Best of Indie - Readers' Choice Awards Winners: Part One (Cosmetics)

I'm so proud to announce the final results of the Best of Indie - Readers' Choice Awards Series. I'm splitting the results into two parts, Part One (this post) where I'll cover the Cosmetics categories and Part Two (the next post) where I'll cover the Bath & Body and Fragrances categories. Here is Part Two! For each brand that won, I wrote up a little blurb about them including where they ship from and if they ship internationally. If they won multiple categories, I listed the blurb once so as not to be repetitive.

Also, I wanted to thank Joana for designing the badges with me! She was very patient in spite of all the changes I wanted to make. She was great to work with so feel free to check her portfolio out if you'd like to commission work from her.

Click thru to see the results!

Best Established Indie Beauty Brand 

Shiro Cosmetics. One of the quintessential brands when it comes to "geeky" cosmetics, Shiro Cosmetics (an Oregon-based brand) developed a large following for their mixture of pop culture and cosmetics. They offer loose and pressed eyeshadow, lipgloss, and tinted lip balms, along with the option to turn any of their lip safe eyeshadows into your own custom lipgloss. They do ship internationally. 

Shiro Cosmetics won with 36.9% of the votes but it was a close race with second place going to Fyrinnae with 30.9% of the vote. Femme Fatale got third place with 6.4%.

Best Up & Coming Indie Beauty Brand

Hello Waffle Cosmetics. A brand that just had its one year birthday, Hello Waffle (named after the owner's cat's and his propensity to lurk around corners) is a Canadian-based brand offering fairytale themed eyeshadow collections. They offer loose eyeshadows, loose blushes, face powders, and lip products. If you're into cats and literature, you may like their Catssic Literature Eyeshadow Collection! They do ship internationally. 

Hello Waffle won with a whopping 46.9% of the vote (dominating the category), with Life's Entropy receiving 16.4% and Baroque Cosmetics receiving 8.8%.

Recommended Brand for Beginners to Indie Beauty

Shiro Cosmetics. Shiro Cosmetics won with 39.9% of the vote, followed by Fyrinnae in second place with 17.3%, and Hello Waffle with 13.6%.

Most Innovative Indie Brand

Life's Entropy. Life's Entropy, a newcomer based out of New York, has rapidly come to the forefront of indie beauty innovations. I believe they're only a few months old (opening in October I think?). Their lip theories (a take on the OCC lip tars) get a lot of love but their lip theory satin lipsticks and brow theories (a take on the Anastasia Dipbrows) are where they've exercised the best of their formulating. I highly recommend the Brow Theories and hope she releases more of the lipsticks in the future. All the products are vegan and the company ships internationally. 

Life's Entropy won with 33.2% of the vote, followed by Fyrinnae with 19.8%, and Darling Clandestine with 11.9%.

Best Beauty Brand for Vegans

Shiro Cosmetics. All of Shiro's products are vegan FYI! This was a close race; Shiro won with 16.4% of the vote, followed by Fyrinnae with 15.9% of the vote, then Hello Waffle with 13.3% of the vote.

Best Powder Blush

Hello Waffle Cosmetics. Hello Waffle won with 28.3% of the vote, Darling Girl took second with 10.9%, followed by My Pretty Zombie with 10%.

Best Cream Blush

Darling Girl Cosmetics. Darling Girl Cosmetics, based out of Texas, is one of my favorite brands for doing non-eyeshadow related products. They sell many items that you'd normally see sold by mainstream brands, including the cream blush that they won for. If I could only use one indie brand for the rest of my life, it'd be Darling Girl considering the wide variety of products they have. They do ship internationally.

Darling Girl won with a whopping 56% of the vote, followed by Silk Naturals with 25%, and Kiss My Sass with 15.5%. 

Best Highlighter 

Hello Waffle Cosmetics. Hello Waffle won with 28.7% of the vote, followed by Fyrinnae with 21.3%, coming up the bend is Shiro with 18%.

Best Face Powder

Shiro Cosmetics. Shiro won the vote with 21.7%. We have a tie for second place with Fyrinnae Cosmetics and Meow Cosmetics at 20.8% each, and Dreamworld Hermetica rounding up third place with 8.8%.

Best Face Primer for Non-Oily Skin

Fyrinnae Cosmetics. Fyrinnae Cosmetics, based out of Seattle, is one of the OGs of indie cosmetics. I remember back when they were Bombshell Bath and selling perfumes too. They're most well-known for their eyeshadows, especially their Arcane Magics which are a line of iridescent eyeshadows. Their Pixie Epoxy is also the original glitter fixative plus they've got their new line of Liquid Mattes. Don't be put off by their turn-around time, it's padded in cases of emergencies!

Fyrinnae won with a big majority at 66.3%. Their Powder Primer for Dry Skin is extremely unique amongst the indie beauty community so it's not surprising that Fyrinnae won. Second place went to Dreamworld Hermetica with 20.7% of the vote followed by Silk Naturals at 13%.

Best Face Primer for Oily Skin

Fyrinnae Cosmetics. Fyrinnae won again with 44.2% of the vote, Shiro took second place with 24.5% (they don't specifically sell a face primer but you can use their finishing powder as one), and Meow won with 16%. 

Best Bronzer

Shiro Cosmetics. Shiro won with 31.1% of the vote, followed by Fyrinnae with 30.5%, and  Pumpkin and Poppy rounding out third place with 15.9% of the vote.

Best Contour Product

Life's Entropy Contour Sticks. Life's Entropy Contour Sticks won with 31.7%, a win that's worth it since it's a convenient way of achieving a natural or dramatic contour. Second place goes to Pumpkin and Poppy's Contouring Powder with 24.2% of the vote, followed by Shiro's Contouring Powders at 20.7%.

Best Loose Foundation Formula for Dry Skin

Meow Cosmetics. Meow Cosmetics is a cat-themed beauty brand based out of Pennsylvania. They sell eyeshadows, brow products, face powders, and of course their loose foundation. The foundation comes in three formulas based on coverage levels and fourteen (14!) different undertones. You're likely to find a color that will suit you! This company ships internationally.

Meow Cosmetics won with 50.3% of the vote, followed by Dreamworld Hermetica with 29.9% of the vote, and Silk Naturals finishing with 7.8% of the vote.

Best Loose Foundation Formula for Oily Skin

Meow Cosmetics. Meow Cosmetics won with 51.5% of the vote, Dreamworld Hermetica coming in second place with 28.2%, followed by Silk Naturals with 8.6% of the vote.

Best Cream or Liquid Foundation Formula

Performance Colors Light and Smooth Foundation. Performance Colors, a brand based out of New Jersey, is a brand that I think is generally underrated by the indie community. Although they won for their Cream Foundation, their lipsticks are worth a scope at especially since they're so inexpensive yet have great pigmentation and a wide color range. 

Unfortunately, it appears that they have closed their business. I'm not sure whether they will reopen again in the near future. 

Performance Colors Light and Smooth Foundation won with the majority of votes, 51.9%, followed by Silk Naturals HD Foundation with 41.1%, followed by Glory Boon Liquid Foundation with 7%.

Best Foundation Color Range

Meow Cosmetics. Meow Cosmetics won with the majority of votes, receiving 57.6% of the vote, followed by Dreamworld Hermetica with 32.7%, followed by Silk Naturals with 5.4% of the vote.

Best Realized Themed Color Collection

Shiro Cosmetics Seven Kingdoms Collection. The Seven Kingdoms Collection won with 26.4% of the vote, followed by Hello Waffle's Catssic Literature collection with 16.4% of the vote, and Femme Fatale's Post-Apocalyptic rounding out with 10.1% of the vote.

Best Loose Eyeshadow Formula

Fyrinnae Cosmetics. Fyrinnae won with 30% of the vote, followed by Shiro with 16.8%, and finally Hello Waffle with 16.5% (a vote separating 2nd and 3rd place!)

Best Duochrome Eyeshadows

Femme Fatale Cosmetics. Femme Fatale is an Australian-based brand that sells some astounding duo chrome eyeshadows (which obviously they won for). The duo chrome shift is so good, you have to wonder what kind of magic they're instilling into the eyeshadows. They also have a drool-worthy line of nail polishes and are also a great source for Australians seeking indie nail polishes and other cosmetics lines. The company ships internationally.

This was an extremely close race! Femme Fatale won with 34.8% of the vote, followed by Fyrinnae with 34.5% (a difference of only one vote!), with Shiro rounding out third with 7.4% of the vote.

Best Matte Eyeshadows 

Blackbird Cosmetics. Blackbird Cosmetics, based out of Ohio, is admittedly a new brand to me and I'm not that familiar with them. However what is apparent is that their repertoire consists of matte eyeshadows, finishing powders, and contouring powders (all of which are mattes). It's a little refreshing to see though, especially when one can get overwhelmed by all the sparkly and shiny offerings available. Matte is what they seem to do best! They do ship internationally.

Blackbird Cosmetics won with 54% of the vote, Detrivore came in second with 18.1%, and Shiro in third with 7.7%. 

Best Eyeshadow Primer

Darling Girl Primped and Primed Eyelid Primer. Darling Girl Primped and Primed Eyelid Primer won with 41.8% of the vote, Performance Colors Shadow Magnet came in second with 29.1%, and Glamour Doll Eyes Control Freak came in third with 14.3% of the vote. 

Best Eyeshadow Enhancer

Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy. Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy won with 67% of the vote (I meant it when I said Fyrinnae is the originator of the glitter fixative!) , Darling Girl Glitter Glue came in second with 26.3%, and Glamour Doll Eyes Glitter Fix finished with 6.7% of the vote.

Best Eyeshadow Base

Darling Girl In Living Color Shadow Base. Darling Girl In Living Color Shadow Base won with 64.7% of the vote, Kiss My Sass Eyepoxy Cream Base came in second with 25% of the vote, followed by Lunatick Cosmetic Labs Eyeshadow Base with 10.3%.

Best Eyeliner

Darling Girl Eye Candy Gel Liner and Performance Colors Pencil Liners. Unfortunately both don't appear to be on sale right now. Darling Girl Eye Candy Gel Liner and Performance Colors Pencil Liners tied up the category! They both won with 30.8% of the vote, followed by Little Sparrow Gel Liner with 28.7% of the vote, and Beauty Bar Baby Gel Eyeliner with 9.8%

Best Glitter/Glitter Mix

Darling Girl Pixie Sprinkles. Darling Girl Pixie Sprinkles won with 49.5% of the vote, followed by Glamour Doll Eyes with 19.8%, and Victorian Disco with 17.8%.

Best Cream Eyeshadow

Darling Girl Watercolor Paint Pots and Performance Colors Shimmersticks. Unfortunately both don't appear to be available for sale right now. Darling Girl Watercolor Paint Pots and Performance Colors Shimmersticks tied with 37.3% of the vote, followed by Pumpkin and Poppy Cream Eyeshadow with 15.5%, and Kiss My Sass Cream Eyeshadow with 9.9%.

Best Pressed Eyeshadow Formula

Shiro Cosmetics Pressed Eyeshadows. This was a close race! Shiro won with 27.6% of the vote, followed by Fyrinnae with 27.1% (one vote made the difference!), followed by Hello Waffle with 22.7%.

Best Eyebrow Product

Life's Entropy Brow Theories. Life’s Entropy Brow Theories dominated the category with 70.5%, followed by Silk Naturals Brow Cream with 12.1%, and Chinovi Brow Powder got 9.8%. 

Best Lip Balm

Ten Three Labs Salve Sticks. Ten Three Labs is another new to me company. Obviously they are probably most well-known for their salve sticks and smudge sticks (tinted version of the salve sticks) but they also sell perfumes and eyeshadows. If you like Bob's Burgers, they have a new eyeshadow collection based off the show and recently released an Orphan Black collection. I've yet to get a Salve Stick but I'm sure I'll be making a purchase soon! They do ship internationally.

Ten Three Labs Salve Sticks won with 30.1% of the vote, followed by Haus of Gloi Lip Balms with 19.7%, and Notoriously Morbid Coffin Kissers with 15% of the vote. 

Best Lip Scrub

Queen Bee Apothecary Edible Sugared Lip Scrub. Queen Bee Apothecary is another new to me company. They have a broad variety of bath and body and fragrance products, along with lip care items (like their lip scrub). Their line also includes a line of men's products (if you're looking to get something for yourself or a significant other). They do ship internationally but you must contact them first about it.

Queen Bee Apothecary won with 43.5% of the vote, followed by Silk Naturals with 38%, and lastly My Beauty Addiction with 17.4% 

Best Lipstick Brand for Typical Colors

Performance Colors. Performance Colors won with 43.4% of the vote, followed by Life’s Entropy with 23.4%, and Silk Naturals with 9%. I'm sorry that the top two winners aren't currently offering lipsticks. However, I would highly recommend checking out Silk Naturals, they have a great variety for an economical price!

Best Lipstick Brand for Unusual Colors

Limnit Lipsticks. Limnit Lipsticks has developed a great reputation for their unusual lipstick colors. There is a great variety of shades that are outside of the typical spectrum, but aren't too bright for daily wear. Currently, they're only offering lipsticks in jars while they work out an issue with their lipstick bullets, but they'll be back soon! The lipsticks are vegan. They do ship internationally.

Limnit Lipsticks won with 37.6% of the vote, followed by Portland Black with 17.8%, and Fierce Magenta with 11.9%.

Best Liquid Lipcolor

Fyrinnae Cosmetics. Fyrinnae make both their lip lustres and liquid matte lipstick and both are worth a try! Fyrinnae won with 57.7% of the vote, followed by Life’s Entropy with 33.3%, and lastly Pretty Zombie Cosmetics with 3.4%.

Best Lipgloss 

Shiro Cosmetics. Shiro was the overwhelming winner with 72.6%, followed by Notoriously Morbid with 10.7%, and Fierce Magenta with 7.4%. Shiro does offer a custom lipgloss option if you're not a fan of the current lipgloss lineup.

Best Glitter Nail Polishes

Femme Fatale Cosmetics. Femme Fatale won with 31.6%, KBShimmer took second place with 14.7%, followed by Rainbow Honey with 13.2%

Best Nail Polish Formula

Femme Fatale Cosmetics. Femme Fatale won with 32% of the vote, followed by A-England with 25%, and ILNP with 12.5%.

Best Cuticle Oil/Balm

Rainbow Honey Cuticle Oil and Cuticle Balm. Their shop isn't currently open but the brand is famous for their Mystery Bag (a monthly subscription box where you can get a set of nail polish and hand care products) and their glitter filled nail polishes. I haven't tried them myself but I know Phyrra loves them! 

Rainbow Honey won with 35.7% of the vote, followed by KBShimmer with 15.5%, then a tie with Epically Epic and Fortune Cookie Soaps at 14.3%.

I hope you enjoyed reading all the winners. Feel free to check out each shop and tell me if you decide to get anything!

Also check out all the nominated companies:

A-England
AFK Cosmetics
Aromaleigh Cosmetics
Aromi Beauty
Baroque Cosmetics
Beauty Bar Baby
Blackbird Cosmetics
Blanche Neige Cosmetics
Chinovi Cosmetics
Cirque Colors
Contrary Polish
Corvus Cosmetics
Darling Girl Cosmetics
Dawn Eyes Cosmetics
Detrivore
Digital Nails
Dolly's Polish
Dreamworld Hermetica
Eccentric Cosmetics
Emerald and Ash 
Esoteric Aesthetic
Femme Fatale Cosmetics
Fierce Magenta
Fyrinnae Cosmetics
Geek Chic Cosmetics
Girly Bits Cosmetics
Glamour Doll Eyes
Glory Boon
Hare Polish
Hello Waffle Cosmetics
ILNP
Impulse Cosmetics
Innocent + Twisted Alchemy
Kae Q
KBShimmer
Kiss My Sass
Life's Entropy
Limnit Lipsticks
Liquid Sky Lacquer
Little Sparrow
Lucky 13 Lacquer
Lucy Minerals
Lunatick Cosmetic Labs
Meow Cosmetics
Morgana Cryptoria
My Beauty Addiction
My Pretty Zombie
Native War Paints
Nayll
Notoriously Morbid
Octopus Party
Parlo Cosmetics
Performance Colors
Portland Black Lipstick Company
Powder Perfect
Pretty Zombie Cosmetics
Pumpkin & Poppy
Rainbow Honey
Shiro Cosmetics
Silk Naturals
Spectrum Cosmetics
SweetPea and Fay
Ten Three Labs
The All Natural Face
Tilt/Shift Cosmetics
Victorian Disco Cosmetics
Violet Voss