

@IciclePop, that Dior concealer has great staying power! 💕

[sharelleh]

Deciding to go with foundation! But this is actually so hard because I can see only using concealer and that being enough but obviously foundation gives more of a complete look!

Also maybe cheating a bit, but picking MERIT The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Foundation and Concealer Stick Buff as my choice. Or #NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer Sydney 

[Buootiful]

Yes, it was a hard decision for me too.❤️ I agree foundation gives a complete look @sharelleh 

[itsfi]

@sharelleh, both the Merit and NARS are excellent choices. I love the convenience and ease of the Merit foundation stick! 💗

[sharelleh]

@itsfi SAME! I was so pleasantly surprised at how well it works. I actually have two, one that I'll use as foundation and a slightly lighter shade if I only want concealer that day. 

[itsfi]

That’s smart to pick up two different shades @sharelleh! 😃 I may try picking up another shade, a darker one, to see how it works for a little sculpting. 

[CookieGirl1]

I have to choose foundation although I'm going to cheat a little because neither of my current favs are truly marketed as foundations (although both have pretty decent coverage): the Beautyblender 12-Hour Always on Radiant Skin Tint with Hyaluronic Acid & Niacinamide  and the NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer .

[itsfi]

@CookieGirl1, I didn’t even know BeautyBlender came out with a new foundation - a skin tint, no less! I’m happy with my assortment of skin tints / tinted moisturizers but it wouldn’t hurt to check it out, right??! 😉 Love the NARS TM - a classic! ♥️

[CookieGirl1]

@itsfi I went into the Beautyblender tint with low expectations but it's honestly become an absolute fav for me.

[ather]

I also vote foundation !!! I definitely can just use concealer but I use foundation more. Right now my favs are Kosas Tinted Face Oil Comfy Skin Tint Tone 09 SEPHORA COLLECTION Clean Glowing Skin Foundation #39 MERIT The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Foundation and Concealer Stick Cream  I love how the merit can be used as both foundation and concealer so not sure if it would count 🤣

[Buootiful]

Yes to foundation! @ather I don't know why, I think concealer is more complicated. Foundation you can just slap it on without effort 🙂 .

[ather]

@Buootiful  I agree. Concealer ids great but I can’t live without foundation 🤣

[itsfi]

Yaaaay TeamFoundation @ather! 🙌🏼 These are some great choices. Love ‘em all! 🥰

[ather]

@itsfi  I’m hoping tower 28 sunny days is also on my list soon 😝

[itsfi]

Alright @TeamBIC, I've made up my mind, and I didn't even have to flip a coin to make my decision. 😂 The season / weather and my skin probably have a lot to do with it, but I've reached for foundation every day this week, only once reaching for concealer and even then, I wore foundation. So, FOUNDATION, it is! 

My current "go to" is Tower 28 Beauty SunnyDays SPF 30 Tinted Sunscreen Foundation. I'll be picking up another tube during the sale, one shade up, for my summer shade. Westman Atelier Vital Skin Full Coverage Multi-Use Foundation Stick came in handy for a quick and easy face for Zoom calls. Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Perfect Glow Flawless Oil-Free Foundation earns its HG status having been a staple among my bases for...oh gosh, for probably a decade now. 💖

[alexasteph]

@itsfi I liked the sample of Tower 28 Beauty SunnyDays SPF 30 Tinted Sunscreen Foundation I tried! It might make it’s way in to my sales cart too… I’d like something more lightweight for everyday wear. I see you have the Ilia foundation back there too… any thoughts on how it performs? 

[itsfi]

@alexasteph, the Tower 28 is great for light, everyday wear. It’s buildable but the coverage will still be light. To me, it’s lighter than a tinted moisturizer. 

The Ilia, while still light in consistency, feels like a hydrating serum when applied, but without tack or stickiness. It also has a bit more heft than the Tower 28, both in terms of feel/weight and coverage. You can layer it as well but maybe just one additional very thin layer (whereas with Tower 28, I can apply 2-3 also thin layers without it feeling like it’s too much or pilling). 

I don’t know if a swatch will help to show consistency but here’s how they compare: