As summer comes to a close, Beauty News NYC is celebrating the standout brands that defined the season through innovation, thoughtful formulation, and exceptional performance.
This season’s Editor’s Choice Award recipients represent a diverse cross-section of today’s beauty and wellness industry. From cutting-edge Korean and Japanese skincare, advanced ingredient technology, functional mushroom wellness, and innovative color cosmetics to haircare tools, clean professional haircare, botanical body care, experiential self care, and modern mineral sun protection, each brand earned recognition for elevating everyday beauty rituals through quality, efficacy, and creativity.
We’re proud to recognize the following Summer 2026 Beauty News NYC Editor’s Choice Award recipients.
MOIRA Beauty
Award Category: Best pH-Adaptive Lip Oil
MOIRA Beauty receives Beauty News NYC’s Summer 2026 Editor’s Choice Award for Best pH-Adaptive Lip Oil for its playful, science-driven approach to personalized lip color with the Chroma Kiss pH Tint Oil.
MOIRA’s Chroma Kiss pH Tint Oil is a $10 dual-chrome lip oil that reacts to your natural lip chemistry to create a personalized tint unique to you. Its lightweight, non-sticky formula combines the nourishing feel of a lip oil with the lasting color of a lip stain, leaving lips hydrated, glossy, and radiant. Infused with Vitamin E, the formula delivers comfortable wear while color-shifting pearl pigments add multidimensional shine that catches the light beautifully.
The six shades range from soft and subtle to bold and unexpected, with pink, rose, copper, mint, and violet bases paired with reflective pearl pigments that flash champagne, gold, green, aqua, teal, and emerald as they catch the light. The result is a multidimensional lip look that changes from every angle while maintaining an effortless, glossy finish.
Beauty News NYC Coverage
- Shimmer & Shine with MOIRA’s Chroma Kiss pH Tint Oil
- Enhance Your Look With MOIRA Beauty
- MOIRA’s Velvet Air Lip Tint Is Made to Last
View this post on Instagram
Follow MOIRA Beauty
- Instagram: @moirabeauty
Learn More
Bellissima Hair Tools
Award Category: Best Hair Diffuser
The Bellissima Diffon Supreme earns Beauty News NYC’s Summer 2026 Editor’s Choice Award for Best Hair Diffuser for redefining how curly, coily, and wavy hair is styled at home.
Combining a diffuser and dryer into one thoughtfully engineered tool, the Diffon Supreme impressed our editorial team with its ability to enhance natural texture while minimizing frizz and reducing heat damage. Digital Heat Control continuously adjusts temperature based on hair moisture, while Ceramic + Argan Oil technology helps leave hair soft, defined, and healthy-looking. Lightweight, travel-friendly, and intuitive to use, it’s a styling tool that balances innovation with everyday practicality.
“This recognition from Beauty News NYC is a proud moment for Bellissima. The Diffon Supreme was engineered for one goal: healthier, more defined curls without the damage. Seeing that mission validated by their editors reaffirms why we do what we do.”
Wade Beach, Director, North America & Oceania, Bellissima Hair Tools
Beauty News NYC Coverage
View this post on Instagram
Follow Bellissima
- Instagram: @bellissimahairtools_hq
- TikTok: @bellissimahairtools
- Facebook: Bellissima Hair Tools
- YouTube: Bellissima Hair Tools
Learn More
WOO:U
Award Category: Sensory Skincare Experience
WOO:U receives Beauty News NYC’s Summer 2026 Editor’s Choice Award for Sensory Skincare Experience for transforming everyday skincare into a comforting ritual through innovative Korean formulations and beautifully crafted textures.
The collection combines skin-first ingredients with signature milky formulations designed to hydrate, strengthen the skin barrier, and make skincare feel less like a routine and more like a moment of self care. WOO:U’s commitment to making premium Korean skincare approachable without sacrificing quality or performance made the brand an easy choice for this year’s Editor’s Choice Awards.
“Receiving this award is an incredible honor and a reflection of what WOO:U stands for: bringing the innovation and quality of Korean skincare to more people in a way that feels approachable and exciting. We hope every product delivers not only healthier, more radiant skin, but also a little moment of joy that makes customers feel truly special.”
Joseph Klar, COO
Beauty News NYC Coverage
- Q&A with Bela Park, Brand Creator & Creative Lead for WOO:U
- WOO:U: K-Beauty’s Soothing, Hydrating & Luminous New Milky Line
View this post on Instagram
Follow WOO:U
- Instagram: @woouskin
Learn More
Fantastic Fungi
Award Category: Best Functional Mushroom Elixir
Fantastic Fungi receives Beauty News NYC’s Summer 2026 Editor’s Choice Award for Best Functional Mushroom Elixir for bringing the power of functional mushrooms to the beauty-from-within category in an accessible daily formula.
The brand’s Beauty Elixir ($29.99) reimagines the traditional beauty supplement through a triple-extracted blend of Tremella, Chaga, Horsetail, and Acerola. Designed to support skin hydration, elasticity, natural collagen production, and antioxidant protection from within, the formula offers a modern, holistic approach to beauty and wellness in just one dropper a day.
Made with 100% USDA Certified Organic mushrooms and botanicals, the vegan and grain-free elixir impressed our editorial team with its thoughtful ingredient selection, convenient format, and ability to unite mushroom science with an effortless daily ritual.
Beauty News NYC Coverage
View this post on Instagram
Follow Fantastic Fungi
- Instagram: @fantasticfungi
Learn More
Mama Sol
Award Category: Everyday Mineral SPF Innovation
Mama Sol earns recognition for making mineral sun protection something people genuinely look forward to incorporating into their daily skincare routines.
Rather than treating sunscreen as a final step, Mama Sol has developed elegant 100% mineral formulations that combine broad-spectrum protection with luxurious textures and multitasking benefits. The result is a collection that encourages consistent SPF use while delivering an elevated skincare experience every day.
The brand’s thoughtful philosophy and commitment to modern mineral sun care earned it Beauty News NYC’s Summer 2026 Editor’s Choice Award for Everyday Mineral SPF Innovation.
“This recognition means so much to me. As a founder, there are so many moments where you question yourself and wonder if you’re making the right decisions, so receiving affirmation like this is incredibly humbling. When we created Mama Sol, our goal wasn’t just to launch another sunscreen. We wanted to change the way people think about wearing SPF every day by creating products that are beautiful to wear, feel luxurious on the skin, and are made with ingredients people can trust. We’re so grateful to Beauty News NYC for this recognition and to everyone who has supported us along the way.”
Arielle Moody, Co-Founder, MAMA SOL
Beauty News NYC Coverage
View this post on Instagram
Follow Mama Sol
- Instagram: @shopmamasol
Learn More
Herbacin
Award Category: Best Herbal Foot Cream
Herbacin receives Beauty News NYC’s Summer 2026 Editor’s Choice Award for Best Herbal Foot Cream for combining botanical heritage with dependable, results-driven skincare.
For generations, Herbacin has been trusted for creating effective herbal formulations that nourish and protect dry skin. Its award-winning foot cream deeply hydrates while helping restore softness and comfort, making it especially valuable during sandal season and beyond.
The combination of time-tested botanical ingredients, thoughtful formulation, and consistent performance continues to distinguish Herbacin as a leader in foot care.
Beauty News NYC Coverage
View this post on Instagram
Follow Herbacin
- Instagram: @herbacinusa
- Facebook: Herbacin USA
Learn More
Generations Skincare
Award Category: Plant Exosome Skincare Innovation
Generations Skincare receives Beauty News NYC’s Summer 2026 Editor’s Choice Award for Plant Exosome Skincare Innovation for bringing emerging plant-based exosome technology into an approachable, thoughtfully formulated skincare treatment.
Generations Skincare’s EXOGLOW Saffron Exosome Serum brings an exciting new skincare technology to a beautifully simple formula. Each one-ounce bottle contains approximately 225 million saffron-derived extracellular vesicles, also known as exosomes, which are tiny plant-based messengers designed to support communication within the skin. The formula also pairs them with dual-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid for deep, lasting hydration and a smoother, plumper, more luminous appearance.
Developed and formulated in small batches in Colorado, EXOGLOW reflects Generations Skincare’s approach to science-based skincare: innovative, effective ingredients without unnecessary complexity. The saffron exosome technology was developed by Italian biotechnology company ABR, and EXOGLOW is the first North American skincare serum to feature this innovative saffron technology.
The serum stood out to our editorial team for taking an advanced ingredient concept and translating it into a daily treatment that feels both sophisticated and easy to incorporate into an existing skincare routine.
Beauty News NYC Coverage
View this post on Instagram
Follow Generations Skincare
- Instagram: @generationsskincare
Learn More
ALBION
Award Category: Most Efficacious Japanese Beauty Skincare
ALBION receives Beauty News NYC’s Summer 2026 Editor’s Choice Award for Most Efficacious Japanese Beauty Skincare for FLORA DRIP S, a distinctive Japanese skincare formula that reflects the brand’s longstanding commitment to innovative formulation and a ritual-focused approach to healthy-looking skin.
Rooted in Japanese beauty philosophy, ALBION has built its reputation around carefully considered skincare rituals and formulas designed to support the complexion through consistent, intentional care. FLORA DRIP S stood out to our editorial team for bringing that philosophy into a sophisticated daily treatment that feels both luxurious and purposeful.
Its combination of Japanese skincare heritage, thoughtful formulation, and elevated sensorial experience makes FLORA DRIP S a standout in an increasingly sophisticated global skincare market.
“We are honored to receive the Beauty News NYC Editor’s Choice Award. It is especially meaningful to be recognized in the United States, a market where we are continuing to introduce the ALBION philosophy and heritage. We are proud of Flora Drip and hope this recognition encourages more people to discover its unique qualities and experience what makes it such a special product.”
ALBION
Beauty News NYC Coverage
View this post on Instagram
Follow ALBION
- Instagram: @albion_us
Learn More
Explicit Essentials
Award Category: Most Memorable & Relaxing Gift Set
Explicit Essentials receives Beauty News NYC’s Summer 2026 Editor’s Choice Award for Most Memorable & Relaxing Gift Set for its Shower Steamers Gift Set, an easy way to transform an everyday shower into a more indulgent self care ritual.
Designed to bring an aromatic, spa-inspired element into the home, the shower steamers stood out for making relaxation approachable without requiring an elaborate routine. The giftable presentation also makes the set an appealing option for anyone looking to give a beauty and wellness experience rather than another traditional product.
Thoughtful, experiential, and easy to incorporate into everyday life, the Shower Steamers Gift Set captures the kind of small luxury that can make an ordinary routine feel considerably more special.
“Receiving the Beauty News NYC Editor’s Choice Award is incredibly meaningful to us because it recognizes what we’ve always set out to do with Explicit Essentials: make everyday self care feel a little more fun, a little more personal, and a lot less boring. We’re so proud to have our Shower Steamers Gift Set recognized by an editorial team that understands the joy of a great product that actually makes you want to take a moment for yourself.”
Explicit Essentials
Beauty News NYC Coverage
View this post on Instagram
Follow Explicit Essentials
- Instagram: @ExplicitEssentials
Learn More
Key West Aloe
Award Category: Cleanest Aloe Vera-Based After-Sun Balm
Key West Aloe receives Beauty News NYC’s Summer 2026 Editor’s Choice Award for Cleanest Aloe Vera-Based After-Sun Balm for Save A Tan, a soothing after-sun formula that puts aloe vera at the center of post-sun skincare.
After a day spent outdoors, skin needs more than an afterthought. Save A Tan impressed our editorial team as an approachable way to replenish and comfort sun-exposed skin while extending the kind of care we give our complexions to the rest of the body.
The product also reflects Key West Aloe’s longstanding connection to aloe-based skincare, making it particularly fitting for a summer Editor’s Choice recognition. Simple, soothing, and seasonally essential, it is the kind of product we want within reach after long days in the sun.
“As a small business, we are honored to receive the Beauty News NYC Editor’s Choice Award for our Save A Tan after-sun lotion. It celebrates the passion, care, and aloe-powered results we’ve poured into this customer favorite and inspires us to continue developing products that help skin look and feel its best.”
Paula Williams-Laird, Director of Digital Marketing, Key West Aloe
Beauty News NYC Coverage
View this post on Instagram
Follow Key West Aloe
- Instagram: @keywestaloe
- Facebook: @keywestaloe
- TikTok: @keywestaloe
- X: @keywestaloe
- Threads: @keywestaloe
Learn More
LIPSMART
Award Category: Best Peptide-Based Lip Hydration Treatment
LIPSMART receives Beauty News NYC’s Summer 2026 Editor’s Choice Award for Best Peptide-Based Lip Hydration Treatment for its science-based approach to addressing one of beauty’s most persistent concerns: keeping lips hydrated, comfortable, and cared for through changing conditions.
Rather than treating lip hydration as purely cosmetic, LIPSMART takes a problem-solving approach to lip care, pairing peptide-focused technology with a treatment-oriented philosophy designed for everyday use.
Its emphasis on efficacy and targeted hydration made LIPSMART especially relevant through summer heat and into colder weather, earning the brand a place among this season’s standout Editor’s Choice recipients.
“Receiving the Beauty News NYC Editor’s Choice Award is a meaningful recognition of LIPSMART’s commitment to delivering exceptional lip care that combines proven efficacy with everyday luxury. We’re honored to have our innovation recognized by beauty editors and excited to continue redefining what lip care can be.”
LIPSMART
Beauty News NYC Coverage
View this post on Instagram
Follow LIPSMART
- Instagram: @lipsmart_official
Learn More
privé
Award Category: Clean Beauty in Professional Haircare
privé receives Beauty News NYC’s Summer 2026 Editor’s Choice Award for Clean Beauty in Professional Haircare, marking the brand’s second consecutive win in the category.
Founded by entrepreneur and race car driver Shay Hoelscher, privé brings together clean formulation, professional performance, and a philosophy rooted in the belief that “Beauty is Kindness.” The brand stood out to our editorial team for creating salon-quality haircare that feels elevated and effective while remaining thoughtful about ingredients, wellness, and the everyday experience of caring for your hair.
As a longtime fan of privé’s shampoos and conditioners, I have been especially impressed by the way the brand balances performance with an approachable sense of self care. The formulas deliver the polished results we expect from professional haircare while still making the routine itself feel enjoyable and intentional.
That balance between purpose and performance extends beyond beauty. Hoelscher’s background as a race car driver brings an unexpected dimension to the brand, connecting privé’s focus on precision, resilience, confidence, and high performance with her life both behind the wheel and as a founder.
Beauty News NYC Coverage
View this post on Instagram
Follow privé
- Instagram: @privehair
Learn More
Closing Out the Season
The Summer 2026 Editor’s Choice Award winners reflect Beauty News NYC’s continued commitment to recognizing brands that combine innovation, thoughtful formulation, and exceptional user experiences.
Whether advancing skincare science, elevating Korean and Japanese beauty, harnessing functional mushrooms for beauty from within, redefining daily SPF, creating exceptional hair tools, bringing clean professional performance to haircare, offering trusted botanical care, transforming simple moments into memorable self care experiences, innovating personalized color cosmetics, or taking a science-driven approach to lip hydration, each recipient has demonstrated a dedication to improving the way consumers experience beauty and wellness.
Congratulations to MOIRA Beauty, Bellissima Hair Tools, WOO:U, Fantastic Fungi, Mama Sol, Herbacin, Generations Skincare, ALBION, Explicit Essentials, Key West Aloe, LIPSMART, and privé on their well-deserved recognition as Beauty News NYC’s Summer 2026 Editor’s Choice Award recipients.
We look forward to following each brand’s continued innovation and celebrating even more outstanding products in the seasons ahead.
