The best beauty products in the world, according to Glamour's global editors
The words ‘best in the world’ often preface a beauty launch, but these winners truly live up to the accolade. The ‘Best Beauty Products In The World’ awards are new for 2026 and spotlight those products that are worth the hype, according to editors who spend every day trying the best the beauty industry has to offer.
On Glamour beauty desks around the globe, we chat about the products we love – the ones we use down to the very last drop; the ones we bulk-buy in case they're ever discontinued; and (whisper it) the ones that miss the mark. For the first time ever, we decided to bring that expertise together to create this brand-new category as part of the Glamour Beauty and Wellness Awards 2026.
Like well-groomed Avengers, beauty editors from Glamour editions worldwide – including the UK, US, Germany, Spain and Mexico – assembled over several Zoom calls to shortlist our hero products from the past 12 months. We considered everything from efficacy, breakthrough ingredients and shade range to how much each product injected joy, confidence and calm (or a combination of all three) into our daily routines.
After plenty of slathering, swatching and spritzing, we finalised a list of 14 winners across skincare, makeup, hair care, body and fragrance. We unanimously agreed that these products go the extra mile to deliver real results – covering the fragrance that earns us the most compliments, the moisturiser that makes skin feel plumper than a hotel pillow and one of the most talked-about luxury launches.
Created by an international panel of beauty lovers, meet the Glamour Beauty and Wellness Awards ‘Best Beauty Products In The World’ winners for 2026…
Best cleanser
Drunk Elephant Mello Marula Cream Cleanser
We all know that cleansing is an important step in our beauty routines. But finding a product that is kind to our skin barriers – while still washing away daily grime, SPF and makeup – is another story. The Mello Marula Cream Cleanser is an all-round favourite with the Glamour global beauty team for good reason: it has a Goldilocks rightness about it. The creamy formula breaks down every last bit of makeup and deep cleans pores but is gentle enough for even sensitive skin. I love that it turns into a light, milky lather on contact with water but that the colloidal oatmeal and marula oil also act as a hydrating buffer, so your skin never feels tight and uncomfortable afterwards. - Fiona Embleton, (Glamour UK) Associate Beauty Director
Best serum
Lancôme Rénergie C.R.X. Triple Serum Retinol
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In the world of skincare, few launches have created as much excitement as Lancôme Rénergie C.R.X. Triple Serum Retinol. Truly delivering visible results, it stands out as a winner by going beyond a traditional retinol serum. Its triple-formula approach addresses signs of aging from multiple angles, helping to brighten, smooth, and renew the skin. The innovation lies in combining powerful ingredients into an experience that feels both effective and refined. The first thing that caught my attention was its three separate formulas, designed to blend together at the moment of application. It’s not just a luxurious touch – though it certainly feels like one – but also a smart way to keep vitamin C and retinol stable and potent until the very last use. - Paola Juárez, (Glamour MX) Beauty & Lifestyle Editor
Best moisturiser
Tatcha The Dewy Milk Moisturiser
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Somehow, Tatcha managed to take a cult-favourite skincare product and make it even more beloved. The Dewy Milk Moisturiser is the lighter version of the classic Dewy Skin Cream (a favourite of Glamour editors and celebs like Meghan Markle and Selena Gomez), but with the same deeply nourishing and hydrating results. Fortified with green tea extract and Japanese purple rice, the milky formula quickly melts into skin, creating a smooth base for the rest of your routine. I love using it during the summertime, when I need a lightweight cream that still hydrates my combination skin. It leaves my complexion feeling soft and bouncy – never slick and greasy. I've already recommended it to three of my friends, who have bought it and are just as obsessed. - Ariana Yaptangco, (Glamour US) Senior Beauty Editor
Best sunscreen
La Roche-Posay Anthelios UVAir SPF50+
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On the important mission to make daily sunscreen use imperative for all, La Roche-Posay continues to innovate in the form of Anthelios UVAir SPF50+. Powered by UVAIR technology, the incredibly lightweight texture of this sunscreen immediately absorbs without leaving a white cast, and is boosted by hyaluronic acid and niacinamide for 24-hour hydration – making it wearable for all skin types, even the most sensitive. Seamlessly integrating into your routine while offering protection from both UVA and UVB, Glamour's global beauty editors are particularly impressed by its invisible finish – perfect for finishing your skincare with or prepping it for makeup. - Dominic Cadogan, (Glamour UK) Acting Beauty Editor
Best body lotion
Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa 71 Body Cream
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Taking body care to new indulgent heights, Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa 71 Body Cream makes moisturising feel like the ultimate luxury. Don’t be fooled by the lightweight texture of this cream – it’s jam-packed with hydrating ingredients like macadamia nut for skin softening, tonka bean for promoting a more even skin tone, and golden mica, which leaves your skin with a delicate shimmer. But it’s the seductive scent that makes this a winner for me. Doing exactly what it says on the tin (‘cheirosa’ is the Portuguese word for ‘smelling incredibly delicious’), the intoxicating mix of gourmand notes – including white chocolate, toasted macadamia, coconut blossom and caramelised vanilla – will have inquisitive noses sniffing and compliments flowing all day long. - Dominic Cadogan, (Glamour UK) Acting Beauty Editor
Best lip product
Louis Vuitton LV Baume
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One of the most talked-about beauty launches of the year came from Louis Vuitton La Beauté, for its ultra-luxe cosmetics and eye-popping prices. Glamour's global beauty editors unanimously agree the hype is real when it comes to the LV Baume lip balm. Available in 10 semi-sheer shades, the rich formula delivers a velvet coat of hydration and wash of colour perfect for recreating the popular blurred-lips trend. The main attraction is the impressive packaging, which feels weighty in your hand with a magnetised cap, gold accents, and monogrammed LV logo. In press messaging, the brand has implied the collection should be viewed as collector's pieces, intended to be passed down as heirlooms. Whether or not that justifies the £120 price tag certainly depends, but it's an exceptional lip launch all the same. - Ariana Yaptangco, (Glamour US) Senior Beauty Editor
Best mascara
Prada Pradascope Mascara
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The perfect inky black mascara is like a push-up bra for lashes, creating extra volume and lift. The Pradascope Mascara – the first mascara by Prada Beauty – ticks all of these boxes for me but also doesn't compromise on length. The wand is excellent: it cups your lashes from root to tip so they look fuller from every angle, but is also slim enough to grip the tiny hairs along your lash line. One coat makes my eyes look bigger and brighter when I'm barefaced at the weekend. Multiple coats amp up a full-glam makeup look and give me the kind of flutter I can see in my peripheral vision. - Fiona Embleton, (Glamour UK) Associate Beauty Director
Best eyeliner
Yves Saint Laurent Lines Liberated Waterproof Eye Pencil
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The Yves Saint Laurent Lines Liberated Waterproof Eye Pencil is unbeatable when it comes to colour intensity. Even a light touch on the skin delivers a fantastic, highly pigmented result. It glides on smoothly, blends effortlessly and, most importantly, stays exactly where it should without smudging. The brush on the other end saves me from carrying an extra tool in my makeup bag and is perfect for creating a winged-liner look. - Lena Raab, (Glamour GER) Beauty Editor
Best blush
Glossier Cloud Paint Plush Blush
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After years of exclusively using liquid and cream blushes, Glossier’s powder reboot of its iconic Cloud Paint has converted me back. I’ve never tried another powder that feels so light and velvety. In the pot, it’s almost putty-like; press your finger into the product and it will mould to its shape rather than crumbling into dust. That texture translates directly onto the skin. Despite its matte finish, the blush goes on smoothly and builds pigment evenly. You can use a brush for a subtler effect, but I love taking this product on the go and touching up my flush with my fingers. With its statement shade selection, Plush Blush creates the most romantic puff of colour (I especially love Bloom and Puff for my fair skin) that looks as if it’s baked into your cheeks and lasts all day. - Grace McCarty, (Glamour US) Associate Beauty Editor
Best foundation
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Foundation
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Both the new and the previous versions of Charlotte Tilbury’s foundation are among my absolute favourites. It’s my go-to choice when I want a full-coverage look that still feels lightweight on the skin. I actually like the new matte version even more – perfect for anyone who wants to conceal a few blemishes (like me). - Lena Raab, (Glamour GER) Beauty Editor
Best shampoo/conditioner
Kérastase Paris Gloss Absolu Bain Hydra-Glaze Shampoo
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It’s easy to forget the importance of using a good shampoo. Just as clean skin is the first step for any treatment to work, a clean scalp is essential for healthy, beautiful hair. In this regard, Kérastase Gloss Absolu Bain Hydra-Glaze Shampoo features a formula that focuses on hair “skinification”, one of the biggest beauty trends of the past year, combining active ingredients typically found in skincare creams – like hyaluronic acid, glycolic acid, and wild rose oil. The result is a formula that hydrates and nourishes the hair, repairs the cuticle, and gives it a unique shine. And what it doesn't contain is also important: it's free of sulphates and silicones, leaving your hair perfectly prepared for any subsequent treatment. - Vicky Vera, (Glamour Spain) Senior Beauty Editor
Best styling tool
Dyson Airwrap ID
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I take my blow-dries very seriously, and people are constantly asking me if the Dyson Airwrap is worth the price tag. My answer – especially since the Multistyler ID hit the market – is an easy, confident “yes”. I’ve tried the competitors and the dupes, but nothing else gives me a long-lasting, salon-worthy style in the 20 minutes I leave myself to get ready before work. Not to mention, my hair is significantly less fried than it has been with other multi-styler tools.
I have straight, fine hair that falls completely flat when it's not styled, but this tool has the power to make it look extensions-laden and twice as thick. I use my Dyson attachments to rough-dry, create root volume, and curl my ends, and it’s the most reliable tool in my beauty arsenal. My favourite update to the latest Multistyler ID (compared to previous Airwrap models) is that each attachment “remembers” its heat and airflow settings. For example, when I swap out the wide barrel (which I use on full power to blow out my layers) for the round brush attachment (which I use for my fragile, bleached bangs), the settings automatically adjust to my lower heat preferences. It’s these little innovations and considerations that make all the difference in our routines, and the Dyson Airwrap always delivers. - Grace McCarty, (Glamour US) Associate Beauty Editor
Best styling product
Color Wow Insta-Wow Advanced Dry Shampoo
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If you ever have mornings when you rush out to work and simply don’t have time to wash your hair, the Insta-Wow Advanced Dry Shampoo by Color Wow becomes a real lifesaver. It leaves your roots looking natural, light, and residue-free – even on darker hair, where other dry shampoos can often give themselves away. Its fresh yet subtle scent also achieves something few products manage, restoring that clean-hair feeling without needing to step into the shower. Glamour’s global beauty team chose this product because it doesn’t just “mask” oil; its technology works almost like a traditional shampoo (minus the water), allowing hair to feel genuinely clean and refreshed. - Paola Juárez, (Glamour MX) Beauty & Lifestyle Editor
Best fragrance
Chanel Chance Eau Splendide EDP
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In a world where it seems all new perfumes belong to the gourmand family, Chance Eau Splendide was a very pleasant surprise. Olivier Polge, the perfumer behind the fragrance, has taken this new version of Chance into the realm of fruity scents. It opens with sweet raspberry that is stimulating rather than cloying, representing the youthful and vibrant spirit that characterises all fragrances in the Chanel Chance family. The heart of the perfume is green and floral, featuring geranium grown in Chanel’s fields in Grasse, on the French Riviera, combined with hints of rose and violet. This luminous combination rests on a base of iris, cedar, and white musk, and Glamour’s global beauty editors couldn’t get enough of its addictive, powdery trail. A perfect perfume for everyday wear – or for those moments when you need to feel good instantly. - Vicky Vera, (Glamour Spain) Senior Beauty Editor
Still life credits:
Photographer: Tais Sirote @taissirote
Prop Stylist: Lucy Webster @lucywebsterstudio
