Best Makeup Articles

Molly’s Substack

December 30, 2025

The Best Beauty Products of 2025: Our 25 Must-Have Skincare + Makeup Hall of Fame Winners

This week on Lipstick on the Rim...

Molly Sims ∙ 22 LIKES ∙ 1 RESTACKS

Kathryn Werdal

•

Jan 3

Nobody needs a body scrub that costs 70 dollars for 6 ounces. This is absurd and grotesque.

Health for All

•

Jan 1

"Bimatoprost analogs" in lash serums can cause permanent orbital fat loss, leading to "sunken eyes" as a long-term side effect of enhancing lash length. I believe the shift toward caffeine-infused concealers is a safer response; they temporarily constrict blood vessels to reduce puffiness without risking the permanent anatomical changes associated with certain hormone-mimicking active ingredients.

Awards Heaven: In Conversation

Feb 4

Beauty as violence: Inside the Oscar-nominated makeup and hairstyling of 'The Ugly Stepsister'

Anne Cathrine Sauerberg and Thomas Foldberg celebrate their Oscar nomination for a classic fairytale reimagined through transformation-driven storytelling.

The Best Makeup and Hairstyling category at the Oscars is often associated with scale and showmanship. This year, Hair and Makeup Designer Anne Cathrine Sauerberg and Prosthetic Makeup Effects Designer Thomas Foldberg have broken through with something far riskier. Their nomination for

Rob Licuria ∙ 1 LIKES

The Beauty Ed.®

Jan 30

5 Upcoming Beauty Launches for 2026: Rhode, Milk MAKEUP and the e.l.f x H&M Fragrance

From Hailey Bieber's mystery mask to e.l.f.’s first fragrance - here are five upcoming beauty launches you need on your radar

We love to be first in line when a new beauty launch drops, so we’re getting a little ahead of the curve…

Paloma Sedeno ∙ 1 LIKES

Attracta Beauty Awards Substack

Jan 26

Which Beauty Awards Are Best for Recognising Outstanding Makeup Products Across Face, Eye, Lip, and Professional Categories?

In an increasingly saturated beauty awards landscape, makeup brands face a critical question: which recognition programs genuinely validate excellence across face, eye, lip, and professional makeup categories? As the industry evolves toward clinical integrity and practitioner-led evaluation, the answer lies in awards judged by those who use these produc…

Attracta Beauty Awards

Unconditional

Feb 3

GUEST EDIT BY: Cyndle Komarovski

BEAUTY

New York based makeup artist Cyndle Komarovski has a rare gift: she makes us want everything she suggests. From smoky eyes to the perfect red lip, her approach to beauty feels equal parts inspiring and achievable. Whether you wear a full face or prefer to keep things minimal, Cyndle has a way of making it…

Unconditional ∙ 11 LIKES ∙ 2 RESTACKS

Food For Thought

Feb 4

My Current Natural, Every Day Makeup Routine

Low-tox, acne-safe & hormone friendly (from a nutritionist)

I’ll be honest, I’m not the biiiiggest makeup person

Claire Sorlie ∙ 1 LIKES

Please Note by Cassandra Grey

Jan 17

Please Note: All Makeup is Not Created Equally

The 32 products found in every in demand red carpet makeup artist’s kit. 16 of the longest standing heroes and 16 of the newest.

Beauty is one of the only categories where we, as consumers, do not value our own opinion. Fragrance is the lone exception—we often have strong opinions about scent (I like mine to smell like every girl that ever broke your heart). But when it comes to science-backed formulations, clean-yet-high-performance pigments, and active ingredients, like bioiden…

Cassandra Grey ∙ 66 LIKES ∙ 5 RESTACKS

Carson Griffith

•

Jan 18

We need this package in one ready-to-buy kit please ❤️

Neural Foundry

•

Jan 18

Love the concept of trusting the people who actualy stake their reputation on these products daily. The idea that makeup artists are the ultimate curators because they have to edit down to just two suitcases is brilliant, I dunno why more industries don't follow this model. I used to buy skincare based on Instagram ads until I started asking my dermatologist friends what they acually use themselves. Your point about high-stakes situations driving better curation (red carpets, campaigns) explains why expert recommendations beat algorithm-driven suggestions every time.

WEARSTLERWORLD

Jan 28

MY BEAUTY ESSENTIALS

The products and habits shaping my rituals right now

Wearstlerworld,

Kelly Wearstler ∙ 138 LIKES ∙ 8 RESTACKS

Marjorie Hernandez

•

We need now the travel edition !

Dianna Cohen

•

Could not love this post more. 💚

FLESH WORLD by Jessica DeFino

Jan 31

Introducing: The FleshMatrix!

A fun little chart mapping Cosmetics, Health, Desire, & Power.

A theory:

Jessica DeFino ∙ 81 LIKES ∙ 3 RESTACKS

Allegra

•

genius

V Ste

•

what a convergence of ideas… echoes of baudrillard, stephen hassan’s cult spectrum, and your recent ask ugly call to action abound. You’ve created an incredible tool to combat the weaponization of language these days, so rad.

Snob and a Half

Jan 28

You’re Not Unattractive, You’re Just Undeveloped

The blueprint to becoming pretty..

Let’s talk attractiveness.

Faith Annae ∙ 215 LIKES ∙ 16 RESTACKS

lyra ⊱✿⊰

•

this really is so well put for the girls who seek honest guidance towards fully stepping into themselves. their highest potential awaits their continued efforts. will have to save this one to share when it may be helpful! thank you ✨

Opulent Subconscious

•

This is brilliant! I especially love how you state that no one is naturally beautiful. I wish someone would have told me that straight up when I was younger. Sharing this with my daughters.

THE LOVE LIST

Jan 4

The Love List's Best of Beauty 2025

The 40 products that defined our year.

Jess Graves ∙ 242 LIKES ∙ 15 RESTACKS

Cassandra Grey

•

Jan 4

The Love List is love listing.

Traci Landy

•

Jan 4

Very into the bronzing drops.

Cosmic Glow Up Transformations By Monica S. Rasmussen

Jan 30

Body, Beauty, Branding, and Identity ✨

How health, fitness, and beauty are deeply connected to your brand identity. How hair, makeup, and style are part of your branding.

Thank you to everyone who tuned into my live video podcast! Join me for my next live podcast in the app every Friday 12 PM CET!

Monica S. Rasmussen ∙ 1 LIKES ∙ 1 RESTACKS

Extra Scoop

Jan 30

Introducing Annadea

Let me preface this post by saying that if you think I’m just a little nuts by the end of this newsletter, you’re probably right–I decided to build a brand new company in a new-to-me industry while 6 months pregnant and in the thick of creating my first real cookbook. I remember the Friday night that Kyle and I dreamed up this crazy idea–we were on our …

Olivia Adriance ∙ 21 LIKES

Rachel

•

I love reading your newsletters so much, and finally created an account just to leave this comment. Thank you for honestly sharing your journey!

Sara Trojanowski

•

Congratulations! This is very exciting!❤️❤️

Gloss Angeles

Jan 20

Erica Taylor Is the Midlife Makeup Guru the Internet Actually Needs

She gets real about aging in a youth-obsessed industry, the makeup habits women over 40 should retire, and IT Cosmetics’ newest skin tint that’s about to become your go-to.

If Erica Taylor has ever popped up on your FYP, you already know the vibe: she’s equal parts makeup artist, teacher, and truth-teller. Erica has nearly 30 years of professional beauty experience, a community of 3M+ followers, and in 2025 she was named Global Makeup Coach at

Gloss Angeles ∙ 6 LIKES

Voice of the Proletariat

Jan 29

A Dialectical Analysis of LGBT+ Identity Politics

A comprehensive analysis of the sociopolitical tendencies in Western LGBT+ discourse, such as the supposed "de-gendering" of makeup and selective, NGO-ized activism.

I felt it would be beneficial to more deeply delve into the topic of identity politics, particularly those of the Western LGBT+ community. I have touched on this before in my analysis of feminist capitalism and Kilbourne’s Killing Us Softly, but a proper discussion seemed fitting.

rune 박지훈 ☭ ∙ 5 LIKES ∙ 4 RESTACKS

e1luka

•

too long, too timid but the discussion about woke NGOs disarming the working class to the point of pushing them in the arms of fascism is long overdue, And some hard self-reflexion on the anti-capitalist who were all to happy to succumb to the lure of whatever-fobia grants is also in order

FLESH WORLD by Jessica DeFino

Jan 13

ICE Barbie

The Don't Buy List: Issue #108

Hello and welcome to another edition of THE DON’T BUY LIST!

Jessica DeFino ∙ 237 LIKES ∙ 18 RESTACKS

Sarah Brown

•

Jan 13

"Everyone’s on Ozempic, paid for by their parents, because it’s cheaper than the cost of food" is the most dystopian thing I've read... so far today, I guess

Siri

•

Jan 13

"a shortcut to looking like you have a rich inner life" 🫠

Oldster Magazine

Jan 14

This is 68: Makeup Icon and Memoirist Bobbi Brown Responds to The Oldster Magazine Questionnaire

"Sometimes I look in the mirror and think ‘Oh my gosh, who is that?’ and other days I’m like ‘Wow, I look good’. Every day has its own surprises."

From the time I was 10, I’ve been obsessed with what it means to grow older. I’m curious about what it means to others, of all ages, and so I invite them to take “The Oldster Magazine Questionnaire.”

Sari Botton ∙ 140 LIKES ∙ 9 RESTACKS

Irwin Epstein

•

Jan 14

Positivity without pretension. How nice. And best of all, less (make-up) is more—and from a makeup maven. How refreshing.

Carolita Johnson

•

Jan 14

Total icon. Met her once while I was working for an Italian Vogue stylist who did something with her, and, most flatteringly, she actually asked me about doing something with her, I guess because I also did minimal makeup in her style at the time. Then I became a cartoonist! Now (for budget reasons, because at 60 my income isn't exactly going UP anymore) (that's a consideration for makeup products for older women, ahem!) I barely use anything, ha ha, but I guess I could still look like me in photos using her stuff.

Branding With Benefits

Jan 15

Rhode Had Runway. Makeup by Mario Has a Ceiling.

The $250 million brand that can’t close a deal and the $212 million brand that sold for $1 billion have one crucial difference that explains how beauty acquisitions work.

Rhode was sold for $1 billion in May 2025, with trailing revenue of $212 million. Makeup by Mario has been shopping for two years with reportedly $250 million in revenue and still can’t close at any price. The obvious explanation is that something must be wrong with Mario’s business, that the foundation launch underperformed or the key man risk around t…

Camille Moore ∙ 94 LIKES ∙ 7 RESTACKS

Lo Galloway

•

Jan 15

A great read and a super interesting perspective. I hope some of the really strong upcoming creator led brands take a page out of Rhodes M&A playbook.

Kat Jamieson

•

Jan 15

Always so well written 👏🏼👏🏼

Beauty People

Jan 26

The Bulletin No. 31: 2026 Beauty Trend Predictions

Skincare, Makeup, Haircare, Fragrance + Strategy

Hello Beauty People! My annual Beauty Trend Prediction newsletter is finally here. I write this from my cozy Brooklyn apartment, where it is 25° (but feels like 7°) and snowing. I’ve also got a split…

Kareen ∙ 9 LIKES ∙ 3 RESTACKS

Because of Marketing

Jan 27

The MERIT Edit

How a Minimalist Beauty Brand Is Winning The Beauty Space

Because of Marketing ∙ 75 LIKES ∙ 9 RESTACKS

Autumn Enoch

•

Jan 27

"the value of looking beyond your category to build stronger brand equity" -- one of the most important points in PR + marketing!

I think there's been a lot of great brand partnerships over the last few years that exemplify this strategy/way of thinking, but there's still a long way to go in terms of marketers (on the client/in-house side, imho) stepping outside their bubbles and into a customer's shoes.

It's why PR (me) is often forced to (if smart) stay in-the-know on as much as possible in every category. You never know where your next great idea or inspiration will come from -- and insights often arrive at that unexpected intersection. ~

Tracy Gabriele Gehrmann

•

What’s interesting is that MERIT’s minimalism is doing real commercial work.

Fewer SKUs. Clear heroes. A five-minute routine.

That restraint makes their paid advertising smarter too. When you have clear heroes, you can truly scale moments like Black Friday, where Flush Balm became one of the top three SKUs on Shopify (which is pretty insane).

In a category addicted to more, MERIT is competing primarily on clarity. And that’s hard to copy.

Middle East Uncovered

Jan 31

Huda Kattan Tests the Limits of Influencer Activism

From Iran to Israel, the beauty mogul’s forays into politics and conspiracy theories have triggered boycotts and backlash across social media.

Huda Kattan is not just a makeup entrepreneur. The face of Huda Beauty, a global cosmetics empire now worth over $1 billion, her transparency, relatability, and makeup expertise resonated with millions, making her one of the most influential women in the world.

Iram Ramzan ∙ 12 LIKES ∙ 3 RESTACKS

Rebecca Ruth Gould

•

A lucid and accurate account! Thank you.

Neural Foundry

•

Really sharp analysis of the tension between platform size and political nuance. The comparison to blending makeup is spot-on because both require careful layering but one has much higher stakes. I've watched similar influencers struggle when they realize thier audience expects both authenticity and expertise on complex issues that they simply haven't studied deeply

Vesper Magazine

Feb 4

Two Sides to Beauty

When Beauty Meets Soul, it Becomes Timeless

There is something magnetic about the Old Hollywood icons who not only wore their looks but also lived them, embodying values that outlasted the trends we replicate decades later. These women understood style is never just about appearance. Rather, it is an expression of character, grace, and intention.

Vesper Magazine ∙ 3 LIKES ∙ 1 RESTACKS

Neural Foundry

•

Love how this connects inner beauty with outer expression. The Monica Bellucci section really hit home, especially the part about slowing down and being present rather than performing. I've been experimenting with that smoky mauve eye look and its surprisingly more wearable than the heavy blacks. The Biblical framing at the start adds depth most beauty content lacks.

The Rich Creme

Jan 18

Jan edit: makeovers, Seoul skin haul and the coolest beauty brands you've never heard of

A beauty state of the union

If you’re reading this as an email, you may need to click “expand” or open in a new window to view in full.

Emily Morello ∙ 67 LIKES

Chelsea

•

Jan 18

I dream of having another haircut at David Mallet. The ultimate!

Sara Crampton

•

Jan 18

Love the chop! One of your references is Marta @lifeofboheme, a great follow for further hair research and stylish Parisian things.

White Rabbit Social

Feb 2

Honest Questions to Ask Yourself Before Shopping, How to Get The Best Beauty Deals This Year, And Why This Edition Was Late | January 2026

White Rabbit Social's Monthly Beauty Newsletter & Monthly Giveaway Winner 🎉

Quick Updates 🗞️🐇

White Rabbit Social ∙ 4 LIKES ∙ 3 RESTACKS

The AI Architect

•

Fantastic breakdown of mindful beauty shopping. The one-in one-out rule is underrated, expecially for people drowning in similar shades. I started tracking expiry dates last year and it was a rude awakening seeing how much never got used. The ShopBack tip with abandoned carts is clever too, didnt know retailers stack those discounts.

Minnie Isaac

•

One of my favourite editions yet!

A Family Affair by Liz Adams

Jan 12

A Big Beauty Chat

A long (sorry!) breakdown of all the skincare/makeup products I've been using and loving lately.

I am not a beauty buff. I don’t apply makeup well, I often forget to blend in my blush, most days I’m only wearing SPF and no one is coming to me for tips to apply, well anything. However, I ask enough questions to know what works best for my skin and I believe a good skincare foundation makes everything else look good. I encourage you to watch the vide…

Liz Adams ∙ 186 LIKES ∙ 4 RESTACKS

SFG

•

Jan 14

You look beautiful 🤩

Tory Stroker

•

Jan 12

This was great, Liz! Your makeup and your hair have been looking so good lately. Always look to you for inspiration for quick and easy, realistic routines for beauty!