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Readers have spoken: Cosmopolitan’s fifth annual Readers’ Choice Beauty Awards identify the products people reach for most. After nearly 12,000 readers cast hundreds of thousands of votes across 151 categories, a mix of cult classics and buzzy newcomers emerged as this year’s top picks.
What stood out this year
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Chosen by thousands, Cosmo readers name the year’s top beauty products
Two clear patterns ran through the winners. First, longstanding favorites kept their grip: a handful of products won again, proving that reliable formulas still resonate. Second, newer launches and viral items earned passionate support, showing readers are open to innovation when a product truly performs.
Notably, readers returned a unanimous verdict in some categories—household staples and salon-level treatments alike got enthusiastic write-ins about efficacy, accessibility, or value. Photographer and singer-songwriter Sienna Spiro appears in our award shoot, styled to reflect the looks readers love, with images shot by Jared Kocka.
Skincare highlights
The skincare section favored gentle, effective staples alongside targeted actives. Drugstore classics and dermatologist-recommended treatments landed top honors.
CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser was once again named best face wash, extending its streak as a go-to for sensitive skin. Exfoliators and resurfacing products also fared well: Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant and Cetaphil’s Gentle Exfoliating SA Cleanser both drew praise for smoothing results without harsh irritation. For makeup removal, readers leaned on Garnier’s micellar water to prep skin before cleansing.
Readers rewarded serums that deliver visible results at a range of price points. SkinCeuticals’ C E Ferulic won Best Vitamin C Serum for the third straight year, while The Ordinary’s Hyaluronic Acid and peptide formulas earned recognition for hydration and firmness. Tower 28’s SOS Rescue Spray stood out among calming mists for reducing redness, and La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Balm B5 took Best Barrier Repair Cream for its versatile soothing power.
Makeup and color
Makeup winners skewed toward dependable performance and shade inclusivity. Foundations and concealers that blend, last, and come in wide shade ranges were favored.
Readers chose Haus Labs Triclone Skin Tech Foundation for full coverage without a cakey finish, and MAC’s Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation earned praise for its extensive shade range and reliable coverage. On the skin-tint and everyday end, Milk Makeup’s Hydro Grip Hydrating Gel Skin Tint was singled out for a “skin-but-better” finish.
For complexion finishing, One/Size On ’Til Dawn Mattifying Setting Spray and Laura Mercier’s Translucent Loose Setting Powder remain go-to picks. Beauty newcomers and celebrity brands also placed highly: Rare Beauty earned multiple nods (bronzer stick and liquid blush among them), while Dior and Charlotte Tilbury scored for highlighter and lip formulas that readers said feel luxe and long-wearing.
Haircare, tools and treatments
Hair winners ranged from affordable drugstore finds to salon-grade splurges. Readers rewarded products that boost softness, manageability, and visible repair.
Brands with mass-appeal held strong: MONDAY Haircare’s Volume Shampoo and Amika’s Big Hit Volumizing Conditioner topped the volume categories, while Redken All Soft and Pantene Miracle Rescue ranked for hydration. Bond-building and repair treatments were also major winners—Olaplex No.4 and No.5 were chosen for color-treated hair care, and K18’s molecular repair mask took Best Treatment for Damaged Hair.
Tools that marry performance with value proved popular. The Conair 1.25-inch Double Ceramic Curling Iron and CHI 1-inch flat iron are reader favorites for dependable styling, while the Dyson Airwrap took the Best Beauty Splurge spot for users who want one multi-tool with many attachments.
On the professional side, Morpheus8 (RF microneedling) and Hydrafacial were among the top voted in-office procedures, and injectables such as Botox and Juvéderm remained the most frequently lauded clinical treatments.
Body, nails and fragrance
Bodycare winners reflected a mix of scent-forward indulgence and straightforward efficacy. Sol de Janeiro’s Brazilian Bum Bum Cream and its Cheirosa ’62 body mist were readers’ go-tos for fragrance and moisturization, while drugstore wins—like eos Vanilla Cashmere lotion—were praised for delivering results without a big price tag.
Nail fans stuck with legacy brands: Essie was voted Best Nail Polish brand, and OPI’s Bubble Bath won a Hall of Fame-style favorite for a universally flattering pale pink. For at-home mani tools, Tweezerman’s glass manicure set earned top marks.
Perfume winners ran the gamut from fresh and floral to gourmand and niche. Glossier You and Gucci Flora were singled out in their respective categories, while Kayali and Le Labo’s Santal 33 drew acclaim in gourmand and earthy categories. YSL Libre took the Hall of Fame perfume recognition for the fragrance many readers described as a signature scent.
Viral hits, steals and brands
Viral products that survived the hype cycle earned real affection—Glow Recipe’s Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Drops topped the Viral Product pick, and readers continued to champion utility buys like Crest 3D Whitestrips for teeth whitening and Oral‑B iO for electric toothbrushes.
New and niche brands also resonated: Daise Beauty was voted Best New Beauty Brand, Medicube dominated K‑Beauty category conversation, and Saie took the nod for Best Clean Beauty Brand. At the bargain end, readers named eos and other affordable finds among the year’s best steals.
How the winners were chosen
January–March 2026: Cosmopolitan’s beauty editors nominated five standout products in each of 151 categories, producing 755 nominees drawn from best-sellers, emerging trends, social‑media favorites, expert recommendations, and editorial testing.
April–June 2026: The Readers’ Choice survey ran for six weeks. Readers voted on the nominated items or submitted write‑in choices, and many included notes on why a product mattered to them.
July–August 2026: Editors analyzed thousands of votes and reader comments to determine one winner per category and to capture what makes those products beloved.
September 2026: The full roster of winners—151 products in all—was published, accompanied by readers’ unfiltered feedback and photo inspiration featuring Sienna Spiro.
About this report
This compilation reflects reader voting and editorial review only. It highlights the products Cosmopolitan readers named as their favorites during the survey period and summarizes common reasons readers gave for their choices—performance, price, accessibility, and sensory appeal were recurring themes.
Byline
Kara McGrath reported and compiled the winners. She has more than 17 years of experience covering beauty, women’s health, and lifestyle topics and has previously held editorial roles at Allure and Bustle.
