The Best of 2025 - and a Stellar 2026 Ahead
- Nicole Blankenship
- 3 hours ago
- 7 min read
Happy New Year! No part of me can fathom that i'm actually typing these words in 2026... mentally the Spice Girls are still together and MTV hasn't stopped playing music videos (or that it exists in any capacity, RIP.) Nostalgia & disbelief aside, I'm so excited to start this new year off and just dive in.
I'd be remiss to do so without acknowledging the biggest milestones from last year, both personally & professionally. I also want to introduce the Cherry Globes: aka, my take on a beauty & skincare awards list! Think Allure Beauty meets The Golden Globes - with a dash of The Razzies. We'll unpack, in my opinion, the best of, worst of and everything in between. So without further ado, let's get into it.
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2025's Biggest Milestones:
We Got A Laser: Undoubtedly, the biggest addition to our studio last year was the arrival of the Cynosure PICOSure Pro. This laser is a do-it-all BEAST of a machine, and considered to be the gold standard of the laser tattoo removal industry for a very sound reason. From brow tone and lip neutralization to course-correct and neutralize pigment or discoloration, to skin rejuvenation to address tone, texture & fine lines, and laser tattoo removal to quickly & efficiently blast old ink - this is truly the Rolls Royce of lasers. We can't wait for more of the Dallas & DFW community to discover this hidden gem of a device.
Glo2 Made Her Studio Debut: This summer, we officially launched the Geneo Glo2 Oxygen Facial here at the studio! This facial stands out from the standard due to its patented Oxfoliation technology - customizable to your unique needs, that be dehydrated, textured, congested, etc. skin. This facial combines this crucial step with relaxing lymphatic massage & RF technology to create a luxurious, relaxing - and above all, efficient & research-backed - experience. Science meets self-care; that's why I was so excited to bring this on!
KBeauty + Neova Smart Skincare Found Their Home on Our Shelves: 2 brand-new bombshells hit the villa this year: clinical skincare line Neova, and an array of my favorite tried-and-true KBeauty products. Neova's line combines ingredient potency with hyper-targeted, research-backed formulations for products that, simply put, WORK. If you're tired of the same overpriced, run-of-the-mill beauty products lining the shelves of Sephora & ULTA, I implore you to peruse the large lineup of KBeauty products I've begun stocking at The Brow Project this year! From sheer, dewy liquid blushes to blurring lip liners, these products don't just deliver gorgeous outcomes - they won't break the bank, either.
I MC'd My First-Ever Event: This was quite a personal milestone for me that I'm so happy to have accomplished this past year. As a speaker at PMU World Live Miami last year, I was ecstatic to have returned this September as a conference MC alongside my twin flame, Marie of Beauty Glam Studios. If you know me, you know I can't help but inject personality & spice into everything I do - so naturally this felt like a perfect fit, and is something I cannot wait to do more of in the future!
I Traveled to Vietnam to Lead the US Team of PMU Artists at Wulop: Saving maybe the most adventurous for last; this summer I traveled to Vietnam to lead the US team at Wulop PMU Conference! This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that still has me pinching myself & combing through my camera roll to make sure it was real and actually happened. The level of talent at Wulop was incredible to witness - so much expertise under one roof. Being able to extend my trip and explore Tokyo & Kyoto was also such a treat I'll cherish for a long, long time. Japan - you certainly haven't seen the last of me.
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Cherry Globe Awards: Best of 2025, Worst of 2025, and Everything in Between
Best: Neova Smart Skincare
For me and my studio, the best of 2025 was undoubtedly Neova. This line has transformed my skin. I've already written quite the love letter(s) to this line, but it truly is the definition of "If you know, YOU KNOW." The DNA Repair Serum is a holy grail, the Daily Peel Pads are the key to unfiltered radiance, and the Creme de la Copper is an emollient dream... I could go on through the whole line, but you get the point. Best of the year, HANDS-DOWN.
Worst: AI Ads for Beauty Products
This has to take the cake for the worst thing to come out of this year. TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest (nearly every corner of the internet at this point) have been inundated with AI ads for everything from pore-removing masks to wrinkle-removing serums. At best, they're AI slop that's obviously selling you a lie. At worst, they're deceptive, predatory and scamming unsuspecting consumers. On top of that, many use AI-generated celebrity endorsements that were in no way co-signed by said celebrities - which correct me if I'm wrong, is majorly f*cking illegal?? And of course the environmental impact AI has on the planet is just the icecap-melting cherry on top.
I hope and freaking PRAY this goes away, but with the speed at which AI is advancing and the apathy lawmakers seem to have taken regarding regulations... I have a feeling it'll get worse before it gets better.
Most Eyeroll-Worthy: LV Beauty
Did Louis Vuitton really think they could drop a $160 lipstick without a soul saying anything?? When this line was first announced I honestly was a bit excited, given that the Creative Director is Pat McGrath herself. However... that excitement hastily soured to disdain when I, and others, saw the prices. $160 for the lipsticks AND lip balms, $250 eyeshadow quads (QUADS!)... not even Prada or Gucci have dared to price their products this high. Yes, the lipstick/balm is refillable - and thankfully the refill sits at the low, low cost of $69!! What a steal!!!
Most Likely to Break You Out: Beef Tallow Skincare
You are putting an oil/butter alternative onto your skin. I don't really know what I haven't said about this phenomenon yet at this point to convince you not to do this - the only thing I can really say at this point is that I sincerely hope this stupid, stupid trend finally finds its rightful resting place 6 feet under this year.
Biggest Celebrity Breakup: Urban Decay x Skindinavia
Not even the Chase Stokes & Kelsea Ballerini breakup compares to the messy mess that was the splitting of this duo. The essential lore: Urban Decay's All Nighter Setting Spray has always utilized Skindinavia's setting spray formula. It's the secret sauce that made their spray so effective. This relationship reached its end this past spring, when UD reformulated their setting spray and ended the 15-year partnership.
The problems arose when, to market their new formulation, UD started putting down & shading the old formula. Things continued to escalate when Skindinavia started responding via shady Instagram comments underneath the UD posts. Trouble in paradise, indeed - and unlike Stokes & Ballerini, I don't see these two rekindling anytime soon.
Class Clown: The Sunscreen Industry
From Primally Pure marketing sunscreen as "poison", to Ultra Violette clapping back in a hilarious social response - to them then having to recall their own sunscreen because the UV 30+ ended up being UV 4... it's safe to say there was enough clown behavior to make the entire sunscreen industry look like the damn circus this year.
Most Likely to Accidentally Uno-Reverse Themselves: Augustinus Bader x Dua Lipa
DUA; a collaboration between a beloved luxury skincare brand and a high-profile pop star - what could possibly go wrong? Turns out quite a lot, when you set the price point too low, tout the hero ingredient in your main line as carrying over to your cheaper diffusion line, and overall leaving people with one massive question: "Why TF am I paying so much for Augustinus Bader?"
Time will tell how much this affects their bottom line, but for now here's my takeaway: Think through every detail of your brand endeavors; you may accidentally reveal just how much you were marking up your core product line.
Valedictorian with Honors: Charlotte Palermino of Dieux Skincare
If we must have any more skincare influencers in 2026 (which, already questionable if we need that) - pleeease let them be like Charlotte Palermino. If you aren't familiar, Charlotte is the co-founder of Dieux skincare (one of the only brands in Sephora I can actually cosign.) Her takes are pretty much always spot-on, & she's one of the only people that consistently fights against misinformation & tomfoolery in this industry. Keep at it, Charlotte - the industry is better for it.
Comeback of the Century: MAC Cosmetics
It might be too early to fully say this, but from the campaigns they ran and the year they had, I think we're poised for a major MAC resurgence in the next couple years. Makeup is already trending towards less "clean girl" and more "lived-in grunge" & "fun + edgy" - aka, MAC's biggest strength. The signs are there; we'll have to see what happens next.
Most Likely to Give you 3rd Degree Burns: RF Microneedling & Morpheus8
I'm just gonna drop these reports here & here for your research purposes. If you don't want to risk quite literally burning yourself and causing irreparable damage... I suggest skipping out on these.
Most Dystopian: RINI Skincare
Soooo what stage of capitalism have we reached where we're marketing skincare to toddlers? Because this feels like a very dark, dystopian chapter of a spiral into capitalistic hell (not to be dramatic, of course.) There's truly no reason we need to start making children, let alone TODDLERS, think about their appearance and open the door to develop a complex about it. The marketing was eerie, the concept is half-baked at best, and I really don't know how this was greenlit in any capacity.
The Brand Embodiment of a Question Mark: ELF Cosmetics Matt Rife Campaign
Speaking of half-baked concepts... who approved this? who thought Matt Rife even remotely overlapped with the average ELF Cosmetics customer? Why was this so vehemently backed, even post-controversy? So many questions we'll probably never have answered. Such an ill-thought out concept from a brand that's taken a bit of a stumble after explosive growth in recent years. To ELF: "???"
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This year has been full of milestones, both professionally and personally. Thank you to anyone who's come into my studio, trusted me with their face, or even just supported me through socials - THANK YOU. I appreciate you more than you know, and you've helped make this past 2025 year so spectacular. 2026 - bring it ON.
Happy New Year xx
Xo, Nicole