Meet the 2024 Beauty Election Winners
January 1 | 2 minute read
Words by Team MECCA
Originally published on | June 3
We knew you were obsessed, but this year you’ve taken it to another level!
And now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for… From the perfect red lip to the total skin transformer to the most-spritzed fragrance, presenting the 2024 Beauty Election winners – and, exactly why they’ve become instant classics!
WINNER: THE BOLDEST POP OF COLOUR
Too Faced Cloud Crush Blurring Blush
Buildable, buttery and blurring, whether you prefer statement cheeks or a subtle flush, this velvety blush is the pop you need.
WINNER: THE SAVVIEST SKINCARE-MAKEUP HYBRID
Westman Atelier Vital Skincare Complexion Drops
A lightweight liquid foundation with the benefits of a skincare serum, these drops leave your skin smooth and radiant even after you wash them off. It’s all thanks to a formula packed with Tsubaki oil, ginseng and pomegranate extract – a trio of skincare favourites that lock in moisture and nourish without clogging pores.
WINNER: THE PERFECT RED LIP
NARS Powermatte Lipstick in ‘Dragon Girl’
A pigmented matte lip that never feels dry, ‘Dragon Girl’ – aptly described as a ‘vivid siren red’ – is a staple in every beauty bag. So longwearing, it’s known to last through a busy day at the office and a long night of spicy margs.
WINNER: THE BEST FOR BEGINNERS
MECCA MAX Off Duty Blush Stick
Swipe on, tap in and go! These blush sticks over-deliver in all categories: shade range, colour pay-off, blendability and affordability. If you’re one of the few to not yet jump on the bandwagon, consider this win the nudge you needed. You won’t look back (promise!).
WINNER: THE HIDDEN GEM
ILIA Limitless Lash Mascara
Combining the best qualities of every mascara you’ve ever tried, this is super dark, non-flaky, separates lashes and adds body – yet is almost impossible to clump or overdo (thanks to its unique brush). A true beauty star, deserving of the win!
WINNER: THE TOTAL SKIN TRANSFORMER
Drunk Elephant Protini™ Powerpeptide Resurf Serum
The number-one ingredient you’re adding to your skincare smoothies? This teal-capped AM/PM serum that delivers next-level results. Infused with the same skin-strengthening peptide blend as the beloved Protini™ Polypeptide Cream, plus 10 percent lactic acid, it leaves even the most textured skin incredibly soft and smooth.
WINNER: THE HYDRATION HERO
Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream
When it comes to the Hydration Hero, could there be any more worthy a winner than Kiehl’s bestselling moisturiser? It leaves skin 2.3 times more hydrated for a full 24 hours, and has even been ‘adventure tested’ on Mount Everest!
WINNER: THE CLEANSER THAT CLEANS UP
Tatcha The Indigo Cleansing Balm
Soothing, indulgent and effective on everything from makeup to SPF, Tatcha’s blue-tinged balm is the kind of first step that will have you looking forward to your pre-bed skincare – and make you feel like you’ve reached Nara Smith levels of having your life together.
Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte’s Magic Cream™
When it comes to makeup prep, who else would we turn to than the Queen of Glow and icon of red-carpet glam, and her legendary Magic Cream™? This is the moisturising secret weapon behind your favourite celebrities’ complexions – as revealed by Charlotte's makeup artist niece, Sofia Schwarzkopf-Tilbury, on The MECCA Memo.
WINNER: YOUR EVERYTHING IN THE SHOWER
Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum Body Firmeza Oil
Given how obsessed we are with the original Brazilian Bum Bum Cream, it's no surprise its weightless oil form is fast gaining steam. Massage in after your 'everything shower' for a hit of fast-absorbing, firming nourishment – and even more of that pistachio-y, caramel-y scent you can't get enough of!
WINNER: THE SCENT TAKING THE WORLD BY SPRITZ
Maison Francis Kurkdjian Gentle Fluidity Gold EDP
There's a reason fragrance enthusiasts call this ‘liquid gold’! A unique blend of rich, creamy vanilla notes with a touch of spice and juniper make it really sparkle. It’s the fragrance equivalent of that slinky designer dress that makes you feel your most confident.
WINNER: THE HOME SCENT THAT STAYS WITH YOU
Diptyque Figuier Candle
Move over, Baies – now everyone wants their home to smell like ancient Mediterranean fig trees! This is the most magnificent interpretation of sun-warmed fruit still clinging to the tree, with woody-green notes powerful enough to fill a large space without being overpowering. Even unlit, this handsome piece of décor throws a juicy trail.
WINNER: THE HAIR HIGH ACHIEVER
Gisou Honey Infused Hair Oil
Hair oils are taking over our bathroom cabinets and social media feeds, and none more so than Gisou's sweetly scented version. Use after styling to tame flyaways, as an overnight treatment to support hair health or add to your hair mask for extra nourishment. No matter which you try, smoother, shinier hair is guaranteed (just ask one of MECCA HQ’s best heads of hair).
WINNER: THE VIP OF ME-TIME
Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream
You can’t argue with a brand backed by 30 years of science, led by a professor of stem cell biology and that’s made a cameo in almost every celebrity #GRWM video since it launched in 2018. Turns out, one of the most extravagant moisturisers is actually worth the hype (and the investment): it transforms dry skin, fine lines and texture, and every application feels like a moment of pure indulgence.
WINNER: THE ONE FOR THE SUN
MECCA COSMETICA To Save Face SPF50+ Brightening Sun Serum
Broad-spectrum SPF50+ protection, a dreamy, sheen-y glow, makeup priming powers and 3 percent niacinamide to help boost hydration, soften the look of fine lines and boost radiance – this elegant SPF is so much more than sunscreen. It was love at first drop…
WINNER: THE GIFT ON EVERYONE’S LIST
Diptyque Orphéon EDP
Complex and old-timey in the best kind of way, this Phoebe Bridgers-loved scent bottles the curls of tobacco smoke, powdery trails of blush and lipstick and burnished wood once alive in the Orphéon bar, which later transformed into Diptyque’s flagship corner store in Paris’ Saint-Germain-des-Prés.
WINNER: THE BEAUTY BREAKTHROUGH OF 2024
Dr. Dennis Gross Advanced Retinol + Ferulic Perfectly Dosed Retinol Universal 0.2%
When it comes to retinol, this two-minute skincare hack changed everything. The pre-dosed treatment pads deliver the perfect amount of 0.2 percent pure liquid retinol – and some seriously incredible results. In just one week, you’ll notice less oily skin, improved elasticity and a reduction in fine lines and discolouration.
WINNER: THE HANDBAG ESSENTIAL
Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm
Every It girl and their BFF has a stash of these in all eight flavours, and you can’t blame them. Tinted balmy lips are in and this formula is (now, officially) the best when it comes to long-term hydration, a sheen-y – not sticky – finish, and deliciousness.
WINNER: THE MOST ACE BASE
NARS Light Reflecting Foundation
From 2023’s Best Newcomer to 2024’s Most Ace Base, there’s no stopping NARS' Light Reflecting Foundation. A makeup artist and TikTok favourite, this is a 36-shade, skincare-powered formula from the foundation experts, delivering luminous, blurring coverage – for skin that looks camera-ready anywhere, any time.
WINNER: THE REALEST CONCEALER
Kosas Revealer Concealer
This marks the second win in a row for Kosas’ bestselling complexion perfector, and it’s easy to see why. The buttery, hyaluronic acid-and-peptide-packed formula gives it a beautifully skin-like finish – perfect for spot-concealing and dark circle-disguising alike.
Smashbox The Original Photo Finish Smooth & Blur Oil Free
A blurring primer like no other, this industry staple will smooth the appearance of fine lines and texture, control oil and make your makeup last all night long. It’s everything you could ever ask for in a primer.
