The Beauty {Bracket} Awards

Ready, set, glow! VITA’s first annual Beauty {Bracket} Awards, in collaboration with The T-Zone, are here. We couldn’t be more excited to share our top shelf picks and celebrate the products that truly deliver—no matter your budget. We’ve swatched, swiped, blended and buffed our way through a long list of contenders to bring you the best in makeup and skincare across 10 standout categories. For each, we’ve crowned a “steal” that delivers results at a budget-friendly price tag and a “splurge” that’s absolutely worth your hard-earned pennies—because we believe the best in beauty can be found at every price point. —Vita Daily

Best Cleanser

Over $50: Merit Great Skin Double Cleanse ($44) A true innovation, this cool cleanser is formulated to act like a 2-in-1 balm and foam thanks to PHA and oat-derived surfactants breaking down sunscreen and makeup, while also leaving skin feeling gently exfoliated, soft and never stripped.

Under $50: Marcelle Hydrating Cream Cleanser ($20) Safe for all skin types, including eczema and psoriasis, this wash is packed with gentle hydrators like hyaluronic acid and glycerin to restore the precious barrier. All that in a 500mL jug with an incredible price tag? A big yes.

Best Serum

Over $50: Tatcha The Longevity Serum ($149) An age-better boost in a bottle, and inspired by the long-game lifestyle of centenarians from Okinawa, this silky, lightweight serum is infused with a Japanese botanical blend of Shikuwasa lime, shell ginger and noni juice that leads to a stronger, firmer appearance.

Under $50: E.l.f. Bright Icon Vitamin C + E + Ferulic Serum ($22) A daily heap of antioxidants helps keep skin in glow mode. Suitable for dry, combination and oily skin, a potent blend of 15 per cent vitamin C, 1 per cent vitamin E and 0.5 per cent ferulic acid gets the job done beautifully at an irresistible price.

Best Moisturizer

Over $50: Skinfix Barrier+ Barrier Balancing Water Cream ($70) This cream became an instant classic in our routines. The fragrance-free, peptide-rich formula gives you the best of both worlds: grease-free hydration that can soften and plump up parched complexions. Added bonus? It’s a homegrown fave hailing from the east coast.

Under $50: Neutrogena Collagen Bank Moisturizer ($30) Finding a wallet-friendly cream is tough, but this one checks all the boxes. Innovative ingredients like peptides and bakuchiol? Check. A fragrance-free formula that doesn’t leave skin looking too shiny? Check. Beautifully hydrated skin that’s perfectly prepped for makeup? Check, check.

Best Sunscreen

Over $50: SkinCeuticals Clear Daily Soothing UV Defense SPF 50 ($64) What we know for sure is this fragrance-free sunscreen earned top points for delivering a non-greasy texture that disappeared into our fair to tan complexions. With a high SPF, the hybrid of chemical filters and mineral zinc oxide soothes inflammation and redness, too.

Under $50: Bioré UV Aqua Rich Glowy Moisturizer SPF 50 ($20) Run, don’t walk, to discover an SPF that truly does it all. A blend of chemical filters provides high UV protection, niacinamide helps to brighten skin tone and a sheer rosy tint acts as the perfect primer that leaves a luminous finish.

Best Eye Skincare

Over $50: Clarins Total Eye Lift ($118) With its 30-second lifting technology, this refillable eye cream helps to smooth fine lines, de-puff and brighten dark circles right after application and in the long term. Powered by organic Harungana extract, which has retinol-like qualities, it leaves peepers looking more rested.

Under $50: Bioderma SENSIBIO EYE + ($28) This is a dream cream for sensitive eyes. The ultra-gentle formula targets dark circles, puffiness and fine lines while boosting hydration, soothing irritation and reducing redness. Plus, the fresh and cooling texture perfectly preps under-eyes for concealer.

Best Lips

Over $30: Sisley Paris Color Cloud ($86) From the chic metallic tube to the velvety mousse texture and long-lasting finish, everything about this luxe lippie is so easy to fall in love with. Did we mention it also pulls double duty as a powdery cheek colour? Swoon!

Under $30: Pixi LipTone ($10) Slick on this glossy balm-like lippie for a collaboration of high shine, colour and moisture that never disappoints. Blended with rosehip seed oil, mango and shea butters, the real treat is the pH-reactive formula, which creates a unique tone that’s just plain pretty.

Best Eye Makeup

Over $30: Makeup by Mario Master Mattes Long-Wear Cream Eyeshadows ($34) In a collection of 10 flattering neutral hues, each swipe of these highly pigmented cream eyeshadows is a dream to play with. The pigment payoff is major, the whipped texture blends effortlessly and then it sets into a soft matte finish with staying power.

Under $30: Revlon Glimmer Liquid Shadow ($14) Minimal makeup skills required, maximum results guaranteed. An angled wand applicator makes adding a molten flash to lids, lash lines and illuminating inner eye corners a breeze. Plus, these metallic liquids dry down to a reflective finish that Does. Not. Budge.

Best Blush

Over $30: Tower 28 GetSet Blur + Set Matte Powder Blush ($32) After cream blushes dominated the market, this powder formula—which comes in seven flattering shades—was a welcome surprise at first swipe. Dubbed a “setting blush,” it’s a home run for oily skin with larger pores—plus, the 12-hour fade-proof pigment stays put while still blending easily.

Under $30: NYX Cosmetics Fat Cheeks ($15) Delivering a 24-hour hit of hydration with a juicy pop of colour, this liquid formula melts into the skin for a natural, dewy glow. It’s lightweight-but-buildable and the doe foot brush makes for a foolproof application every time.

Best Mascara

Over $30: M·A·C Stack Elevated Mascara ($38) Infused with nourishing argan oil, this buildable mascara separates and defines like no other, letting you customize your lash look from subtle to sultry. Add in 36-hour hold and a flake-resistant and sweat- and humidity-proof formula and it’s the ideal lash enhancer.

Under $30: Maybelline New York Colossal Bubble Mascara ($22) A volume-boosting formula meets a bubble shaped brush in this high-impact mascara that can do it all. Designed to lift and amplify your fringe, whether you swipe on one coat or multiple, the result is always lifted and lush-looking lashes.

Best Complexion

Over $30: MILK MAKEUP Hydro Grip 12-Hour Hydrating Gel Skin Tint ($54) The strongest selling feature of this skin tint? No one can ever tell that you’re wearing it—your skin just looks selfie-worthy all day. Lightweight, long-lasting and in 15 shades, the nourishing gel unifies a skin tone instantly with a dewy finish.

Under $30: Sephora Collection Best Skin Ever Concealer ($22) Buildable, medium-coverage and infused with hyaluronic acid that hydrates and plumps, this multi-use concealer is capable of making dark under-eye circles, angry blemishes and general discolouration less prominent. Kudos to the diverse shade range, clocking in with 30 options for all undertones.