Nykaa Best in Beauty Awards 2026 Overview

The third edition of the Nykaa Best in Beauty (NBiB) Awards was announced on 8 August 2026, recording over 3.2 million votes cast by consumers across 60 award categories and 316 nominees. The awards spanned a wide product spectrum, including makeup, skincare, haircare, fragrance, wellness, personal care, bath & body, gifting and beauty tools, reflecting the breadth of India’s beauty landscape.

Jury and Commentary

The winners were selected through a blend of consumer voting and evaluation by a distinguished jury comprising Anchit Nayar (Executive Director & CEO, Nykaa Beauty), Nykaa’s brand icon Sharvari, makeup and hair artist Elton Fernandez, makeup artist‑educator and Mokae Beauty founder Sandhya Shekhar, hair expert Hiral Bhatia, dermatologist Dr. Aanchal Panth (MBBS, MD), luxury content creator Radhika Seth, creator Ankush Bahuguna, beauty creator Tarini Peshawaria, and Nandini Bhalla, Editor at The Word Magazine. In his remarks, Anchit Nayar stated that the awards have evolved into a platform where “millions of consumers and industry experts collectively define the benchmark for beauty excellence in India,” emphasizing the shift toward efficacy, authenticity and innovation.

Key Trends Highlighted by Winners

  • Efficacy as the new standard: Products such as Maybelline’s Instant Age Rewind Concealer and Sky High Mascara, CeraVe’s Moisturizing Cream, and Cetaphil’s Gentle Skin Cleanser were recognized for delivering consistent results.
  • K‑Beauty dominance: Korean brands Beauty of Joseon, LANEIGE, COSRX, TIRTIR and Dr. Althea secured multiple awards, underscoring the growing influence of Korean skincare and makeup.
  • Healthy skin focus: Barrier‑care favourites like CeraVe, La Roche‑Posay, TONYMOLY and Dot & Key highlighted the consumer shift toward ingredient‑led, skin‑first formulations.
  • Homegrown innovation: Indian brands Kay Beauty, Maison Moi, Foxtale, WishCare and indē wild won alongside global icons, demonstrating the strength of domestic product development.
  • Hybrid beauty: Foundations and tinted moisturizers that blend makeup with skincare benefits, such as L'Oréal Paris Infallible Tinted Serum Foundation, Smashbox Halo Healthy Glow Tinted Moisturizer, NYX, and e.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter, were celebrated.
  • Luxury mainstreaming: Premium labels Charlotte Tilbury, NARS, Yves Saint Laurent, Estée Lauder, CHANEL, Paco Rabanne, Carolina Herrera, Dyson and Jo Malone London saw increased consumer investment.

Award Winners and Product Highlights

A selection of winning products includes:

  • Makeup: Nykaa Cosmetics Whipped Blush Pot, Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer, L'Oréal Paris Infallible Tinted Serum Foundation, NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation, Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Foundation, e.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter.
  • Skincare: Estée Lauder Revitalizing Supreme+ Youth Power Creme, CeraVe Moisturizing Cream, Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser, LANEIGE Bouncy And Firm Sleeping Mask, COSRX Advanced Snail Mucin 96 Power Essence.
  • Haircare: Kérastase Discipline Fluidealiste Shampoo, L'Oréal Paris Glycolic Gloss Conditioner, Dyson Airwrap I.D. Multi Styler & Dryer.
  • Fragrances: Carolina Herrera Good Girl Eau De Parfum, Yves Saint Laurent MYSLF Eau De Parfum, Jo Malone London Peony & Blush Suede.
  • Wellness & Bodycare: OZiva Phyto Ceramides+ Collagen Daily Nutrition, Dove Peptide Bond Strength Hair Treatment Mask, Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa 62 Perfume Mist.
  • Special Awards: Iconic New Launch of the Year (Brand) – CHANEL; Iconic New Launch of the Year (Product) – CHANEL; Best Homegrown Beauty (Brand) – Maison Moi; Brand Campaign of the Year – L'Oréal Paris – Cannes Film Festival.

Nykaa’s Market Reach

Nykaa reports a community of over 60 million consumers, a curated assortment of 4,000+ brands, and more than 300,000 products. All award‑winning items are available for purchase on Nykaa.com, ensuring that the recognized products are accessible to the broader market.

Conclusion

The Nykaa Best in Beauty 2026 Awards serve as an annual barometer of Indian beauty consumer sentiment, highlighting a market increasingly driven by efficacy, ingredient transparency, K‑Beauty influence, domestic innovation, hybrid makeup‑skincare concepts, and the mainstreaming of luxury beauty experiences.