Cosmopolitan Holy Grail Beauty Awards: Best Products of 2025
I always say the beauty industry doesn’t need more (for the blissfully unaware, we’ve got a serious waste problem over here), we simply need better. Now I say this in the same breath that I’m introducing you to Cosmopolitan’s biggest beauty awards in its 60-year history—we have more winning brands and products than ever featured before—but trust me when I say these beauty awards are also, by far, the best.
Each of the 267 winning products, tools, and treatments on this list has been personally vetted by one of 29 discerning Cosmo editors, each with their own unique beauty point of view. And that vetting process? A yearlong journey of sorting through thousands of products and then swatching, testing, debating, and comparing notes and feedback on countless spreadsheets, Slack threads, and emails. The end result is an ultra-curated list of holy grails that deliver big on results and are a genuine joy to use too.
So next time you shop for new skincare, makeup, or perfume, reference this list and remember: better, not more. Think of it as your guide to shopping the crowded beauty landscape like a pro so you end up with one lipstick you truly love (instead of five so-so ones that just take up space in the bottom of your bag) or one clear sunscreen (instead of a bunch that end up leaving a white cast on your skin). Shop a small edit of our favorites for summer, as seen on NYC’s hottest DJ trio Las Flaquitas below, and don’t forget to click through each link for the full list of winners in each category.
(Title Image) On Jess: Dress from Depop, Luar bandana, Jennifer Fisher earrings. On Tatiana: Diotima top, Norma Kamali swimsuit, Shiny Squirrel earrings (bottom), talent’s own earrings (throughout), Isabel Marant bracelet. On Kaila: Tropic of C bikini, R13 shorts, Shiny Squirrel earrings, Jacquie Aiche bodychains. (Face Image) On Kaila: Oséree bikini top, Shiny Squirrel earrings, talent’s own necklace.
Best Cream Face Wash
Farmacy Green Clean Gentle Creamy Cleanser
Best Toner
Peach & Lily Bio Rice Wine Softening Toner
Best Chemical Exfoliator
U Beauty Resurfacing Flash Peel
Best Eye Cream for Dark Circles
Tatcha The Brightening Eye Cream
Best Hydrating Serum
BeautyStat Triple-Plump Coconut Milk Serum
Best Wrinkle Cream
iNNBEAUTY PROJECT Extreme Cream
Best Face Sunscreen for Sensitive Skin
EltaMD UV Skin Recovery Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Face Sunscreen
Best Lip Mask
TULA Skin Care 24-7 Moisture Day & Night Peptide Lip Mask
Best LED Face Mask
Shark Beauty CryoGlow LED Face Mask
Best New Skincare Brand
Neuraé Harmonie The Serum
On Tatiana: Edward Cuming bikini top and skirt, Bliss Lau earrings. On Kaila: Oséree bikini, No Maintenance jeans, Shiny Squirrel earrings, arm cuff, bracelets, and bodychain, talent’s own necklace. On Jess: Etro top, Tropic of C bikini, Deniz shorts, Jennifer Fisher earrings, Don’t Let Disco necklace.
Best Exfoliating Body Wash
Naturium The Energizer Mandelic Acid Body Wash
Best Body Oil
Sol de Janeiro Beija Flor Body Oil
Best Body Lotion
Summer Fridays Summer Skin Nourishing Body Lotion
Best Spray Sunscreen for Body
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Lightweight Sunscreen Spray SPF 45
Best Hand Cream
Drunk Elephant Therabu Buttered Reparative Hand Cream
On Tatiana: Theophilio dress, Marie Lichtenberg earrings.
Best Tinted Moisturizer
Jones Road Just Enough Tinted Moisturizer
Best Foundation Stick
Dior Forever Skin Perfect Multi-Use Foundation Stick
Best Setting Spray
L’Oréal Paris Infallible 3-Second Setting Spray Mist
Now 22% Off
Best Powder Blush
Kosas Blush is Life Baked Talc-Free Dimensional + Brightening Blush
Best Cream Bronzer
ILIA Sunshift Cream Bronzer
Best Lengthening Mascara
Lancôme Lash Idole Flutter Extension Lengthening Mascara
Best Matte Lipstick
Valentino Spike Valentino Buttery Matte Lipstick
Best Lip Gloss
Eadem Le Chouchou Exfoliating + Softening Peptide Lip Balm
Best Eyeshadow Palette
Natasha Denona I Need a Warm Eyeshadow Palette
Best Hall of Fame Makeup Product
Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Multi-Use Concealer
On Jess: Christopher John Rogers bikini top, Diesel skirt, Jennifer Fisher earrings.
Best Shampoo + Conditoner for Damaged Hair
Kérastase Première Repairing Shampoo for Damaged Hair
Best Repairing Hair Mask
Gisou Honey Gloss Ceramide Therapy Hydrating Hair Mask
Best Deep Conditioner
CÉCRED Moisturizing Deep Conditioner
Best Product for Flyaways
Dae Cactus Fruit 3-in-1 Styling Cream and Taming Wand
Best Styling Cream
Bumble and bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Long Last Hydrating Hair Styling Cream
Best Edge Control
Mizani Artful Edges Edge Tamer
Best Scalp Exfoliator
Living Proof Scalp Care Exfoliator
Best Multistyler
T3 Aire 360 Ceramic Air Styler Blowout Kit
Best Claw Clip
Emi Jay Big Effing Hair Claw Clip in Cherry Kiss
Best Hall of Fame Hair Product
K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask
On Tatiana: Edward Cuming bikini top, R13 shorts.
Best Fruity Floral Perfume
Prada Infusion de Rhubarbe Eau de Parfum
Best Hair Perfume
Ouai St. Barts Hair and Body Mist
Best Daytime Perfume
Hermès Barénia Eau de Parfum
Best Nighttime Perfume
TOM FORD Tobacco Vanille Eau de Parfum
Best Hall of Fame Perfume
Carolina Herrera Good Girl Eau de Parfum
Best Neutral Nail Polish
Olive & June Mini Neutrals Set
Best Fast-Drying Nail Polish
OPI RapiDry Quick-Dry Lacquer
Best Press-Ons
DIGI Beauty Press-On Nails
Best Nail Strengthener
Essue To The Rescue UV Gel Damage Repair
Best Hall of Fame Nail Product
Dazzle Dry Mini Kit 4 Step System
Best Neurotoxin
Best Chemical Peel
Best Sculpting Facial
Skin Laundry Sculpting Facial
Best Microneedling Treatment
Best Filler
On Kaila: top from The Break, Belle the Label top, Lizzie Fortunato earrings.
Details on our methodology
May 2024 to December 2024: We (aka the Cosmo beauty team) compile data on new and noteworthy beauty launches while continually researching and reviewing the thousands (yes, actual thousands) of products that come across our desks.
December 2024: The Cosmo beauty team organizes standout products and treatments into 267 categories spanning skincare, bodycare, makeup, hair, fragrance, nails, and pro treatments.
January 2025 to March 2025: The top products in each category are sent to a select group of beauty-obsessed Cosmo staffers for a 12-week testing period. These staffers are asked to honestly evaluate products based on criteria including efficacy, ease-of-use, value, and innovation.
April 2025: Cosmo staffers submit their favorite products (along with detailed feedback and testing notes) to the Cosmo beauty team for review. We then take all of that info and use it to create this list of 267 winners—our biggest beauty awards EVER.
May 2025: We share all of the winners—and exactly why our staff testers love them—in these easy-to-shop stories.
Styled by Jessica Neises. Hair by Mirna Jose for Oribe. Makeup by Olivia Barad for Dior. Manicure by Alexandra Smith.
Lauren Balsamo is the beauty director at Cosmopolitan where she writes, edits, and produces all types of beauty content—from product reviews to personal essays and trend reports. She has covered beauty for more than a decade at Cosmopolitan. Follow her on Instagram.
