9 skincare favourites that have earned their place in the Glamour Beauty and Wellness Awards 2025
GLAMOUR readers know their niacinamide from their retinol – and it shows. When it comes to skincare, you’re discerning, ingredients-aware and only loyal to what truly works. Whether it’s the hydrating serum that gives skin its bounce back or the micellar water you’ve repurchased more times than you can count, these are the products that have gained your trust and your vote.
This year, the Glamour Beauty and Wellness Awards 2025 are all about celebrating that loyalty. We’re spotlighting the icons – the formulas that have won three or more times over the past five years. They may not be the most recent names in your routine, but they’re the ones you return to again and again. Proof that in a landscape of constant newness, consistency counts.
From cult French pharmacy favourites to barrier-boosting heroes, these are the nine formulas that have stood the test of time. Backed by experts, loved by you and still leading the way. Scroll on to meet the skincare icons that always make the cut…
Best oil/balm cleanser
This cult classic doesn’t just take off the day, it makes cleansing feel like a treat. The buttery balm melts into skin to dissolve all traces of makeup, including waterproof mascara, before turning milky with water for a proper rinse-off. With skin-soothing oils and marine algae, it leaves skin soft, nourished and comfortably clean.
Best micellar water
Best used as a pre-cleanse, this no-rinse formula sweeps away makeup, SPF and daily grime without disrupting the skin’s barrier or pH. Fragrance-free and ophthalmologist-tested, it’s kind to the delicate eye area and trusted by those with sensitive skin. Proof that sometimes the simplest products are the most effective.
Best foaming cleanser
This gentle gel-to-foam formula cleanses without compromise. It whisks away dirt, oil and makeup while helping to support the skin’s barrier, thanks to CeraVe’s signature blend of three essential ceramides. Soap-free and non-stripping, it leaves skin feeling refreshed and balanced. No wonder it remains a trusted favourite, year after year.
Best SPF for face
Forget chalky, heavy sunscreens, this fluid formula melts in like skincare while delivering broad-spectrum protection. It shields against UVA, UVB and – thanks to an advanced filter called Mexoryl 400 – long UV rays (the ones that penetrate deeper and cause the most damage). Specifically designed for sensitive skin, it’s fragrance-free and hypoallergenic, too.
Best hydrating serum
Loved by skincare pros and dermatologists alike, this lightweight gel serum strengthens the skin barrier while delivering deep, long-lasting hydration. Powered by hyaluronic acid and Vichy’s signature mineral-rich volcanic water, it leaves skin plumper, smoother and visibly more radiant with a healthy glow.
Best brightening serum
Vitamin C is one of skincare’s hardest-working ingredients – brightening, smoothing and shielding skin from daily environmental stress. Sunday Riley’s silky serum is powered by THD ascorbate (a potent and stable form of vitamin C), helping to fade dark spots, refine skin texture and boost radiance. Use it daily for a noticeably fresher, more even-looking complexion.
Best fake tan for face
Designed to be mixed with your daily moisturiser, these customisable self-tanning drops deliver a believable, sun-kissed glow that builds gradually – use two drops for subtle radiance or five for a deeper tan. Blended with vitamin C, the skin-savvy formula leaves your complexion brighter and smoother, too.
Best lip care
Part lip balm, part overnight treatment, this best-selling mask from Laneige delivers deep hydration while you sleep. Blended with nourishing coconut oil and the brand’s signature Berry Fruit Complex, it cocoons lips in moisture and restores softness by morning. Dry, flaky lips don’t stand a chance.
Best acne treatment
La Roche-Posay has been tending to our breakouts since 2022 – first with the Effaclar Duo (+) Corrective Unclogging Care and then the Effaclar Duo+M Anti-Imperfections Triple Corrective Care, the reformulation that replaced it and straightaway won Best Acne Treatment in 2024. Seriously hard-working, this formula is brimming with active ingredients (including salicylic acid, zinc PCA, and Procerad to help prevent acne marks), which together banish blemishes, keep excess sebum in check and fade dark spots.
Photographer: Cameron Bensley
Prop Stylist: Megan Mandeville
Global Creative Director: Amelia Trevette
European Design Director: Eilidh Williamson
Associate Beauty Director: Fiona Embleton
Associate Visuals Editor: Louisa Bryant
