All righty, I’ve made you all wait long enough. We are finally getting to my favourite makeup products from 2025. And 2025 was a very, very tough year to pick favourites for. So much so that I actually found myself getting a little overwhelmed with all of the launches the beauty world had in the last year. So, this time, I decided to do something radical and different. I’ve chosen 10 products that were my grade A standouts from the year. These were the products I’ve talked about a ton on here, I’ve used continuously throughout 2025, and would replace in a heartbeat if I were to run out of them. So, let’s see what made the cut!
Kicking us off, we have the REVLON ILLUMINANCE MOISTURE + PRIME BALM PRIMER – $36.00 (review here). This was my go to primer, especially during the winter months. It adds so much needed moisture to my skin without any heaviness and creates the smoothest canvas for my base makeup to go on to. I’m yet to find a foundation that doesn’t pair well with this primer. If you’re a dry skin girly, this is one you will love.
2025 was a solid year for foundations and skin tints. I came across quite a few that I have gone on to love. But at the top of my list is the MECCA MAX LIFE PROOF SATIN BLUR FOUNDATION – $38.00 (review here). My god, Mecca cooked with this one. Such a luxurious feel and finish on the skin. And it lasts all day long in the Mount Isa heat.
Confession time, I do not have a concealer or a powder in my favourites this year. I did try a handful of ones that I liked. But none that I would replace immediately. I did, however, come across a new favourite setting spray. The MAYBELLINE SUPER STAY DOUBLE FIXER SETTING SPRAY – $28.99 (review here) has quickly become one of the best setting sprays that I’ve ever tried from the drugstore. The biphase formula not only locks my makeup in place, but adds a needed boost of hydration. The mister is so fine and has such a quick dry down. It’s everything I could want out of a setting spray. Drugstore brands, take note!
2025 was another strong year for single shadows. And to the surprise of no one, the HALF MAGIC SINGLE SHADOWS – $24.00 were the ones I reached for the most in 2025. I’ve put the biggest dent in Blushing Lizard, the mauvey blue shade of my dreams! But the isn’t a bad shade in the range. They have wearable silvers and gold, and more out there blues and greens. The duochrome formula in particular creates so much dimension on the lid. I’m actually super close to owning all of the shades in the range and I’m eager to see what Donni comes out with next.
And now, the one you have all been waiting for. My mascara of the year. As fate should have it, I tried my favourite quite early on. And I would spend the rest of the year seeing if I could find a mascara that I loved more than the MECCA MAX MAX VOL. TUBING MASCARA – $28.00 (review here). I mentioned in my review that when it comes to tubing mascaras, a lot of the formulas tend to sacrifice volume for length. The Max Vol. gives volume, length, definition, separation, pretty much everything you would want from a tubing mascara. Or any mascara, for that matter. The Max Vol. has officially entered into my ‘between reviews mascara’ rotation. And I can’t get enough of it!
LYS Beauty sadly made my end of year disappointments in 2024. So I wanted to try more from the brand in 2025 in order to get a better picture of them. And y’all? The LYS BEAUTY NO LIMITS CREAM BRONZER STICK – $40.00 (review here) is the real deal! The colour is absolute perfection as a bronzing shade. This glided like butter across my face without disrupting the makeup underneath. It was a dream to blend out. But most importantly, once it was blended, it did not budge. It has a stunning, powder like finish on the skin that looks so natural. LYS is criminally underrated as a brand and I’m so keen to try more this year.
Another no surprise pick here. The TOO FACED CLOUD CRUSH WHIPPED LIP & CHEEK COLOUR – $48.00 (review here). Specifically in the shade Milk & Cookies. While I don’t much like this formula on the lips, as a one and done cheek colour? I’m yet to find a shade more versatile. Also, the fact that it smells like toasted marshmallow is a bonus.
Tower 28 didn’t have a ton of new launches in 2025. But the ones they did have quickly became favourites. The stick shadows are a little too new for me to include here. But the TOWER 28 GET SET POWDER BLUSHES – $38.00 were an immediate slam dunk. The range of shades they have are fantastic (please bring the Toni Bravo shades to Australia!). And the formula is so lightweight, yet so pigmented. I have swatches of all 7 of the shades that I own over on my TikTok if you want to see them in action.
Now this is a favourite from all the way back at the start of the year that has somehow managed to stick around. The MAYBELLINE LIFTER LINERS – $19.99 have been in constant rotation at Emmie’s Beauty Life HQ. I’m not sure what else I can say about them that hasn’t already been said by people who had these in their favourites (yeah, these were popular). The shade Line Leader in particular has become a go to liner shade for I want a My Lips But Better lip combo. But the shades arcoss the line are all fantastic.
My final favoruite for 2025 goes to the NYX LIP IV HYDRATING GLOSS STAIN – $24.99. Listen, I love a lip combo as much as the next girl (my TikTok is a testament to that). But on those occasions where I’m low on time, I know I can turn to the Lip IV’s and get a stunning lip look every time. They kind of do it all. They gloss, they line, they stain. I just adore this formula. The shade range is phenomenal. If you still haven’t tried them, I insist that you do.
And that is a wrap on the makeup favourites. Before I go, here are some quick honourable mentions that didn’t quite make the cut for the list proper. But I still wanted to give them a loving shout out.
Maybelline Grippy Serum Primer – Finally, a gripping primer that I adore!
Benefit The Porefessional Foundation – Basically the matte version of the Life Proof Satin Blur Foundation
MAC Fix Plus Stay Over Setting Spray – Criminally underrated in MAC’s line
Danessa Myricks Lightwork Vol. VII – Easily would have made the list were it not limited edition. Alas, my no limited edition products rule still stands here.
Half Magic Magic Drip Lip Gloss – These glosses are 90’s baby in a tube! Shimmery, sparkly fun.
Let me know in the comments what your favourite products from 2025 were. And I’ll catch you all on Friday were we’ll be talking all things fragrance!
Cheers and love
Emily xo
I need to try that foundation again!
I pulled it out again the other day. It’s so good!