American Cosmetic Association’s 2023 makeup trends and top product picks revealed

02 Nov 2023 --- The American Cosmetic Association (ACA) has released its 2023 Best of Makeup Guide, unveiling the top five makeup trends of the year and the best products in each category. Notably, glass skin was the top trend of the year, followed by monochromatic makeup and graphic eyeliner.

“2023 is all about embracing the power of makeup to express your unique beauty. Our guide is your passport to exploring the latest trends and discovering the products that will help you make a statement,” says the ACA Board of Directors.

Key makeup trends
Glass skin is described as radiant, luminous and almost translucent skin by the ACA.

The products mentioned to achieve the look are the Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Foundation, which offers buildable coverage and a matte finish. The Glossier Haloscope Highlighter is a dewy highlighter that gives the skin a natural, glassy glow. Lastly, Laneige Water Bank Hydro Essence hydrates the skin for that glass-like effect.

A woman's face in direct sunlight. The ACA names glass skin as the top makeup trend of 2023.Another highlighted trend, monochromatic makeup, matches eyeshadow, lipstick and blush in a finished look. For this, the ACA recommends using the Huda Beauty Obsessions Eyeshadow Palette, available in various color schemes to fit a monochromatic style. Meanwhile, the MAC Cosmetics Powder Blush gives options to choose a shade that complements the monochrome look. The NARS Audacious Lipstick has a wide range of shades to match the overall color theme.

According to the report, bold and dramatic eyeliners are making a comeback in the trend of graphic eyeliner. The Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner, NYX Professional Makeup Epic Ink Liner and the Marc Jacobs Highliner Gel Eye Crayon are recommended to achieve the trendy look.

The fourth trend is lip art. The guide describes the lips as a canvas for creative artwork. It recommends using the Sugarpill Liquid Lip Color, known for its vibrant and unusual shades, alongside the Kat Von D Beauty Everlasting Lip Liner, which has a range of versatile lip liners to create intricate designs. The Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil is also recommended as a multi-use pencil for precise lip art.

Coming up last is sustainable beauty, with eco-conscious makeup brands gaining popularity. Some clean beauty suggestions include the Rms Beauty “Un” Cover-Up Concealer, Ilia Beauty Limitless Lash Mascara and Burt’s Bees All Aglow Lip & Cheek Stick.

Top makeup picks
Regarding the best base makeup for 2023, ACA picks the Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer. The best foundation chosen is the Dior Backstage Face & Body Foundation, and the best concealer is the Tarte Shape Tape Concealer.

For the leading setting powder, the Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder is selected. The best bronzer went to the Benefit Hoola Bronzer, and the best blush to NARS Blush in shade Orgasm. The top highlighter is the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector, and lastly, the best setting spray is the Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray. An array of makeup products on a table. Businesses in the personal care insight category can get an inside look into the top makeup products of the year.

In the eye makeup category, the ACA named Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Eyeshadow Palette as the most prominent. The best eyeliner is the Kat Von D Tattoo Liner, and the best mascara is the Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara.

Additionally, the best eyebrow pencil of the year is the Benefit Precisely, My Brow Pencil. The best eyebrow gel is the Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel. The best eyeshadow primer is the Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion.

For the top lip products, ACA selected MAC Cosmetics Matte Lipstick, the Estee Lauder Double Wear 24H Stay-in-Place Lip Liner and the Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer. The list included Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick and Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm.

According to ACA’s report, the top products from luxury brands include the Tom Ford Beauty Traceless Foundation Stick, Chanel Joues Contraste Blush, Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupté Shine Lipstick and Guerlain Météorites Pearls.

For drug store brands, Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Foundation, Wet n Wild Color Icon Blush, Elf Cosmetics Liquid Matte Lipstick and NYX Professional Makeup Jumbo Eye Pencil won in the category for this year.

By Sabine Waldeck