20 reader-approved skincare products guaranteed to give you a glow up in 2026
From cult cleansers and ceramide creams to viral vitamin C serums and non-sticky SPFs, it’s clear that our readers know the best skincare products to hero. These are the well-deserved winners of the Glamour Beauty and Wellness Awards 2026, plus the honourably mentioned runners-up. Whatever you’re into – whether you live for masks, moisturisers or milky toners – there really is something for everyone.
Best cleanser
Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm
Although sometimes overlooked in a skincare routine, cleansers lay the foundations for healthy skin. Choosing one that suits your skin is key, but this rich, aromatic balm cleanser is unique in that its appeal is virtually universal. Removing makeup, dirt and pollution with ease, it also leaves skin soft and plump, not stripped or tight. Part of the appeal is in the smart formulation, which transforms from a balm to an oil, and then a milk, upon contact with water. It means all preferences, and skin types, can benefit.
Shortlist:
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermo-Cleanser
Best makeup remover
Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water All-In-1
An effective and affordable option when you need to get the job done, this fragrance-free formula was praised for its ability to rid skin of makeup and impurities without upsetting the balance. Suitable for even sensitive skin, its wipe-on-leave-on formula means you don’t even need to rinse it off to get clean, soft and fresh-feeling skin.
Shortlist:
Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micellar Water Makeup Remover
La Roche-Posay Rosaliac Micellar Make-Up Removal Gel
Charlotte Tilbury Take It All Off
Best toner
Byoma Hydrating Milky Toner
If you don’t think you need toner in your routine, this is the product that might just convince you otherwise. A soothing and effective way to condition the skin and lock in moisture, it also contains plenty of reparative actives to calm irritation and take the heat out of any redness. While it’s especially great for dry and sensitive complexions, it really is a suits-all formula and a lovely addition to any skincare routine.
Shortlist:
Laneige Cream Skin Cerapeptide Toner & Moisturizer
Beauty of Joseon Glow Replenishing Rice Milk
Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner
Best face mist
Avène Thermal Spring Water
Whether you suffer from redness, itchy skin, tightness or general discomfort, a few spritzes of this mineral water ought to sort things out. Loved by skin health experts, dermatologists and you, it works just as well as a hydrating everyday toner as it does an emergency skin solution. We suggest stocking up.
Shortlist:
Summer Fridays Jet Lag Skin Soothing Hydration Mist
Best exfoliator
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Finding an exfoliant that’s genuinely suitable for daily use isn’t always easy, but this is one you can count on. The mix of skin-sloughing powdered ingredients activates on contact with water to create an ultra-fine paste. Dermalogica’s blend of papain, salicylic acid and rice enzymes works to gently reveal brighter, fresher, calmer skin immediately – and over time. Use daily or as required.
Shortlist:
Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
Best hydrating serum
Medik8 Hydr8 B5 Intense
When it comes to the best skincare products, a good hyaluronic acid should be a mainstay in everyone’s routine, not least because it’s so well tolerated, but also because it’s a reliable way to improve hydration and keep skin supple. You love this expertly formulated option, and who are we to argue? As well as having multi-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid to reach different layers of the skin, it features vitamin B5, Natural Moisturising Factors and antioxidant-rich botanicals, which help skin better retain its natural moisture.
Shortlist:
Garnier Hyaluron+ Barrier Repair Replumping Serum
Naturium Quadruple Hyaluronic Acid Serum 5%
Vichy Minéral 89 Fortifying And Plumping Daily Booster
Best vitamin C serum
La Roche-Posay Pure Vitamin C12 Serum
Unless you’ve been living in outer space, you’re no doubt familiar with the radiance-boosting benefits of vitamin C, so narrowing it down to a favourite serum was hard work. You were, however, unanimous in your love of this effective and affordable option. Infused with a generous 12% concentration of vitamin C, as well as skin-refining salicylic acid and Neurosensine – a peptide that soothes skin – this helps to brighten dark spots, soften fine lines and increase firmness.
Shortlist:
Sunday Riley CEO 15% Vitamin C Brightening Serum
Best day moisturiser
The Inkey List Bio-Active Ceramide Repairing And Plumping Moisturizer
Loaded with a host of barrier-boosting ceramides that restore skin’s elasticity and resilience, this rich, velvet-textured cream belies its price tag. As well as helping to firm, plump and hydrate skin, it also contains a clever blurring technology that creates an instant soft-focus effect so that skin looks immediately polished and more even. We call that a win-win.
Shortlist:
Trinny London See The Light Moisturiser SPF50+
Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Recovery Cream
Best night treatment
Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair
We like to think of this elixir as a great night’s sleep in a bottle, and frankly, we’re not far off. Containing a host of actives chosen to support the skin’s natural night-time renewal processes (including an exclusive tripeptide), this fluid serum is suitable for all skin types and encourages a more radiant, rested and refreshed appearance upon waking.
Shortlist:
No7 Future Renew Damage Reversal Night Cream
Olay Retinol 24 Max Night Cream
Best eye cream
Clarins Total Eye Lift
Like a pair of Spanx for your under-eye area, this serum uses smart technology combined with patented ingredients to tighten, lift and firm the delicate skin around the eyes. While it’s great if you have fine lines and wrinkles, it also targets dark circles and banishes puffiness, making it an excellent all-rounder.
Shortlist:
Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum Ginseng + Retinal
Sunday Riley Auto Correct Brightening And Depuffing Eye Contour Cream
Medik8 Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye
Best under-eye patches
Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte’s Hollywood Skin Secrets Immediate Eye Revival Patches
Patch technology is big business in the beauty world, and we can see why. Take these excellent under-eye patches for instance: quick, convenient and offering almost instant results, the generously sized gel discs hydrate, brighten and smooth skin, making you look fresh, rather than fatigued.
Shortlist:
111Skin Cryo De-Puffing Eye Mask
Dr Barbara Sturm Everything Eye Patches
Best SPF for face
La Roche-Posay Anthelios UVAir SPF50+
Like you, we demand a lot of our favourite SPF formulas: non-greasy, lightweight, invisible and, of course, with robust broad-spectrum protection. Happily, this weightless liquid does all of that and more. We haven’t even mentioned that it’s also infused with 24-hour hydration courtesy of hyaluronic acid, as well as niacinamide to improve tone and texture.
Shortlist:
Simple Invisible UV Fluid SPF50
Shiseido Expert Sun Protector Clear Stick SPF50+
Best lip balm
Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask
When it comes to this viral lip mask, all we can say is, believe the hype. It seems like you agree, too, having voted this the winner in a category with several strong contenders. Why is it so good? Well, aside from coming in various, mouth-watering flavours, including Cotton Candy and Matcha Bubble Tea, the brand’s signature Berry Fruit Complex helps to intensively soften and firm lips within just a few hours. Although it’s called a Sleeping Mask, we happily apply it liberally during waking hours, too.
Shortlist:
Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm
Best face mask
Biodance Bio Collagen-Real Deep Mask
There’s no denying the impact social media has had on propelling this collagen mask to the top of everyone’s wish list, but it’s important to note that it genuinely delivers results, as well as being fun to photograph. Formulated with low-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid to deliver long-lasting hydration, there’s also ultra-low molecular collagen, which offers a temporary plumping effect and helps to refine the appearance of skin.
Shortlist:
Drunk Elephant TLC Sukari Babyfacial
111Skin Y Theorem Bio Cellulose Facial Mask
Best spot treatment
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo+M Anti-Imperfections Triple Corrective Care
A good anti-blemish treatment is always good to have in your skincare arsenal, and this one comes highly rated. While the salicylic acid helps to gently exfoliate and decongest pores, it also contains Phylobioma, an active ingredient designed to protect the skin’s microbiome and restore balance to avoid further disruption. Hydrating ingredients are also on hand to ensure skin doesn’t become dry and flaky.
Shortlist:
Caudalie Vinopure Blemish Control Salicylic Serum
Kate Somerville EradiKate Blemish Treatment
Best pigmentation treatment
The Inkey List Tranexamic Acid Serum
Whether it’s due to hormones, acne scars or UV exposure, overproduction of pigmentation is increasingly one of the most common skincare issues in the UK. This smart solution is designed to be applied morning or evening, but we think it’s best used as an overnight treatment so you wake up with visibly fresher-looking skin. Loaded with 2% tranexamic acid to inhibit melanin production, there’s also antioxidant-rich acai berry extract to brighten as well as vitamin C. We’re as impressed as you are.
Shortlist:
Skin Rocks The Hyperpigmentation Serum
Caudalie Vinoperfect Brightening Dark Spot Serum
Best retinol product
Medik8 Crystal Retinal
Widely regarded as a bit of a game-changer in the beauty industry, the Crystal Retinal range is many people’s first foray into vitamin A and for good reason. Unlike other formulations, this uses retinal, a fast-acting vitamin A derivative that is gentler and more stable than retinol-based alternatives. That means you can reap the rewards (think brighter, firmer skin with a more even tone and texture) without the traditional dryness and irritability. Even better, the numbered system allows you to work your way up to higher strengths – and better results – the more you use it.
Shortlist:
L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Laser Pure Retinol Night Serum
Sunday Riley A+ High-Dose Retinoid Serum
Murad Resurgence Retinol Youth Renewal Serum
Best barrier care
La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5+
Chapped lips? Cracked skin? Post-laser redness or irritation? There are not many skin ailments that this multi-purpose balm can’t tackle, which is doubtless why it’s top of your barrier-boosting list. The main reason it’s so effective is down to the active ingredients: Tribioma (La Roche-Posay’s unique prebiotic complex) helps create the right environment for skin to heal, while vitamin B5 and madecassoside soothe irritation. Zinc and manganese also add important antibacterial agents to help stop harmful bacteria in its tracks.
Shortlist:
CeraVe Advanced Repair Ointment
Best lash growth serum
UKLash Eyelash Serum
It’s hard to deny the appeal of long, full and fluttery lashes, which is probably why you love this hardworking and highly effective eyelash serum. Enriched with all the ingredients you need to support lash health and stimulate growth (that’s everything from vitamin B5 to targeted amino acid peptides and green tea extract), it’s a product that demands consistency and commitment, but one that really works.
Shortlist:
Grande Cosmetics GrandeLash-MD Lash Enhancing Serum
Best fake tan for face
Caudalie Self-Tan Sun Drops
We all know just how transformative a bit of fake tan can be, which is probably why we’re all head over heels for this gorgeous face tanner. Packed with organic grape water to improve hydration, simply mix a few drops into your moisturiser for an authentic sun-kissed glow, or four to six drops for a more intense tan that is beautifully natural.
Shortlist:
Dior Solar The Self-Tanning Gel
Tan-Luxe Super Glow Hyaluronic Self-Tan Serum
Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Glow Pad Self-Tanner for Face
Model photo shoot crew credits:
Photographer: Ruo Bing Li @robinlirb
Stylist: Herin Choi @herinchoi1
Hair: Kyle Malone @kyledavidmalone
Makeup: Maki Ryoke @makiryoke
Manicure: Yukie Miyakawa @yukie_miyakawa_nails
Models: Alexis Ruby, Anyiang Yak, Baylee Winkel, Kenza Safsaf, Xun Seon @lexpfromthevill @anyiangyak @bayleewinkel @kenzasafsaf @kissthexun
Producer: Petty Cash Production @petty_cash_production
