2026 Beauty Awards

Founded in 2014 by CEO Evelyn Lee, Dr. Althea is a female-led Korean skincare brand born from a mission to resolve the persistent cycle of skin irritation through intentional, minimalist formulations. After experiencing the limitations of conventional products that offered only temporary relief, Lee established a science-rooted brand dedicated to addressing the underlying causes of skin instability and strengthening long-term skin resilience. By prioritizing a balanced approach over trend-driven, high-concentration actives, the brand ensures each ingredient is delivered at an optimal, skin-compatible level. Under Lee’s leadership, Dr. Althea continues to set a new standard in the beauty space, demonstrating that clinical efficacy and restorative gentleness can coexist.

Nakery Beauty was inspired by founder Liz Folce's passion for listening to the needs of women across the globe. The beauty, skincare, and wellness brand is dedicated to providing innovative, efficacious, multitasking solutions to enhance consumers' routines and address the challenges that come at every stage of life. Formulated with high-performance, good-for-you, and clinically-proven ingredients, Nakery Beauty products deliver real results that help women unlock their beauty and feel confident in their own skin.

Inspired by the treatments and methods of renowned double board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Jason B. Diamond, Dr. Diamond’s Metacine blends luxury and cutting-edge science into a skincare collection that truly delivers. Each product is carefully formulated with bioengineered, human-identical power molecules, then undergoes rigorous clinical testing to ensure the highest level of performance—resulting in a collection that works synergistically to achieve unprecedented results for the skin. The award-winning brand consistently innovates at the forefront of skincare technology, setting it apart as a leader in science-backed beauty.

Saie is a clean beauty brand where high-performance formulas, sustainable packaging and practices, and inspired design are just as important as clean, good-for-you ingredients. Founded by Laney Crowell, the brand was built on the simple idea of feeling good and doing good. Products are formulated by experts, backed by industry secrets, and created in collaboration with its community—when you “Saie” it, they create it. With a mission to make beauty better, Saie delivers award-winning products that are both sustainable and conscious of the planet we share.

VOESH is redefining the shower routine with the launch of its innovative new K-Beauty body care range at Ulta Beauty. The female- and AAPI-owned brand is introducing a sensorial, science-backed approach to body care, with every formula powered by Baechu Biome™ Complex to help support a healthy microbiome and a balanced, resilient skin barrier.

VOESH sets itself apart through a combination of high-performance, transformative actives, luxurious signature scents, and forward-thinking innovation—from a shower filter that purifies while adding aromatherapy to lymphatic-inspired products like the Gua Sha Body Cleansing Bar and Massage Roller Crèmes. By merging cutting-edge K-Beauty technology with thoughtful formulation and sensorial design, VOESH is elevating what body care can be for the everyday consumer.

essence Cosmetics is a cosmetics brand founded by Christina Oster-Daum, a fearless entrepreneurial woman with the intent to create a fun, affordable, and high-quality beauty experience. Essence’s brand ethos is all about celebrating real beauty in all shapes and sizes, empowering consumers to be themselves and have fun while doing so. The brand emerged from Germany and quickly became the number one cosmetics brand in the country, growing to 90 countries globally. essence Cosmetics’ has experienced exponential growth within the United States market with major retail distribution at Ulta Beauty, CVS, Walmart, and Target. Best known for its viral Lash Princess False Effect Mascara, which has become Amazon’s #1 best-selling mascara, with one tube selling once every three seconds over Black Friday/Cyber Monday 2024 weekend

Founded in 2001, Splat is a hair color brand known for innovative, high-quality products that make bold color easy to achieve at home. From the warmest neutrals to the poppiest hot pinks, our range makes a statement and is designed to empower everyone to express themselves. We believe hair color is personal, giving everyone the freedom to show their most colorful, true self.

At Danessa Myricks Beauty, our mission is to connect hearts and minds through beauty while empowering all faces and races to live in color confidently and without boundaries. Founded by self-taught makeup artist Danessa Myricks, the brand challenges traditional definitions of beauty through innovative, multifunctional products designed for every skin tone, age, gender, and level of artistry. Rooted in education and professional artistry, innovation is embedded in our DNA, and each product is intentionally created for versatility and freedom of expression, making advanced techniques accessible to both pro makeup artists and everyday beauty enthusiasts. Built on community, inclusivity, and category-shifting creativity, Danessa Myricks Beauty continues to expand what is possible in modern makeup.

Fridays by Tab & Chance is a his-and-hers fragrance collection born from over two decades of love between Tabitha Brown — Emmy Award-winning host, four-time New York Times bestselling author, and America's Mom to 13 million — and her husband Chance Brown, a retired LAPD officer, father, and the man who has been her partner in every sense of the word. Launched on their wedding anniversary and inspired by their hit podcast Fridays with Tab & Chance, the collection is a love story rendered in scent: her fragrance, "Her Business," opens with bergamot and orange flower before settling into cocoa and vanilla caramel — warm, inviting, and unmistakably her — while his, "His Business," moves through bergamot, suede, and cedarwood into a smooth, confident musk that is entirely him. Worn together, the two create something neither could alone — a third, intoxicating accord the couple simply calls "Their Business," because that's exactly what it is. The bottles themselves are a tribute to memory and culture, modeled after the beloved '90s Black art statues that graced so many family homes, reimagined as modern vessels that are as beautiful on a vanity as they are on the skin. Vegan, cruelty-free, and crafted with the same joy and intentionality that defines everything Tabitha touches, Fridays by Tab & Chance is available at tabandchance.com, on Amazon, and on HSN.

Cliganic is a clean beauty and wellness brand founded in California in 2015 on the belief that natural products should be both accessible and affordable. What began with a focus on pure essential oils has grown into a globally trusted brand available in more than 40 countries and major retail channels. Cliganic is defined by its commitment to transparency, from seed-to-shelf traceability and ethical sourcing to rigorous purity testing and respected certifications, including USDA Organic, GOTS, and EWG Verified. With clean ingredients, animal-friendly formulas, and a continued focus on responsible packaging and sourcing, Cliganic aims to make everyday wellness simpler, more trustworthy, and more attainable

DAMDAM is a next-generation Japanese skincare brand rooted in the intersection of heritage and modern skin science. Founded in 2019 by Giselle Go and Philippe Terrien in Tokyo, the brand draws inspiration from time-honored rituals while embracing advanced skincare innovation. Each product is made in Japan in collaboration with local farmers, scientists, and artisans, reflecting a deep commitment to quality, precision, and efficacy. The formulas pair traditional ingredients like rice, matcha, and fermented botanicals with bio-sourced ceramides and next-generation actives. The result is a thoughtful, results-driven approach to skincare grounded in simplicity and balance.

Nuvane makes clinical-grade longevity treatments personalized and accessible to everyone. The first AI-powered personalized skin longevity system, created by MDalgorithms Inc., Nuvane bridges the gap between in-office dermatology and at-home skincare. Using selfie-based skin analysis and an in-depth questionnaire, Nuvane builds individualized treatment kits with dermatologist-formulated combinations and concentrations of proven functional actives — including pure retinol, bakuchiol, stable vitamin C, and marine algae — combined with its patent-pending SenoP3™ tri-peptide biomimetic complex, which targets cellular aging at its source. The AI-driven customization personalizes the complete regimen — topicals and oral supplements — into one cohesive kit, clinically validated in an independent 12-week IRB-approved study and paired with unlimited 24/7 dermatologist chat support.