M.A.C Cosmetics, Kay Beauty, and Huda Beauty lead across makeup categories, while Prada and Kylie Cosmetics secure top fragrance honours alongside category leaders across skincare and haircare
Femina hosted the Femina Beauty Awards 2026, co-powered by Blenders Pride Packaged Drinking Water on 06th May 2026 at Soraia Bombay. The first edition spanned over 70+ categories across skincare, haircare, make-up, fragrance, tools and accessories, honouring both legacy and emerging brands that are shaping consumer behaviour and setting new benchmarks in a rapidly evolving market. Recognised as one of the most credible platforms in the beauty ecosystem, the awards celebrate innovation, efficacy and consumer trust. And this edition did so with a seamless blend of glamour, emotion and celebration that brought together Bollywood’s most influential personalities across generations, each leaving a lasting impact on beauty, style and pop culture.
The awards brought together the best of the beauty world through a dual process of consumer voting and jury selection. They were judged by an esteemed jury comprising celebrity make-up artist Daniel Bauer, actor, drag artist and model Glorious Luna, content creator Prableen Kaur Bhomrah, actor and podcaster Naina Bhan, celebrity hairstylist Flavien Heldt, dermatologist Dr Madhuri Agarwal, luxury content creator Rizwan Bachav, entrepreneur and actor Rhea Chakraborty, critically acclaimed actor Rasika Dugal, Femina Editor-in-Chief Ambika Muttoo and Femina Beauty Editor Karen Alfonso.
In skincare, Lancôme emerged as a clear standout, with its Génifique Ultimate Recovery Serum earning top honours, including Best Skincare Launch 2025. Bioderma, Kiehl’s, and Forest Essentials further reinforced their leadership in the category, reflecting continued consumer trust in performance-driven skincare brands, while Foxtale and Laneige also featured among key category winners. The makeup segment was led by M.A.C Cosmetics, Kay Beauty, and Huda Beauty, with strong wins across key categories. Laura Mercier, Benefit Cosmetics, Anastasia Beverly Hills, and Yves Saint Laurent further strengthened the premium makeup segment, underscoring the continued demand for high-performance, globally trusted brands.
In haircare, Moroccanoil, Schwarzkopf Professional, and Redken led across segments, alongside Olaplex and Wella Professionals, underscoring the category’s shift towards repair-led and treatment-focused solutions. Beyond core beauty, The Body Shop stood out in body care, while Jo Malone London, Prada, and H&M led across fragrance categories, with Kylie Cosmetics recognised for Best New Fragrance Launch for its Cosmic 2.0 Eau De Parfum, reflecting the continued momentum of celebrity-led beauty brands. The tools and accessories segment saw innovation-driven brands like Dyson and Ikonic Professional take centre stage, reflecting the growing importance of technology in beauty routines. The awards also spotlighted excellence beyond products, with Kay Beauty recognised for Best Social Media Campaign, Forest Essentials for Best Digital Campaign, Hibiscus Monkey for Best Packaging, while Hyphen was honored for the Fastest Growing Beauty Brand, underlining the growing importance of storytelling, branding, and consumer engagement in the beauty industry.
Celebrating influence across generations, Kriti Sanon was honoured as Beauty Entrepreneur of the Year, Tamannaah Bhatia shone as The Golden Beauty, and Ananya Panday was recognised with the Global Face Award. Shanaya Kapoor and Aditi Rao Hydari were celebrated as Fresh Face and Eternal Muse respectively. Hina Khan was honoured for Beauty with a Purpose, while Vedang Raina and Pratibha Ranta were recognised as Gen Next Stars (male) and (female) respectively. Ahan Shetty, Vijay Varma, and Ishaan Khatter were awarded for the Rising Star Award, Screen Stealer Award, Global Rising Star respectively alongside Timeless Icon (Male) Kabir Bedi and Timeless Icon (Female) Shabana Azmi.
With a legacy rooted in trust and authority, the Femina Beauty Awards continue to serve as a key benchmark for excellence in India’s beauty industry, recognising the brands, products, and talent driving innovation and shaping the future of beauty in India.