So you've heard about the Allure Best of Beauty 2023 base category winners and you're wondering what all the fuss is about. Let me tell you, as someone who's tested more foundations than I've had hot dinners, this list actually matters. These aren't just pretty products with fancy marketing - they survived Allure's brutal testing process. I remember dumping a bottle of last year's winner in my gym bag for three weeks just to see if it'd separate (it didn't). That's the level of commitment we're dealing with.
The Allure Best of Beauty awards aren't like those paid trophy ceremonies where every brand wins something. Only 19 products made it into the Allure Best of Beauty 2023 base category out of thousands tested. That's wild when you think about it. And I'll be honest - I disagree with some choices, but we'll get to that later.
How Allure Chooses Their Base Category Winners
Let's cut through the PR fluff. Allure's testers aren't just swatching products on their wrists. They torture-test makeup for months under clinical conditions. I spoke to a former lab tester who spilled the tea - they test for:
- Real-life durability: Wearing foundation through spin classes, humid commutes, and 14-hour workdays
- Ingredient integrity: Checking if those "clean beauty" claims hold up under microscope
- Shade range viability: Not just quantity of shades but how they actually adapt to undertones
Remember that viral TikTok foundation test where someone wore makeup through a car wash? That's basically Allure's Tuesday. Only more scientific.
What surprised me? How many luxury brands get rejected. Last year's testing revealed a $120 foundation oxidized worse than a cheap drugstore option. Price tags don't impress these judges.
The Full Allure Best of Beauty 2023 Base Category Winners List
Okay, let's get to the meat. Here's every winner that earned the Allure Best of Beauty 2023 base category stamp:
| Product | Brand | Category | Price | Why It Won |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skin Tint Flex | Fenty Beauty | Tinted Moisturizer | $32 | Never cakes on dry patches (even my lizard elbows!) |
| Skin Rewind Foundation | Maybelline | Drugstore Foundation | $14.99 | Blurs pores like a $50 primer |
| Vanish Seamless Finish | Hourglass | Luxury Foundation | $56 | Survives beach vacations without melting |
| Hydrating Camo Concealer | e.l.f. | Concealer | $7 | Doesn't settle into wrinkles (tested on 65+ skin) |
| Soft Matte Primer | Milk Makeup | Primer | $38 | Controls oil for 8hrs without drying |
Notice anything interesting? The price range is all over the map. That drugstore concealer outperformed luxury brands costing 8x more. Makes you rethink your Sephora addiction, huh?
Controversial Picks & My Hot Takes
Let's talk about the Hourglass foundation that made the Allure Best of Beauty 2023 base category list. At $56, it's gorgeous - if you're a normal-to-dry skin unicorn. My oily T-zone? Disaster by lunch. Their shade range improved but still runs annoyingly yellow. Still mad they discontinued my favorite warm olive shade last year.
The real shocker? Kosas revealing skin foundation didn't make the cut. Everyone and their mother raves about it online. But Allure's testers found it separated when exposed to heat above 80°F. Makes sense why mine turned grainy during that Vegas trip.
Hands-On Reviews: Testing Top 5 Winners
I wore each winner for a full week under different conditions. Here's the unfiltered truth:
Fenty Beauty Skin Tint Flex
Pros
- Disappears into skin like nothing I've tried
- SPF 30 that doesn't sting eyes
- Shade 7 is my PERFECT olive match (rare!)
Cons
- Sinks into smile lines after 6 hours
- Pump clogs if you don't clean it weekly
Verdict: 9/10 for dry skin days. Skip if you have deep wrinkles.
Maybelline Skin Rewind Foundation
This drugstore pick in the Allure Best of Beauty 2023 base category shocked me. Applied with damp sponge? Chef's kiss. But use fingers? Patchy mess. Lasted through my niece's soccer game (4 hours sweating in 85° heat) without sliding off. Downside: only 20 shades and the lightest runs pink. Come on Maybelline, it's 2023!
How to Choose Your Perfect Base Product
Stop wasting money on wrong products. This flowchart saved my wallet:
Skin Type First: Oily? Grab matte winners like Milk primer. Dry? Fenty skin tint. Combination? Hourglass works if you powder T-zone.
Coverage Guide:
- Sheer: Fenty Skin Tint (builds to medium)
- Medium: Maybelline Skin Rewind
- Full: Hourglass Vanish (use sparingly!)
Undertone trick: Test foundations on your jawline at 3PM. Artificial light lies!
Application Secrets From Makeup Artists
These winners perform differently based on tools. After interviewing Allure testers:
| Product | Best Tool | Pro Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Fenty Skin Tint | Fingers | Warm between fingers first |
| Maybelline Foundation | Damp sponge | Press, don't drag |
| Hourglass Vanish | Flat brush | Use half a pump for whole face |
Biggest mistake people make? Using too much product. The Hourglass foundation only needs a rice-grain amount per cheek. Seriously.
Where to Buy & Best Deals
Don't pay full price! Here's where to find the Allure Best of Beauty 2023 base category winners cheapest:
| Product | Sephora | Ulta | Brand Website | Drugstores |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fenty Skin Tint | $32 | $32 | $32 (free shipping at $50) | N/A |
| Maybelline Foundation | N/A | $14.99 | $14.99 | $12.99 at CVS (with coupon) |
| Hourglass Vanish | $56 | $56 | $56 (GWP at $75) | N/A |
Drugstore pro tip: Wait for Ulta's 50% off Maybelline sales every 3 months. Stock up!
Common Questions About Allure Best of Beauty Base Products
Are Allure winners really better?
Mostly yes. But don't ignore your skin type. That "perfect" foundation might suck for your oily forehead.
Why did my foundation oxidize but Allure said it doesn't?
Skin chemistry! Your natural oils can change formula behavior. Always patch test.
Do winners work for mature skin?
The e.l.f. concealer and Fenty skin tint are magic. Avoid thick mattes - they exaggerate wrinkles.
How often does Allure update testing methods?
Yearly. They added blue light protection tests this year for the first time.
Final Thoughts From a Makeup Junkie
After testing every Allure Best of Beauty 2023 base category winner for six weeks: the hype is mostly justified. That Maybelline foundation? Legit beats my Tom Ford. But high expectations can backfire - the Milk primer didn't control oil as well as my $12 NYX one. Sometimes you're paying for luxe packaging.
Here's my brutally honest ranking if you're budget-conscious:
- e.l.f. Hydrating Camo Concealer ($7)
- Maybelline Skin Rewind Foundation ($15)
- Fenty Skin Tint ($32)
- Milk Primer ($38) - only if you're rich and oily
The Allure Best of Beauty 2023 base category list got more things right than wrong. But remember - no award knows your face better than you do. Unless you're married to a dermatologist. Then maybe listen to them.
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