In my decade-long career as a beauty editor, I've sacrificed a lot of limbs (and eyelashes, and fingernails, and bathroom outlets) in the name of product testing. This year alone, we estimated my team tried roughly 708. Through it all, there's one thing I've learned: the power of beauty runs deep. One swipe of lipstick doesn't just make you look nice — it can also make you feel more confident, playful, good.
That's exactly the energy we're trying to capture with Popsugar's first-ever 2025 Feel-Good Awards [1]. Our trusted team of editors across our five core categories — beauty, health [2], fitness [3], home [4], and sex [5] — reviewed thousands of submissions to find the entries that fit the bill for the most joy-sparking products out there. Then, we embarked on the long journey of testing each and every one of those items to ensure we're recommending our audience the very best. (Did I mention we tested 2,138 new launches in total?)
For beauty, that meant slathering on every body cream, swiping countless mascaras, and putting plenty of hair masks, lipsticks, and moisturizers (to name a few) through multiple rounds of trial and error. We looked for textures that actually felt fun to use, creams that soothed more than just our skin, and scents that left us complimenting our damn selves. Curious to see what scored big on the mood-boosting scale? Keep scrolling.
In This Post:
- Best Feel-Good Makeup Product [5]
- Best Feel-Good Hair Product [5]
- Best Feel-Good Skin Product [5]
- Best Feel-Good Body Product [5]
- Best Feel-Good Fragrance [5]
Best Feel-Good Makeup Product
Maybelline New York Cloudtopia Cheek & Lip Mousse Blush [6] ($10)
Do you remember art class as a kid? It was carefree, unfussy, and allowed you to get your hands a little dirty, if you will. This blush captures that feeling. The cushiony, light-as-air mousse can be used on the lips and cheeks — and in this economy, a two-in-one product most definitely sparks joy for us. It comes in 10 saturated shades that may look intimidating in the pot but blends into a matte, diffused flush of color. Tap into your inner child when applying it by dipping right in with your fingertips and painting directly onto your face.
Editor Quote: "The pigment! The texture! These are little multipurpose pots of whipped perfection. Monochromatic makeup is so in right now and using one of these on your cheeks and lips for a blurred wash of color is so chic." — Jessica Harrington, beauty section lead
Best Feel-Good Hair Product
Moroccanoil High Shine Gloss Mask [7] ($30)
In testing this glossing mask, we finally understand what Rihanna [8] was singing about back in 2012. No, seriously: we couldn't believe how much shine this stuff could squeeze out of our hair after just five minutes. Inspired by pro services, it's like a salon visit in a bottle, dishing out expert-level results without having to leave the comfort of your own home — or putting on clothes. It coats the hair in deep hydration, sealing the cuticle to enhance softness, boost your color, and leave behind a glass-like finish. You'll walk out of the shower with more confidence and some extra pep in your step every time you catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror.
Editor Quote: "I've been searching for a product that gives my hair that 'just left the salon' feeling, and this mask did just that. It helped cut down on frizz and made my hair so glossy and shiny. What's the saying? Clear eyes, soft, silky hair, can't lose? Yeah, it's a winner." — Renee Rodriguez, senior beauty staff writer and social producer
Best Feel-Good Skin Product
Shark Cryo Glow LED Fask Mask [9] ($350)
We dare you not to feel really freaking good while using the Shark Cryo Glow LED Fask Mask. Not only does it have all the bells and whistles you'd expect from a high-tech skin-care device — like clinically-proven, FDA-cleared red, blue, and infrared light to boost radiance, soften fine lines, and treat acne — but it also packs cryotherapy-inspired undereye cooling pads that leave you feeling and looking refreshed in minutes. It'll help you feel grounded when the stress of Q4 and a week at your in-laws over the holidays hits you all at once.
Editor Quote: "I've used my fair share of LED masks in the past, but this one is hands down my favorite. It allows you to get a medspa-quality treatment from the comfort of your bed. I know you can use the mask without the undereye cooling treatment, but I'm not sure why you'd want to. It feels heavenly and leaves me looking wide awake when I'm done." — Jessica Harrington, beauty section lead
Best Feel-Good Body Product
Colleen Rothschild Beauty The Ritual Body Cream [10] ($48)
Did this year make you consider leaving everything behind to become a citrus farmer somewhere far, far away? (No? Just us?) Well, you can achieve that level of zen when you slather on this body cream. Rich in both texture and hydrating ingredients — it's loaded with heavy hitters like ceramides, shea butter, and plant oils — this cream coats your skin with moisture while imparting a yummy aroma of bergamot and pink grapefruit. It somehow makes you feel both invigorated and tranquil at the same time, thanks to the mood-boosting citrus scent, which quite literally increases the happy hormones in your brain.
Editor Quote: "This was a nice, weighty, luxurious kind of moisturizer that felt like a full-blown experience to apply but also kept my skin hydrated for the full day." — Kelsey Castañon, editor in chief
Best Feel-Good Fragrance
Rare Beauty Rare Eau de Parfum [11] ($75)
This eau de parfum from Rare Beauty is the next best thing to wrapping yourself in a plush blanket while sugar cookies bake in the oven. It's decadent, warm, and spicy, with whiffs of caramel, vanilla, and sandalwood that make you feel instantly cozy the moment you spritz it on. The inclusive bottle is the icing on the cookie: It was developed based on a small consumer study of people with mild to severe upper extremity impairments, with the goal of solving common problems with perfume packaging, which lead to this ergonomic design that's easier to grip and press down on — not to mention aesthetically beautiful.
Editor Quote: "I'm very particular about fragrances and I'm so impressed by the Rare Beauty Rare Eau de Parfum. It has some of my favorite notes like sweet caramel, warm vanilla, spicy ginger, and rich sandalwood. This scent immediately trumped every other fragrance in my collection and I've been wearing it nonstop, fielding compliments from everyone from my friends to co-workers to even my young nephew." — Jessica Andrews, senior style director
Jessica Harrington [12] (she/her) is the Section Lead of Beauty at Popsugar, where she oversees all vertical coverage across the website, social media, and newsletter. With over nine years of industry experience, she has interviewed numerous celebrities, reported on hundreds of beauty trends, and swatched more lipsticks than she can count. Prior to PS, Jessica worked for publications such as Makeup.com, Skincare.com, and The Zoe Report. She's based in New York City and has a degree in journalism from Hofstra University. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, traveling with her husband, thrifting, and cooking.