Introducing the Condé Nast Traveller Beauty Awards 2026 – our annual edit of the best in beauty and wellness. The following products were tried and tested by our expert editors, bringing you the very best buys categorised by wellness, innovation, skincare, SPF, fragrance, hair and the best of the rest. For more winners, see the main Beauty Awards 2026 page.
The beauty industry never stands still – but some products don’t just keep pace, they change the game entirely. This year’s innovation category celebrates the launches that made our team stop and take notice; the ones that rethought a formula, reimagined a format, or delivered results we simply weren’t expecting.
From LED technology bringing clinic-level results home to foundations that blur the line between skincare and make-up, these are the products pushing boundaries without sacrificing practicality.
Tried and tested by our editors and travel experts, each was judged not just on its innovation credentials, but on whether it genuinely delivers – on a long-haul flight, a beach holiday, or a quick city break. These are the ones you’ll actually use.
Condé Nast Traveller Beauty Awards 2026: best in innovation
Clarins double serum foundation
This clever hybrid bridges the gap between skincare and make-up, delivering the skin-loving benefits of a serum with the coverage of a foundation. Our tester found it a genuinely intelligent addition to any routine – particularly on the road, where a two-in-one product that actually works is worth its weight in baggage allowance.
Anua PDRN hyaluronic acid hydrating capsule mist
Harnessing PDRN – a next-generation skin-repairing ingredient beloved by dermatologists – this hydrating capsule mist goes far beyond a simple refresh. A spritz delivers an instant hit of deep moisture, making it an essential mid-flight companion for anyone serious about arriving with their skin intact.
Liberty LBT Fragrance refillable travel atomiser
A genius solution for the fragrance lover who refuses to compromise, this beautifully designed atomiser lets you decant your favourite scent into a travel-friendly format without sacrificing a drop. Elegant, refillable and wonderfully practical.
Laura Mercier translucent hydrating ultra blur setting spray
Blur Setting sprays have been done before – but rarely this well. This ultra-blurring formula locks make-up in place while simultaneously hydrating the skin, delivering a soft-focus finish that holds up in humidity, heat and everything in between.
Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte’s Magic Cream
This updated version of the iconic Magic Cream retains everything that made the original a cult favourite – intense hydration, a luminous finish, skin-plumping results – our team found it just as transformative as the hype suggests.
Aromatherapy Associates Support Breathe shower mist
Turning your morning shower into a moment of genuine wellness, this clever mist fills the steam with clarifying, respiratory-supporting botanicals. It makes even the most unremarkable hotel bathroom feel like a spa and earns its place in any travel kit.
Milani Conceal + Perfect Blur Out smoothing primer
Affordable, effective and genuinely impressive, this smoothing primer blurs imperfections and creates the perfect base for make-up that lasts. Our tester found it punched well above its price point.
Nooance Paris X600 LED face mask
This advanced LED face mask delivers targeted light therapy to address everything from fine lines to uneven tone – and with a considered design that fits seamlessly into a home routine, it’s the kind of investment that genuinely changes your skin over time.
More from the Condé Nast Traveller Beauty Awards 2026:
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