Entries for the 2026 Live That Glow Independent Beauty Awards are now open until February 25. See this year’s categories below and submit your entry here.

The awards’ timeline

• Awards open Wednesday, January 21 2026
• Entries open Wednesday, January 21 to Wednesday, February 25
• Entries close Wednesday, February 25
• Entrants will be informed if they have been shortlisted for an award by Thursday, March 12
• Samples of shortlisted entries to arrive with us no later than Friday, April 3
• Judging takes place Tuesday, April 7 to Monday, May 18
• Winners will be informed by May 26 2026
• Winners will be announced publicly on Wednesday, May 27

The process

There will be two stages of the judging process:

• An in house shortlist
• A 6-week trialling and judging process by our panel

We chose this way of doing things to make sure that the products that eventually reach our judges for trialling meet a minimum number of basic values which we think are important for an award-winning product.

We’ve worked to make our shortlisting process as fair and transparent as possible by scoring each submission numerically (rather than subjectively) by adding up the number of yes’s given based on the following criteria where applicable:

• Is the product suitable for the skin type, hair type, or concern covered by the category it has been entered in?
• Is the product cruelty-free?
• Does the product use recyclable, reusable or repurposed packaging?
• Does the overall brand submitting the product entry work to be inclusive (ie, for a haircare line, ensuring that all hair textures are covered, or for a makeup brand having a full shade range)?
• Is the product available worldwide?
• Does the brand provide transparent information about sustainable practices or eco-friendly packaging?
• Does the product have over 3.5 stars out of 5 across any relevant independent review sites (like Sephora, Influenster, Amazon etc)?

Once products have been shortlisted, they will each be sent to three judges to test them over a period of four weeks. Judges will be giving each product numerical scores and written notes on each product based on the following criteria:

Efficacy

• Visible Results: Does the product deliver noticeable and positive results within a reasonable timeframe?
• Performance vs. Claims: Does the product effectively deliver on all of its advertised claims (e.g., anti-aging, hydration, pigmentation coverage)?
• Consistency of Results: Are the results consistent with each use, without diminishing effectiveness over time?

Ease of use

• Ease of Application: Is the product easy to apply or use, including texture, blendability, and packaging design?
• User Experience: Is the product comfortable to wear or use (e.g., non-greasy, non-sticky, lightweight feel)?
• Packaging Functionality: Does the packaging work efficiently without leakage, clogging, or product waste?
• Instructions and Information: Are the usage instructions clear and accurate, and does the product include helpful information (e.g., warnings, recommended usage)?

Longevity

• Wear Time: Does the product last as long as advertised without fading, smudging, or requiring frequent reapplication?

The only exceptions will be the Biggest Beauty Disruptor category and the Beauty Community Award category, which will be scored on the following criteria:

Biggest Beauty Disruptor:

• Advocacy for Marginalised Communities: Has the nominee actively advocated for or supported marginalised communities through initiatives or partnerships?
• Educational Initiatives: Have they launched impactful educational campaigns that challenge stereotypes or increase awareness about diversity and inclusion in beauty?
• Community Support: Has the nominee contributed to local or global communities, such as empowering women entrepreneurs or supporting minority-owned businesses?
• Challenging Industry Norms: Has the individual or brand challenged conventional beauty standards in a way that fosters greater acceptance and self-expression?
• Leadership and Collaboration: Have they inspired or collaborated with other industry players to promote inclusivity, fairness, or sustainability?
• Overall tangible impact: How much of an overall impact has the nominee made in the beauty space in the last year (for example, through changing a law, changing a company policy or starting a large online movement)

Beauty Community Award:

• Community-led listening – clear evidence the brand actively listens to its audience

• Real action taken – feedback has directly influenced launches, shades, formulas or decisions

• Transparency & communication – brand explains changes openly (and owns mistakes when needed)

The highest scoring products, brands or individuals will then be confirmed at a final judges’ meeting to ensure every product has had a fair hearing.  The winners will then be announced to the public.