Article by Allure Editors, Allure, September 15, 2021
Photograph by Martin Vallin
The best things in life are free. But some of the runners-up can get pricey. These are the creams, lipsticks, and delightful silky hair things that have brought us much joy this year — and earned themselves a spot on our winners' list for the 2020 Best of Beauty Awards.
To splurge or save? It's a serious question — now more than ever. In early March, life took a major turn, and since then, our routines have not been very routine at all. This held a lot of truth as we, Allure editors, worked remotely amid the pandemic, testing hundreds and hundreds of beauty products from the confines of home.
It was a challenge, but it helped keep everything in perspective. Our regular beauty splurges — a day at the spa, fresh hair color, a regular manicure and pedicure — weren't possible, but even so, beauty was still very much a part of our lives. (And it always will be!) As we swiped, swatched, and tested every product that landed on our doorstep, we continuously asked ourselves if we were willing to pay the price for these products. Comfort, convenience, effectiveness, and innovation all factored into answering that question.
This year's Best of Beauty splurge winners are standouts for bringing little luxuries straight to our home: a high-tech hair tool that creates results just as incredible as an in-salon blowout; a skin-care device that mimics the glow you get after a deluxe facial; and a transformative mascara with a wand that works like a makeup artist in the palm of your hand, to name a few.
"Out of all the products we tested, these products (and the other amazing winners of our 2020 Best of Beauty Awards) gave our editors the very best results and an undeniable feeling of joy, over and over again — not to mention, they are worth every penny," says Paige Stables.
Hair: Harklinikken Balancing Shampoo
Lather, rinse, and reap the rewards of oat extract and mustard seed oil. In case you're not a chemist, those benefits include a gorgeous gleam and healthy scalp. Harklinikken Balancing Shampoo delivers both, plus it gives your crown a deep clean with a gentle touch.
