How We Select the Best Beauty Products of the Year

Photo credit: Hearst Owned
Photo credit: Hearst Owned

There are thousands of beauty products already on the market and new ones launching every day. For our annual Good Housekeeping Beauty Awards program, the Good Housekeeping Institute's goal is to highlight the best-performing skincare products, haircare products, and makeup products, as well as the best beauty tools, professional treatments and beauty technology on the market.

How are the products for Good Housekeeping's Beauty Awards tested?

The Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab evaluates the formulation, claims and any company or clinical data behind each beauty product. In the next stage, the products with the highest potential are assessed for efficacy and performance using consumer and/or Lab testing with state-of-the-art scientific instruments.

Are there any launch date requirements for beauty products to be considered?

We will consider beauty products that have launched at any time, but they must be permanently available through April and May 2023 to be considered.

What beauty product categories are eligible to be submitted?

The GH Beauty Lab will consider face and body skincare products, haircare and styling products, makeup and nail products, beauty tools, fragrances, beauty technology, and professional beauty services/treatments for the GH Beauty Awards. Products that currently hold the Good Housekeeping Seal with a license active through May 1, 2023 may be exempt from the entry fee. Please contact your Good Housekeeping Seal administrator to confirm your eligibility and receive a code to bypass payment submission. Products that are Good Housekeeping Beauty Lab test winners or past Good Housekeeping Beauty Award winners will automatically be considered for the Beauty Awards and do not need to enter or pay a fee.

How can I submit beauty products to be reviewed for the Beauty Awards?

You must submit an entry and payment form and one sample of each product (if applicable) in order to be considered for the Good Housekeeping Beauty Awards. More information about submitting product samples is available below and via the entry form link. If you have multiple products to submit, you must fill out a separate form for each product. You can then pay for all submissions under one payment.

Submission Instructions:

  1. Click this link to be brought to the platform where you will be entering your submissions.

  2. Click “create an account and apply.” Create your account.

  3. Follow instructions for submitting your product. Please input all required fields.

  4. At the payment screen, you may click “add another submission” if you’d like to submit another product. It will total your amount at the end so you can pay all at once.

  5. Once finished, you will receive an email saying you submitted, and a link to edit and update your entry if needed.

Is there a limit to the number of products I can submit?

No, you may submit as many products as you'd like. Note that you will have to fill out a new application form and pay a separate submission fee for each product entered.

How many samples will need to be provided?

At least one product sample is needed for initial review. For any product in the makeup category (such as mascaras, eyeliners, lipsticks, eye shadows, blushes, etc.), please submit five samples for each entry. For foundation and concealer products, please send the entire shade range for review. Products samples should be sent to the address below for the prescreening process:

Good Housekeeping Beauty Awards
Attention: Sabina Wizemann
Good Housekeeping Institute - Beauty, Health and Sustainability Lab
29th Floor
300 West 57th Street
New York, NY 10019

Additional samples (upwards of five) may be requested if the product submission passes the initial round for further evaluations. You will be contacted directly with all necessary shipment and deadline information if required.

When are the winners announced?

The Good Housekeeping Beauty Award winners are published in the May print issue of Good Housekeeping each year and online at goodhousekeeping.com.

What is the deadline for submission?

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