22 skincare winners that claim their place in the GLAMOUR Beauty Power List Awards 2023
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It will probably come as no surprise to you to learn that skincare is the fastest growing sector in the beauty industry. Last year, the UK skincare market was valued at £2.41 billion (up 8.4% from 2021).
Showing no signs of waning, dozens of shiny new moisturisers, serums, eye creams, face masks and toners hit the market every month, luring us in with their skin-boosting claims. But how do we filter out the best from the rest and find the products that yield real results?
Enter: the skincare winners in the GLAMOUR Beauty Power List Awards 2023. Shortlisted by our expert panel, every nominee came highly recommended by renowned experts in the field, including Dr Ifeoma Ejikeme, founder and medical director of the Adonia Medical Clinic; Debbie Thomas, laser and skin expert and leading consultant dermatologist Dr Anjali Mahto. The final winners were then decided by you.
From the best acne treatment to the ultimate glow-giver, the winning line-up includes brand new entries from need-to-know brands as well as cult classics that have stood the test of time.
Scroll down to discover the crème de la crème of the skincare sphere (spoiler alert: you’ll want them all).
Best moisturiser
Vichy’s iconic Minéral 89 Serum now comes in cream format, and we couldn’t be happier. The cocooning day and/or night cream combines volcanic water with hyaluronic acid, squalane, vitamin B3 and E to restore radiance, lock in moisture and strengthen the skin’s barrier for a healthier-looking complexion in a matter of weeks.
Shortlist:
Olay Hyaluronic 24 + Vitamin B5 Day Gel, £38
Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream, £67
Augustinus Bader The Cream, £225
Best night cream
15 years in the making, No7’s Future Renew Night Cream is refreshingly lightweight considering it is loaded with hyaluronic acid, vitamin C and niacinamide. But the stars of the show are the peptides in the formula, which boost your skin’s self-repair mechanisms and send messages to your cells to produce more collagen. It gives a whole new meaning to the term ‘beauty sleep’.
Shortlist:
Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Omega-Rich Cloud Cream, £46
Medik8 Advanced Night Restore, £59
Best clarifying face mask
Banish breakouts and soothe inflammation with The Ordinary’s first-ever face mask. A skin saviour, the winning formula uses salicylic acid to slough away pore-clogging debris, along with charcoal and Amazonian clays to ensure a deep and thorough cleanse. In just 10 minutes, skin looks clearer and feels smoother.
Shortlist:
Caudalie Vinopure Purifying Mask, £26
SkinCeuticals Clarifying Clay Masque, £72
Best brightening face mask
We’re not exaggerating when we say that beauty editors are obsessed with this stuff. Combining glycolic, tartaric, citric, lactic and salicylic acids, Drunk Elephant’s once-weekly resurfacing treatment reveals a more radiant complexion that feels baby-soft to the touch.
Shortlist:
L’Oréal Pure Clay Glow Mask, £7.99
Tatcha Violet-C Radiance Mask, £70
S’Able Labs Qasil Exfoliating Mask, £38
Best hydrating face mask
This must-try sheet mask from Garnier comes in several different iterations – one is infused with sakura (cherry blossom) extract, others with chamomile, pomegranate or even deep sea water. But they are all infused with an entire bottle of serum and a hefty dose of hyaluronic acid to noticeably plump and brighten skin after just 15 minutes. Made from ultra-thin tissue, the mask fits the face comfortably without slipping or sliding off and, better still, it is biodegradable by home compost.
Shortlist:
Dr Jart+ Cryo Rubber With Moisturizing Hyaluronic Acid, £12
111Skin Y Theorem Bio Cellulose Facial Mask, £22
Best eye treatment
Like a shot of espresso for your under-eye area, this purse-friendly winner from The Inkey List is powered by caffeine (an antioxidant and diuretic) to brighten dark circles, reduce puffiness and help prevent skin damage caused by free radicals. At under a tenner, it’s a no-brainer.
Shortlist:
Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment With Avocado, £30
Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Serum, £86
Roc Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Eye Cream, £24.99
Best cream/balm cleanser
Double cleansing isn’t necessary with this luxurious balm from Elemis. Upon contact with water, it emulsifies to a hydrating milk, removing makeup and daily grime without stripping the skin. In fact, its blend of rose extracts and plant oils strengthens the skin’s barrier, boosting hydration before you’ve even reached for your serum and moisturiser.
Shortlist:
Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm, £32
Elf Holy Hydration! Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm, £10
Kate Somerville Goat Milk Moisturizing Cleanser, £38
Best micellar water
While we adore Garnier’s sheet masks, it’s the brand’s micellar water that everyone’s talking about. Affordable yet effective, the fragrance-free makeup remover swiftly takes off the day without upsetting the skin. Suitable for even the most sensitive complexions, this cult buy has been recognised by the British Skin Foundation and Allergy UK.
Shortlist:
Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micellar Water Makeup Remover, £16
CeraVe Micellar Cleansing Water, £12.50
Simple Kind To Skin Micellar Cleansing Water, £5.90
Best foaming cleanser
Some foaming formulas can leave skin feeling bone dry and tight. But this cleanser from CeraVe is different. Free from soap and fragrance, and packed with moisture-locking ceramides, its gel-like texture lightly lathers up on contact with water to wash away impurities without disrupting the skin barrier.
Shortlist:
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel, £13
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Cleanser, £7.99
Youth To The People Superfood Cleanser, £15
Best skincare bar
Why not swap out your liquid cleanser that comes in a plastic bottle for this eco-friendly alternative? CeraVe’s solid cleanser removes daily grime, oil and makeup while moisturising skin with its dermatologist-approved formula. The best part? It can be used to give your body and hands a hydrating hit of hyaluronic acid and ceramides, too.
Shortlist:
Carbon Theory Charcoal & Tea Tree Breakout Control Facial Cleansing Bar, £6.19
SBTRCT Vitamin C Booster Starter Kit, £38
Best facial exfoliator
Don’t be put off by the deep-red hue. This peeling solution from The Ordinary delivers impressive results with its mix of powerful AHAs and BHAs that, together, boost radiance and even skin tone for a brighter, smoother complexion. And thanks to vitamin B5 and hyaluronic acid, the peel doesn’t dry or irritate skin.
Shortlist:
Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant, £34
Dermalogica Daily Milkfoliant, £65
Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment, £78
Best SPF for face
SPF needn’t be a chore to apply. The best formulas, like La Roche-Posay’s Anthelios UVMune 400 Invisible Sunscreen, sink in immediately, without leaving a greasy residue behind. As well as shielding skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays, La Roche-Posay has also gone one step further and developed a new filter – named Mexoryl 400 – to effectively protect against long UV rays, which penetrate deeper and unleash more damage. Free from fragrance and hypoallergenic, the formula is also suitable for sensitive skins.
Shortlist:
Supergoop! Glowscreen SPF40, £36
Ultra Violette Supreme Screen SPF50+ Hydrating Facial Skinscreen, £34
Vichy Capital Soleil Mattifying 3-In-1 SPF50+, £18.95
Best acne treatment
La Roche-Posay steals the top spot again – but this time, for its Effaclar Duo (+) Corrective Unclogging Care. Hailed as the ultimate blemish-buster, this gel-cream minimises the appearance of breakouts, helps prevent acne scarring and takes down shine with a mattifying formula that is laced with salicylic acid to decongest pores and zinc PCA to keep sebum under control.
Shortlist:
Nip + Fab Retinol Fix Blemish Treatment, £19.95
Murad Deep Relief Blemish Treatment, £42
ZitSticka Killa Deep Access Patch, £15
Best pigmentation treatment
If pigmentation is your beauty bugbear, turn to this winning formula from The Ordinary. Pairing niacinamide with zinc, it helps to fade dark spots caused by age, the sun or breakouts, and repairs damaged skin for a more even skin tone and new-found glow.
Shortlist:
Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum, £50
SkinCeuticals Discoloration Defense Serum, £100
Allies Of Skin Mandelic Pigmentation Corrector Night Serum, £98
Best hydrating serum
Inspired by Korean makeup artists, this serum-meets-highlighter serves up glazed skin with a do-good formula that is brimming with hydrating niacinamide. Use it as the final step in your skincare routine, or apply a few drops on top of makeup for a sheer, wet-look glow.
Shortlist:
CeraVe Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum, £21
Vichy Minéral 89 Hyaluronic Acid Daily Booster, £27.50
Elizabeth Arden Hyaluronic Acid Ceramide Capsules Hydra-Plumping Serum, £49
Best brightening serum
This brilliant serum is powered by THD ascorbate – a powerful, non-irritating and stable form of vitamin C that is adored by skin experts for its brightening benefits. With continued use, this daily essential minimises the appearance of hyperpigmentation and protects against environmental stressors – all while boosting the radiance of even the most sallow skin.
Shortlist:
L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Clinical Pure 12% Vitamin C Face Serum, £29.99
Clinique Fresh Pressed Daily Booster With Pure Vitamin C 10%, £63
Lancôme Rénergie HCF Triple Serum, £99
Best retinol
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A great entry-level retinol, this serum from The Inkey List uses 1% stabilised retinol and 0.5% granactive retinoid to soften fine lines, boost glow and even skin tone – all for just £12.99. Gentle yet effective, it also contains squalane to ensure skin stays hydrated and doesn’t become irritated.
Shortlist:
Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Cream, £38
Medik8 Crystal Retinal Night Serum, £49
Skin Rocks by Caroline Hirons Retinoid 1, £65
Best facial oil
Loaded with omega-rich superfoods (think broccoli, flaxseed and daikon radish), this vegan oil from Elemis is essentially a green juice for the skin. Lightweight and non-greasy, it can be used both morning and night to deliver good glow and a smoother complexion.
Shortlist:
Byoma Hydrating Recovery Oil, £13.99
Biossance 100% Squalane Oil, £26
Pai Skincare Rosehip Bioregenerate Universal Facial Oil, £29
Best lash serum
Get stronger, longer lashes and fuller brows with The Ordinary’s innovative Multi-Peptide Lash And Brow Serum, which contains 11 key active ingredients (including peptides and zinc chloride) to boost hair density. After one month, expect to see a noticeable difference.
Shortlist:
RevitaLash Advanced Eyelash Conditioner, £129
Rapidlash Eyelash Enhancing Serum, £40
Best fake tan for face
Applying fake tan can be a messy business, but these self-tanning drops, laced with brightening vitamin C, make it so simple. Just mix a few drops into your existing skincare to create a bespoke tan that looks believable. Two will give you a subtle glow, while five will deliver a deep tan.
Shortlist:
Bondi Sands Gradual Tan Face Lotion, £9.99
St Tropez Self Tan Purity Bronzing Water Face Mist, £24
St Tropez Self Tan Luxe Tan Tonic Drops, £30
Best toner/mist/essence
A summer skin saviour, Avène’s Thermal Spring Water Spray instantly cools and refreshes skin with its ultra-lightweight mist that can be sprayed over or under makeup. Available in a travel size, it’s a great holiday hero that can soothe sunburn, ease redness and refresh skin throughout the day.
Shortlist:
S’Able Labs Black Seed Toner, £35
Best lip care
Before you hit the hay, apply a generous layer of Lip Sleeping Mask from Laneige. Powered by the brand’s ‘Berry Fruit Complex’ (alongside vitamin C and coconut oil), the nourishing balm hydrates lips overnight so that, come morning, they feel soft, supple and moisturised. Dry lips? We don’t know her.
Shortlist:
Nivea Sun Protect Caring Lip Balm, £4.39
Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Protectant Lipstick Balm SPF15, £22
Rhode Peptide Lip Treatment, £16
Photographer: Mateusz Sitek
Stylist: Michelle Duguid
Makeup: Marco Antonio
Hair: Craig Marsden
Manicure: Metta Francis
Models: Fallon Havanna @ Select London, Carmen Garitano @ PRM, Isabella Moore @ Milk Management
Beauty Director: Camilla Kay
Design Director: Dennis Lye
Visuals Director: Dalia Nassimi
