Universal Beauty Awards 2026 - Entries Open Until 20 December

The entry period for the Universal Beauty Awards 2026 is now open, closing on 20 December 2025. As one of the major independent beauty awards of the year, the competition brings together a wide mix of brands, formulations, and product innovations from across the global beauty industry. With winners announced on 1 February 2026, the awards offer a timely and credible platform for brands preparing their new season marketing activity.

The 2025 Universal Beauty Awards demonstrated the breadth of innovation currently taking place in the sector. Across hundreds of entries, the cleansing categories alone illustrated how diverse the modern beauty landscape has become. Gold winners included the Simon Ourian M.D. Salicylic Acid Clarifying Cleanser, while Emily Luise Skin impressed with its Gentle Glow Powder Cleanser. Tropic Skincare performed strongly with its Hydrating Cleanser, and the Neo Cleansing Bar by Neo Naturalle highlighted the continued rise of solid-format skincare. In the gel cleanser categories, Ladanifere’s Blue Marine Cleansing Gel appeared alongside entries such as the Papaya Enzyme Cleanser from Botanica Nordica and Green Feed Cleansing Gel from The Skinfeed Cosmetic.

Cleansing balms remained a popular format with strong winners including Ella & Jo’s Melt The Day Away Cleansing Balm, Bare: Skin Wellness with its Melt Cleansing Balm, and Sorted Skin’s Calm & Nourish Liquid Cleansing Balm. FOREO also featured with its LUNA Ultra-Nourishing Cleansing Balm. In makeup removal and foaming cleansers, the winners list spanned a variety of approaches, from KAESO Eye Believe Eye Make-Up Remover and Hive of Beauty’s 1 Step Cleansing Gel, to Rituals The Ritual of Namaste Velvety Smooth Cleansing Foam and DY•5 Foaming Facial Cleanser. Other standouts included the INIKA Organic Phytofuse Renew Cream Cleanser and Marina Miracle’s Sweet & Creamy Oil Cleanser.

This range of winners reflects exactly what the Universal Beauty Awards aim to recognise: effective formulations, thoughtful product development, and strong execution at every level, whether from emerging indie brands or long-established names.

Judging for the Universal Beauty Awards is carried out by an independent UK panel using a consistent scoring framework. Fifty percent of the score comes from hands-on product testing, with judges assessing texture, performance, and overall efficacy. The remaining fifty percent is based on innovation, formulation quality, ingredients, packaging, design, consumer appeal, and value. No element of the judging process is influenced by sponsorship or paid partnerships, allowing each entry to be evaluated on merit alone.

For brands, entering the Universal Beauty Awards 2026 offers several advantages. The competition serves as a reliable benchmark of quality, recognised internationally across the beauty sector. Award results are widely used by retailers, distributors, PR agencies, and consumers looking for trusted product recommendations. Winning or being shortlisted can add weight to a product launch, help reinforce brand positioning, and support conversations with new markets.

The timing of the awards is also beneficial. With results released on 1 February 2026, brands can integrate award recognition into spring and early-year campaigns. This is particularly valuable for products launched during the first quarter or for brands seeking to strengthen visibility during key retail booking periods. Many PR teams also use award announcements to boost media outreach, press releases, and social activity.

The Universal Beauty Awards attract a broad mix of entries across skincare, haircare, cosmetics, bodycare, beauty tools, and devices. Brands are welcome to enter multiple categories where relevant, especially when launching a collection or wishing to highlight different aspects of their range.

Entries for the 2026 competition close on 20 December. Full details, category information, and submission guidance are available at www.universalbeautyawards.com. The awards continue to provide a respected platform for brands wishing to showcase product quality and innovation, and the 2026 edition is expected to be one of the strongest yet.