The 2026 Beauty Shortlist Awards are closing soon, on Tuesday September. It’s very busy at the moment, with the volume of emails coming in, so How To Enter Guide may help.
(NOTE: The process is the same for previous entrants)
If you are a first time entrant (nominating your brand is quick and easy) this very detailed and comprehensive guide should help.
For the quick entry process, please scroll down to the “HOW TO ENTER: 2 QUICK STEPS” paragraph.
For the Frequently Asked Questions/FAQs scroll down to that section.
2026 DATES & DEADLINES
2026 will mark the 15th Year of The Beauty Shortlist Awards so we’ll be celebrating this natural beauty industry milestone next March!
And for the first time, *all* the awards – Beauty, Wellbeing, Men’s, Mama & Baby and Eco – open and close for entries at the same time:
ENTRIES OPEN on 1 September (all awards)
ENTRIES CLOSE on 30 September (all awards)
Samples need to arrive by 7 October at the latest
AWARDS DAY & WINNERS ANNOUNCEMENTS
This year the winners of the Mama & Baby and Eco Awards will be announced two months earlier, in early April instead of June/July, so award-winners will have more time to share the good news and promote the winning products.
The winners will be announced in two stages, first on:
FRIDAY 6 MARCH
The Beauty Shortlist Awards
The Beauty Shortlist Wellbeing Awards
The Beauty Shortlist Men’s Products Awards
And then on
FRIDAY 10 APRIL
The Beauty Shortlist Mama & Baby Awards
The Beauty Shortlist Eco Awards
HOW TO ENTER: 2 QUICK STEPS
(entering is quick and easy and we’re here to help)
STEP 1
Complete the Entry Form and Entry Fee (ONE ENTRY FORM FOR EACH AWARDS, EG BEAUTY AND WELLBEING WOULD BE TWO ENTRY FORMS AND TWO ENTRY FEES)
You will receive the address via email within 24-48 hours
STEP 2
Send your sample/s to the address provided without delay, they must arrive by 7 October at the latest. The only exceptions are brand new launches which can follow later, we’ll coordinate with you on this.
We will confirm safe arrival of your samples.
THE ADDRESS FOR YOUR SAMPLES
The address you’ll receive will be the one closest to where you are based (or your distributor).
UK
EU/Europe
USA (also for Canadian brands)
or Australia (for NZ brands too)
SAMPLES DEADLINE – NEW LAUNCHES/EXCEPTIONS
Tuesday 7 October is the cut-off date for receipt of samples.
However, for brand new launches (eg a new body lotion launching on or before 31 March 2026), samples can be sent later and we’ll coordinate with you.
EXAMPLE
You want to enter 4 products but two of them are brand new. Please send the first two in by 7 October then the two new ones later on (again we’ll help with this).
THE ENTRY FORM: PLEASE USE A SEPARATE ENTRY FORM FOR EACH AWARD/S.
Please use a separate entry form for each award, so if you’re entering both Beauty and Mama & Baby, two separate forms are needed. If you’re entering Beauty, Wellbeing and Eco for example you’ll need three separate entry forms.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS/FAQs
ARE THESE AWARDS INTERNATIONAL?
YES so this means brands can send samples to the location closest/most convenient to them (UK, EU/EUROPE, USA or Australia)
DO PRODUCTS HAVE TO BE NEW?
No, they can be brand new (launched between 31 March 2025 and 31 March 2026) or very well established (even 10 years old for example).
WHAT IS THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF PRODUCTS I CAN ENTER IN TOTAL?
The “cap/limit” per entry form, is six (6) different products, maximum. (If you would like to enter more please contact us).
CAN SMALLER BRANDS PARTICIPATE?
We strongly support smaller and brand new artisanal brands as long as products are complete and 100% retail/consumer ready (eg full labelling/packaging – for label delays see below).
It’s possible to enter even if you have just launched one product because each product is judged purely on its own merit. However if you have any doubts about your brand being ready or not, we’d recommend waiting till next year (or contact us for advice on your situation).
DO PRODUCTS HAVE TO BE CERTIFIED ORGANIC?
No they don’t. Because of costs involved in certifications this can affect smaller/new brands. But we read labels closely to check ingredients and more.
IF SOME OF MY PRODUCTS HAVE WON BEFORE, OR I’VE PREVIOUSLY ENTERED THEM, CAN I ENTER AGAIN FOR 2026?
100% yes. A very high number of brands do this, every year.
A new award creates the opportunity to launch a fresh marketing strategy and story around it.
ARE THERE ANY ENTRY RESTRICTIONS?
These awards are cruelty-free and actively champion ethical, natural & organic brands (they don’t necessarily have to be certified organic but we scrutinise the INCI/ingredients). Tallow brands are not accepted.
Brands which position themselves as green but aren’t and who engage in greenwashing or have an unusually big following on Instagram on the back of a handful posts (who have clearly bought followers), or are excessively hyped are not right for these awards.
Any brands/products that smack of “unethical/manipulative marketing tactics” are not eligible to participate.
We reserve the right to reject any entries based on the above.
ENTRY FEES &
NUMBER OF SAMPLES
ENTRY FEES and NUMBER OF SAMPLES
We require ONE full size sample of each product entered (sole exceptions are fragrance, which can be travel/tester size, and TWO full size samples for makeup products, for hygiene reasons)
ENTRY FEES / 6 PRODUCTS MAXIMUM PER ENTRY FORM
The basic entry fee is £150 for one product which can be entered to multiple (relevant) categories for FREE.
(The entry fee applies to each PRODUCT not each category).
On a sliding scale, up to a total of 6 PRODUCTS MAXIMUM (£400), again each product can be entered into multiple categories, for FREE.
Please note: If you wish to enter any of the MAIN BRAND CATEGORIES such as Best Natural/Organic Brand (UK), we will need at least 4 Products to test, so the £300 entry fee applies.
HOW MANY CATEGORIES CAN I ENTER?
You are free to enter as many as you wish, at no extra cost! Because categories are FREE and unlimited. The entry fee is per product, not per category.
1. Each product can be applied to multiple relevant categories
2. EITHER YOU CAN CHOOSE YOUR CATEGORIES OR WE’LL DO THIS FOR YOU (at no extra cost, approx 80% of brands ask us to, in which case we’ll enter your products into every relevant category)
EXAMPLE: You’re launching a brand new serum.
You could enter it into multiple serum and skincare categories including: age targeted (Best Serum Age 50+), skin type (Best Serum for Dry Skin, Best Rejuvenating Serum, etc), the best new launch categories (eg Best New Skincare Product 2026), perhaps even an innovation category?
The categories do need to be relevant.
WHAT DO I WRITE IN THE COMMENTS BOX ON THE ENTRY FORM?
You don’t have to write anything, unless…
1. You want us to choose the categories, in which case let us know in the Comments Box, or if there’s anything else you want to add, just use the Comments Box for that.
Note: If a product is a NEW LAUNCH please note this in the comments so that it can be entered into any BEST NEW LAUNCH categories!
2. You’re choosing your own categories: just specify your preferred categories in the COMMENTS BOX, so write the name of the product and next to it all the categories you’d like to apply to that one product, eg:
EXAMPLE
Etoile Replenish Serum – Best New Skincare Product 2026, Best Serum for Dry Skin, Best Serum 40+, Best Serum 50+, Best Rejuvenating Serum, Best Reparative Serum
Or we can choose them all for you (this happens during the judging process not before) and there’s no extra cost for this.
Approximately 80% of brands ask us to apply the categories to their products on their behalf but it’s completely your choice.
WHAT IS THE ENTRY FEE PER CATEGORY?
There is no entry fee per category (as above) and unlimited categories are free. The entry fee is per product not per category. So you’re not limited to “one product in one category”.
IF I WIN, WHEN WILL I BE NOTIFIED?
We will notify all the winners and finalists 24-48 hours prior to awards day, i.e. up to 48 hrs before Friday 6 March for Beauty, Wellbeing and Men’s and up to 48 hrs prior to Friday 10 April for Mama & Baby and Eco Awards winners.
DOES MY BRAND /PRODUCTS NEED TO BE FOR SALE IN THE UK?
No. These awards are global. However products must be available/for sale (in any territory) by 31 March 2026.
MY NEW WEBSITE IS DELAYED, CAN I STILL ENTER?
The website must be completed and fully functional because it will be taken into account during the judging process.
If your brand is very new it may be best to wait until next year to enter when things are properly in place.
THE LABELS / NEW BRANDING ARE /IS LATE, CAN I STILL SEND IN PRODUCTS?
Yes you could – but we absolutely need to see the new branding and importantly the full INCI/ingredients during the judging process.
Feel free to email us for more advice if your labels or packaging are running late.
IS THERE A COST FOR USING THE BEAUTY SHORTLIST AWARDS WINNER LOGO?
No. There are no additional mandatory costs involved in either entering – or winning – these awards, whatsoever.
Only the initial entry fee.
The logo must not be altered in any way and can only be used with the actual winning products. It can be used in any territory across all marketing channels, from POS and website to social media, TV, etc.
After winning, if the products are going to be featured in a TV promotion, email us with the broadcast date and deadline so we can provide you with a permission letter for QVC, etc.
HOW MANY SAMPLES DO YOU NEED FOR THE BIG BEST BRAND CATEGORIES LIKE “BEST NATURAL/ORGANIC BRAND”?
For any big brand entries such as Best Natural/Organic Brand Scandinavia, Best Wellbeing Brand, Best Makeup Brand, etc, your samples will need to include a minimum of 4 different products across the range to enable us to get a real feel for the brand as a whole. (The £250 entry fee applies).
WHO WILL BE JUDGING THIS YEAR?
We have a full team (over 20 industry experts) based in 4 locations in the UK, EU, USA & Australia.
The panel will be announced in late August/early September, closer to the official opening date, Monday 1 September.
Our experienced panellists are experts in their field including well-known red carpet, film & TV makeup artists, beauty industry insiders, etc, and some of our judges have been testing entries for these awards for 10+ years).
WILL I RECEIVE ANY FEEDBACK AFTER THE WINNERS ARE ANNOUNCED?
We have never provided feedback since the awards launched in 2012 (this is part of the Terms & Conditions).
WILL THE BEAUTY SHORTLIST PROMOTE MY WIN/S?
Since 2012, The Beauty Shortlist Awards have become a widely-trusted accreditation known for their integrity – and the integrity and quality of the brands that win.
These awards are now a much-anticipated annual highlight on the natural & organic beauty and wellness industry calendar.
We do not market or promote winners. However, we’re happy to share your good news on Instagram (simply tag @BeautyShortlist on the day of the awards).
100% INDEPENDENT AND SPONSOR-FREE
The Beauty Shortlist does not partner with brands: these awards remain 100% independent, ad-free and sponsor-free, ensuring they’re free from any potential bias.
We have absolutely NO behind the scenes allegiances with any brands whatsoever, making the awards a “completely level playing field for new/smaller and much bigger household names alike”. Each product is judged PURELY ON ITS OWN MERIT.
Still have a question?
Contact us using the CONTACT TAB at the top of the home page and we’ll be in touch, to help.
WOULD YOU LIKE US TO NOTIFY YOU WHEN ENTRIES OPEN?
If yes, email hannahbeautyshortlist(at)gmail.com with YES in the subject line – and we’ll add you to the Reminder Email list!
The entry form might go live prior to the official 1 September opening date, so you’ll be one of the first to know.