The 395 winners of our 2026 Beauty Awards have been announced, and our annual (and highly anticipated) Awards Box is full. After months of spritzing, swiping and slathering hundreds of formulas, our editors narrowed down the very best in the industry. These are the innovations and cult classics that outperformed everything else, caught our discerning eye and earned our stamp of approval.
In this year’s Awards Box (a $1,000+ value), we’ve included 22 products that earned a 2026 NewBeauty Award. Curated by our editors, the box contains the ultimate mix of skin care, hair care, makeup, nails and wellness for the beauty aficionado. There’s a little something for everyone and every routine. (And if a product doesn’t suit you, there’s probably a mother, sister, best friend, or even a colleague, who would love a surprise gift.) Either way, we hope you enjoy this exclusive collection and discover some new favorites. Scroll through to learn more about all the products inside.
And if you haven’t snagged your box yet, click here to get one before they’re gone!
skinbetter science Mystro Revive Renewing Serum ($245)
Winner: “Best Serum for Menopausal Skin”
It seems like everyone is talking about perimenopause and menopause right now, especially in the skin-care space. Hormonal shifts can take a toll on our skin, but this serum helps offset the damage. It’s formulated with P.A.T.H.[13] Biotechnology, which is the brand’s proprietary and powerful blend of 13 plant-based adaptogens that help reduce dryness, dullness, loss of elasticity and the look of lines and wrinkles. The lightweight formula also contains ceramides, glycerin and niacinamide that support the skin barrier.
And, if you are not in either of these stages of life, you can still benefit from this serum in so many ways for rejuvenated skin. Or, gift it to a special someone who is in that stage of life, and they will be very, very happy!
YSE Beauty Like a Gloss Hydrating Lip Tint in the shade Fashionably Late ($30)
Winner: “Best Lip Gloss”
Of course the beautiful Molly Sims is on the cover of our Spring Issue, so we had to include her winning lippie in this box. And speaking of Sims, have you seen her lately? She is 53 and looks better than ever—that Sports Illustrated Swimsuit shoot. Wow!
We love that this lip treatment has the benefits of a mask and the shine of a gloss. It’s a super hydrating, restorative formula with shea butter, hyaluronic acid and coconut oil, and offers gorgeous color payoff in five sheer shades. We’re including the shade Fashionably Late in the box, which is a rosy taupe color that looks good on everyone.
IGK Best Interest Deep Repair Air Dry Styler ($38)
Winner: “Best Air-Dry Cream”
It’s nearly summer, and I don’t know about you, but we are ready to enter our air-dry era. What we love about this styling product is that it not only helps your hair air-dry nicely, but it’s also clinically proven to seal 96 percent of split ends and reduce breakage by 69 percent. For us, that’s a no-brainer when it comes to choosing an air-dry product. Why not get bond repair as you air-dry? It makes hair feel noticeably smoother and look really healthy, too.
Murad Retinal ReSculpt Overnight Cream ($98)
Winner: “Best Retinal Night Cream”
Not all retinal creams firm skin as much as they hydrate, but this one is different. Apply it at night, and as you sleep, it helps soften deep-set wrinkles and smooth crepiness using encapsulated retinal and a unique NAD+ Lift Complex. NAD is a big buzzword in beauty, for good reason. Our NAD levels naturally decline with age and sun exposure and our skin can struggle to repair itself properly. When used in skin care, NAD+ helps facilitate this repair, boosting cellular energy, DNA repair and vitality. In a four-week clinical study, 100 percent of participants using this cream showed an increase in firmness and skin elasticity.
Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Sculptor ($99)
Winner: “Best Firming Body Serum”
Just like many of us want a more sculpted face, we want the same for our bodies. There are also so many people looking for firming solutions right now because of the surge in GLP-1s and weight loss, which can result in sagging skin. This nonsticky body serum contains a Pro-NAD+ Complex and firming botanicals, such as microalgae and rice protein, which help tone and tighten skin, targeting sagginess, crepiness, lines and wrinkles.
It’s great for crepey skin on the arms, above the knees, on the decollete or anywhere else that bothers you. You get an instant smoothing boost from film-formers and glycerin, while niacinamide and antioxidants quietly yet work beneath the surface to support long-term firmness. It’s the perfect product to use between in-office treatments or on its own. It also contains antioxidants, which makes it a great product to layer under sunscreen.
EltaMD UV Daily Hydration+ Broad-Spectrum SPF 50 ($45)
Winner: “Best Hydrating Sunscreen”
If you’re going to invest in an amazing skin-care routine and use all of these incredible products included in this box, you have to protect your skin from the sun, or else it’s really all for nothing. We are huge fans of EltaMD, and pretty much every top dermatologist recommends it, especially this new lightweight, hybrid SPF that combines physical and chemical UV filters (zinc oxide and octisalate). It’s made with hyaluronic acid to deeply hydrate skin, and it’s clinically proven to keep skin hydrated for 24 hours. It also layers seamlessly under makeup for everyday wear.
BIODANCE Rejuvenating Caviar PDRN Real Deep Mask (4-pack; $19)
Winner: “Best Overnight Sheet Mask”
There’s a reason this sheet mask is a viral sensation and bestseller—all the hype is worth it. Wear the mask to bed, and while you sleep, it soaks into your skin and becomes transparent. In the morning, peel it off and reveal a glass-skin glow. You also get amazing skin barrier support. According to the brand, “the powerful synergy of caviar and PDRN delivers dual-action care, revitalizing the skin’s surface and more intense layers to boost natural renewal 3.5 times faster.”
VT Cosmetics Reedle Shot 100 ($26)
Winner: “Best Spicule Serum”
If you’re wondering what a spicule serum is, it stems from a K-beauty trend you may have heard referred to as “skin sponging.” Spicules are microscopic, needle-like structures derived from marine sponges, and when you put them in a serum like this one, they create tiny punctures in the outermost layer of skin to create transient microchannels that allow all the products you apply afterward to penetrate better. It’s similar to microneedling, but a safe, at-home option on a much smaller scale. (You’ll actually feel the little pricks on your skin for a few seconds.)
This serum also exfoliates dead skin cells, minimizes the look of large pores and supports a more radiant, polished complexion. It’s great for most skin types, but you may want to avoid it if you have a compromised skin barrier, such as rosacea or eczema, or very sensitive skin.
Dr. Reju-All Advanced PDRN Rejuvenating Cream ($30)
Winner: “Best PDRN Cream”
Everyone is talking about PDRN right now (aka salmon DNA), and this is Korea’s top pharmacy PDRN cream, which our editors couldn’t stop raving about during Awards testing. It uses a clinically validated PDRN dosage to boost hydration, soothe irritation, reduce redness and more for a glass skin effect. You can also use it post-treatment after lasers to help speed up your recovery.
Beauty of Joseon Revive Under Eye Patch: Ginseng + Retinal ($20)
Winner: “Best Under-Eye Masks With Retinol”
These pearly-glow hydrogel under-eye patches visibly firm, lift and brighten without irritating your skin or slipping down your face—they’re also hydrating. Add in retinal, collagen, peptides and ginseng water, and you’re getting a full-blown under-eye treatment. In clinical testing, they proved to reduce wrinkles around the eyes by 20 percent in just two weeks. Pro tip: You can use them on your smile lines, forehead lines and neck lines, too!
COSRX The Ceramide Skin Barrier Moisturizer ($23)
Winner: “Best Barrier Repair Cream”
Many K-beauty skin-care products prioritize barrier health, which is critical if you want that glass skin look, and this product delivers on that and more. Combining seven ceramides with five types of hyaluronic acid, it perfectly cushions skin for a hydrated, healthy glow. We love the texture of this cream and the way it melts into the skin.
Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara ($26)
Winner: “Best Tubing Mascara”
Our tubing mascara winner for the fourth year in a row, this product deserves its praise and thousands of five-star reviews. In fact, one sells every 11 seconds! It gives extension-like length and comes off in seconds with just water—no makeup remover needed. Each box will contain the best-selling shade, Brynn, a rich black.
EXCLUSIVE PROMO CODE: Use code NEWBEAUTY20NC to receive 20-percent off orders for new customers. Valid until July 5, 2026.
UNITE Hair 7SECONDS Anti-Frizz Thermo Mist ($35)
Winner: “Best Frizz Fighter”
We've loved and frequently recommended so many UNITE products over the years, and this one is no different. The non-aerosol spray is heat-activated, which means you’re going to use this before blow-drying and styling—not if you air-dry your hair. If you have curls, apply before using your diffuser. It gives you up to 72 hours of smooth strands—we even tested this in high humidity, and it delivered. It also boasts the brand’s signature, salon-worthy scent. This is a product you’ll be reaching for all summer long.
No7 Future Renew Damage Reversal Night Serum ($40)
Winner: “Best Overnight Repair Serum”
This overnight serum uses No7’s proprietary peptide technology to improve signs of damage—uneven texture, dullness and fine lines—while you sleep, so skin looks smoother, healthier and visibly refreshed by morning. We met with Dr. Mike Bell, head of science for No7, who is doing fascinating research on our circadian rhythms and how sleep, or lack thereof, impacts our skin—he’s also brilliant in the peptide space. Clinical studies show that after just one week, skin looks smoother, firmer and more radiant.
Neutrogena Collagen Bank Reviving Eye Gel Cream ($26)
Winner: “Best Gel-Cream for Eyes”
Not everyone loves a rich cream under the eyes, especially this time of year when humidity levels rise and many people switch to lighter skin-care formulas. This one is a super-light gel-cream that absorbs quickly, making it a great option for oily skin types, though all skin types can benefit. It utilizes a patented micro-peptide technology to firm skin and reduce the look of crow’s feet and crepey skin around the eyes, and it also helps with puffiness and dark circles.
Timebeam Beauty Ice Baby Cryo Facial Roller ($29)
Winner: “Best Cryo Roller”
Depuff anytime, anywhere with this small-but-mighty cryo roller that’s great for travel compared to those bulky ice rollers of years past. But the real standout is that it features StayCool technology, so there’s no freezer required, and it stays cold! Use the large roller on your face and neck, and the tiny one around your eyes—the brand really thought of everything.
Nakery Beauty SkinRecovery Ultra-Strength Pain Therapy Cream ($30)
Winner: “Best Muscle Soother”
Nakery Beauty founder Liz Folce loaded this fan-favorite formula with the highest concentration of actives (arnica, magnesium, menthol and more) to give sore muscles and joints some serious soothing. When your neck is feeling it after a long day of work, rub this on, and voila! The minty-scented gel-cream does such a great job soothing sore spots and isn't sticky at all.
Erno Laszlo Tightening Treatment Mask ($32)
Winner: “Best Firming Mask”
The latest mask to join Erno Laszlo’s iconic mix-to-activate mask collection (you may have heard of or tried the brand’s famous pink mask that also works this way; you get to be the chemist, if you will), it transforms skin’s tone and texture after just one use. It’s clinically proven to deliver a visibly tightened look.
Pour the liquid into a bowl, then the powder and mix them for about a minute to make a mousse-like consistency. Then you apply a thick layer on your face and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes until it dries down to a rubbery texture. Next, the super satisfying part: Peel the mask off—we love to try to get it all in one piece—and give your beautiful skin a good look and feel.
epres ePhD Bond Repair Nail Treatment ($20)
Winner: “Best Nail Repair Treatment”
Like bond-repair products for our hair, this treatment penetrates the keratin bonds in our nails to repair them from within. (It’s actually inspired by the brand’s innovative hair treatment.) This nail serum is a must-have for anyone with dry, brittle or discolored nails (too many gel manis, anyone?). The oil-based formula strengthens and smooths for a healthier look and feel—no more weak, bendy nails. Wear it under any nail polish, even gel, as a protective layer of sorts, and don’t forget your toes, too.
Kerasilk Flyaway Wand ($24)
Winner: “Best Flyaway Tamer”
You’ll wonder how you ever lived without this, especially in humid weather. This mascara-like hair wand tames rogue hairs instantly and smooths without stiffness or grease, making touch-ups a breeze. It’s great for slicked-back buns, which will be a really popular style this summer. Or, you know, those crazy flyaways you have right after a blowout? This helps!
No Makeup Makeup Crème Classic Lipstick ($44)
Winner: “Best Hydrating Lipstick”
This creamy lipstick is a top pick for those with mature skin because it doesn’t settle into lip lines, ensuring a smooth, youthful look. You get luxurious color payoff while quenching dryness, and it keeps lips moisturized and feels comfortable for hours. It comes in seven shades, but each box will get either Pink 02 or Plum 01.
Garnier All-in-One Micellar Cleansing Water ($12)
Winner: “Best Micellar Water”
It’s tough to beat a classic like this one. Its magical micelles gently remove dirt, oil, makeup and sunscreen on your face, lips and eyes to leave skin feeling clean and soft. It’s great for a lazy makeup day, when you don’t feel like a double cleanse, or as the first step in a double cleanse to remove makeup. The top celebrity makeup artists keep this in their kit.
