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 Natural Glow 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 

[Saradestin]

Now I get your point and struggle to choose one @danielledanielle! 

[danielledanielle]

@Saradestin Seeeeeee 😂😂

I'm also not helping myself.  I keep reading everyone's responses and seeing their tagged products and I'm like, yes, that's a good one and therefore the choice is.... but oh this product is good and what they said is also true!!

[itsfi]

@danielledanielle, a tie probably wouldn’t work so early in the challenge, huh?! 😆 

[danielledanielle]

@itsfi , I don't think it would 😂

This one cuts me DEEP though

[MvLL]

Concealer for me, @TeamBIC. Guessing that Powder fndtn isn't included in this Round. Often its Concealer to selectively blur, topped with a powder fndtn.  I'm considering the u/e Concealers with Added Value:  Fenty Bright Fix & Kosas Revealer -are they good?

[itsfi]

@MvLL, do you have specific uses for the 2 different Hourglass concealers? Like one you prefer for the under eyes and one for spots or as a sub for foundation? I have a few products from Hourglass, but I don't think I've ever tried their concealers. 🤔

[MvLL]

Hi, @itsfi. yes, generally prefer thinner texture on my gloomy u/e circles- Milk Flex, S. Gel-Serum or HG Vanish, & don't always want to set u/e. Drier concealer for 'angry' spots, (d/c'd CoverFx).

HG Hidden has a texture that I sometimes enjoy/need, in a v.good shade match- nice on discoloration. But it seems they're going to phase it out? Vanish stick fndtn replaces it, to an extent. If you remember BECCA Stick fndtn, I'd say HG Vanish has an elegant, somewhat drier, lighter texture. 

Hidden has a slightly more emolient finish (I must set w/ powder).

Concealer-Vanish is OK, but lately I've been enjoying MILK Flex concealer more. Sorry for rambling!

[itsfi]

@MvLL, oh my goodness, no need to apologize. I didn't think you were rambling at all. I really appreciate the feedback; very helpful - thank you!! It's always great when you can find a good shade match, especially with concealer, so that's a bummer that they may be phasing it out. 😞

[MvLL]

Glad to read that, @itsfi. We're lucky to have a vast selection of shades and textures these days. I thought of the early 80's paltry offerings, when I was reading others' replies detailing how helpful their multi-purpose or v.specific Concealers &/or Fndtn are.  And It is so nice to have this chatty space!

[danielledanielle]

I like the Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Bright Fix Eye Brightener Concealer .  It's pretty thin (close consistency to eaze drop) blends out well.  I don't reach for it lately because I'm usually wearing a full face.  I don't remember it creasing up on me too much.  It's not a must have IMO if you have a concealer you like or a tinted moisturizer you like @MvLL 

[MvLL]

Thanks for your opinion, @danielledanielle. Texture of EazeDrop is pretty comfy, so that plus the fact that my gloomy u/e circles are in need of Brightening- well, guess it'll be a good alt. for minimal m.u. days.

[CarolBT]

I'm concealer! Specifically NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer with Medium Coverage. Love it. 

BUT - very open to recommendations from others. What are your faves for a thirsty cactus 🌵, aka, very dry person? 

[Ispend2much6]

@CarolBT  Some recent discoveries have become favorites:  PAT McGRATH LABS Sublime Perfection Concealer   and Bobbi Brown Skin Color Corrector Stick . 

The PM doesn't emphasize lines, although I would consider it a light concealer. I also can't remember if I tried it on top of primer.

If the BB concealer stick performs the same as the corrector stick, it won't emphasize lines.  I need to get that soon.

[SportyGirly125]

@CarolBT I love using something hydrating under my eyes when I know I am going to apply concealer like KORA Organics Noni Glow Radiant Eye Oil .34 oz / 10 mL 

[WinglessOne]

@CarolBT  I keep my desert dry undereyes in check by hydrating and moisturizing the heck out of 'em during my skincare routing. That way, most concealers don't make my skin look/feel dry. If you already do that, then ignore everything in the spoiler tag. 😄 

Spoiler

I use a hydrating serum under my eyes (and on my whole face) each morning. Then I apply at least 2 layers of moisturizer under my eyes, ensuring that skin's damp before I apply the next layer. To keep the skin damp, I tap on either a little water or one of my favorite hydrating mists (COSRX Centella Water Alcohol-Free Toner or Timeless HA + Matrixyl 3000 w/Cucumber), but any water-based liquidy product would do—especially if it contains hydrators like peptides, some form of hyaluronic acid, sodium PCA, etc. 

In frigid winter weather, or whenever my undereyes are exceptionally dry, I top all of that with Aquaphor Ointment or CeraVe Healing Ointment to really seal in that hydration. 

I know you wanted concealer recommendations, but I find skincare can fix or reduce a lot of makeup issues. 🙂 Of course, there are some concealers that'll make my undereyes look dry and crusty no matter how well I've hydrated and moisturized that skin (*coughShapeTapecough*). But I can make most non-matte concealers play nice with my undereye skin if it's hydrated/moisturized well enough. 

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer's a good one! It used to be my favorite. I stopped using it because my favorite shade, Amande, was suddenly too deep for my undereyes—because my skincare routine has been gradually lifting hyperpigmentation and balancing skin tones all over my face. I considered trying another shade of that concealer, but then I fell in love with Jouer's cream concealer pen. 

[CarolBT]

That sound you just heard @WinglessOne was my jaw hitting the floor. I love this! I've been hydrating my under eyes, but I love your even more specific application suggestions. 

Next up - the get my bags and puffiness under control. How can I be both dry as a desert *and* puffy!? The questions are never ending, truly. I'll start with better sleep 😴

[niki172]

@WinglessOne as someone that struggles with dry under eyes as well I'm curious to know if you use the Aquaphor ointment before you put on concealer as well? I have a eye serum but since the weather and my eczema are out of control here I'm struggling to get my concealer to not look like a cakey crackling mess. Thanks in advance for any advice you may have!

[WinglessOne]

@niki172  Yep, I've applied concealer over Aquaphor. Actually, I apply sunscreen over Aquaphor, and then concealer over sunscreen. As long as I don't apply too much Aquaphor or CeraVe Healing Ointment, I have no issues with sunscreen or concealer setting up like it should. I just need a thin layer of balm. If I over-apply, I dab a reusable bamboo round on that skin to remove the excess. 

I do the same thing on my lips: apply Aquaphor as my lip balm, then apply an SPF balm (because my favorite SPF balm's nowhere near as moisturizing as Aquaphor), and then apply lipstick. If there's no daylight and I don't need sunscreen, I omit the SPF balm step. 

Some folks prefer the texture of CeraVe Healing Ointment: it's not as thick as Aquaphor. Also, if you're sensitive to lanolin, you should avoid Aquaphor altogether. But having frequently used both balms, I can say Aquaphor's better at keeping my skin hydrated—probably because of the lanolin + petrolatum combo. When I know my ac or heat will kick on and off all night, I use Aquaphor on top of my usual PM moisturizer under my eyes so the hvac won't dry out that skin overnight. Works like a charm. 

[niki172]

@WinglessOne currently I use Vaniply ointment under my eyes. My skin has issues with stuff sinking in sometimes but both of those products you mentioned are relatively inexpensive so I may have to try both of them. I looked up the CeraVe and it has the Eczema association's stamp of approval and that's never steered me wrong. Thank you so very much for the information it is really appreciated 💜.

[Skunk12puzzola]

@niki172 this woman @WinglessOne is very knowledgeable, trust her!! she knows a lot about skincare and ingredients 💞

[niki172]

@Skunk12puzzola yup I've been conversing with @WinglessOne for quite some time now on the boards here. That's why I trust her recommendations 😊.