Taking a look back at the very best 2020 makeup releases that made their way to our collections! From Pat McGrath Labs to Maybelline and an exciting new eyeshadow formula, it was truly a fantastic year in beauty.

Hello there, dreamer! I hope your New Year is off to a fantastic start. Surely I’m not alone when I say 2020 is a year I was glad to see come to an end and I’m hopeful 2021 will bring a lot more positive news to our lives.

Before I completely leave 2020 behind, though – I did want to take a few moments to acknowledge that it was actually a pretty fantastic year as far as new beauty releases go. Did we have the opportunity to wear said makeup to fabulous events? Not quite — but they did keep us feeling fancy during all the added time at home and Zoom calls.

Yes! Let’s give a collective round of applause for the best 2020 makeup releases that made their way into our collections across the United States. From casual light makeup products that were fantastic for those many days in quarantine to standout strides in eyeshadow and a new luxury lipstick that was worth every penny of its hefty price tag.

All year long, I was on the hunt for the best 2020 makeup releases and come New Year’s Eve I had amassed quite the collection! And so, with lots to discuss, I’m just going to get on with it! Enjoy a look at all the products that stole my heart in a year that otherwise brought quite a bit of heartache.

The Best 2020 Makeup Releases

Pat McGrath Labs Sublime Perfection Concealer (Shop)

When rounding up the best 2020 makeup releases in my collection, Pat McGrath Labs is a brand that had a rather extraordinary year! In February, Pat launched her Sublime Perfection Concealer and it went on to be unmatched in coverage and longevity.Just like her foundation, the concealer is available in 36 shades with varying undertones.

Pat McGrath Labs Blurring Undereye Powder (Shop)

Along side her concealer, Pat McGrath also launched a blurring undereye powder last February that provides such a beautiful, filter-like effect to the skin I recommend going ahead and using it EVERYWHERE.

Lancome Renergie Lift Foundation (Shop)

January 2020 seems like well and truly a lifetime ago but it was the birth month to one of the best 2020 makeup releases! Lancome’s Renergie Lift foundation combines makeup with skincare. It has the longevity of the famed Teint Idole foundation — with an added boost. It will care for your skin while promoting a lifted and healthier complexion.

To learn more — checkout my full review.

Tarte Maracuja Tinted Moisturizer (Shop)

Talk about perfect time! The Maracuja Tinted Moisturizer from Tarte launched just before lockdown and it proved to be perfect for life at home. It has lightweight coverage to neutralize the complexion without the heaviness of full foundation. It also wears beautifully over an SPF, making it great for those one-and-done days when the only place you were headed was on your daily walk or the grocery.

To learn more, checkout the full review from last April.

NARS Soft Matte Foundation (Shop)

The Soft Matte Foundation not only one of the best 2020 makeup releases — it’s also one of the best of all time. NARS really outdid themselves, crafting a full-coverage foundation that is as light on the skin as a tinted moisturizer and is also bullet-proof throughout the day. It holds up impossibly well even in extreme conditions like high heat and humidity AND is available in 34 shades.

Learn more in this full review.

KIKO Unexpected Paradise Bronzer (Shop)

Kiko Milano’s Unexpected Paradise bronzer so large I might still be using it on my deathbed. That said – it’s a great one so no complaints there! With strong pigmentation that blends out evenly, it quickly became a go-to for warming up and adding dimension to the complexion. It also has coconut-scent that invoked happy memories of the tropics during life at home.

Patrick Ta Creme and Powder Blush Duo (Shop)

Bblush isn’t a product that usually raises a lot of alarm bells. New ones drop quite frequently but rarely in a way that really stands out. But in Summer 2020, Patrick Ta raised the stakes when he released a collection of creme/powder blush duos that packed A LOT of punch! Available in four shades, these blushes come with powerful pigmentation that pops and can be layered for a glossy finish.

Colourpop Lite Stix (Shop)

While these didn’t drop in 2020, it was in January when I first discovered them and somehow none managed to out perform them throughout the year! (Despite the many that tried.) What I especially love about these cream highlighters is how smooth they are on the complexion. Where others can draw attention to pores, these seamlessly gloss right over!

Maybelline Fast Sculpting Brow Gel (Shop)

Considering it can have your brows finished in 5 seconds flat, there’s no denying Maybelline’s fast sculpting brow gel deserves recognition as one of the very best 2020 makeup releases. Available in six shades (including clear), this well-rounded product will tame, shape and fill in your brows so quickly it has to be seen to believe.

Pat McGrath Divine Rose II Eyeshadow Palette (Shop)

Pat’s been in a league of her own with eyeshadow for quite some time but the Divine Rose II palette kicked her into a whole new stratosphere! She and her team unveiled a TRIOCHROME formula that is unmatched on the market and I cannot wait to see where it goes in 2021.

Learn more in this full review – with swatches.

BYTERRY Ombre Black Star in Sunny Flash (Shop)

In the summer, ByTerry dropped the Ombre Black Star eyeshadow stick in the shade Sunny Flash and it proved to be my go-to product for putting a quick eye together. The shade is the perfect marriage between bronze and gold – and wears beautifully all over the lid or as a liner.

Patrick Starr One/Size Visionary Eyeshadow Palette (Shop)

While Pat McGrath is leading the race overall in eyeshadow, Patrick Starrr’s Visionary palette is another one of the best 2020 makeup releases. We saw a number of new beauty brands launch throughout the year, but his One/Size beauty is the one who’s future I am MOST intrigued by. His eyeshadow formula is soft, rich, loaded with pigment and blends like a dream. Can’t wait to see what else has hanging up his sleeve.

Dior Iconic Overcurl Mascara (Shop)

Ahead of the fall season, Dior launched a revamped version of their famous Iconic Overcurl Mascara and it’s the reboot I didn’t know we needed. The improved formula takes lashes to lengths you didn’t know they could go and it is a powerhouse at holding a curl ALL DAY LONG!

Physician’s Formula Tinted Lip Treatment (Shop)

Early on in 2020, Physician’s Formula released their tinted lip treatment balms and they continued to be a favorite throughout the year. These are the perfect blend of lipstick and lip care, providing intense moisture while also a medium coverage pigment.

Hermes Lipstick (Shop)

In February 2020, Hermes titillated the world over when they introduced their new line of expensive lipsticks! With an impossibly smooth and creamy formula, these apply softly and provide a blurring effect the natural lines of the lips. Stalled production in the pandemic caused on-off availability for a while but current they are widely available at Nordstrom and other fine retailers.

Laura Lee Los Angeles Makeup Brushes (Shop)

YouTuber Laura Lee launched a full collection of makeup brushes in 2020 that are all pretty fantastic, but the angled contour brush is a star flying above the rest — at least in my book. It’s soft bristles and shape carve out cheek bones like a dream.

Learn more in this review of the full brush collection.

BK Beauty Blending Eyeshadow Brush (Shop)

Booting the classic MAC 217 brush from its stronghold as the best blending brush in my collection? The BK Beauty 206 superstar is impeccably soft and has just the right amount of fullness for deepening your crease or smoothing out the lines of your shadow.

Shop the Best 2020 Makeup Releases

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