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The best (and truly worst) beauty products on Oprah's Favorite Things list
The season's most hotly anticipated gift guide includes stellar makeup and skin-care finds ... and a few we think you should skip.
Oprah remains the undisputed queen of the thoughtfully-curated holiday gift guide and, with her just-released Oprah's Favorite Things List of 2024, she's sure to hold onto her crown. As a beauty editor, I found loads to love here, including the kinds of quietly luxurious makeup, skin- and hair-care items that even beauty snobs love — products that will delight even the most finicky recipient on your list.
This year, Ms. Winfrey's gift ideas are a bit of a collaboration, with the talk-show doyenne sharing picks from her famously stylish neighbors and friends. To that end, there's a luxurious, Meghan Markle-approved body care set, a hair dryer designed for curly hair by Tracee Ellis Ross and even BFF Gayle's pro-recommended face wash. But not all the choices are winners, in my humble opinion. Some, in fact, are overhyped and overpriced. Read on for the best — and, yes, the worst — beauty products on Oprah's 2024 Favorite Things list.
The best Oprah's Favorite Things beauty products
Let's start with the good stuff. Many of these hand-chosen gems are currently on sale — some up to 20% off, others for the lowest price I've seen all year. Scoop them up while you can for yourself or the beauty aficionados in your life, as all things O-approved run a risk of selling out fast.
What Oprah says: "Created by RaeDawn Johnson, Gayle's go-to makeup artist, this is a gentle but effective makeup remover — no more fighting to get the last of it off, I promise."
Why this is good: With plant-based moisturizers like blueberry seed oil and mango seed butter, this cleanser melts away makeup and impurities while soothing your skin. The formulation here — a gentle, all-natural roll-on gel — is made from the highest-grade ingredients. It's a two-in-one product that moisturizes and cleanses, and, because it's oil-based, it swipes away even the trickiest-to-remove makeup like waterproof mascara. The convenient solid packaging makes it TSA-friendly, and it's better for the environment than cleansing wipes.
What Oprah said: "I love a good body butter, and this one comes from a family farm in Petaluma, California. It's a rich and luxurious moisturizer and comes in a light citrus or verde fragrance."
Why this is good: A big part of successful gift-giving is treating people to something special they'd never buy for themselves. This seriously well-made, velvety body butter is an especially great moisturizer for cooler months. It's formulated with skin-nourishing ingredients like rosehip fruit oil, vitamin A and retinol along with emollients like organic extra virgin olive oil and squalene to deliver extra hydration. The biggest problem I see here? How sad you'll be when this expensive cream is gone.
What Oprah says: "Will leave skin feeling cool, silky and soft."
Why this is good: Look, let's just say it — this is a quality grandma gift. It's great for that one aunt that you don't know too well but want to buy something "nice." These talc-free powders are made with zinc and oats to relieve redness and chafing, and magnesium to prevent odor. The No. 1 bestselling set of three on Oprah's list includes the highly rated Sandalwood, Lavender and Rose scents, but you can also buy them individually — or you can snag some one-off fragrances like Jasmine or Vanilla.
What Oprah says: "After struggling with eczema, the founder launched this business while in college, using what she'd learned to create beautifully packaged handcrafted soaps that are all-natural and soothing for sensitive skin."
Why these soaps are good: I've said it before and I'll say it again: Bar soap is making a comeback. Case in point, these gorgeously packaged, vegan, organic soaps that first appeared on Shark Tank and are mild enough for all skin types, including the most sensitive. Most products made for sensitive skin tend to be sad and sterile-looking, but these soaps are beautiful, something you'd want to display in a bathroom and, since everyone uses soap, make for an excellent gift.
What Oprah says: "Know someone with curly, coily, or tight-textured hair? Send them this blow-dryer by Tracee Ellis Ross — who has the most gorgeous hair and knows a thing or two about the topic. Thanks to four attachments, every day will be a good hair day."
Why this is good: Hair dryers made specifically with curls and texture in mind are hard to come by, and Ross' version manages to both regulate heat and maintain significant power while remaining compact and easy to store.
What Oprah says: "With the scent of a forest sent to me by my neighbor Meghan. If you were to come into my house, you'd see this body wash, body oil and body milk right by the tub." (That neighbor? None other than Meghan Markle, a longtime Tatcha fan.)
Why this is good: This luxurious body-care set is a splurge for sure, but a worthy one — it's my favorite of Oprah's favorite things, and, apparently hers too: "This is a favorite Favorite Thing," she said. The full-size trio of body oil, body milk and exfoliating scrub smells like an expensive spa, and the entire package just feels like a true self-care treat.
What Oprah said: "Singer and producer Kandi Burruss designed this clever travel case that snaps open to reveal seven makeup brushes, each shaped for a different purpose, from expertly applied eyeshadows to seamless blending."
Why this is good: Makeup brushes are the best for precision and even speedy application, but they can be a hassle to travel with and keep clean. Enter this compact, cleverly designed holder with all your basic brush needs. Scoop it up for all the cosmetics queens in your life — or just those who need to put on a face on the go.
The worst beauty products on Oprah's Favorite Things list
Not to knock Queen Oprah's almost-always unimpeachable taste, but the following items — for me — truly missed the gifting mark. Here's why.
PurseN Litt Makeup Bag LittMini with Detachable Mirror + LED Light ($38)
This is the kind of product that seems like it's going to be great — a makeup bag with a mirror and a light! Innovative! Exciting! But once it arrives, you realize it's cheap-looking and poorly designed. "Too small, too expensive," complained one reviewer, reiterating the bag's biggest downside: its size. But even the bag's key attributes are fails: "The mirror itself is quite small and somewhat distorted," says another customer who was "not impressed" with their purchase. "You can either see your eyes or your mouth, but not both at the same time."
Chillhouse Chill Tips Signatures Press On Nails Kit ($48)
Truly, this is such a terrible gift, I literally lol'd. First, the cost: nearly $50 for a stocking stuffer — and a poor-quality one at that. Outside price, my larger issue is with it is how the product holds up — not well, according to reviewers: "Pretty design, but quality isn't great," explained one frustrated customer. "Glue gets everywhere no matter how careful you are," said another.
Grace & Company Silky Satin Pillowcase for Hair & Skin ($29)
I have to say that I was honestly shocked to find these cheap satin pillowcases on Oprah's otherwise high-end beauty list, mainly because there are so many better-quality, real-silk options at the same (or an even lower) price point. Reviewers complain that the zippers won't close and — perhaps unsurprisingly — find the synthetic material "uncomfortable" and too hot to sleep on. If you want a quality silk sleeping experience, you'd be better off with this pillowcase from Zimasilk, which is made from 100% pure mulberry silk and boasts 37,000 five-star reviews.
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The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.