Here, on the Cosmo UK beauty desk, there are very few things we love more than testing newness for you, bringing you the scoop on what's actually good and worth parting with your hard-earned cash for. But something that definitely supersedes that feeling is the feeling of when you, our incred beauty community, tell us that you love something that we have recommended to you! It makes us so happy when our recs become holy grail staples in your routine.
This is why Cosmo UK's first ever Beauty Readers' Choice Awards is so special for us, because we got to see the products that you picked as your faves, and we genuinely couldn't be prouder of your winners. From bestselling classics, to sneaky under the radar IYKYK hits, they are all here, 1.7 million votes later, across over one hundred categories. So, without further yapping, here are your 2025 winners...
Jump to:

HAIR
The products that have brought your best hair days
If you’re going to use a shampoo every day, it better be non-stripping and smoothing AF, like this icon from OGX.
Light and creamy yet beyond moisturising, this conditioner won’t weigh down your hair one bit.
"I will never be parted from this shampoo!" noted one voter, who also adored the smell.
Turning up the volume is Ouai easy with this conditioner (do you see what we did there?).
With zero silicones and sulphates, this shampoo rinses off the hair and scalp beautifully but keeps your colour shiny.
What’s the point of a colour job if your wash leaves it dull and dry? This keeps your hue bright.
One reader said, "Lush’s Honey I Washed My Hair is gorgeous. It’s so hydrating and my hair loves it!" Hard agree.
The fact that this shampoo also nourishes curly hair was a big factor in why it was a winner with Cosmo voters.
One reader said this "makes my curls shiny and more defined", thanks to the bonding complex.
One of the OG co-washes, this scooped up the vast majority of the vote in this category, transforming washdays up and down the UK.
If it’s good enough for Bey, is it any surprise you also loved this shampoo? The hydrating yet cleansing formula is a big hit.
Dry-hair gang, unite! You crowned this conditioner as the best for quenching coils, thanks to its helping of avocado oil and shea butter.
"K18 has SAVED my hair," one of you raved, while others branded this cult mask a "game changer" and "hair saviour".
Olaplex to the rescue and brass be gone! Blondies love this shampoo for a just-stepped-out-of-the-salon look.
With one voter stating, "Hello Klean has changed my hair!" it seems most of you agreed that this filter is a must, nixing mineral build-up.
Smell? Incredible. Performance? Excellent. SdJ seriously slayed with this hair product.
Greys? We don’t know them. On-the-spot concealing is so much easier since this powder hit the shelves.
This lightweight serum works so well for stressed-out scalps, calming the skin while helping to densify.
One reader called this a "must-have for travelling" and we know why. This shampoo has build-up quaking, yet hair still feels soft.
Other hairsprays may come and go, but this icon has held a place in your hearts for years.
"Batiste dry shampoo never lets me down," said one voter, and that really sums up the grease-fighting power of this spray.
Humidity? Not a problem. Light rain? All good. Adding this into your wash routine will help keep hair frizz-free.
"To die for!" commented one reader, who adored how soft and shiny this oil made their hair look and feel.
"Fenty Homecurl Cream brings out my daughter’s curls beautifully,’ said one voter, "best curl cream she’s used!" Retweet.
You can’t deny this old-school gel performs when it comes to slicking edges with no flaking. It’s a hair-shop classic for a reason.
The instant volume this serum gives was a hit with voters, but the long-term growth is what really swung the votes.

SKIN
Whatever your skin type, these products have you covered
Ceramides? Tick! Hyaluronic acid? Tick! Fragrance-free? Tick! It’s no surprise that this cleanser won 50% of your votes.
Stubborn makeup is no match for this cleanser. Going from a solid balm into a silky oil, it melts the day away with ease.
Over 60% of readers agree that Garnier’s Micellar Water is an *unmatched* makeup remover. It’s gentle yet thorough.
CeraVe’s "less is more" skincare approach has claimed your hearts and this cream is a staple due to its no-fuss formula.
As one enthusiastic reader says: "The only cream that quenches my dry/combo skin. Holy grail. Doubles as a moisture mask." ’Nuff said.
As 20-to-30-something-year-olds, the Cosmo Beauty Team agrees that this works wonders.
We love that you guys aren’t put off by a snail secretion formula because this toner is hydrating and nourishing.
If the assignment is glazed doughnut, you’ve met your teammate – hi, hello, niacinamide-infused highlighting serum! Glow get it, girl.
This serum totally ran away with the votes for this category. Readers say it leaves skin looking "more even" and "glass-like".
Gentle, effective and affordable, this retinal is an all-round winner! Stick with it and you’ll reap the rewards.
Sensitive skin will lap this up thanks to its soothing, protecting and repairing properties.
Say goodbye to dark, puffy under-eyes because this cream hydrates, illuminates and soothes.
Liquid exfoliant is a Cosmo girl’s non-negotiable. The liquid absorbs into skin while banishing dead skin cells.
Blemish-prone skin hates to see this mask coming. It really smooths and tones.
Our readers cannot get enough of Summer Fridays, particularly the hydrating mask. Its texture and consistency are what won you over.
As one voter perfectly puts it, these pimple patches are "great for clearing up angry spots with the added benefit of coverage and protection".
This drying lotion has been conquering acne since 1967, making it a fully fledged champion.
This non-greasy formula is waterproof, comfortable to wear and doesn’t leave a white cast. Hallelujah!
Korean beauty is changing the skincare scene – and Laneige is a fan favourite. One reader says this mask is "SO hydrating!"
Face oil isn’t for everyone, but Byoma’s formula is a must-have for dry-skinned girlies. Botanical oils and squalane are hydrating AF!

MAKEUP
These winners will have you ready for your close-up
After a revamp, True Match still stands the test of time. The 48-shade skincare-infused foundation range is better than ever.
This foundation has been a go-to base for well over a decade thanks to its glowing, natural and radiant finish. Impressive, much?
One HydraTint is sold every minute – and our reader votes back that. No one can resist a skin-perfecting base.
As its namesake suggests, this concealer is mega radiant and creamy. So, if you’re after a flawless base with 16-hour wear, look no further.
Lock your look down with this fan-favourite primer. Its gel formula boasts a dewy finish, while hydrating and smoothing at the same time.
Wanna look as flawless as a social media filter IRL? Make this setting spray your go-to. It’s lightweight, waterproof and an everyday staple.
You say that this powder is the best on the market, thanks to its weightless feel, texture-free finish and zero flashback.
This bronzer has kept us sun-kissed through all stages of life. From GCSEs to big-girl job interviews, Hoola is a certified cult classic.
Since its 2021 launch, this contour stick has levelled up our makeup game. It creates a softly sculpted look in just a few blendable swipes.
Rare Beauty’s Liquid Blush has pigment to last a lifetime – it’s no wonder it won with a whopping 53% of the votes!
A healthy flush is what we’re all after, right? Dior has us covered with this crowd-pleasing blush that suits all.
Darlings! This highlighter is brimming with pearlescent properties, making for a luminous and dewy effect.
This cream eyeshadow comes in a range of colours, making for so much versatility.
If you struggle with cat-eye liner, this smudge-proof, liquid bb means business. The superfine needle- tip brush makes for the perfect sultry flick.
Blocky eyebrows? Ugh, as if! Thanks to Benefit’s Goof Proof Brow Pencil, we’re only creating natural, hair-like strokes.
For long, defined lashes, there’s no better product than this mascara. She’s the MVP – and an affordable one, too!
Of thousands of voters, 53% agree that Pillow Talk is ‘that girl’ when it comes to lipstick. The numbers don’t lie.
IMO, Fenty Beauty can do no wrong, and this lip paint is no exception. High-impact colour, low-maintenance longwear!
Dior’s Addict Lip Glow is the definition of iconic. Its luminous finish and pillowy-soft applicator make it one of our most voted-for products.
"Gloss Bomb is my go-to lip product," one voter writes – and we agree! Its non-sticky consistency makes lips look fuller and shinier.
Praised by pros and loved by you, Mac’s Lip Pencil is a makeup bag must-have. Its smooth and creamy texture defines lips without any dragging.
Transitional day-to-night makeup is made easy with these 14 shades. Whether it’s neutrals or sparkles, ABH has you covered.
If you lack the patience for falsies, Eylure’s 3⁄4 length set is for you. They’re easy to apply, dry quickly and last all day.
"Your nails but better" is the Ballet Slippers motto, making for a timeless classic. It’s a shade that works for every occasion.
Cosmo girls are clean-girl aesthetic queens and these winning press-ons are first-class evidence. They look professional but take minutes to DIY.

BODY
Head-to-toe glow, incoming
"Glossier You is the best thing I have ever smelled," said one reader. "It’s like no other perfume." Yep, we feel you.
One voter said that Jo Malone is "in a league of its own!" and we have to agree when it comes to this standout scent.
We are so here for the revival of perfume mists and, of course, SdJ is a spritzing superhero for so many of you.
"Gentle" and "comforting" were words voters used to describe this winner. Irritated skin? Dove’s got you, girly.
Cleansing, still moisturising and a lil’ sensorial spa experience – what more could you want?
Slough away bad energy and dead skin cells with this scrub, loaded with sea minerals for extra softening.
Of course, the votes for this poured in. The texture is so universally pleasing even Goldilocks would be an instant fan.
"Nuxe body and hair oil is a cult classic," said one voter. It’s a complete staple for added softness and the scentis undeniably dreamy.
A two-in-one shower product this is not. Please tell us how this cleanses and adds moisture? Tens across the board.
We all need a big pink bubbly bath every once in a while. And apparently you agree, as you voted for this in your thousands.
What everyone wants and needs in a deodorant; trustworthy and competent – this is a mainstay for a reason.
With all that anti-baccin’, we need a hand lotion that we can throw on without any fuss and L’Occitane delivers every time.
Good, natural-looking gradual tans are hard to come by, but this builds beautifully for a year-round sun-kissed look, sans streaks.
"Venus is the most reliable razor on the market," said one voter. We love a dependable queen.

TOOLS & TECH
The innovations that have amped up your beauty routine
With a brush for every step in your makeup routine, Real Techniques has all bases covered. As one voter says, "They can’t be beaten."
The rumours are true, you’re all getting the best at-home blow-dries of your lives, thanks to the Dyson Airwrap.
As voted by you, the winning hair detangler could only be Tangle Teezer’s Original brush. Knotty locks, be gone!
Behold: the straightener that delivers ‘reliable, effective’ results, as one voter writes. Good hair days forever more.
A hairdryer that actually cares for your scalp? A revelation. And considering how much of a runaway winner this was, y’all are instant converts.
Bouncy hair days know no bounds with Revlon’s brush styler. And at a one-time 50-quid purchase, its gold medal is well deserved.
"GHD is always the best – reliable and effective," said one voter. If you want a tool that’ll hold your curls, this ticks all the boxes.
You’d be hard-pressed to find a hairdresser who doesn’t have a D3 in their kit, and you all love this just as much as the pros.
Satin pillowcases are gentle on your skin, hair, eyelashes and eyebrows, reducing breakage and taming frizz. Your winner? Kitsch’s edition, of course!
With 236 LED bulbs, CurrentBody’s mask’s red light therapy is unmatched.
Photographer @christinapoku, Set Designer @jainaminton, Photography Assistant @connortegan.
Keeks Reid is the Beauty Director at Cosmopolitan UK. While she loves all things beauty, Keeks is a hair fanatic through and through. She started her career in beauty journalism in 2013 as editorial assistant at Blackhair and Hair magazines working her way to Acting Editor of Blackhair magazine at 23 years old. She spent much of her career working in trade hairdressing media at Hairdressers Journal, Salon International and the British Hairdressing Awards. Which is why she is a regular contributor to Cosmo's Curl Up franchise. Now, alongside her Cosmo work, she presents, creates content on social media and works with a range of beauty companies; from magazines and websites to beauty brands and salons.
Lia Mappoura (she/her) is the Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan UK. Covering everything from viral celebrity hair and makeup news to the latest trend predictions, she’s an expert in recognising the season’s next big beauty look (before it ends up all over your social media feeds). You’ll usually find her putting TikTok’s recent beauty hacks to the Hype Test, challenging the gender-makeup binary and social stereotypes, or fangirling over the time Kourtney Kardashian viewed her Instagram Story (yes, it’s true). Find her also on LinkedIn.