The testing & judging process for the Free From Skincare Awards is in four stages.
Stage 1
Entry forms are checked to ensure that products entered comply with our Criteria.
Stage 2
Once entries are accepted and products are received at our offices, a sample of each is sent for a month’s in-depth testing of its qualities and efficacy to four experienced testers, carefully selected from a panel of around 100, all of whom are passionate about natural beauty and ‘free from’ skincare, and who may also have sensitive/problem skins or specific allergies or ingredient requirements to take into consideration.
Testers put products through their paces for four weeks, assessing how the products do their job, and how they benefit the part of the body on which they are used.
Once the testing period is over, testers complete detailed questionnaires on each of the products, and return them to us, with scores out of 10. Their scoring is based on day-to-day performance and month-long efficacy.
From the averages of these scores, a list of finalists is drawn up. Broadly speaking, if at least three out of the four testers report positively on the product, it will reach the final.
Stage 3
Products which reach the final go forward to week-long judging sessions, held in May or June.
The judging panels variously consist of beauty writers, skincare professionals, allergy experts, brand owners, beauty bloggers, cosmetic formulators, and consumers with problem skin conditions or an interest in ‘free from’ skincare. Typically, four judges sit during each session.
The judges are free to open and examine the products, read entry forms, and will be read brief summaries of testers’ feedback on each product.
Judges will discuss these, and give credit to entries on the basis of several of many possible attributes, including:
1/ Versatility, quality of formulation, ‘skin-healthfulness’ of ingredients …
2/ Suitability for consumers on various restricted lifestyles (eg vegetarian, vegan, kosher / halal) or those avoiding certain ingredients (eg food allergens, fragrances).
3/ Labelling qualities: transparency in declarations of ingredient sources; consumer suitability; legibility and visibility of ingredients, properties and product instructions. Also: responsible and careful use of any ‘free from’ statements. Due to the guidance regarding ‘free from’ statements on cosmetics, effective from July 2019, we will not penalise those who have no ‘free from’ labelling on products. To read more about our policy on ‘free from’ statements, please see this article.
4/ Value for money, packaging / presentation, eco / green / charitable qualities, etc.
Subsequently, by combining testers’ feedback and judges’ thoughts, Bronze, Silver and Gold ‘medals’ will be decided in each category (1–16).
Normally, one or two Golds and several Silvers and Bronzes are awarded per category, depending on category size.
Stage 4
Once category 1–16 winners are settled, decisions will then be made on the various special awards and categories— that of Best Free From Brand and Best Overall Free From Skincare Product — as well as the prestigious Free From Achievement Award, and the newer Best Innovation Award, Best Labelling Award and Digital Presence Award.
These are decided through a combination of a select judging panel which convenes in person and/or online, and/or through individual 1-to-1 consultation with one or more individual expert judges, and in some cases product testers too.
The results will be announced online in June 2025.
Judges
2024 judges are listed below. 2025 judges will be announced in Spring.
NB. Judges participating in the Awards or with relationships / vested interests in any participating brands are not involved in the judging of those brands’ respective categories or products.
* Galina Achkasova-Portianoi is a journalist, brand consultant, and the writer/editor of Galina’s Curiosity Gap
* Sue Campbell is the CEO of plastic-free solid haircare brand Kind2
* Lorraine Dallmeier is the director of Formula Botanica — an international online organic cosmetic science school
* Alison Derrick is the founder of BeeInspired Skincare
* Lucy Gulland is the Community Manager at Balmonds Skincare
* Ruth Holroyd is a writer and blogger, who runs WhatAllergy
* Karen MacDonald is the founder and owner of Blomma Beauty, a natural and green beauty retailer
* Sara Niven is a freelance beauty journalist and editor with BABTAC qualifications
* Sandra Russell is a beauty content creator
* Abi Weeds is the co-founder of Odylique
* Emma York is a content creator and the founder of Beauty Folio
Free From Skincare Awards team:
* Alex Gazzola is the co-ordinator and director of the Free From Skincare Awards, and a health writer and author specialising in allergies and skin health. He is the editor of Allergy Insight.
* Michelle Berriedale-Johnson is the director of all free from awards, including the Free From Food Awards.
