Makeup
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And the Official 6th Annual TotalBeauty.com Winners Are...
When you try thousands of new beauty products over the course of a few months, you become startlingly picky about just how well a mascara performs (there may have been tape measures involved) or whether an eye cream lives up to its claims. Our Editors' Picks are the ones that outshined the rest in spades - and earned a permanent spot on our vanity. Our Readers' Choice awards go to the beauty products our readers live and die by. Here, the 2015 TotalBeauty Award-winning beauty products that make us look and feel pretty enough to join Taylor Swift's #squad.
Select Category
Base Coat / Top Coat
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Editors' Pick
Revlon ColorStay Gel Envy Diamond Top Coat
With just a few swipes, this top coat adds gel-like shine and durability to regular polish. You'll get at least three extra days from your mani.
Readers' Choice
I love all things OPI, and this top coat is no exception. I always use this top coat, and my polish stays chip-free and beautiful for days.
Editors' Pick Honorable Mention
This top coat is so shiny, it practically turns your nails into tiny mirrors. Plus, it dries in seconds and can be removed just as quickly.
Readers' Choice Honorable Mention
Sally Hansen Dries Instantly Top Coat
I can't imagine what Sally Hansen puts in this powerful potion, but I use it after polishing my nails, and the color sets almost instantly. I don't have to worry about smudges or marks.
Bath Product
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Editors' Pick
Aveda Stress-Fix Composition Oil
Editors love the pretty lavender-centric scent and multitasking capabilities (it's great for dry skin and fried hair alike) of this stress-alleviating oil.
Readers' Choice
Aveeno Skin Relief Shower & Bath Oil
Use this after a shower while skin is still wet, and you'll have no need for a separate lotion. Smells wonderful, like almonds. I have recommended this to others and received many thanks in return. It lasts a long time, too.
Editors' Pick Honorable Mention
Organic ingredients, built-in moisturizers and light scents make this a body cleanser that's easy to love.
Readers' Choice Honorable Mention
L'Occitane Lavender Foaming Bath
I'm a lavender snob. It's rare to come across something with a true, full lavender scent like this product. It's a great bath product, and a little goes a long way. It's so sweet to take a big bubble bath and then go to bed in a cloud of lavender.
Body Moisturizer
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Editors' Pick
Kiss My Face 2n1 Lavender Shea Light Moisturizing Air Powered Spray
We're fans of the spray lotion trend -- they feel refreshing and are easy to use -- and this natural version is our new favorite.
Readers' Choice
Nivea Extended Moisture Body Lotion
Loving this lotion. It hydrates skin so well and keeps it hydrated for quite some time. Creates soft, smooth skin. This is one of the best!
Editors' Pick Honorable Mention
Nourish Organic Rejuvenating Rose Hip & Rosewater Body Oil Mist
Why don't all body oils come in mist form? This is incredibly easy to apply, sinks in instantly and smells like wild roses growing in the countryside.
Readers' Choice Honorable Mention
Bath & Body Works Triple Moisture Body Cream
Some body creams are too light and watery, too greasy or too thick. This one is just perfect -- thick, but easy to rub over delicate, dry skin. It absorbs well without disappearing or leaving a film. And you can get it in so many wonderful scents.
Body Wash
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Editors' Pick
This body wash produces the richest, most moisturizing lather, and it's such a bargain, you can use it with abandon.
Readers' Choice
I love this body wash during the dry, cold winter. It lathers outstandingly well. It's also creamy and gentle, yet cleanses great. I think this is one of the best drugstore body wash products.
Editors' Pick Honorable Mention
A hydrating, sulfate-free formula that produces tons of suds. Plus, it smells exotic and unique in the best way imaginable.
Readers' Choice Honorable Mention
Philosophy Shampoo, Bath & Shower Gel
This is a great moisturizing bubble bath or shower gel. The scent is minty without being overpowering. Leaves my skin feeling refreshed.
Breakthrough Nail Product
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Editors' Pick
Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Nail Polish
Just when you thought gel manicures couldn't get any more miraculous, Sally Hansen creates a gel-like polish that dries in regular light and is a cinch to remove.
Readers' Choice
Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Nail Polish
I love this product! I apply one or two coats and let it dry around 10 minutes. The manicure remains in good condition for around a week without chips. This is not the typical gel you would get in the salon, but it’s a really good nail polish.
Editors' Pick Honorable Mention
These nail stickers take seconds to apply, last for days and look like high-end nail art.
Readers' Choice Honorable Mention
Revlon ColorStay Gel Envy Longwear Nail Enamel
I love getting a gel manicure, but I am not a fan of removing the gel or the price tag, so I am always looking for an alternative. This comes in fantastic colors, and the top coat is incredible.
Breakthrough Product
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Editors' Pick
Bliss FatGirlSlim Hide & Glow Sleek
This multipurpose skin perfector hides any discoloration and bruising, dries to the touch after a minute or so, and makes skin look instantly firmer.
Readers' Choice
Urban Decay Naked Skin Body Beauty Balm
If you want perfect-looking legs, this is your product. It makes bruises disappear, hides veins, disguises cellulite and even makes saggy knees look lifted. It has a built-in bronzer that won't rub off on clothes. I especially love that it's packed with skin-care ingredients like peptides.
Editors' Pick Honorable Mention
Mederma PM Intensive Overnight Scar Cream
This nightly cream quickly fades scars into oblivion. While it works best on newer marks, we noticed a difference on some older discoloration, as well.
Readers' Choice Honorable Mention
Emjoi Light Caress Rechargeable Epilator
I have not raved about a product so enthusiastically in a long time. This has been a fantastic investment. It's saved me money and time. I am completely in love and recommend this to all my friends.
Deodorant
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Editors' Pick
Degree Clinical Protection 5-in-1 Antiperspirant & Deodorant
Steamy days and intense workouts were no match for this clinical-strength deodorant.
Readers' Choice
Secret Clinical Strength Smooth Solid Deodorant
The best deodorant I have ever used. Lasts all day and night. I have sensitive skin, and this product gives me no problems. I'll never buy anything else.
Editors' Pick Honorable Mention
This spray is so dry it almost feels like a powder, and it works just as well (maybe even better) than traditional sticks.
Readers' Choice Honorable Mention
Dove Invisible Solid Deodorant
Dove Invisible Solid keeps me feeling fresh all day long. Its scents are nice and light and do not compete with your perfume. Simple -- does the job.
Fragrance
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Editors' Pick
Aerin Waterlily Sun Eau de Parfum Spray
Feminine without being girly, fresh yet complex -- this fragrance is a study in contradictions and will appeal to just about everyone.
Readers' Choice
Chanel Coco Mademoiselle Eau de Parfum Spray
I love Coco Mademoiselle because it makes me feel feminine but powerful at the same time. I always get compliments when I wear it. This perfume gives me the confidence I need to feel like I can fit in in any situation.
Editors' Pick Honorable Mention
Dolce & Gabbana Dolce Floral Drops Eau de Toilette
It's floral but has a slight tang to it, so it's not overly sweet. And the rose-adorned bottle dresses up any vanity.
Readers' Choice Honorable Mention
There is something so uplifting and fresh about this scent. Perhaps it's the blend of water hyacinth, mandarin, yellow primrose and blond woods. It simply sparkles.
Hair Removal
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Editors' Pick
Definitely gentler than the average drugstore razor -- you could even use it sans shaving cream without irritation. And the swivel function makes it easy to shave quickly around knees and ankles.
Readers' Choice
This razor has so far been my favorite. It leaves your skin silky-smooth and hair-free for days. I have gotten fewer nicks, if any, with this razor. Well worth the money.
Editors' Pick Honorable Mention
Completely Bare Moisturizing No-Bump Shave Gel
While it doesn't foam like shaving cream, this gel helps your razor glide smoothly, stops bumps and exfoliates at the same time.
Readers' Choice Honorable Mention
Silk'n Flash & Go Hair Removal Device
I am the perfect candidate for this technology -- extremely fair skin with very dark hair. I'm amazed how well this works. I've done just two treatments and am already seeing results.
Hand Lotion
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Editors' Pick
A bedside table must-have. It's moisturizing without being greasy, and it's refreshingly scent-free. In just a couple of days, our editors noticed prettier-looking mitts.
Readers' Choice
L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream
This stuff is wonderful. Worth every penny. It is lightly scented and absorbs into the skin very nicely. I find that my hands are soft all day after one use.
Editors' Pick Honorable Mention
Radical Skincare Hand and Nail Multi-Repair
Lightweight, nourishing, non-greasy and subtly scented -- this hand cream checks all the boxes.
Readers' Choice Honorable Mention
Burt's Bees Almond Milk Beeswax Hand Crème
I absolutely love this hand crème. It smells divine, goes on smooth and creamy, absorbs fast and isn't sticky. I highly recommend.
Nail Polish
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Editors' Pick
This polish lasts and lasts and lasts (three weeks for one tester!). And it's a vegan, non-toxic, seven-free formula.
Readers' Choice
Ah, OPI, you make me so happy. I love the holographic looks, the matte finishes, the wide range of opulent, rich colors and the staying power of this polish. This is a winner.
Editors' Pick Honorable Mention
The packaging and polish colors are gorgeous, and the tongue-in-cheek names are so fun. It goes on like a dream -- thin, even coats that dry quickly.
Readers' Choice Honorable Mention
Essie has a color for everyone -- absolutely everyone. It is a rich formula, easy to apply and resists chipping for a long time. I love this polish.
Scrub
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Editors' Pick
Rituals Sakura Scrub Sugar Body Scrub
A blend of organic sugars and oils helps buff away rough spots, while the cherry blossom scent is refreshing and sophisticated.
Readers' Choice
St. Ives Smoothing Apricot Body Wash
This product made my skin very smooth and dewy. Plus, it smelled great! Even my boyfriend was amazed at how soft my skin was.
Editors' Pick Honorable Mention
Yes to Coconut Polishing Body Scrub
The gelatinous texture is fun to use and keeps this scrub from making a mess in the shower. Coconut husk and sweet almond oil make skin incredibly soft.
Readers' Choice Honorable Mention
Origins Incredible Spreadable Smoothing Salt Body Scrub
This scrub really gets your skin clean and soft. I feel so smooth after using it -- I never knew my skin could feel so smooth. A little goes a long way.
Self-Tanner
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Editors' Pick
L'Oréal Paris Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Serum
This long-lasting self-tanner doesn't have the telltale smell, goes on evenly and gives skin a luminous, golden glow.
Readers' Choice
St. Tropez Self Tan Bronzing Mousse
The best self-tanner you can get your hands on. This is gentle and safe, has a great smell, dries fast, doesn't rub off on clothes or sheets and gives you realistic color.
Editors' Pick Honorable Mention
St. Tropez Self Tan Express Advanced Bronzing Mousse
This works in minutes so you can shower it off almost immediately. Editors loved going to bed feeling clean and refreshed and waking up tan.
Readers' Choice Honorable Mention
BareMinerals Faux Tan Body Sunless Tanner
I love this product. The color is rich, not orange at all. Smell is minimal. I have referred this product to a lot of friends, and they all love it, too.
Soap
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Editors' Pick
Korres Chamomile Softening Soap
With a lovely smell, a good amount of lather and skin-softening ingredients, this soap definitely delivers.
Readers' Choice
Dove soap is an absolute must-have for me. If I were shipwrecked on a desert island, I would hope my Dove soap in its travel case would wash ashore. The scent is heavenly. It is supergentle and never dries out my skin.
Editors' Pick Honorable Mention
Softsoap Fragrant Foaming Collection Hand Soap
Subtle scents and a surprisingly lovely texture for a bargain buy.
Readers' Choice Honorable Mention
This works wonders for me. I love the feeling of cleanliness I get, as well as the scrubby texture of the soap itself. I also use it as a body soap, and it leaves my skin baby soft.
Sunscreen
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Editors' Pick
La Roche-Posay Anthelios 60 Cooling Water-Lotion Sunscreen
As the name "water-lotion" suggests, this sunscreen is very thin -- but in the best way. It absorbs instantly and feels like a lightweight body lotion.
Readers' Choice
Hawaiian Tropic Sheer Touch Ultra Radiance Lotion Sunscreen
This product is just about perfect. The shimmer is exactly how it should be -- subtle and beautiful, not glittery in the least. I would absolutely buy again. I am thrilled with this.
Editors' Pick Honorable Mention
Neutrogena CoolDry Sport Sunscreen Spray Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Magically, this spray doesn't have an overwhelming alcohol smell. It feels light on the skin, yet works in even the most intense conditions.
Readers' Choice Honorable Mention
Banana Boat Ultra Defense Lotion Sunscreen SPF 30
Another well-done product by Banana Boat. This does what it said it would do. It protects my skin from the sun, and it is not too heavy. It goes on really well, too.
