The Nykaa Best in Beauty Awards 2026 has evolved beyond an annual awards programme into one of India’s largest consumer-led beauty awards, offering a benchmark for what Indian consumers are buying, loving and trusting. The final winners were determined through a combination of consumer participation and evaluation by an esteemed jury, bringing consumer conviction and industry expertise together.
The winners reflect an increasingly informed, ingredient-conscious and globally connected Indian beauty consumer. Performance-backed efficacy is influencing purchase decisions, prestige beauty continues to gain ground, and homegrown innovators are earning recognition alongside global brands. Categories including Best Homegrown Beauty Brand, Cult Classic, Iconic New Launch of the Year, New & Now and Brand Campaign of the Year recognised products, brands, innovations and cultural moments that resonated with Indian beauty consumers.
The jury featured Anchit Nayar, Executive Director & CEO, Nykaa Beauty; Nykaa’s brand icon Sharvari; make-up & hair artist Elton Fernandez; make-up artist, educator and founder of Mokae Beauty Sandhya Shekhar; hair expert Hiral Bhatia; dermatologist Dr. Aanchal Panth (MBBS, MD); founder of NAKED Coffee and luxury content creator Radhika Seth; creator Ankush Bahuguna; beauty creator Tarini Peshawaria; and Nandini Bhalla, Editor at The Word Magazine.
Commenting on the awards, Anchit Nayar, Executive Director & CEO, Nykaa Beauty, said, “The Nykaa Best in Beauty Awards have evolved into more than an annual celebration of product excellence. It reflects the changing aspirations of India’s beauty consumers and the innovations redefining the industry. This year’s winners show that consumers are rewarding efficacy, authenticity and innovation in equal measure, while homegrown and global brands continue to raise the bar together. We’re proud that NBIB has become a platform where millions of consumers and industry experts collectively define the benchmark for beauty excellence in India.”
The winners also highlight several trends shaping the next wave of Indian beauty. Maybelline’s Instant Age Rewind Concealer and Sky High Mascara, CeraVe Moisturizing Cream and Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser reflect the emphasis on products that consistently deliver results. K-Beauty brands Beauty of Joseon, LANEIGE, COSRX, TIRTIR and Dr. Althea emerged as standout winners across multiple categories, reinforcing the growing influence of Korean beauty across skincare and makeup.
Barrier-care favourites from CeraVe, La Roche-Posay, TONYMOLY and Dot & Key reflect the increasing focus on ingredient-led, skin-first beauty. Homegrown brands including Kay Beauty, Maison Moi, Foxtale, WishCare and indē wild also won alongside global beauty icons.
The awards further highlighted the growing demand for hybrid beauty products. L’Oréal Paris Infallible Tinted Serum Foundation, Smashbox Halo Healthy Glow Tinted Moisturizer, NYX and e.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter reflect the demand for makeup products that work like skincare.
Luxury beauty also featured prominently, with brands and products from Charlotte Tilbury, NARS, Yves Saint Laurent, Estée Lauder, CHANEL, Paco Rabanne, Carolina Herrera, Dyson and Jo Malone London among the recognised names.
The complete list of Nykaa Best in Beauty Awards 2026 winners spans makeup, skincare, haircare, fragrances, bodycare, Nykaa Man, wellness, gifting and special awards.
In makeup, the Blush award went to Nykaa Cosmetics Whipped Blush Pot, while Pixi By Petra On The Glow Blush Ruby won Blush (Luxury). Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer won Concealer, and Lakmē 9 to 5 Eyeconic Liquid Eyeliner - Intense Black won Eyeliner.
Kay Beauty Eyeshadow Palette won Eyeshadow, while L’Oréal Paris Infallible Tinted Serum Foundation won Foundation. NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation and Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Foundation were the winners in Foundation (Luxury).
e.l.f. Cosmetics Halo Glow Liquid Filter won Highlighter, while Renee Cosmetics Midnight Kohl Kajal won Kajal. Yves Saint Laurent Loveshine Candy Glaze won Lip Gloss, and Benefit Cosmetics Lip & Cheek Tint and ETUDE Dear Darling Water Gel Lip and Cheek Tint Lipstick won Lip Tint.
Kay Beauty Hydra Creme Lipstick won Lipstick. M.A.C MACximal Mini Matte Lipstick and Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution - Pillow Talk Medium won Lipstick & Liquid Lipstick (Luxury). Maybelline New York Super Stay Vinyl Ink Liquid Lipstick won Liquid Lipstick.
Maybelline New York Sky High Mascara won Mascara, Nykaa Cosmetics Creme Nail Enamel won Nail Polish, and e.l.f. Cosmetics Power Grip Primer won Primer. Kay Beauty Setting Loose Powder won Compact & Loose Powder, while Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish - Medium won Compact & Loose Powder (Luxury).
L’Oréal Paris Infallible Setting Spray won Setting Spray. Smashbox Halo Healthy Glow All-In-One Tinted Moisturizer won Skin Tint & Tinted Moisturizer. TIRTIR Mask Fit Red Mini Cushion Foundation and NYX Professional Makeup Lip I.V. Gloss Stain won Makeup (Trending).
In skincare, Estée Lauder Revitalizing Supreme+ Youth Power Creme Moisturizer won Ageless Beauty. Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum won Eye Cream, while Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser won Face Wash & Cleanser.
LANEIGE Lip Glowy Balm - Berry won Lip Balm & Mask, and Bioderma Micellar Water Sensibio H2O won Makeup Remover. Foxtale De-Tan Skin Radiance Mask won Face Mask.
Clinique Moisture Surge 100h Moisturizer won Moisturizer (Luxury). CeraVe Moisturizer Cream For Dry Skin and Neutrogena Hydro Boost Light Face Moisturizer won Moisturizer.
LANEIGE Bouncy And Firm Sleeping Mask won Night Cream & Sleeping Mask. Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum and Eucerin Anti-Pigment Dual Serum won Serum (Luxury).
COSRX Advanced Snail Mucin 96 Power Essence won Serum. Beauty of Joseon Relief Sunscreen Rice + Probiotics and Dot & Key Vitamin C + E Super Bright Sunscreen won Sunscreen.
The Ordinary Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Toner and TONYMOLY Wonder Ceramide Mochi Toner won Toner. Celimax The Vita-A Retinal Shot Tightening Booster and Dr.Althea 345 Relief Cream won Korean Beauty (Trending).
CeraVe Blemish Control Cleanser and La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume won Skin (Trending).
In haircare, Kérastase Discipline Fluidealiste Shampoo won Shampoo. WishCare Hair Growth Serum Concentrate won Hair Serum, while Dove Peptide Bond Strength Hair Treatment Mask won Hair Mask.
L’Oréal Paris Glycolic Gloss Conditioner won Conditioner. indē wild Champi Hair Oil won Hair Oil, and Streax Professional Argan Secrets Hair Colour & Developer won Hair Colour.
Moxie Beauty On The Fly Hair Finishing Stick won Hair Styling. L’Oréal Professionnel Hair Growth Serum won Hair (Trending), while Dyson Airwrap I.D. Multi Styler & Dryer won Appliance.
In fragrances, Carolina Herrera Good Girl Eau De Parfum won Women’s Fragrance (Luxury), while Yves Saint Laurent MYSLF Eau De Parfum won Men’s Fragrance (Luxury). Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa 62 Perfume Mist won Body Mist, and Victoria’s Secret Bombshell Eau De Parfum won Popular Fragrance.
In bodycare, Chemist At Play Exfoliating Body Wash won Shower Gel & Body Wash. Plum BodyLovin Vanilla Caramello Lotion won Body Lotion, while Dove Exfoliating Body Polish - Pomegranate Seeds And Shea Butter won Body Scrub & Exfoliant.
Be Bodywise 4% AHA BHA Underarm Roll won Deodorant & Roll-On, and Gillette Venus won Body Grooming.
In Nykaa Man, Minimalist 10% Niacinamide Face Serum and Paco Rabanne 1 Million Elixir Parfum Intense won Favourite Men’s Brand.
In wellness, OZiva Phyto Ceramides+ Collagen won Beauty Booster, while Wellbeing Nutrition Slow Multivitamin + Omega 3 won Daily Nutrition.
In gifting, Jo Malone London Peony & Blush Suede won Most Loved Gifting Brand (Luxury), while Nykaa Wanderlust French Lavender Getaway Gift Set won Most Loved Gifting Brand.
The Special Awards recognised CHANEL as Iconic New Launch of the Year (Brand), while Nykaa Cosmetics Matte to Last Lipstick won Iconic New Launch of the Year (Product). M.A.C Studio Fix Fluid Foundation won Cult Classic.
NYX Professional Makeup won New and Now (Brand), while Nexxus Promend Oil Resurrection Hair Serum won New and Now (Product). LoveChild Masaba Skip Everything Blurring Serum Skin Tint SPF 20 won Multi-use makeup product.
Maison Moi won Best Homegrown Beauty (Brand), while L’Oréal Paris - Cannes Film Festival won Brand Campaign of the Year.
With a community of over 60 million consumers, a curated assortment spanning 4,000+ brands and 3 lakh+ products, Nykaa continues to shape how India discovers, experiences and shops beauty. The Nykaa Best in Beauty Awards have become an annual barometer of India’s beauty evolution, reflecting the products loved by consumers as well as the ideas and innovations shaping the future of beauty.
The complete list of winning products is available on nykaa.com, with all award-winning products available for purchase on Nykaa.com, allowing consumers to explore the products recognised through the awards.
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