Unveiled: The 2026 Women’s Health Beauty Awards Winners Who Are Redefining Strength and Radiance—Find Out Their Game-Changing Secrets!

Unveiled: The 2026 Women’s Health Beauty Awards Winners Who Are Redefining Strength and Radiance—Find Out Their Game-Changing Secrets!

If you’re anything like me, you know that navigating the beauty aisle—whether online or in-store—can sometimes feel like decoding a secret language filled with buzzwords and miracle claims. But here’s the thing: our expert beauty editors really get it. They dig deep into the latest trends—from those buzzy toner pads you’ve been hearing about to the ever-reliable retinol serums that have stood the test of time. Because when you’re ready to splurge on something like a specialized acne treatment or a curl cream that promises miracles, you want to be armed with the real deal, not just hype. But what if the journey to flawless skin or luscious locks could be as delightful as the results? That’s exactly what the 2026 Women’s Health Beauty Awards set out to discover—products that deliver the goods and make the experience a little more fun, luxurious, and yes, joyful. Trust me, you’ll want these goodies in your daily routine. Ready to dive in? LEARN MORE

Estimated read time2 min read

You can say one thing about our beauty editors—they know their products. From the latest trends (toner pads, anyone) to tried-and-true performers (what do you mean you’re not using a retinol serum?), you count on them to give you the goods on what works. Because if you’re going to lay down some serious cash for an acne treatment, curl cream, or body lotion, you want something that’s going to get the job done. Period.

But wouldn’t it also be nice if the product in question made the process of fighting pimples or styling your hair more pleasurable too? Of course it would. So, for the 2026 Women’s Health Beauty Awards, Team WH Beauty sifted through thousands of submissions to find the standouts across hair, skin, makeup, and more that deliver results—and are fun to use.

Happy shopping.

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Logo for the 2026 Women's Health Beauty Awards

How we chose the winners.

In November 2025, the Women’s Health beauty team officially put out the submissions call for our 2026 beauty awards—and more than 2,500 products were entered. We scoured these submissions, looking for products with innovative technology, cutting-edge science, or new-to-market ingredients to narrow down the list to a group of finalists that included close to 500 products.

Then, we put those finalists to the test: beauty director Brian Underwood, beauty editor Nicole Saunders, beauty assistant Katie Mogg, and countless Women’s Health contributors swiped, slathered, and lathered up to find the products that delivered results. But we were also looking for something different this year: in addition to backing up their claims with performance, a product had to also be a joy to use. So, whether it’s an uplifting scent, a cool texture, or just a beautiful bottle that makes you happy to look at when it’s in your bathroom, this year’s winners are ones you’ll want to incorporate into your day-to-day.

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Skincare product display featuring a model's face and a tonic bottle.

Skin Care

It’s face time, friends. These high-tech formulas firm, soothe, and refine for a complexion that says, “let’s glow.”

Person with wet hair making a dynamic gesture.

Jungmaven tank; Free People bralette (worn underneath); Astrid + Miyu hoops

Hair

It’s never been easier to get strong, healthy strands. These products cleanse, soften, nourish, and offer a luxurious self-care experience you’ll crave time and time again.
Red paint being applied with a brush next to a person with obscured face.

Beyond Yoga sports bra, Machete hoops, stylist’s own shrug.

Makeup

The caked-on look? So not our vibe. To take the prize, products had to be lightweight, skin-friendly, and a breeze to use. Meet the title holders.
Fashion image featuring swimwear and athletic wear.

Hunza G swimsuit, Reebok sneakers, Astrid + Miyu hoops, Aerie socks. // Hunza G tube top, Left on Friday bottoms.

Body

The skin below the neck deserves just as much love as our faces, people. These picks take your body-care regimen to the next level with their high-performing formulas.
Visual composition featuring a person touching their hair and a dripping paint brush.

OakleySplits59 bra, stylist’s own hoodie.

Hands & Feet

Our outer extremities take quite a beating (it’s not your butt that’s picking up that kettlebell or pounding the pavement every morning). Show them a little love.

ADD GALLERY

A person brushing their teeth with a toothbrush and a toothpaste tube.

Alo bra, Jenny Bird earrings.

Oral Care

A bright, fresh smile is one of the simplest ways to boost your confidence. Here’s your path to just that.

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Tools

Give your routine a high-tech upgrade that’ll make your bathroom feel like an at-home spa.

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Photographs by Rona Liana Ahdout

Stills by Hanna Hillier

Styling by Rose Lauture

Hair Ginger Leigh Ryan using R+Co/MUSE Management

Makeup Deanna Melluso using Charlotte Tilbury/Forward Artist

Nails Nori using Chanel Le Vernis/See Management

Headshot of Brian Underwood

Brian Underwood is beauty director at Women’s Health, where he oversees content strategy for the brand across all platforms, including digital, print, and social. Underwood previously served as beauty and wellness director at Oprah Daily and O, The Oprah Magazine. During his tenure leading beauty content for the Oprah brand at Hearst, stories Underwood commissioned were awarded the Skin Cancer Foundation Media Award and a Fragrance Award for Editorial Excellence (his second). He was the launch Beauty Director of Dr. Oz THE GOOD LIFE, and has held additional editorial positions at Fitness, Organic Style, Good Housekeeping, Life & Style Weekly, and Woman’s Day and has written for Self, Shape, Seventeen, Redbook, Cosmopolitan, and many more. Underwood previously served on the Skin Cancer Foundation’s gala committee and as partnerships director of the Trans Beauty Clinic, a New York-based charitable organization that provided beauty services and workshops to the city’s trans community.

Headshot of Nicole Saunders

Nicole Saunders is the beauty editor at Women’s Health and has nine years of experience researching, writing, and editing lifestyle content. She specializes in breaking down complicated topics, like red light therapy for hair growth and LED face masks, into easy-to-understand guides. Saunders takes great pride in heavily researching and testing featured beauty products, such as strengthening shampoos and body washes for dry skin on our site.   
Previously, she was the beauty editor at Best Products where she tested quite literally thousands of launches for her quarterly column and the Best New Beauty Awards package. She also launched the beauty and wellness coverage at NBC News and contributed to CNN, Cosmopolitan, Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, and Harper’s BAZAAR.   
You can follow her on Instagram to stay in the loop on her product testing adventures.

Headshot of Katie Mogg

Katie Mogg is the beauty editorial assistant at Women’s Health. Since starting college at Northeastern University in 2020, her bylines have appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, NBC News and The Boston Globe. She strives to help readers lead happier and healthier lives through science-backed stories that explain how to care for hair, skin and nails. When she’s not working, Katie enjoys live music, strolling through Central Park, planning her next beach getaway, and sharing hotpot with friends. 

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