The Year in Skincare: 102 Products, Tools, and Professional Treatments Deemed Award-Worthy by Team Cosmo
These are the standouts our editors kept reaching for long after the testing period ended.
Edited By Lauren Balsamo , Photographed by ANAIRAM
Published: May 11, 2026
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The skincare industry launches thousands of new products every year, and here at Cosmo we’ve made it our mission to review as many as humanly possible. Over the past 12 months, I, along with 13 other beauty-obsessed editors, tested nearly 500 different skincare products, tools, and in-office cosmetic treatments to create this list of 102 standouts.
These aren’t the overhyped products flooding your feed; they’re the ones that genuinely deliver results (while being delightful to use) time and time again. The bottom line: If it’s got our Holy Grail Beauty Awards stamp of approval, you can trust it’s worth adding to your own routine.
Jump to:
- The Best Makeup Removers and Cleansers
- The Best Toners and Face Mists
- The Best Face Exfoliators
- The Best Face Serums and Targeted Treatments
- The Best Eye Products
- The Best Face Masks
- The Best Face Moisturizers
- The Best Face Sunscreens
- The Best Lip and Teeth Products
- The Best Skincare Tools
- The Best Professional Skincare Treatments
The Best Makeup Removers and Cleansers
Best Cleansing Balm
Murad Lipid-Enriched Double Cleansing Balm
$35 at Nordstrom
"I’m a fan of how this melts everything away— SPF, mascara, my stressful day—without stripping my skin. It leaves my face soft, hydrated, and glowing. Just as the universe intended."
— JULEE WILSON, BEAUTY EDITOR-AT-LARGE
Best Oil Cleanser
Neuraé Harmonie The Caring Cleanser
$115 at NEURAE
"I’m usually too tired to do a full double cleanse at the end of the day, but this 2-in-1 makes it easy to get the job done. The gel transforms into a makeup-melting oil as you massage it into your skin, then it becomes a milky wash once you add water."
— LAUREN BALSAMO, BEAUTY DIRECTOR
Best Eye Makeup Remover
The Face Shop Rice Water Bright Cleansing Facial Wipes
$10 at Amazon
"Makeup wipes aren’t exactly the chicest product, but they sure are functional. And The Face Shop’s version takes off mascara, eyeliner, eyeshadow, brow gel—you name it—all in one swipe." — BETH GILLETTE, BEAUTY EDITOR
Best Cleanser for Acne-Prone Skin
PanOxyl Acne Gel Wash
$12 at Amazon
"PanOxyl’s original acne cleanser is my holy grail, but this salicylic acid version is a new favorite in my lineup. It gently exfoliates and breaks down excess oil, but it never makes my face feel stripped." — BG
Best Cleanser for Sensitive Skin
Avène Tolerance Foaming Facial Cleanser
$20 at Amazon
"I’ve gone through three bottles of this in the last year, it’s that good. Unlike many gentle face washes that don’t feel like they get your face clean, this throughly removes makeup and SPF without stressing out my reactive skin." — LB
Best Cleanser for Dry Skin
Remedy Cream-to-Foam Cleanser with Ceramides
$18 at remedyskin.com
"I love the milky, serum-like consistency of this cleanser. It effectively removes makeup while replenishing my dry skin. This has one of the few formulas I’ve tried that foams up for that deep-clean feel without leaving my complexion tight."
— MARY HONKUS, CONTRIB