Last updated on 13th October 2024 by Sarah Sarsby
As 2022 draws to a close, I wanted to share my absolute favourite beauty products of the year. These 20 makeup and skincare products have become holy grails in my collection.
Some of these are new releases, some of them are OG faves, and all of them are exceptional. With picks from indie brands through to global beauty firms, these are the best beauty products of 2022. Whether it’s for their glow-giving properties, dynamic colour stories, longevity, or ease of application, these products are all worth buying. I’d happily repurchase each one.
Check out which beauty products made the cut in my 2021 and 2020 lists!
Keep reading to find out which 10 makeup products and which 10 skincare products made it into my 2022 beauty faves. There are even some amazing discounts throughout the post. Don’t say I don’t treat you!
I hope you love reading this post as much as I loved creating it.
** This post contains some affiliate links. This means at no extra cost to you, I earn some commission if you purchase a product through my link. All thoughts are my own, though, as always. If you want to find out more, visit my affiliate disclosure page **
Skincare products
1. COSRX Aloe Soothing SPF50 PA+++
Get 20% off this sunscreen with code LFTFBLOGSARAH at LookFantastic
The COSRX Aloe Soothing SPF50 PA+++ is criminally underrated. This SPF50 is amazing. It’s hydrating, soothing, and moisturising. Despite its thick texture, it absorbs into the skin easily with no white cast. I actually think I could skip a moisturiser in the summer, as this lovely SPF delivers a lot of hydration all by itself. It doesn’t make my oily skin feel greasy either. I just love how good this sits and feels on my skin.
2. Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops*
It’s no secret that the Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops are unreal. This K-beauty glow-boosting serum went viral on TikTok. And it’s obvious why! These gorgeous drops instantly give your skin a more luminous complexion. But it looks like your skin rather than being shimmery or glittery. It’s giving #LitFromWithin vibes, and I’m obsessed.
The drops are also hydrating and infused with the powerhouse ingredient niacinamide, so they’re good for your skin too. I wear these on their own as a step in my skincare routine or mix them in with my foundation to make it more radiant. This serum is seriously addictive.
3. SKIN1004 Centella Ampoule Foam*
I love cleansing, and the SKIN1004 Centella Ampoule Foam is unreal. Enriched with soothing centella asiatica, which is amazing for your skin, this cleanser is super gentle and non-stripping. A pea-sized amount activated with water turns into a creamy lather that’s so satisfying to use. After using this cleanser, my skin feels clean, refreshed, calm, and hydrated. It’s fantastic and affordable!
4. Dermatica prescription*
Use the code SARAHAWC to get your Dermatica treatment for just £2.90 the first month and 10% off the second month. Click here!
Honestly, my personalised Dermatica rosacea prescription has been the biggest game-changer for me and is easily my best skincare discovery of 2022. My custom treatment has been designed specifically for my skin. According to the Dermatica dermatology team, I’ve got mild rosacea and mild acne, so my prescription helps target both issues.
The difference the prescription has made to my skin is significant and noticeable. It’s helped reduce the number of rosacea flare-ups I have and the intensity when they do occur. My skin’s texture is also smoother and my complexion is more even. I wouldn’t be without my treatment!
Check out my 6-month progress photos.
5. ESPA Skincare Optimal Skin Pro-Serum*
Get 25% off selected ESPA Skincare lines with the code ESPASAVE25
I’m obsessed with the ESPA Skincare Optimal Skin Pro-Serum. This beautiful serum helps to hydrate and nourish my skin while giving it a healthy glow. It’s super nourishing without feeling sticky, heavy, or greasy. I find it lightweight and absorbent on my oily skin. This is honestly like a spa day in a bottle! This serum truly does it all to make my skin super soft, smooth, and healthy.
6. Lumene Nordic Hydra [Lähde] Intense Hydration Moisturizer*
![Lumene Nordic Hydra [Lähde] Intense Hydration Moisturizer image](https://awomansconfidence.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Lumene-Nordic-Hydra-moisturiser.png)
The Lumene Nordic Hydra [Lähde] Intense Hydration Moisturizer is my number 1 moisturiser find of 2022. This rich moisturiser is super nourishing yet it’s still very lightweight and absorbent. It doesn’t sit heavy on top of my skin but gives it instant hydration and dewiness. Formulated with plumping hyaluronic acid, which I’m obsessed with, this intensely moisturising product deserves far more hype.
7. COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence*
Use code CONFIDENCE10 for up to 5% off YesStyle.
Another TikTok-viral Korean skincare product that deserves all the love is the COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence. This intensely plumping and hydrating essence is glass skin in the bottle. It makes my skin immediately glowy. I always use this essence when I do makeup as it enhances the dewiness and smoothness of my skin for a flawless and even base. It’s my secret to cheating instantly radiant skin.
8. JUNOCO Clean 10 Cleansing Balm*
Using a cleansing balm is one of my fave steps in my skincare routine. I just love the relaxing feeling of melting the day away and having soft, clean, and fresh skin.
The JUNOCO Clean 10 Cleansing Balm is amazing in every single way. It’s one of the best cleansing balms I’ve tried for effortlessly removing makeup. It’s super affordable too. I love how it smells of invigorating tangerine. But most importantly, this cleansing balm is gentle and makes my skin feel soft and clean.
9. SKIN1004 Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum SPF50 PA++++*
I had to include a second SPF in my best beauty products of 2022 round-up because this one is so different to the COSRX but just as special. The SKIN1004 Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum SPF50 PA++++ is one of the most undetectable sunscreens I’ve ever tried. Seriously, once I’ve applied this serum SPF formula, I can’t tell that I’m wearing it. It doesn’t have that heaviness or stickiness that some SPFs have and is so lightweight. This SPF is 100% one for my fellow oily-skinned peeps or those who just don’t want to feel their sunscreen. It’s unreal.
10. heimish Watermelon Moisture Soothing Gel Cream*
Use code CONFIDENCE10 for up to 5% off YesStyle.
The final product in my best beauty products 2022 list is the heimish Watermelon Moisture Soothing Gel Cream. Unlike the Lumene moisturiser, I adore this heimish watermelon moisturiser for different reasons. It has a lightweight gel-cream texture that’s super cooling. This one gives my skin juicy luminosity and feels super hydrating. As it’s less rich than the Lumene one, I opt for this moisturiser when the rest of my routine is focused on hydration, I’ve had a breakout, or when I want a serious glow boost.
Makeup products
1. Clinique Almost Lipstick Black Honey*
Use the code LFTFBLOGSARAH for 20% off all products on this LOOKFANTASTIC list
Clinique Almost Lipstick Black Honey. The lipstick that broke the internet. I finally caved and got this sheer lipstick, and I adore it. The sheer yet buildable pigmentation. The soft berry tone that’s like my lips but better. The balm-like formula that’s so comfortable to wear. The glossy but non-sticky finish. I honestly love this lipstick so much. It works with so many looks!
2. NARS Light Reflecting Foundation
Get 20% off this foundation with code LFTFBLOGSARAH at LookFantastic
I was dying to try the NARS Light Reflecting Foundation for months. When I finally got my hands on this popular foundation, it didn’t disappoint! This lightweight foundation offers a bit more coverage than a skin tint but still offers light buildable coverage. It gives my skin a subtle glow and has a soft-focus skin-like finish. It’s beautiful. Plus, it’s a hybrid between base-perfecting makeup and skin-loving skincare, which 100% works. This foundation never lets me down and makes my skin look amazing.
3. Illamasqua Eye Paint Longwear Liquid Shadow*
Get 25% off Illamasqua with code ILLASAVE25
The Illamasqua Eye Paint Longwear Liquid Shadows are easily one of my best beauty product discoveries of 2022. These liquid shadows are creamy, pigmented, buildable, and so easy to blend. The colours are absolutely divine too. You can get really creative with these liquid shadows, as they’re very easy to manipulate. They don’t dry too quickly, so you have time to build up opaqueness and diffuse harsh lines without worrying that they’ll set completely. I’m truly obsessed with these. They’re phenomenal.
4. Pink Honey Honey Glue Original Superhold
So I didn’t think laminated brows were my thing. Turns out I was wrong. I love the way the Pink Honey Honey Glue Original Superhold makes my brows look. This popular brow glue helps make my brows look fluffy and actually stay in place all day. The glue has serious lasting power. I find it really easy to shape my brows exactly how I want them with this product. It’s been a total game-changer.
5. Patrick Ta Major Sculpt Crème Contour & Powder Bronzer Duo
Enter my fave contour ever: the Patrick Ta Major Sculpt Crème Contour & Powder Bronzer Duo. While the powder bronzer side is fantastic (it reminds me of the iconic Physician’s Formula Butter Bronzer), it’s the cream contour side that has a special place in my heart. It makes sculpting my face trouble-free. I’m not sure why, but contour is a struggle for me. But this formula is so easy to buff into my skin that it’s impossible to mess up. Plus the shade is spot on. Cool-toned without being grey or ashy. I live for this product.
6. By Terry Lash-Expert Twist Brush Mascara
Get 20% off this mascara at LookFantastic with the code LFTFBLOGSARAH
Why aren’t more people talking about the By Terry Lash-Expert Twist Brush Mascara?! This is one of the best mascaras I’ve ever tried. I’ve come to realise that I prefer lengthening mascaras over volumising ones, and this mascara seriously adds length. The formula never goes clumpy, I never get spider lashes, and it adds definition to my lashes. I’m in love.
Find out what other products came in the By Terry 2022 advent calendar here.
7. Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish: Highlighter + Balm Duo
Obviously, Pat McGrath Labs was going to make it onto my best beauty products of 2022 blog post! The Skin Fetish: Highlighter + Balm Duo is so gorgeous. On one side is a transparent glossy balm that’s not sticky. It gives editorial vibes and that wet-look shine that I absolutely love. On the other side is a nude pearlescent highlighter that adds luminosity without being chunky or chalky. Both sides make my skin so glowy in a very boujie way. Love.
Full Pat McGrath Labs brand review here.
8. Tom Ford Lip Colour
The Tom Ford Lip Colour is easily in my top 5 lipstick formulae of all time. I’m obsessed with these. From the luxe high-end packaging and unique shade range to the divine satin finish and intense colour payoff, these lipsticks really give me life. Not only do these satin lipsticks look very flattering because the formula doesn’t sink into fine lines or emphasise dryness, but they’re also so comfortable. I love the touch of hydration that adds to the expensive vibes. Honestly, these lipsticks are phenomenal.
9. Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush
Another TikTok-viral beauty product that deserves all the hype is the Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush. This phenomenal blusher offers everything I love about blushers. The soft pink shade, Bliss, is so flattering. It’s uber-pigmented without being clownish. Blending the formula is hassle-free. And this blush has a uniquely weightless texture. It’s verging on being like an airy mousse because this really melts into the skin. I just love this blush.
10. Huda Beauty Easy Bake Loose Baking & Setting Powder
Use the code SARAHSSPH for 15% off Sephora UK.
The final product in my best beauty products of 2022 list is the highly-rated Huda Beauty Easy Bake Loose Baking & Setting Powder. Everyone who tries this setting powder falls in love with it. I recently got the shade Cherry Blossom Cake, which has been an internet sensation. It truly does brighten my under-eyes with this incredible blurring and smoothing effect. Unlike many other setting powders, this doesn’t settle into fine lines and genuinely ensures my makeup will not budge. I’m so glad I picked this powder up!
Sarah Sarsby is the owner of A Woman's Confidence. With over 6 years' experience of writing in the fields of beauty and lifestyle, Sarah is passionate about all things content, makeup, skincare, wellness, and lifestyle. She has oily skin, is obsessed with lip gloss, and loves cookie dough.
You’d had some amazing skincare and beauty picks! So many of these I’d love to try!