Only individual cosmetic skincare and haircare products are accepted into the Free From Skincare Awards.
NB. We do not accept cosmetic tools / gadgets or dietary beauty supplements. See Criteria & Rules for a full list of excluded products. Sun care, oral care and muscle / joint care products are only eligible for our Free From Living Awards.
The product categories for 2025 are as follows:
- Family Skincare
Cosmetic products for babies, toddlers, children, teenagers and expectant or new mums, including but not limited to baby washes, nappy balms, cradle cap oils, stretchmark creams, nipple balms, kids’ lotions, teenage skin products, and other skincare products aimed at the family market or suitable for all the family. - Men’s Grooming
Products for any part of the body, whether unisex or designed specifically for men, including but not limited to face / body washes, face / body creams, shaving creams / gels, deodorants, beard oils, beard balms, haircare products and after-shave lotions. - Hair & Scalp Care
Shampoos and shampoo bars, conditioners and conditioner bars, hair gels, hair treatment serums / masks / oils, hair colours and other hair and scalp care products. - Body Care (‘Leave On’)
Creams, gels or balms for use on the body, including body creams, moisturisers, lotions and tanning products. - Body & Bath Oils
All oils for the body — bath oils, and moisturising body oils. - Body Care (‘Rinse Off’)
Cleansing or bathing skincare products for the body, such as body scrubs and shower gels / washes — as well as bath salts / bath infusions, bath milks, and bath bombs. - Eye Care
Eye creams, eye gels, eye liners, eyelash oils, eyeshadows, eyebrow products, mascaras. - Hand, Foot and Nail Care
Hand washes, liquid hand soaps, hand creams, foot creams, foot scrubs, nail polish removers, nail varnish and cuticle care products. - Soap Bars
Bars of soap, for hands and/or body. - Lip Care
Any products for lips, including lipstick, lip balms / moisturising or protecting products for the lips, lip scrubs, and products for chapped lips. - Toners, Mists and Waters
Facial toners, micellar waters, facial mists, facial spritzes and flower waters. - Face Care (‘Leave On’)
Creams, balms and water-based serums for use on the face, including anti-ageing creams, night or day creams, all-purpose moisturisers, face balms, plus tinted moisturisers, facial make-up such as blusher or foundation. - Face Oils (‘Leave On’)
100% liquid oil blends or oil-based and water-free serums for the face. - Face Care (‘Rinse Off’)
Facial cleaning or cleansing products such as masks, cleansers, cleansing oils / balms, facial washes / gels / scrubs, and make-up removers (including wipes), which are applied and then removed or washed off from the face. - Deodorants
Under-arm deodorants. - Problem Skin
Any skincare product which may be suitable for consumers with skin prone to eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis, acne, rosacea or other allergic, sensitive or problem skin condition (chafing, sores, tattoos, itching, dry skin etc).
Special Awards
* Free From Achievement Award
Brands may enter this additional special Award with any product submitted in any of the categories 1–16 above. The Award celebrates products with particularly strong free from or ‘hypoallergenic’ qualities — which are perhaps very low in or free from preservatives, food allergens and fragrances — or which meet a particular need in skincare for consumers with skin allergies or ultra-sensitive skin, or who have to avoid multiple ingredients.
* NEW! Innovation Award
This is the first year of our Innovation Award. Innovation can take many forms, be it for an individual product — such as innovative use of one or more unusual ingredients, innovation in packaging and delivery format, innovation in communication of key information — or it can apply to a whole brand — such as innovation in marketing, policy, ethos, sustainability, or anything else. What are you doing that few others, if anybody, is doing? Surprise our judges! They will be looking for innovation of all kinds.
* Best Labelling Award
This category was launched in 2022 to reward brands / products which demonstrate excellence in labelling — ie in communicating ingredients, instructions for use, suitability (eg skin type / age), allergen guidance / ‘free from’ statements (if used) and other key information. Judges look for legibility, simplicity and clarity, and for labelling which enables consumers to easily choose and use products suitable for them.
* Digital Presence Award
This category was launched in 2023 to reward brands with exceptional websites / online stores, and social media accounts. Judges will be looking for digital presences which are easy and pleasurable to navigate, intuitive, attractive, and informative, and which boast other features important to consumers with ‘free from’ skincare requirements, such as effective search functions and clear declarations of ingredients. Credit will also be given to brands whose social media channels demonstrate strong, genuine interaction and engaging content.
* Best Free From Skincare Brand Award
Brands entering this Award will be judged on many qualities — their brand ethos, the breadth of products, ‘free from’ qualities, web and social media presence, performance of submitted products, eco / green / sustainability attributes, and any others applicable to the whole brand.
* Best Overall Free From Skincare Product
The overall ‘winner of winners’ and champion of the Free From Skincare Awards 2025 will be chosen, by a specially selected judging panel, from the Gold winners of the product categories (1–16) above.
