It’s time for the 2025 BURO Beauty Empties! Ahead, discover all the nominated products and categories that made the list this year. 

Beauty lovers, rejoice—the BURO Beauty Empties is back! Now in its fifth year, we’re spotlighting the very best in beauty for you to add straight to your wish list. With 230 nominees across 57 categories, this year’s lineup spans skincare heroes, makeup must-haves, game-changing haircare, indulgent body treats, and head-turning fragrances. Each contender has earned its place as an industry standout, celebrated and trusted by beauty aficionados everywhere. Consider this your ultimate cheat sheet to what’s worth the hype (and your money).

Scroll on for the full list of nominees and categories up for careful review by our esteemed BURO Beauty Council. Keep an eye on this space, as the winners will be revealed in one week.

 

SKINCARE

Best First Cleanse

Stubborn sunscreen and long-wear makeup don’t stand a chance against these four cleansing balms and oils! Gentle yet effective, they whisk away the day’s buildup in one go and set the stage for your double-cleansing ritual, leaving the skin feeling clean, nourished, and ready for the rest of your routine.

Best Second Cleanse

The secret to a truly clear canvas lies in the second step. These four gel, foam, and cream cleansers wash away any remaining impurities from your first cleanse, giving your complexion a fresh start so your treatments and moisturisers can truly work their magic.

Best Toner

Refresh and rebalance with these toners that go beyond the basics. Whether hydrating, soothing, or refining, you can count on them to deliver the post-cleanse pick-me-up your skin craves.

Best Essence

Lightweight yet powerful, these essences flood the complexion with hydration and nutrients. Think of them as the bridge between cleansing and treatment, prepping your skin to soak in every drop of goodness that follows.

Best for Barrier Repair

When your skin’s barrier needs a helping hand, these formulas step up. Packed with nourishing and restorative ingredients, they work to strengthen, soothe, and keep your complexion resilient against daily stressors.

Best Spot Treatment

Banish breakouts at the source with these targeted treatments. From shrinking blemishes to calming redness, they’re your on-call heroes for clearer, calmer skin.

Best Age-Defying Cream

Rich in science-backed actives and luxurious textures, these creams target fine lines, firmness, and elasticity. Each one is crafted to keep skin looking youthful, plump, and full of life.

Best Glow-Up

Radiance in a bottle, these formulas bring out a healthy glow no highlighter can rival. They smooth, brighten, and boost luminosity for skin that is revitalised and wide awake.

Best Exfoliant

From gentle acids to refining scrubs, these four exfoliants sweep away dullness and dead skin cells. The result? A smooth, clear complexion that looks as good as it feels.

Best Face Oil

Luxurious yet lightweight, these face oils replenish moisture and lock it in. They leave the skin feeling supple, comforted, and with a natural, healthy sheen.

Best Cult Serum

Beloved by beauty insiders and fans alike, these cult-status serums live up to the hype. Infused with powerhouse ingredients, they tackle everything from hydration to brightening with visible results.

Best Sun Shield

Say it with me: never skip SPF! You can trust these featherlight sun serums to shield your skin from harmful UV rays, all while working double-duty to hydrate and add radiance to your complexion.

Best Skin-Quenching Boost

Struggling with dehydrated skin? Let these four skin-quenching products do the heavy lifting! Brimming with hydration-forward ingredients, they plump and revive the skin for a soft, dewy finish.

Best Eye Treatment

Fine lines, puffiness, dark circles—these eye treatments take them all on. Concentrated and effective, they keep the delicate under-eye area looking smooth and bright.

Best Eye Patches

Say goodbye to tired eyes! These patches soothe, depuff, and hydrate in minutes. Keep them handy for late nights, long flights, or anytime your eyes need a quick refresh.

Best Lip Care

Soft, supple lips start here. From balms to masks, these lip care must-haves moisturise, repair, and protect, so your pout always feels its best.

Best Brightening Mask

If dullness and uneven tone top your list of skincare woes, brightening masks are here to help. These formulas perform wonders, reviving tired skin in just one session.

Best Hydrating Mask

Dryness is no match for these hydrating masks. Saturated with moisture-boosting ingredients, they restore comfort and leave skin plump, smooth, and refreshed.

MAKEUP

Best Foundation

The base that does it all. These foundations blur, even out, and enhance your complexion without masking it for a flawless, second-skin finish.

Best Skin Tint

Light as air yet big on results, these skin tints deliver that coveted your-skin-but-better glow. Ideal for no-makeup days, they deliver just the right amount of coverage to keep your base looking fresh and natural all day long.

Best Concealer

Not a fan of dark circles, blemishes, or redness? Consider them handled. These four concealers melt seamlessly into the skin, brightening the under-eyes and blurring uneven areas with minimal creasing.

Best for Keeping It Together

Great makeup deserves to last, especially if you’ve spent hours in front of the vanity. A few spritzes of these setting sprays do just the trick, locking everything in place while keeping your skin hydrated from day to night.

Best Eyeliner

Mastering the perfect wing is no easy feat, but these eyeliners are here to help. Whether you’re drawing a sleek flick or blending out a sultry gaze, they promise precision, pigment, and staying power. No more worrying about unnecessary smudges!

Best Eyeshadow

From soft shimmers to bold mattes, these four eyeshadow palettes are sure to bring a touch of artistry to your lids. Blendable, buildable, and endlessly wearable, they’re versatile for enough for any occasion.

Best for Brows

Frame your face with these brow must-haves. Whether you like them fluffy, defined, or natural, they sculpt, fill, and hold for arches that keep you looking polished all day.

Best for Lush Lashes

Length, lift, and volume—these mascaras offer it all. With every swipe, they coat each lash evenly for a fanned-out, fluttery finish that opens up your eyes.

Best for Cherub Cheeks

A little colour goes a long way, and the same goes for these blushes! Whether you opt for a powder, cream, or liquid formula, they melt beautifully into your skin for a natural, healthy flush that brings life to your complexion while making your cheeks pop.

Best Glow-Giver

These four highlighters are your best friends for achieving a radiant finish while subtly lifting your features. Sweep or dab them on for instant luminosity that catches the light in all the right places.

Best Liquid Lipstick

Liquid lipsticks deserve more appreciation, and these ones prove it. With intense pigment and zero dry-down drama, just one swipe gives you long-lasting, transfer-proof colour so you can skip the constant touch-ups.

Best Lip Glosser

A go-to product for a glassy, juicy pout, these non-sticky glosses deliver high shine and deep nourishment, minus the sticky aftermath.

Best Bullet Lipstick

A true classic in every makeup bag, these bullet lipsticks glide on with a creamy texture and rich pigment. From bold reds to everyday nudes, they’re your shortcut for an effortlessly polished finish.

Best Lip Liner

Designed to define your natural lip shape and add subtle dimension, these four lip liners pair perfectly with your favourite lip products. Smooth, pigmented, and long-lasting, they’re the secret to a flawless pout.

Best Colour Corrector

Before reaching for your concealer, start with a colour corrector to balance out uneven tones. These formulas neutralise discolouration in just a few dabs, targeting specific areas of your face while creating a smooth canvas for the rest of your makeup.

Best for Sculpted Cheeks

Hello, cheekbones! These contour heroes—whether powder, cream, or liquid—blend like a dream for a sculpted look that never appears harsh or muddy. A few quick sweeps, and your face is instantly snatched.

Best Setting Powder

Aside from setting sprays, these four setting powders are a must-have for a base that doesn’t budge. They minimise pores, absorb excess shine, and keep your makeup look intact from AM to PM.

Most Viral Product (Reader’s Choice)

Dominating Instagram feeds and TikTok FYPs alike, these four viral products have stolen the limelight across social media this year—and rightfully so. They’ve earned their cult status by living up to the hype, proving themselves with standout performance and undeniable payoff.

HAIR

Best Styling Tool

From sleek straighteners to curl-conjuring wands, these four styling tools make it easy to achieve salon-worthy hair at home. Reliable, efficient, and precise, they help you create the looks you love without the guesswork.

Best Scalp Saviour

It’s time to bid farewell to itch, flakiness, and dryness with these scalp saviours! Fortified with soothing, balancing ingredients, they restore comfort and health to your roots, so your hair can thrive from the ground up.

Best Shampoo

Gone are the days of cleansing with compromise. These shampoos are formulated to remove buildup on your scalp without stripping your strands. Whether you’re after volume, hydration, or repair, they create the perfect base for gorgeous tresses.

Best Conditioner and Mask

The best conditioners and masks are always a triple threat: rich, restorative, and strengthening. If dryness and dullness are your primary hair concerns, treat yourself to these four products to achieve silky, shiny locks that will garner you compliments.

Best Brush

On days when combing through your hair feels like a full-time job, these four brushes take the hassle out of hair care by combining precision and ease. From detangling to adding volume, they glide through strands without tugging, leaving you with a polished and knot-free mane.

Best Leave-In Treatment

Looking for an all-day hair treatment? Try a leave-in! These ones tame frizz, boost shine, and keep your tresses looking camera-ready between washes.

Best De-Frizzer

Flyaways, consider yourselves tamed! To calm unruly strands, reach for any of these four de-frizzers that will leave your hair looking sleek.

Best Hair Oil/Serum

Hair health begins at the root, and there’s no better way to start than with a hair oil or serum. Lightweight yet mighty in power, they don’t disappoint when it comes to nourishing, protecting, and adding a glossy sheen from root to end.

Best for Hair Growth

Say hello to stronger, fuller hair! With these growth-boosting elixirs, your roots will thank you as they improve overall scalp health, fortify follicles, and help your hair reach its maximum potential.

BODY

Best Body Wash

Lather, rinse, repeat—these body washes turn your daily showers into a mini indulgence. With skin-loving ingredients, they will leave you feeling fresh, soft, and pampered.

Best Body Treatment

Ranging from rich creams to oils, add these body treatments to your shopping cart if you’re looking to hydrate dry, tired skin. They melt in beautifully, keeping your body soft, supple, and moisturised all day long.

Best Body Exfoliator

Buff away dullness with these exfoliators that gently smooth your skin. The outcome? A radiant, refreshed body that beams with vitality.

Best for Fresh Pits

An essential before you leave the house, these four natural deodorants are underarm saviours. They keep body odour at bay and control sweat so you feel clean, fresh, and cared for.

Best Hand Cream

Hand creams may fly under the radar, but they’re your secret weapon for soft, supple hands. They moisturise, repair, and protect hardworking skin, with just a little going a long way for instant results.

Best Body Mist

A quick spritz is all it takes for these body mists to wrap you in a subtle yet energising scent. From morning meetings to evening plans, they’re easy to carry along so you can smell good wherever you go.

 

FRAGRANCES

Best Gourmand Scent

These four gourmand fragrances are truly a treat for the senses, especially if you want to smell like you’ve just walked out of a bakery. Sweet and utterly indulgent, they wrap you up in delicious notes that linger long after you leave the room.

Best Floral Scent

Blooming with elegance, these floral fragrances capture the essence of petals in full flourish. From soft and romantic bouquets to bold, contemporary blends, each one leaves a delicate trail that’s sure to turn heads.

Best Fruity Scent

Juicy, vibrant, and uplifting, these four fruity fragrances are a playful twist on classic perfumery. A few spritzes are all it takes to brighten your day with fresh, invigorating accords that are as fun as they are memorable.

Best Woody Scent

Woody fragrances are the epitome of sophistication, and the ones on our list are no exception. Earthy, warm, and grounding, they’re perfect for those who crave depth and character, leaving a subtle yet lasting impression.

Best Niche Scent

For the adventurous at heart, these niche fragrances were built to defy convention. Unique, daring, and artfully composed, they tell a story that’s as distinctive as the wearer and have our seal of approval!

Best Packaging (Reader’s Choice)

Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but these four standout bottles are undeniable top picks. Innovative, elegant, and undoubtedly gift-worthy, their designs are as captivating as the fragrances inside.

Did your top beauty picks make the cut? Stay tuned to find out which products take home the win!

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