Shape Beauty Awards 2023: Tried and Analyzed - The Finest Makeup Products Enhancing Skincare

A simple morning beauty regimen can have a magical feel to it—especially when you can complete it in just five minutes using a few select products. After all, our busy lives seldom afford us the time for extensive skincare routines or full-face contouring.

The answer lies in multitasking makeup, or what we like to call, skincare with benefits. These hybrid products, which could be likened to Hannah Montana's 'best of both worlds' scenario, combine aspects of cosmetics and skincare. Products such as skin tints, SPFs, mascaras, and lip balms not only help you enhance your features but also work to improve your skin and hair health thanks to scientifically-based ingredients. This leads to a streamlined routine for fast and effective results. 

We have diligently researched, tested, and taken comprehensive notes on hundreds of products to find the top cosmetics with skincare benefits. Here's what claimed our approval.

If you're seeking the lit-from-within radiance, vitamin C is an essential part of your skincare routine. This powerful antioxidant defends your skin against environmental aggressors, boosts collagen production, and lightens dark spots. Maybelline skin tint cleverly teams up vitamin C with lightweight, buildable coverage, offering a natural, glowing finish and an even complexion.

Suitable For: Anyone seeking buildable, lasting coverage with a radiant finish.

We highly recommend Perricone MD Face Finishing & Firming Tinted Moisturizer for those mornings requiring a quick, low-key makeup look. One of our beauty editors managed to cross the marathon finish line looking "impossibly fresh and radiant," while also enjoying the sun protection she needed along the 26-mile course. The product's unique quality is that it changes color—from a lilac hue to a shade matching your skin tone—upon application.

Suitable For: Those wanting a natural, effortless look for morning errands.

Besides their stunning pops of color, we love the versatility of this lip and cheek tint. Its key ingredients, including aloe vera extract, green tea extract, and castor seed oil, hydrate and soothe the skin for a plump effect. Despite its emollient and balm-like texture, it is surprisingly long-lasting, making it an excellent option for both lips and cheeks.

Suitable For: Those starting to explore monochromatic makeup.

While many mascaras focus only on lengthening, defining, and volumizing lashes, the Covergirl Lash Blast Cleantopia goes a step further. This plant-based, vegan mascara features recognizable beneficial ingredients like cellulose plant fibers, aloe leaf extract, ceramide, and maracuja oil. These components promote lash growth, shine, and strength, while also conditioning your lashes.

Suitable For: Those seeking a mascara that’s gentle yet effective.

A quality concealer works best on hydrated, smooth skin to avoid caking, fine lines, and uneven tones. The Kulfi concealer has a creamy, moisturizing base comprising rosehip extract, amla fruit extract, and saffron flower extract. With its 21 available shades, Kulfi ensures a bright, crease-free under-eye area.

Suitable For: Individuals tired of hearing “You look tired” in their Zoom meetings.

Sustained application of lip balm on dry, chapped lips is insufficient; you need a product that simultaneously exfoliates dead skin cells. We were impressed with the Ilia Lip Wrap Overnight Treatment after just one use. The papaya enzymes in the product eliminate dry, flaky skin, while the hyaluronic acid replenishes moisture, resulting in a plump pout by morning.

“I tested this for about a month, and it’s now on my ‘permanent repurchase’ list,” says Kristen Geil, senior commerce editor. “Other Internet-loved lip masks left my lips irritated in the morning, but this formula feels like it’s gently filling in all the cracks and patches on my dry skin. I liked it so much, I grabbed the Ilia Lip Wrap Reviving Balm for daytime use, too.”

Who It’s For: The person who has a lip balm in every purse, pocket, and drawer.

Read our full review: The 13 Best Lip Balms of 2023, Tested & Reviewed

As the Senior Commerce Editor at Shape, Kristen Geil tests, reviews, and analyzes all the products and gear that can help enhance your wellness journey. As a NASM-certified personal trainer, she's particularly passionate about testing new fitness equipment and finding her next favorite pair of running shoes. Before moving to Commerce, Kristen was Shape's Senior Fitness Editor, where she oversaw the Fitness category and covered workout trends, exercise tips, recovery, and more. For this article, she interviewed a dermatologist, reviewed dozens of tests, and conducted personal testing on the Ilia Lip Wrap Overnight Treatment,