Not Your Basic Beauty Awards

This article was last updated on May 20, 2022

Canada: Oye! Times readers Get FREE $30 to spend on Amazon, Walmart…
USA: Oye! Times readers Get FREE $30 to spend on Amazon, Walmart…

One-hundred and thirty-eight products. Eight inspiring innovators. Some very dedicated beauty editors and a whole lot of swatching, swiping, and smearing. When we decided to launch our very first beauty awards, we knew it was going to be one hell of an undertaking. That's because we're not about paying lip service to brands we don't believe in. Like our approach to beauty, our awards had to be different. We wanted to honor true innovators in the field — the people, brands, and products that are taking beauty to soaring new heights and making our lives and routines infinitely easier, more efficient, more exciting, and generally more awesome each day. Not to mention, they all had to work really freakin' well.

With that in mind, we sifted through thousands of products to narrow down our list of nominees to the 138 you see here. Each and every product, brand, and person below has the R29 stamp of approval. The nominees and categories listed here represent a giant cross-section of the industry, from the drugstore diamonds to super-fance showstoppers, to indie apothecaries and multi-billion dollar mega-brands.

Because no one beauty editor should speak for the entire R29 universe, we knew we were going to need a little help from our friends when it came time to pick the winners. So, we put together a kick-ass judging panel of some of the coolest, most well-respected names in the beauty biz to test out each product and cast their vote. It takes a village, guys.

We'll be introducing you to our judges next week, and announcing the winners on June 15. Until then, check out the full list of categories and nominees below. See if your favorites made the cut, and then take to the comments to tell us which products you think deserve the crown.

Lifetime Achievement Award
Bobbi Brown
Dick Page
Jin Soon Choi

Must-Watch Beauty Vlogger
Zoe Sugg
Tanya Burr
Wayne Goss
Dulce Candy Ruiz

Sustainable-Beauty Pioneer
The Organic Pharmacy
Osmia Organics
Tata Harper
Laurel Whole Plant Organics
Jane Iredale
Beautycounter

Worldwide Wonder
South Korea: Sulwhasoo Perfecting Cushion
France: Talika Bio Enzymes Mask Purifying
Australia: Grown Alchemist Anti-Oxidant Facial Oil
Japan: DHC Deep Cleansing Oil
Germany: Royal Fern Phytoactive Anti-Aging Cream

The Comeback Kid
CK One Color Cosmetics
John Frieda Beach Blonde Sea Waves Sea Salt Spray
Kryolan HD Cream Liner
Herbal Essences

Best In Shade
Alima Pure Satin Matte Foundation
MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation
L'Oréal True Match Super Blendable Makeup
Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra 24H
Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation

Lipstick That Lasts All Night
Butter London Moisture Matte Lipstick
NARS Audacious Lipstick
Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick
Bite Beauty Matte Crème Lip Crayon
Lipstick Queen Velvet Rope

Mascara Most Likely To Give You Lashes Like Whoa
Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara
Lancôme Grandiôse Mascara
Shu Uemura Petal Lash Mascara
Benefit They're Real! Lengthening Mascara
L'Oréal Voluminous Butterfly Mascara

Concealer Holy Grail
Onomie Bright Concealing Elixir
Nyx Cosmetics HD Concealer Wand
It Cosmetics CC Eye Physical SPF 50 Color Correcting Concealer
Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Complete Coverage Concealer
CoverGirl Olay The De-Puffer Eye Concealer

Best Brand For Beauty Newbies
Clinique Chubby Sticks
Smashbox Full Exposure Palette
BareMinerals Get Started Kits
Nudestix
Tarte Amazonian Clay

Eyebrow Savior
Eyeko Brow Liner
Benefit Gimme Brow
CoverGirl Bombshell POW-der
Julep Don't Leave Your Brows At Home

Most Innovative Makeup Launch
Amorepacific CC Color Control Cushion Compact
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder
Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Water
Cover FX Custom Cover Drops
Vera Mona Color Switch Duo

Natural Hair Must-Have
Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie
Oyin Homemade Hair Dew
Carol's Daughter Marula Curl Therapy Diffusing & Styling Lotion
Miss Jessie's Transitioner's Magic
DevaCurl No-Poo

The Hot Tool Of The Future
Conair Infiniti Pro 3Q Brushless Motor Dryer
Paul Mitchell Neuro Cell Hot Rollers
Chi Touch 2 Touch Screen Hair Dryer
GHD Eclipse Professional Styler
Harry Josh Pro Tools Pro Dryer

Go-To Shampoo & Conditioner Pair
Rahua Shampoo & Conditioner
Dove Oxygen Moisture Shampoo & Conditioner
Davines Oi Absolute Beautifying Shampoo & Conditioner
Clear Total Care Shampoo & Conditioner
Verb Hydrating Shampoo & Conditioner

Most Versatile Styling Product
Suave Professionals Natural Infusion Seaweed All Day Body Leave-In Foam
Christophe Robin Hydratant Santal Moisturizing Hair Cream
Reverie Milk Anti-Frizz Leave-In Nourishing Treatment
R Co Outer Space Flexible Hairspray
Bumble and bumble Surf Infusion

Dry Shampoo That Will Withstand The Zombie Apocalypse
Sachajuan Volume Powder
Klorane Dry Shampoo With Oat Milk in Natural Tint
Dove Refresh Care Invigorating Dry Shampoo
Verb Dry Shampoo
Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray

Most Innovative Hair Launch
Rita Hazan Weekly Remedy
Remington T Studio PROtect Straightener
Olaplex
Vidal Sassoon Salonist Hair Color
Julien Farel Magnifique Fortifying Hair Serum
Hairstory Purely Perfect Cleansing Conditioner

Speediest Zit Zapper
Renée Rouleau Anti-Cyst Treatment
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo Dual Action Acne Treatment
Anakiri Restore Propolis Balm
Mario Badescu Silver Powder
Clean & Clear Advantage Mark Treatment

Moisturizer MVP
BareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream
Chanel Hydra Beauty Micro Sérum
Hada Labo Skin Plumping Gel Cream
Belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb
Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte's Magic Cream
Indeed Labs Hydraluron Moisture Jelly

Fanciest Feeling Facial Mist
Tata Harper Hydrating Floral Essence
Beautycounter Rosewater Uplifting Spray
Yüli Panacea Elixir
Yon-Ka Lotion Yon-Ka PS
Whamisa Organic Flowers Olive Leaf Mist

Take-It-All-Off Cleanser
Nude Skincare Perfect Cleanse Omega Cleansing Jelly
Tatcha Pure One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil
Ole Henriksen Pure Truth Melting Cleanser
La Roche-Posay Physiological Micellar Solution

UV-Crushing Sunscreen
Avène Mineral Ultra-Light Hydrating Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50
Jurlique Sun Specialist SPF 40 High Protection Cream PA
Amarte Ultra Veil Ultra Light Sunscreen Fluid
La Roche-Posay Anthelios AOX Daily Antioxidant Serum With Sunscreen
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen SPF 45

Awake-Faking Eye Cream
Supergoop! Advanced Anti-Aging Eye Cream SPF 37
La Mer The Illuminating Eye Gel
Verso Super Eye Serum
Kiehl's Super Multi-Corrective Eye-Opening Serum
Laurel Whole Plant Organics Eye Serum

Does-It-All Face Mask
GlamGlow SuperMud Clearing Treatment
Laneige Water Sleeping Mask
Lush Brazened Honey Fresh Face Mask
Dr. Jart All That Lift & Firm Hydrogel Expansion Stretch Mask
Sisley Paris Black Rose Cream Mask
Arcona Wine Hydrating Mask

Glow-Getting Facial Oil
Drunk Elephant Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil
Rodin Olio Lusso Face Oil
Laura Mercier Flawless Skin Infusion De Rose Nourishing Oil
Weleda Almond Soothing Facial Oil
Mullein & Sparrow Facial Serum

Most Innovative Skin-Care Launch
Dr. Brandt Needles No More Instant Wrinkle Relaxing Cream
James Read Sleep Mask Tan Body
Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil
111 Skin Bio Cellulose Facial Treatment Mask
Jergens BB Body Perfecting Skin Cream
Avène Micellar Lotion Cleanser And Make-Up Remover

Now, Smell This
Les Liquides Imaginaires Les Eaux Arborantes Trilogy
Olivine Atelier Amongst The Waves Perfume Oil
Elizabeth & James Nirvana Black & White
Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille
D.S. & Durga Debaser

Still with us? Told you it was one hell of an undertaking, but one we were so psyched to take on. Check back in on June 9 to meet the judges, and then we'll see you on June 15 when we announce the winners!

Click HERE to read more from Refinery29