The 45 Best Beauty Products of 2021: Eadem, Ellis Brooklyn, More

“2021 was a year of discovery for me. I wanted to dive into the beauty world and try out new products to add to my usual rotation, because there are so many great up-and-coming, independent brands available to shop. Some of my most loved products of the year include my HBFIT x Highline Wellness Kit, Sienna Naturals Curl Elixir Primer and Conditioning Spray, and the Ceremonia Guava Rescue Spray.” —@hannahbronfman

“Suna offers the perfect balance of cleansing hair and gently treating the scalp with ingredients typically found in skincare, like hyaluronic acid, AHAs, clay and fermented essential minerals. It’s powered by rhassoul clay and hibiscus flower extract, unlike other scalp exfoliants that often use salt. It also helps encourage hair growth, promotes shine, and prevents dandruff and dry scalp by balancing natural oils that keep your scalp and hair healthy.

I also I love Make Beauty’s combination of powerful active ingredients and thick texture found in the brand’s Super Cell Deep Moisture Cream, which is perfect for maintaining a healthy skin barrier during drier months. The cream sinks into skin, and really leaves it feeling hydrated and protected.” —@garrettmarkenson

“La Perla is known for their sexy—and always elegant—lingerie, but don’t sleep on their beauty collection. The brand’s Nourishing Body Balm leaves skin feeling like silk and it also imparts the softest, subtlest musk scent. The fragrance can cling to your sheets, but that’s kind of nice.” —@jessicamatlin

“I love over-the-counter skincare, and there were some great, high quality and affordable launches this year. Dove’s Sensitive Care Collection Body Washes are everything and as someone who has eczema, these are the only body washes I let touch my skin. They’re formulated with ingredients like DEFI and Glycinate, and also have been show to help the skin produce more ceramides, since it contains stearic acid (aka pro ceramides) and palmitic acids. As we know, ceramides play a critical role in creating a healthy skin barrier.

I also love Cerave’s comprehensive line of acne products, including the four percent benzoyl peroxide acne foaming cream cleanser, and two percent acne control cleanser featuring salicylic acid. Their Resurfacing Retinol Serum is also ideal to help minimize hyperpigmentation. These are great options for those with mild acne (of course if you have cysts, scarring, significant post inflammatory change or aren’t improving with OTC options, make sure to see your dermatologist).” —@drsharimarchbein

“Standing hair appointments are so 2019, which is why lately, it’s been box braids for me, making my scalp health a big focus. A few days a week, I keep it soothed and nourished with the Nichole Avonie Rejuvenating Scalp Elixir—we truly don’t talk about scalp health enough. This soothing botanical oil blend not only minimizes scalp inflammation and irritation, but also helps lock in hydration.

I also must admit that I’ve forgotten how to do my own makeup. But Danessa Myricks Beauty’s Twin Flames Liquid Eyeshadow makes my highly unskilled smudge and smear resemble something magical and Instagram-worthy. These multi-chrome, high-impact shadows are the makeup version of lightening in a bottle. The way they shift, dazzle and set perfectly on the eyelid is just everything.” —@thisthatbeauty

“I’m the ultimate player when it comes to fragrance, but if any perfume could turn me into a complete monogamist, it would be Byredo’s Young Rose. I’ve worn it almost every single day since its launch, and the ingenious blend of classic notes (like Damascus rose) with the unexpected (like spicy Sichuan pepper) transforms it into a complex, deeply intoxicating take on a classic floral. It’s divine.

As a beauty editor, the influence of SkinCeuticals iconic C E Ferulic serum isn’t lost on me, and practically every single human I know swears it’s some type of magical witchcraft for getting insanely youthful-looking skin. That said, I’ve had FOMO for years because my sensitive, acne-prone skin erupts in bumps and redness whenever I so much as look at a vitamin C serum, C E Ferulic, included. Until, Silymarin CF, that is! This serum was specifically developed for people who have oily, breakout-prone skin, and it’s quite literally the only vitamin C product my skin has ever been able to tolerate and thrive on. Despite continuous mask-wearing and abnormal stress levels this year, my skin has never been brighter, smoother, or more even thanks to this brilliant launch.” —@erin_jahns

“I was recently at a dinner with other beauty editors and we found ourselves raving about Ellis Brooklyn’s unique and indulgent fragrances. Each of us had a favorite, but one that seemed to stand out was Super Amber, a perfume that swirls together notes of amber, cedar, and musk. It settles onto your skin to create a subtle, sensual, and warm scent. Three of us, including me, were wearing it that night—and to have this group (whose job is to sift through products to determine the best of the best) get excited about a fragrance means it’s that good.” —@jesamarie_

“Scalp care was a big priority for me in 2021. I love giving myself a scalp massage with the Shaz and Kiks With Love, India Moringa Oil before washing my hair. It smells amazing, and after a few weeks I even noticed that my hair felt softer.

In 2021, I also loved using a bronzer during colder months to add more warmth to my complexion. Pai Skincare’s Impossible Glow Bronzing Drops are easy to apply and complement my skintone to give me a natural glow without going overboard.” —@justjamiemarie

“The pomade in this Refy kit fakes a brow lamination and it stays put from the morning well into the evening. I also love the pencil because of its tiny tip, which makes creating natural-looking, faux hairs a breeze.” —@katieintner

“Where do I even begin? First off, the Eadem Milk Marvel Dark Spot Serum feels like a lotion but absorbs like a serum. Second, it has a great texture so you can layer it in with your other products. I’ve already been through two bottles this year, it’s 100 percent a staple in my routine.

And while opportunities to wear makeup have been few and far between, but when I do wear a full face, I reach for this no-budge liquid lip from Violette_FR. It’s the perfect shade of red to complement every skin tone. I always get compliments when I rock this bold color.” —@jmargaretbeauty

“Drunk Elephant’s launch of their C Firma Fresh Day Vitamin C Serum was a welcome addition this year. Vitamin C is notoriously unstable, and although you can find many cheap options, you can’t be confident that they’re formulated in a stable way that renders the product effective. By allowing the consumer to mix the product fresh, you can be confident that their vitamin C is going to provide the protection that a stable product should! It’s also nice that the price point is more palatable than the market leaders.

Alastin Skincare launched their Ultra Light collection this year and it’s great. My two favorite products from the line are the moisturizer and sunscreen. The Ultra Light Moisturizer is very hydrating, and doesn’t feel heavy on the skin. It also includes the brand’s Tri-hex peptide complex, which proves collagen and elastin stimulation via skin biopsies. Most companies don’t do the kind of research to back their claims that Alastin Skincare does, and it’s refreshing in an industry where there are so many marketing ploys and a lot of snake oil. Their sunscreen from the launch is great for daily use, but is also safe for post-laser and procedure. This also features their Tri-hex technology, and serves as a nice primer, given its feel. It’s been a fan favorite among patients since its launch, especially through laser season!” —@robertfinneymd

“[The Dieux Skin Deliverance Serum] has been a godsend for me this year. It’s spiked with niacinamide, peptides, and a cannabinoid complex to help fade lingering dark spots and soothe inflammation while also minimizing the appearance of fine lines. It only took less than a week for my skin to look glowy as hell.” —@amakwarteng

“I use a small amount of products for someone who used to be a beauty editor, and this year, only a mascara, lipstick and serum caught my attention. The most impressive was L’Oreal’s Sensational Sky High Mascara, which I thought was just another TikTok dud but it really transformed my lashes.