As the world changes (and is it ever), so too does the role of beauty. As consumers, it’s our duty to ask ourselves how we can adjust our behavior to ensure we’re making and inspiring conscientious decisions — striving toward a life of thoughtful curation, rather than gotta-have-it-all excess. In years past, our awards process cast a wide net, leaving behind heaps of cardboard packaging, barely used palettes, and bubble wrap in our wake in an attempt to find beauty products guaranteed to work for everybody (something we’re not so sure is even possible).
This time around, we took a different approach. Our team of Refinery29 beauty editors and experts hand-selected the innovative new beauty products they personally couldn’t stop raving about this year. It’s a lot more intentional, a lot more personal, and all the more exciting to announce the 29 products that really added joy to our lives in 2021. Read about the products that spoke to us as individuals and watch our personal reviews on Refinery29 social — then shop them, love them, use them ‘til they’re all gone.
Camille Rose
Honeycomb Curl Whip Texture-Defining Supercream
Real honey is the star ingredient in this concoction, which conditions and boosts shine for hydrated hair worthy of a queen bee.
Paula's Choice
Hyaluronic Acid + Peptide Lip Booster
This souped-up treatment contains advanced hydrating spheres that actually make lips fuller over time.
The Editorial Nail
TENX Manicure in Kaffé Latté
There’s no better complement to your morning mug of coffee than a high-quality set of press-ons that also understand the assignment.
Kate McLeod
Face Stone
A solid moisturizer packed with nourishing antioxidant-rich ingredients, or a crystal ball that shows clearer, brighter skin in your future?
Augustinus Bader
The Serum
This silky, scientifically-advanced serum has the solutions your skin needs — and comes in the most luxe packaging we’ve ever seen.
The Inkey List
Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Hair Treatment
HA for your hair? Believe it. This water-light serum is the ultimate thirst quencher for dry, frazzled strands.
Laneige
Radian-C Cream
The potent vitamin C derivative in this gentle cream works as well for fading stubborn acne scars as it does all-over brightening.
Sephora Collection
Best Skin Ever Liquid Foundation
A single drop of this liquid foundation is all you need for long-wearing, natural-looking coverage with skin-care benefits, to boot.
NYX Professional Makeup
Butter Gloss in Lava Cake
A formula as rich as the most decadent chocolate soufflé, with the perfect dark-cocoa color to match.
Briogeo
Don't Despair, Repair Strengthening Treatment Oil
Silicone-free and clinically proven to strengthen and restore, this rose-infused oil leaves hair dramatically rejuvenated and petal-soft.
ILIA
Fullest Volumizing Mascara
Like lingerie for your lids, this lightweight mascara drapes lashes in a layer of inky black that won’t smudge, flake, or irritate sensitive eyes.
Hanni
The Weighted Razor
For the smoothest possible shave with the least amount of blood spilled, you need this game-changing weighted razor.
Keys Soulcare
Sacred Body Oil
Anointing yourself with this incredibly luxe, non-greasy oil isn’t just a ritual; it’s practically a religious experience.
JVN
Complete Pre-Wash Scalp Oil
This soothing formula contains hemisqualane and basil root extract to strengthen hair follicles and achieve scalp nirvana over time.
Tatcha
The Indigo Overnight Repair Serum in Cream Treatment
The indigo extract in this serum-in-moisturizer has calming properties that were once used by Japan’s samurai to heal injured skin after battle.
Tower 28 Beauty
SunnyDays SPF 30 Tinted Sunscreen Foundation
Between the SPF 30 protection, sensitivity-safe ingredients, and just-right buildable coverage, this tinted moisturizer is giving Goldilocks.
T3
AireBrush Duo
The blow-dry brush to end all blow-dry brushes features two interchangeable attachments and 15 heat and speed combinations for completely customizable results.
Ami Colé
Skin-Enhancing Tint
In six shades designed specifically to enhance melanin-rich complexions, this satiny fluid creates a glowy, soft-focus finish that still looks like skin.
Drunk Elephant
Protini Powerpeptide Resurfacing Serum
Ride the wave of peptides, amino acids, and gently exfoliating lactic acid to smoother, brighter skin and barely-there pores.
Kjaer Weis
FeatherTouch Brow Gel
The only thing we love more than this flexible, long-lasting brow-grooming formula is the eco-friendly refillable tube.
Dyson
Supersonic Flyaway Attachment
The hair tool that does everything can now do even more: Just pop this curved attachment onto your Dyson dryer and watch flyaways vanish in a single pass.
Merit Beauty
The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Stick
The ultimate one-and-done for your makeup bag is this twist-up stick meant to replace a full face, so you can curate coverage as you see fit.
Soft Services
Smoothing Solution Calming Gel Exfoliant
Lactic acid, aloe, centella asiatica: The same skin-care ingredients you already love for tackling uneven tone and texture, now available for everything below the neck.
Dieux Skin
Deliverance
Packed with peptides, niacinamide, and clinically-studied cannabinoids, this serum returns stressed-out skin to a state of grace.
Matter Of Fact
Ascorbic Acid 20 Brightening C Serum
With a sophisticated formula that pairs 20% ascorbic acid with skin-supporting ingredients, it’s no wonder this research-backed formula was an instant hit among those in the know.
Dashing Diva
Glaze Gel Nail Strips
Even DIY nail novices can swing something salon-worthy with these gel strips, which are beyond easy to apply and cure with an LED light.
Lake & Skye
Midnight 07 Eau de Parfum
Yuzu, vetiver, amber, rose, fig, vanilla, and patchouli mix perfectly in this creamy, smoky, sexy bespoke cocktail of a fragrance, best enjoyed after dark.
LYS Beauty
Higher Standard Satin Matte Cream Blush
The shine-free finish on this smooth, pigmented cream yields the most natural-looking, non-greasy flush.
Dibs Beauty
Status Stick
You’ll want to swipe this oversized stick of soft, shimmery butter all over everything, from your cheekbones to your collarbones — so why wouldn’t you?
AT REFINERY29, WE’RE HERE TO HELP YOU NAVIGATE THIS OVERWHELMING WORLD OF STUFF. ALL OF OUR MARKET PICKS ARE INDEPENDENTLY SELECTED AND CURATED BY THE EDITORIAL TEAM. IF YOU BUY SOMETHING WE LINK TO ON OUR SITE, REFINERY29 MAY EARN COMMISSION.
WRITTEN AND EDITED BY RACHEL KRAUSE.
Photographer, Eli Wirja c/o Above Management; Wardrobe Stylist, Mel Reneé Leamon; Prop Styling, Elisia Mirabelli c/o Ba-reps; Makeup Artist, Ayaka Nihei using Tata Harper; Hair Stylist, Chicka Nishiyama c/o 87 artists; Manicurist, Nori c/o See Management.
DESIGNED BY MICHELLE COPE; BEAUTY DIRECTOR, SARA TAN; ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR, JANE PRYZANT; SENIOR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PHOTO & DESIGN, SARAH FILIPPI; PRODUCT DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT, VMG PRODUCT STUDIO.
ILLUSTRATIONS BY TWISHA PATNI
Diesel top; Diesel skirt; stylist's own arm warmers; Diesel shoes. Vex Clothing swimsuit, $190, available at vexclothing.com; Vex Clothing open face hood, $130, available at vexclothing.com. Emilio Pucci top; stylist’s own arm warmers. Gauntlett Cheng top; Gauntlett Cheng pants; C+ series shirt; Sterling King earrings. Scarlet Sage top; Scarlet Sage pants; Diesel shoes. Gauntlett Cheng top; Givenchy leggings; Givenchy boots. C+ Series top; C+ Series bottom; Kenzo shoes.