The sun has risen, you creak the bedroom
windows open and let the linen curtains blow
in the morning breeze. As you head down
OLYMPIA JCREW
WOMEN WHO WIN
Marie Claire Prix d'Excellence de la Beauté Awards 2025 Winners
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Editor-in-Chief: Andrea Thompson
editor: sunil makan
Senior Beauty Editor:Katie Thomas
Words by Lollie King
Event Producer: Kate Thompson
PHOTOGRAPHY BY: OLLY CURTIS
SENIOR ART EDITOR: ANA OSPINA
Social Media Editor: Dionne Brighton
T
onight, the Marie Claire team celebrated the very best in beauty at the annual Marie Claire Prix d'Excellence de la Beauté Awards. Each year, beauty editors from the global Marie Claire editions, along with some accomplished colleagues, come together to judge the biggest launches from the previous year.
The 15 awards consist of the international winners, judged by the Beauty Directors from the international Marie Claire editions, and the British winners, selected by our Senior Beauty Editor, Katie Thomas, and some of the industry’s most respected experts. This year, those experts were Journalist, Broadcaster and Author Sali Hughes; Journalist and Founder of The Tweakmants Guide Alice Hart-Davis; Journalist
Lesley Thomas; Writer and Broadcaster Billie Bhatia; Journalist Laura Capon; and Journalist and Author Anita Bhagwandas.
The British categories include the best skincare, make-up, hair and body products, as well as Sustainability, Beauty Gives Back (our charity initiative award), Female Founder and the Beauty Community award.
So without further ado, we introduce you to the 2025 Marie Claire Prix d'Excellence de la Beauté Award winners…
This icon needs no introduction, but with its new, lightweight texture, we’re pleased to reintroduce a hair oil that delivers the ultimate injection of hydration, leaving hair feeling silky to the touch with a high-shine finish. Now more versatile than ever, the reformulation can also be used pre-cleanse, pre-blow dry, or to tame flyaways. Formulated with argan oil and wild French camellia with a scent that could rival a classic fragrance, this is guaranteed to elevate any haircare routine.
Kérastase Elixir Ultime L’Huile Originale
£58 at Lookfantastic
SHOP NOW
Caudalie Resveratrol-Lift Range
From £39 at Lookfantastic
SHOP NOW
Why settle for one powerhouse product when you can have
an entire range? These products work together to firm the skin and, most crucially, soften the appearance of wrinkles. Powered by the brand's Resveratrol Complex and a patented vegan collagen, this
clever range reveals brighter skin that will have people asking:
"how do you look so good?"
International Winner Formulation
La Roche-Posay MELA B3 Serum
International Winner Research
£48 at Boots
SHOP NOW
Every so often, there are moments within our industry that you realise are truly groundbreaking, and this launch was one of them. Tackling pigmentation with its hero ingredient, Melasyl, this innovative serum intercepts the production of excess melanin before it shows on the skin. No dark spot or patch of hyperpigmentation is safe from a skincare routine with this firmly in place.
Chanel Sublimage L'Extrait de Nuit
£620 at Chanel
SHOP NOW
This incredibly elegant serum, with its satin-like gel-oil texture, has a unique formula that does so much. It hydrates, soothes discomfort, promotes radiance, and improves the skin's structure and strength—all from the very first use. Its clever formula stimulates the skin's natural defence and healing mechanisms, as well as its rejuvenation processes right when you need it the most. The result? Plump, glowing and healthy
skin that’s sure to be the envy of everyone you know.
International Winner Sensorial
International Winner Special Jury Prize
Forever Skin Perfect Foundation Stick
£48 at Boots
SHOP NOW
The perfect companion to your skincare regime. It's a lightweight, breathable and hydrating foundation that provides buildable coverage. With a blurring effect, it gives the complexion a soft-focus finish we'd
all be pleased with. There was a time when foundation sticks were chalky and drying—there was no real rivalry with liquid formulas because the sticks couldn't compete. Times have changed, and this is the perfect example of that.
DIOR
Prestige La Micro-Huile de Rose Activated Serum
£220 at Sephora
SHOP NOW
This hero serum is a one-way ticket to glowy, luminous and incredibly smooth skin. Harnessing its power from the Rose de Granville, this modern iteration is six times more potent and 14x richer in repairing omegas that help to replump the skin.
Transatlantic Winner
Nécessaire The Body Retinol
£55 at Sephora
SHOP NOW
This disruptive brand shook up the US and UK beauty markets when it launched on both sides of the pond. Encouraging us to look at our body care routines with the same considered approach as our skincare, the products are both chic and efficacious. Last year saw the launch of its body retinol, which contains a cocktail of 0.1% pure retinol, AHA, Peptides, Vitamins and Glycerin that work to even out dark spots and areas of pigmentation to reveal fresher and smoother skin.
BRITISH WINNERS
INTERNATIONAL WINNERS
Charlotte Tilbury
Exagger-Eyes Volume Mascara
BRITISH Winner MAKE-UP
£28 at Sephora
SHOP NOW
It's not often that a single mascara can unite an entire group of beauty editors, but that's what Charlotte Tilbury's Exagger-Eyes Volume Mascara has done successfully. With just a couple of swipes, it lengthens, volumises and gives a fanned-out curl— eyes are perfectly defined. Enriched with jojoba oil for lash-loving support, this mascara takes its place in the mascara hall of fame.
BRITISH Winner SKIN
£130 at Lookfantastic
SHOP NOW
Skinceuticals has mastered the art of creating a really good serum and last year saw the launch of its first formula powered by peptides, which are very much the hot ingredient right now. The product is packed with neuropeptides, which act to inhibit neurotransmitters involved in facial muscle movements – and, yes, it’s inspired by the wrinkle-relaxing effects of neurotoxins like Botox. While nothing can compare to injectables, this gently exfoliating (and clinically proven!) serum targets nine types of expression lines and aims to deliver glass-like skin that is smooth and luminous.
British Winner- Beauty Gives Back
Glossier Grant Program
VISIT SITE
To encourage the world to view beauty more inclusively and diversely, Glossier realised that the changes have to come from within the industry. Working in partnership with Black Girl Fest Studios, the brand launched a grant programme to help black-founded beauty brands with funding and business support.
By championing these smaller beauty businesses, the brand is working
towards creating a more inclusive beauty industry.
The INKEY List: PHA Exfoliating and Hydrating Body Water Cream
BRITISH Winner - BODY
£13 at Lookfantastic
SHOP NOW
The best body products are the ones that slot effortlessly into your daily routine, like this 2-in-1 exfoliating moisturiser. Formulated with
a gentle PHAs to slough away dead skin cells as it hydrates, this fast-absorbing cream evens out tone and leaves skin feeling smooth. It’s lightweight and leaves no trace or sticky residue. A true hard-worker this body cream ticks so many boxes. No wonder we’re all converts.
BRITISH Winner - HAIR
From £45 at Space NK
SHOP NOW
A bold step was taken last year when a brand famed for its electricals moved into the styling product space. Thankfully, it was a brave move that paid off. Powered by a revolutionary ingredient, Chitosan, derived from mushrooms for a flexible hold, Dyson has
created a haircare line for all hair types that reduces frizz
and leaves hair shiny and soft.
British Winner - Sustainability
Davines Group
VISIT SITE
This family-owned company is dedicated to being as sustainable as possible in every aspect of its business. It strives to combine ethical practices with efficacious formulas, and it succeeds. Based in the heart of Parma, Italy, Davines Group is a B-Corp that takes an all-encompassing approach to environmental responsibility. From using recycled packaging and ingredients that promote biodiversity, to operating on renewable energy, offsetting carbon emissions and embracing regenerative organic farming. Last year, saw the group announce its strategy for taking things even further with its 2030: Davines Group Towards Planet Regeneration, which further confirms its commitment to the cause.
Lisa Eldridge
Rouge Experience Refillable Lipstick
BRITISH Winner - Innovation
£49 at Space NK
SHOP NOW
"True luxury is the unexpected union of next-generation recyclability and timeless beauty," said Lisa Eldridge of her
first-to-market 100% infinitely recyclable aluminium lipstick refill. Unlike other lipstick cases, you won’t find any plastic or magnets in the Rouge Experience. Inspired by her vintage make-up collection, Eldridge has created a modern icon. In each refill sits a creamy, lightweight bullet, perfect for everyday wear. With eight glorious shades to choose from, your colour decisions might change, but the case and the memories live on in this incredibly clever lipstick—the new generation of beauty recycling.
BRITISH Winner - Female Founder
VISIT SITE
There are some beauty experts that people implicitly trust. In an incredibly oversaturated market, it's the ones with a no-nonsense, demystify approach that people listen to. One of those people is Caroline Hirons. Three decades of being in the skincare business means that there is very little she doesn't know about the topic. After thrilling audiences and fellow beauty experts alike for years with her social-first approach, it seemed only natural that she put that same knowledge
and expertise into a brand. And in 2022, she did exactly that with the launch of SkinRocks. With the same straightforward approach,
these products deliver on their promises.
British Winner Beauty Community Award
REFY
VISIT SITE
It's very obvious to a consumer when a brand is authentic and when it isn't. Refy's commitment to connecting with its community is daily proof that it's authentic to its core. Where other companies take high-flying influencers on branded trips, Refy takes its most committed consumers. Models have been replaced by make-up lovers as the faces of the brand's campaigns. Before it launches a new product,
Refy wants to hear from its community first because those are the voices and opinions that matter. Genuine connections formed through investing in its customers and community have been integral to the brand's success and should serve as inspiration to the entire industry.
Caroline Hirons
Skin Rocks
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Dyson
Chitosan Range
SkinCeuticals P-TIOX
onight saw the celebration of our annual Marie Claire Prix d'Excellence de la Beauté Awards. Every year the Marie Claire beauty editors from around the globe join forces to judge the best beauty launches from the previous year.
Kérastase
Elixir Ultime L’Huile Originale
£50 at LookFantastic
SHOP NOW
This icon needs no introduction, but with its newer lightweight texture, we are pleased to reintroduce a hair oil that delivers the ultimate injection of hydration, leaving hair feeling silky to the touch with a high-shine finish. Now more versatile than ever, the reformulation can also be used pre-cleanse, pre-blow dry, or to tame flyaways. Formulated with argan oil and wild French camellia with a scent that could rival a classic fragrance, this is guaranteed to elevate any haircare routine.
International Winner
Caudalie
Resveratrol-Lift Range
£50 at LookFantastic
SHOP NOW
Why have one powerhouse product when you
can have an entire product range? Caudalie's Resveratrol-Lift products work together to firm
the skin and crucially soften the appearance of wrinkles. Powered by the brand's Resveratrol Complex and a patented vegan collagen, this clever range reveals brighter skin that will have people asking "how do you look so good?"
International Winner
FORMULATION
Chanel
Sublimage L'Extrait de Nuit
£50 at LookFantastic
SHOP NOW
This incredibly elegant serum, with its satin-like gel-oil texture, has a unique formula that acts almost like a one-and-done product. It hydrates, soothes discomfort, promotes radiance, and improves the skin's structure and strength—all from the very first use. The clever formula stimulates the skin's natural defence and healing mechanisms, as well as its rejuvenation processes when it needs them most. What does that actually mean?
Plump, glowing and healthy skin that will be
the envy of everyone you know.
International Winner
Sensorial
International Winner
RESEARCH
La Roche-Posay
MELA B3 Serum
There are moments within our industry that you realise are truly groundbreaking, and the launch of La Roche Posay's Mela B3 Serum was one of them. Tackling pigmentation with its hero ingredient Melasyl, this innovative serum intercepts the production of excess melanin before it shows on the skin. No dark spot or patch of hyperpigmentation is safe from a skincare routine with this firmly in place.
Prestige La Micro-Huile de
Rose Activated Serum
£50 at LookFantastic
SHOP NOW
Prestige La Micro-Huile de
Rose Activated Serum
There are moments within our industry that you realise are truly groundbreaking, and the launch of La Roche Posay's Mela B3 Serum was one of them. Tackling pigmentation with its hero ingredient Melasyl, this innovative serum intercepts the production of excess melanin before it shows on the skin. No dark spot or patch of hyperpigmentation is safe from a skincare routine with this firmly in place.
£50 at LookFantastic
SHOP NOW
Forever Skin Perfect
Foundation Stick
There was a time when foundation sticks were chalky and drying—there was no real rivalry with liquid formulas because the sticks couldn't compete. Things are very different now and the Dior Forever Skin Perfect Foundation Stick is the perfect example of that. The perfect companion to your skincare regime, it's lightweight, breathable and hydrating while providing buildable coverage. With a blurring effect, it gives the complexion a soft focus finish we'd all be pleased with.
£50 at LookFantastic
SHOP NOW
International Winner
RESEARCH
INTERNATIONAL WINNERS
Nécessaire The Body Retinol
This disruptive brand shook up the US and UK beauty markets when it launched on both sides of the pond. Encouraging us to look at our body care routines with the same considered approach as our skincare, the products are both chic and efficacious. Last year saw the launch of its body retinol, which contains a cocktail of 0.1% pure retinol, 10% AHAs, and vitamin C that work to even out dark spots and areas of pigmentation to reveal fresher and smoother skin.
£50 at LookFantastic
SHOP NOW
Transatlantic Winner
Charlotte Tilbury
Exagger-Eyes Volume Mascara
This disruptive brand shook up the US and UK beauty markets when it launched on both sides of the pond. Encouraging us to look at our body care routines with the same considered approach as our skincare, the products are both chic and efficacious. Last year saw the launch of its body retinol, which contains a cocktail of 0.1% pure retinol, 10% AHAs, and vitamin C that work to even out dark spots and areas of pigmentation to reveal fresher and smoother skin.
£50 at LookFantastic
SHOP NOW
British Winner - Makeup
SkinCeuticals P-TIOX
SkinCeuticals knows how to create a very good serum and last year saw the launch of its first powered by peptides. The formula is made up of neuropeptides, which act to inhibit neurotransmitters a little bit like Botox. While nothing can compare to injectables, this gently exfoliating serum targets nine expression lines and delivers glass-like skin that is lifted and luminous.
£50 at LookFantastic
SHOP NOW
British Winner - SKIN
Dyson Chitosan Range
A bold step was taken last year when a brand famed for its electricals moved into the styling product space. Thankfully, it was a brave move that paid off. Powered by a revolutionary ingredient, Chitosan, derived from mushrooms for a flexible hold, Dyson has created a haircare line for all hair types that reduces frizz and leaves hair shiny and soft.
£50 at LookFantastic
SHOP NOW
British Winner - HAIR
Glossier Grant Program
To encourage the world to view beauty more inclusively and diversely, Glossier realised that the changes have to come from within the industry. Working in partnership with Black Girl Fest Studios, the brand launched a grant programme to help black-founded beauty brands with funding and business support. By championing these smaller beauty businesses, the brand is working towards creating a more inclusive beauty industry.
£50 at LookFantastic
SHOP NOW
British Winner - Beauty Gives Back
The INKEY List PHA Exfoliating and Hydrating Body Water Cream
The best type of body product is one that slots into your daily routine with ease, like this 2-in-1 exfoliating moisturiser. Formulated with a gentle PHA to exfoliate as it hydrates, this lightweight and fast-absorbing cream evens out tone and leaves skin feeling smooth.
£50 at LookFantastic
SHOP NOW
British Winner - body
Davines Group
This family-owned company is dedicated to being as sustainable as possible in every aspect of its business. It strives to combine ethical practices with efficacious formulas, and it succeeds. Based in the heart of Parma, Italy, Davines Group is a B-Corp that takes an all-encompassing approach to environmental responsibility. From using recycled packaging and ingredients that promote biodiversity, to operating on renewable energy, offsetting carbon emissions and embracing regenerative organic farming. Last year, saw the group announce its strategy for taking things even further with its 2030: Davines Group Towards Planet Regeneration, which further confirms its commitment to the cause.
£50 at LookFantastic
SHOP NOW
British Winner - Sustainability
Lisa Eldridge Rouge Experience Refillable Lipstick
"True luxury is the unexpected union of next-generation recyclability and timeless beauty," said Lisa Eldridge of her first-to-market 100% infinitely recyclable aluminium lipstick refill. Unlike other lipstick cases, there isn't any plastic or magnets. Inspired by her vintage make-up collection, Eldridge has created a modern icon. In each refill sits a creamy, lightweight bullet, perfect for everyday wear. With eight shades to choose from, the colours might change, but the case and the memories live on in this incredibly clever lipstick—the new generation of beauty recycling.
£50 at LookFantastic
SHOP NOW
British Winner - Innovation
Caroline Hirons
Skin Rocks
There are some beauty experts that people implicitly trust. In an incredibly oversaturated market, it's the ones with a no-nonsense, demystify approach that people listen to. One of those people is Caroline Hirons. 26+ years of being in the skincare business means that there is very little she doesn't know about the topic. And after thrilling audiences and fellow beauty experts alike for years with her social-first approach, it seemed only natural that she put that same knowledge and expertise into a brand. And in 2022 she did exactly that with the launch of SkinRocks. With the same straightforward approach, these products
deliver on their promises.
£50 at LookFantastic
SHOP NOW
British Winner - Female Founder
International Winner
highly commended
Make-up highly commended
L'Oréal Paris Lumi Glowtion
Lisa Eldridge Seamless Skin Enhancing Tint
NARS Powermatte High-Intensity Lip Pencil
Skin highly commended
Paula’s Choice 6% Mandelic Acid + 2% Lactic Acid Liquid Exfoliant
Skin Rocks The Antioxidant
Tatcha The Indigo Cleansing Balm
Hair highly commended
ghd Duet Blowdry Hair Dryer Brush
K18 Damage Shield pH Protective Shampoo
L'Oréal Paris Elvive Hydra Pure range
Body highly commended
Dr.Jart+ Ceramidin Body Lotion
Glossier Crème de You
The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + Inulin Body Lotion
Sustainability
Weleda
Beauty Gives Back
S’ABLE LABS
BRITISH WINNERS
Make-up highly commended
L'Oréal Paris Lumi Glowtion
Lisa Eldridge Seamless Skin Enhancing Tint
NARS Powermatte High-Intensity Lip Pencil
Skin highly commended
Paula’s Choice 6% Mandelic Acid
+ 2% Lactic Acid Liquid Exfoliant,
Skin Rocks The Antioxidant
Tatcha The Indigo Cleansing Balm
Hair highly commended
ghd Duet Blowdry Hair Dryer Brush
K18 Damage Shield pH Protective Shampoo L'Oréal Paris Elvive Hydra Pure range
Body highly commended
Dr.Jart+ Ceramidin Body Lotion
Glossier Crème de You
The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing
Factors + Inulin Body Lotion
Body highly commended
Dr.Jart+ Ceramidin Body Lotion
Glossier Crème de You
The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing
Factors + Inulin Body Lotion