Next in Beauty Awards 2023: The Best in Class Winners

Welcome to Who What Wear UK’s inaugural Next in Beauty Awards 2023. Here, we are crowning and celebrating the very best in beauty. From the game-changing newcomers that are industry innovators, to the tried-and-tested classics that remain a worthy mainstay in our skincare cabinets and makeup bags alike. To help us find the very best in beauty, we called upon our esteemed panel of industry experts, hard-to-please editors and in-the-know influencers, who put each and every single product to the test. We enlisted our judges to document and share their testing for every product they tried, so you can see all the winners in action—as well as those very important before-and-after results.

After much testing, swatching and reviewing, we’ve hand-picked the very best products across our skin, hair, makeup, body and nail categories. Theses are the creme de la creme standouts from each category that have been awarded our prestigious ‘Best in Class’ status. Ahead, you’ll find the top five beauty products that are pioneering efficacy, innovation and real results. Join us in applauding our Best in Class Winners 2023.

One of the most innovative products amongst our prestigous Best in Class winners is Skin + Me’s Daily Doser. The brand’s bespoke service allows customers to receive a prescription serum that has been individually tailor-made for their skin concerns on the advice of the brand’s online dermatology team. The process is fuss-free and simple; all you have to do is upload a some of photos of your skin and your personalised serum will be sent in the post. Our judges applaud Skin + Me for democratising access to prescription formulas (without the steep cost of a private dermatology appointment) while making skincare simple and effective. Our judges saw real results, making Skin + Me a very deserving winner of our Best in Class Skincare award.

“My Daily Doser was tailored to my needs and quickly got to work at reducing spots. My skin has been clearer and looking healthier since I started using it,” notes Who What Wear UK news writer Natalie Munro. “It’s so easy to use and I’ve noticed a difference in my skin after a month of using it, confirms Ciara Richards, Next in Beauty’s marketing manager.

A round of applause for our Supercharged Skincare category winners:

Best Cleanser: Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Meltaway Cleansing Balm

Best Exfoliator: Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant

Best Eye Treatment: Bioeffect EGF Eye Serum

Best Face Mask: Gold Collagen Hydrogel Mask

Best Facial SPF: Beauty Pie Super Healthy Skin Featherlight UVA/UVB SPF 50 Sunscreen + Primer

Best Facial Tan: Tan-Luxe Super Glow

Best Hyperpigmentation Treatment: Dermatica Clarifying Azelaic Acid 20% Cream

Best Lash Serum: UKLASH Eyelash Serum

Best Lip Treatment: Ultra Violette Sheen Screen SPF 50 Hydrating Lip Balm

Best Luxury Moisturiser: Argentum Apothecary La Potion Infinie

Best Makeup Remover: Tatcha The Camellia Cleansing Oil

Best Moisturiser: Cultured Biomecare Biome One Rich Cream

Best Night Product: Estée Lauder’s Advanced Night Repair Serum Synchronized Multi-Recovery Complex

Best Retinol: Medik8 Crystal Retinal

Best Serum: Skin+Me Daily Doser

Best Skin Tech Tool: The Light Salon Boost LED Face Mask

Highly Commended Cleanser: CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser

Highly Commended Exfoliator: Kate Somerville Exfolikate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment

Highly Commended Eye Treatment: The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Eye Serum

Highly Commended Facial SPF: L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Clinical Vitamin C UV Fluid SPF 50+ Moisturiser

Highly Commended Serum: Bioderma Sensibio Defensive Serum

Highly Commended Skin Tech Tool: Zutta LED Mask

See all of the Next in Beauty Awards 2023 Supercharged Skincare Winners here.

We’re all for celebrating natural hair texture in all its crowning glory. Curl products have long been overlooked in the industry, but thankfully, there are now many more options than ever to cater to all hair types. However, it was Holy Curls 06 Oil Serum that stood head and shoulders above the competition. Our judges loved this weightless oil-serum that can be used on wet hair prior to styling, or as a moisture-quenching refresher to add lustre and definition to lengths. Its a real mutlitaskers, too. It can also be used as a scalp oil, primer and hydrator to lock in moisture—whenever your hair calls for it.

“This has a beautiful balance between oil and serum,” says beauty content creator Lesley Buckle. “It’s not too heavy or greasy and gives my hair a nice amount of shine without looking like it’s loaded with product. I love that there are no silicones, as these can build up on my hair easily. Instead, it uses a natural alternative called hemisqualane to help with frizz.”

A round of applause for our Good Hair Day category winners:

Best Shampoo: Monday Haircare Smooth Shampoo

Best Conditioner: Fable & Mane MahaMane Leave-In Conditioner

Best Hair Dryer: Zuvi Halo Hair Dryer

Best Curl Product: Holy Curls 6 Oil Serum

Best Hair Serum: Alfaparf Milano Professional Semi di Lino Cristalli Liquidi

Best Hair Oil: Monpure Ultralight Healthy Hair Oil

Best Hair Treatment: Olaplex No.3 Hair Perfector

Best Hairstyling Product: Hair by Sam McKnight Sundaze Sea Spray

Best Hair Tool: The Beachwaver The Beachwaver Rotating Hair Iron

Best Scalp Product: Ouai Scalp Serum

Highly Commended Hair Serum: Kérastase Nutritive Nutri-Supplement Split Ends Serum

Highly Commended Shampoo: Function of Beauty Wavy Hair Shampoo

See the all of the Next in Beauty Awards 2023 Good Hair Day Winners here.

Rose Inc’s Soft Light Luminous Hydrating Concealer was a standout amongst our makeup winners, with its expansive shade range that caters to all skin tones, and the creamy, high coverage finish, that effortlessly blur imperfections while leaving skin looking naturally radiant. We love the addition of squalene, hyaluronic acid and vitamin E that enrich the skin as your wear it. Our panel also loved that Rose Inc lists its darkest shades first on its website; and the shade ranges is equally weighted across skin tones—something rarely seen across the beauty industry. A very deserving winner of our Best in Class for makeup.

“This is my go-to concealer. I love the creamy texture, which gives the perfect amount of coverage without being cakey,” says Who What Wear UK managing editor, Poppy Nash. “It doesn’t crease and normally lasts me all day, so I don’t need to top up under the eyes or around my nose.The brand claims all products are ethically and sustainably made too, which is a huge plus!”

A round of applause for our Makeup-Bag Marvels category winners:

Best Lip Product: ByTerry Hyaluronic Lip Liner

Best Makeup/Skincare Hybrid: Rose Inc Skin Enhance Luminous Tinted Serum

Best Inclusive Shade Range: Rose Inc Soft Light Luminous Hydrating Concealer

Best Bronzer: Pixi On-The-Glow Bronzer

Best Makeup Tool: Beautifect Box

Best Multi-Use Product: Merit Flush Balm

Best Mascara: Makeup Revolution 5D Lash Pow Mascara

Best Finishing Product: Morphe Continuous Prep & Set Mist+

Best Blusher: Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush

Best Base Products: Givenchy Beauty Prisme Libre Skin-Caring Matte Foundation

Best False Lashes: Kiss Falscara Starter Kit

Best Eyeshadow: Nudestix Magnetic Luminous Eye Color

Best Concealer: Kosas Revealer Concealer

Best Brow Product: Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Freeze

See the all of the Next in Beauty Awards 2023 Makeup-Bag Marvels Winners here.

Boasting both style and substance, Chanel’s L’Huile Camélia Hydrating & Fortifying Nail Oil is the prestigious winner of our Best in Class Next-Level Nails—and there isn’t a chicer product that we could possibly house in our handbag. It’s so much more than just a pretty tube, however. The camelia-oil-enriched gel smooths over dry nails and cuticles, making a noticeable difference to nail health when used over time. The clever bevelled applicator also serves to push back cuticles, leaving fingertips looking salon-fresh wherever you are. It’s now a staple in every Who What Wear UK editor’s bag. Bravo, Chanel.

“Chanel’s L’Huile Camélia Hydrating & Fortifying Nail Oil is a game-changer,” says Who What Wear UK branded content editor Rebecca Rhys-Evans. “It’s a luxurious treat for my nails, keeping them hydrated and strong. A must-have for healthy, beautiful nails.”

A round of applause for our Next-Level Nails category winners:

Best Cuticle Treatment: Chanel L’Huile Camélia Hydrating & Fortifying Nail Oil

Best Nail Polish: Kure Bazaar Nail Polish

Best Base Coat: Leighton Denny Renovate Treatment Shield & Base Coat

Best Nail Health Product: OPI Repair Mode Bond Building Serum

See the all of the Next in Beauty Awards 2023 Next-Level Nails Winners here.

Last, but certainly not least, is The Light Salon’s Boost LED Body Patch as our Best in Class winner in Body Breakthroughs. Bringing the benefits of LED to the body, this product is an incredibly versatile device to treat a whole number of concerns, from boosting collagen and reducing hair loss, to treating skin conditions and wound healing. With its clinically-proven wavelengths, you’ll see visible results when using this consistently—and each treatment takes 10 minutes, making it easy to bring the benefits of a salon treatment to the comfort of your home.

Who What Wear UK Copy editor Georgia Seagofound the tool particularly helpful in the management of her psoriasis. “I’ve been treating my arms and legs to 10-minute LED sessions around three times per a week as part of my psoriasis-management plan, and whilst it takes a while to see results from LED (and you have to be consistent), I really think it’s helping the healing process,” she says. “If you want to try LED to help heal skin conditions, joint pain or wounds on the body, this ‘patch’ is such a good idea. It’s made from soft but sturdy flexible silicone, and the elasticated velcro strap means you can use it anywhere you can secure it.”

Freelance beauty editor and esthetician Grace Day also loved her results from the device. “This is a really versatile LED device—due to its size and shape, it’s easy to use anywhere on the body and so can be employed to target a range of concerns, from skincare issues to sports injuries and even period pain,” she says. “Light therapy has been a lifesaver for my acne-prone skin and is one of my favourite treatments to add into client facials. This is a great way to reap the benefits from the comfort of your own home.”