GirlStyle Beauty Awards 2026 (III): Best Skincare & Beauty Tools On The Rise
Once, we all coveted 'glass skin', and then came the 'clean girl' aesthetic, followed by the 'glazed doughnut' obsession. Trends like these come and go, but it all comes down to having gorgeous skin, really.
A smooth, radiant and taut complexion is a timeless goal - the canvas to repackage into the next beauty craze. Genetics and lifestyle play a part, no doubt, but the right skincare products can do most of the heavy lifting!
For GirlStyle Beauty Awards 2026, we've awarded the very best in skincare and beauty tools for skin that looks and feels its very best. Here are the winners:
Best Overall Skincare Brand: Clarins - Readers' Vote
Photo from Clarins
A long-time favourite among beauty lovers, Clarins won our readers' hearts with skincare that blends botanical expertise with cutting-edge research. Its cult-favourite Double Serum remains a standout thanks to its unique dual-phase formula made with 95% naturally sourced ingredients, combining 22 plant extracts, including turmeric extract, with five pure active molecules to support the skin's five vital functions.
Inspired by epigenetics, Clarins' Epi-Ageing Defence Technology helps combat visible signs of lifestyle-induced ageing by strengthening the skin's resilience against everyday environmental stressors. Those who prefer a lighter finish will also appreciate the new Double Serum Light Texture, which delivers the same skincare benefits in a fresh, weightless formula.
Get it at Clarins boutiques.
#1 Cleansing
Best Foaming Cleanser: INNISFREE Vitamin C Cleansing Foam
Photo from INNISFREE
This clever 2-in-1 formula starts off as a fun, stretchy "gelato" that can be left on dry skin for two minutes as a mask. Then, with some water massaged in, it transforms into a rich cleansing foam. This double-step skincare move moisturises and brightens while removing light makeup, sunscreen and daily impurities at the same time.
Get it at INNISFREE stores and on sg.innisfree.com for $29.
Best Gel Cleanser: Uriage Hyséac Cleansing Gel
Photo from Uriage
Finding a cleanser that thoroughly purifies oily skin without over-drying it can be a challenge, but this soap-free gel strikes the right balance. Specially formulated for oily and acne-prone complexions, it effectively removes excess sebum and impurities while helping to mattify the skin.
Best Cleansing Oil: Shu Uemura Bright Oil Radiance Boost Soothing Cleansing Oil
Photo from Shu Uemura
Designed with sensitised and post-procedure skin in mind, this nourishing formula effortlessly melts away makeup, sunscreen and impurities while protecting the skin barrier. The Lumi-Barrier Complex, featuring Japanese fermented rice lees, bifidus and a vitamin C derivative, helps support skin recovery while boosting radiance.
Get at shu uemura boutiques and Sephora for $75 (150ml) and $168 (450ml).
Best Micellar Water: Bioderma Sensibio H2O Soothing Micellar Water
Photo from Bioderma
This iconic micellar water still reigns supreme after all these years. Developed specifically for sensitive skin, its ultra-gentle formula lifts away makeup, dirt and pollutants from the face, eyes and lips without the need for rinsing or tugging of the skin. Formulated with highly purified water and a pH of 5.5, similar to that of the skin, it's soothing even on fragile skin.
#2 Treatment
Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Tolpa Sebio+ 4-Molecule Serum
Photo from Tolpa
Breakouts can feel like one battle after another with active zits followed by the marks and irritation they leave behind. This intensive overnight serum tackles both by combining four active molecules with the brand's patented tołpa® peat extract to calm inflammation, regulate excess sebum and encourage overnight skin renewal. With continued use, skin looks clearer, smoother and more even-toned while recurring blemishes become less frequent.
Get it at Unity stores and Shopee Mall for $18.90.
Best for Dry Skin: Torriden DIVE-IN Hyaluronic Acid Serum
Photo from Torriden
There's nothing like a serum that instantly sinks in and quenches thirsty skin. Packed with 5D low-molecular hyaluronic acid, alongside panthenol and allantoin, this lightweight serum delivers deep hydration that absorbs in just three seconds without no sensation afterwards. Malachite extract helps fortify the skin while locking in long-lasting moisture, and gives it that pretty blue hue. It's also oh-so affordable!
Best Anti-Ageing: Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Oil
Photo from Shiseido
Rich, luxurious face oils often come with a heavy finish, but not this one. Shiseido's latest innovation delivers all the nourishment of a facial oil with the lightweight comfort of a serum, making it a pleasure to use both day and night. Enriched with Fortified Camellia Seed, Power Fermented Camellia+ and hyaluronic acid, it leaves skin looking smoother, firmer and more radiant while helping to soften visible signs of ageing.
Get it at SHISEIDO boutiques and Sephora for $120.
Best for Sensitive Skin: Kiehl's Ultra Facial Meltdown Recovery Cream
Photo from Kiehl's
When your skin feels irritated and extremely dry, this medicated recovery cream is here for the rescue. Designed for skin emergencies like redness, itchiness and dryness, it provides visible relief while helping the skin barrier recover faster. Micro-colloidal oatmeal, alpha-bisabolol and dexpanthenol work together to soothe and comfort sensitised or overwhelmed skin.
Get it at Kiehl's stores and Sephora for $69.
Best for Damaged Skin Barrier: K Booster Daily Derma Repair Cream
Photo from K Booster
If your skin starts flaring up while travelling in a new climate, or remains dry despite layering skincare, it's a sign that your skincare barrier is compromised.
That's where this rich repair cream comes into play. It has a nourishing blend of ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids that help restore moisture levels while strengthening weakened skin, making it particularly suitable to apply after treatments like microneedling or during seasonal dryness. Added panthenol and gamma linolenic acid further soothe irritation, leaving skin feeling more resilient over time.
Get it at kbooster.sg for $87.
Best for Brightening: Albion Skin Conditioner Essential N
Photo from Albion
A skincare icon designed to normalise skin metabolism and regulate cell renewal, ALBION's Skin Conditioner just got even better with a reformulated formula. Featuring organically cultivated Job's tears from Hokkaido alongside newly added Job's tears oil, the lotion helps support healthy skin turnover while tackling dullness, uneven texture and recurring breakouts.
Get it at Takashimaya and Metro for $139.
Best Overnight Skin Treatment: Laneige Bouncy & Firm Sleeping Mask
Photo from Laneige
Talk about beauty sleep! The original Water Sleeping Mask still has a place in our heart, but the new Bouncy & Firm edition is our new favourite. It has the same intense moisturising effect where you'd wake up looking like you did drink a lot of water and get a full 8-hour rest, even if you didn't. One top of that, this new sorbet-like formula also has an overnight anti-ageing effect where Peony & Collagen Complex™, peptides and thousands of Hydro-Melt Glow Capsules plump and firm the skin overnight.
Get it at LANEIGE stores and Sephora for $56.
Best Exfoliator: Suisai Beauty Clear Powder Wash Gold
Photo from Suisai
Exfoliators should be highly effective yet gentle, and not many can do both at once. This enzyme-infused powder is one of the few that does. When mixed with a few drops of water, the powder transforms into a foamy wash that polishes the skin surface, dissolving dead skin cells, blackheads and keratin plugs. The Gold edition feels a little more moisturising than the OG, formulated with golden sunflower oil and golden avocado oil to leave the skin feeling hydrated even with daily use. They come in convenient individual capsules that contain the exact amount of power for one wash.
Best Eye Cream: INNISFREE Green Tea PDRN Eye & Lip Serum
Photo from INNISFREE
The delicate skin around the eyes and lips deserves extra TLC, and this multitasking serum delivers exactly that. Formulated with Green Tea PDRN™, encapsulated retinol and a peptide complex, it helps visibly smooth fine lines, improve firmness and reduce makeup creasing around the eyes. The cooling silicone applicator doubles as a massage tool.
Get it at INNISFREE stores for $27.
Best Sheet Mask: LITOLOGY PDRN Hydrating Essence Mask
Photo from LITOLOGY
When your complexion looks a little drab, treat it to this intensive sheet mask for a quick but powerful pick-me-up. Developed to hydrate and revitalise multiple layers of the skin, each mask delivers an impressive concentration of PDRN to help brighten dull, tired skin. It's handy to have in your beauty arsenal to use before a special occasion or whenever your skin needs an extra boost.
Get it at 20 Watsons outlets and all Judydoll Boutiques $6.90 per piece or $25.90 for a box of 5.
Best Sun Serum: Elixir Day Care Revolution
Photo from Elixir
This multi-tasking formula combines a moisturiser, makeup primer and UV protector in one lightweight step while helping to visibly improve uneven skin tone. Its Micro UV Technology creates a smooth base for makeup and protective veil against harmful rays, while MitoRevitalizer supports collagen repair to keep skin looking firmer and more radiant over time. It has a luxurious texture that suits all skin types, but works particularly well on very dry, mature skin.
Get it at Watsons for $59.
#3 Beauty Tools
Best Makeup Brush Set: Minerva Story Ebony Black Eyeshadow Kits 6pcs
Photo from Minerva Story
Whether you're creating a soft everyday look or glamorous Douyin-style eye makeup, having the right tools can save you time and create the most polished results. This six-piece eyeshadow brush set features ultra-soft, dense bristles that pick up and blend pigment effortlessly for seamless application.
Lay down the base colour with the Large Shadow Brush, and blend out colours at the crease with the Medium Shadow Brush. Add definition along the lash line with the Small Shadow Brush, and use the flat and short bristles of the Details Shadow Brush to add shadows on the lower lash line. Finally, the Precision Definition Brush is perfect for highlighting the inner eye corner or accentuating your aegyo sal, and the Angled Brush makes it easy to create a natural winged liner.
Get it at minervastory.com and Shopee Mall for $39.90.
Best Facial Massage Tool: Sephora Collection Rose Quartz Gua Sha
Photo from Sephora Collection
A few minutes of facial massage can go a long way, especially with this beautifully crafted rose quartz gua sha. Its three uniquely shaped edges are designed to target different areas of the face, from depuffing the under-eye area to sculpting the cheekbones and relaxing facial tension along the jaw and neck.
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