GHI Beauty Hall of Fame Awards skincare winners 2024

Score: 97/100

Melt the day away with this moisturising cleansing balm, which our testers found “smooth" and “non-greasy”. It was the best at removing makeup residue in our lab test, and left skin feeling “incredibly clean”, according to one satisfied panel member. Despite being extremely effective at shifting dirt, panellists said it didn’t strip skin of the natural oils that are essential for hydration and protection. We also found a little goes a long way.

Score: 94/100

There’s only one thing that rivals taking your bra off after a long day, and that’s taking your face off. This balm develops into an oil-like consistency to melt away any stubborn makeup – fast – without the need to scrub your skin. It’s particularly good for those with dry complexions thanks to the safflower seed oil, a natural emollient that softens without damaging the skin barrier. One tester said their makeup melted off “instantly” with this balm, so no delays to bedtime!

Score: 93/100

This cream cleanser from beauty industry veteran Caroline Hirons’ skincare line was deemed both easy to dispense (thanks to the squeezy tube) and simple to wash off. Our panel adored the "rich, creamy” texture and said it left skin feeling "soft, fresh and hydrated". It foams well and the jojoba seed oil and squalane-enriched formula helps lock in moisture and protect the skin barrier. It’s also fragrance-free, so it’s a good pick for sensitive skin.

Score: 84/100

You can expect "fresh, radiant” skin after using this brightening toner, according to our panel. A host of actives, including glycolic acid, lactic acid and caviar lime, gently exfoliate dead skin cells and promote renewal. In the lab, this product scored nearly full marks for improving skin texture, and most panellists said it gave them a more even complexion, as well as reducing the appearance of age spots and fine lines. Glowing reviews all round.

Score: 83/100

With the help of a 5% glycolic acid concentrate, Glow Tonic works to gently exfoliate and purify skin, lifting dead skin cells, and leaving behind a brighter, glowing complexion. It’s in the name! Testers said it left their skin feeling soft, without any irritation or dryness, thanks to the added aloe vera extract. This tonic was also praised for how well it reduced the appearance of pores.

Score: 82/100

All our panel members said they would happily continue to use this toner after the trial period, which is testament to its performance. It combines glycolic acid with natural fruit extracts and vitamin C to promote a smoother, brighter complexion while combatting free radical damage. And it delivered on test, evening out our panellists’ skin tones without any increased sensitivity or tightness, making it a good choice for skin prone to dehydration.

Score: 87/100

Nourish and protect your skin with this SPF50 and antioxidant-infused day cream from Dermalogica. It contains a white tea extract that’s rich in polyphenols, which work to prevent oxidative stress caused by external factors such as pollution or UV rays. It absorbed easily into our testers’ skin, without leaving behind any not-uncommon white casts that some SPFs do. Instead, it left multiple panel members’ skin brighter, smoother, hydrated and supple all day.

Score: 86/100

Powered by an energising ‘SkinCharger complex’ of niacinamide and sea holly extract, this cream is designed to fight the impact of stress on skin, whether that shows up as dullness, dehydration or fine lines. Our panellists loved the texture of this one, saying it felt “very lightweight" and was easy to spread, leaving their skin feeling “soft and silky” with no stickiness. It scored full marks for speedy absorption, and panellists said it provided a smooth base for makeup.

Score: 84/100

Our panel loved the ultra-hydrating properties of this iconic cream, which left them with plumper-looking, firmer-feeling skin. With a thick, luxurious texture, it’s enriched with hyaluronic acid to replenish and retain moisture levels, plus a peptide complex that promotes collagen production, helping to slow the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. One tester praised the “lovely” cooling effect of this cream, which they enjoyed applying in the morning for a lasting, all-day glow.

Score: 88/100

Testers loved how hydrated their skin felt after applying this hyaluronic acid-enriched cream, describing it as rich yet lightweight. (“It absorbed really well” said one.) The formula, packed with prebiotic peptides, promises to strengthen skin in an hour, and our panel vouched for its rapid benefits, with the majority reporting an immediate boost in skin feel. It’s a real round the clock hero too; while it excelled in our night cream tests, it’s equally well suited as a morning moisturiser.

Score: 86/100

It’s hard to argue with a unanimous verdict, and all our testers told us their skin looked smoother and felt instantly hydrated after using this night cream. “This leaves my skin hydrated and nourished. It works wonders overnight and I wake up to smooth soft skin,” noted one. That’s down to a luxurious-feeling formula of retinol, retinyl propionate (a well-tolerated form of vitamin A) and vitamin E, which is designed to penetrate up to 10 surface layers of skin. Almost all our panellists reported firmer complextions after using this cream, too.

Score 86/100

Much praise for this barrier-boosting treat, which "melted into skin” and left testers’ complexions looking radiant and well-rested. “My skin got a nice glow, and I noticed my wrinkles have reduced,” said one, while another told us: “My skin was left plump and healthy looking.” They’re reaping the results of The Inkey List’s next-generation ceramides, which both repair the surface barrier and rejuvenate skin deeper down. This multi-tasking formula doubles as a day cream, and it also impressed in the lab, scoring highest for moisture retention four hours after application.

Score: 90/100

A worthy winner that combines luxurious looks with results you can see and feel. Testers loved the non-greasy texture, and said it left their skin “smooth, supple and bouncy” after use. Stylishly packaged in a premium glass bottle, the formula is packed with super-antioxidant acyl-glutathione plus a trio of vitamin F-rich seed oils to help strengthen the skin barrier. Every single tester agreed their skin felt immediately moisturised on application – exactly what you want from a face oil.

Score: 89/100

Featuring no fewer than 10 botanical oils, plus skin-strengthening ceramides, this was praised by our panel for being non-greasy and fast-absorbing. Eve Lom promises "lingering skin softness” for up to 12 hours with this luxurious formulation, and our testers agreed their skin felt smooth and hydrated all day and night. It layered well on top of other skincare products and under makeup, too. Plus, only a small amount is needed for big results.

Score: 86/100

This hydrating facial oil scored highest with our panel for its ability to smooth skin and improve the appearance of fine lines. It absorbs quickly and doesn’t leave behind a greasy residue, which some face oils are guilty of. With six patent-pending ingredients, it’s like nothing else on the market. These include Immortelle Super Extract, which acts as a gentle alternative to retinol, boosting collagen production to help skin renewal and strengthen the skin carrier. “Soft, smooth and radiant skin” is just a few pipette drops away according to one of our testers.

Score: 88/100

All eyes on this cream-gel, which harnesses natural plant extracts to depuff, smooth fine lines and improve the appearance of dark circles. Key among those actives is harungana extract, a natural alternative to retinol that doesn’t irritate skin and helps stimulate the production of collagen. Our testers praised the fast-absorbing cream, which they said glided on easily and had a “pleasant tightening effect”.

Score: 88/100

Reduce the appearance of fine lines and increase elasticity with this nourishing eye cream. It’s formulated with age-defying peptides and retinol plus firming mango butter, and our testers reaped the rewards. Panellists said their under-eye area looked visibly brighter after use, and the lightweight formula provided a soothing sensation – ideal for waking up tired eyes in the morning.

Score: 87/100

This lightweight cream was praised by our panel for its ability to soothe and brighten the under-eye area, which is thinner and more delicate than other areas of the face. Testers also told us they saw a reduction in puffiness and dark circles during the trial. On top of that, it also makes a great primer and base for makeup, especially for concealer that's prone to slipping off and pilling.

Score: 93/100

With over 70 years in the game, E45 knows a thing or two about how to nourish skin. This fragrance-free balm impressed our testers with its ability to moisturise lips without feeling sticky. They found you only need a small amount to feel the reparative effects of purified lanolin, beeswax and vitamin E all day long. It’s multipurpose, too – one of our testers applied it as a foot balm overnight and found it worked better than their usual foot cream.

Score: 92/100

Sleep your way to luscious lips with this overnight mask from the Korean skincare brand Laneige. It uses hyaluronic acid and other minerals to hydrate and form a protective layer over the lips to lock in that added moisture. Other key ingredients include berry extracts, which act as protective antioxidants, and softening shea butter. Simply apply with the included spatula as the last step of your nightly routine and you'll wake up to “hydrated and baby-soft” lips, according to one tester.

Score: 91/100

We love a skincare/makeup hybrid, so it's no surprise this tinted balm from Selena Gomez’s Rare Beauty was a real hit with our panel. There are five different shades to choose from, each enriched with nourishing white waterlily, lotus and gardenia extracts. The formula is non-sticky and long-lasting. “The best thing about this was how long the moisture lasted, without the need to top up”, said one tester. One for the serial balm re-appliers.

Score: 88/100

This is another multitasking product where skincare meets makeup. There are three natural shades to choose from, which our testers loved for everyday use. There’s no need to keep reapplying either, as it had impressive staying power, even making it through morning coffees for multiple testers. It transforms from a balm into an oil on application, and the formula enriched with shea butter, jojoba oil and vitamin E kept our panellists' lips looking nourished, plump and photo-ready.

Score: 81/100

This clear lip oil leaves behind a glowing sheen that makes lips feel “softer, hydrated and fuller than usual,” according to one happy tester. That will be down to the nourishing jojoba oil and vitamin E. Note that if you do fancy a pop of colour, it's also good for layering over a lip liner or lipstick. The added SPF30 means it will help protect lips from harmful UVB/UVA rays, too. All our testers agreed that their lips felt hydrated without feeling sticky or greasy with this one. Pucker up!

Score: 81/100

“It looks like a lip gloss but feels like a treatment,” is how one tester summed up this ultra-nourishing lip oil. And the versatility doesn’t stop there, as the brand claims it can double as a smoothing conditioner by day, and a deep, moisturising mask at night. It's nice to apply too – one tester said the convenient roller ball applicator felt “cooling on application”. It wasn’t just a success with our panel either, as it also scored full marks for hydration in the lab.