The Allure Best of Beauty 2021 Submission Guidelines

The first Best of Beauty Awards ran 25 years ago in Allure. Things look a little different today (there were no highlighters in 1996; last year, we awarded five) but what has not changed is our commitment to swiping every red lipstick until we have found the boldest, most perfect crimson out there. We test thousands of beauty products and call upon a panel of expert judges – including top makeup artists, hairstylists, cosmetic chemists, dermatologists, and manicurists – in the pursuit of the best of the best.

We are now accepting submissions for Allure’s 2021 Best of Beauty Awards. Here’s how to get your product in front of our editors.

How to Submit Products for Consideration

List the beauty products you’d liked to submit for Best of Beauty, organized by Best of Beauty categories (you can refer to last year’s awards or email us at allurebestofbeauty@condenast.com for a full list of this year’s categories). Order your submissions by launch date (newest to oldest), and email them to us at allurebestofbeauty@condenast.com.

You can submit a product with a launch date of anywhere between the dawn of time and September 2021 (it must be available for purchase by mid-September when the awards are announced). Once we review all submissions, we will reach out to request the samples we need for testing and any other additional information. Note that due to COVID-19, we may request that samples are sent to multiple mailing addresses for testing. 

Best of Beauty Clean 

For the third year now, we will also have a Best of Beauty Clean seal, to celebrate the all-time best beauty products that meet the Allure clean standard. Please email the names of any products you want to be considered for a Clean award along with their full ingredient lists, organized by category, to allurebestofbeauty@condenast.com.

Eligible categories for Clean products include: Cleanser, Scrub, Moisturizer, Sunscreen, Treatment, Mask, Eye Cream, Shampoo, Conditioner, Volumizer, Defrizzer, Curl Definer, Home Hair Color, Lipstick, Lip Gloss, Blush, Eye Shadow, Eyeliner, Mascara, Concealer, Tinted Moisturizer/BB, Foundation, Nail Polish, Scrub, Lotion, Sunscreen, Self-Tanner, Deodorant, Toothpaste, and Fragrance. (You can also refer to 2020’s Best of Beauty Clean winners.)

Best of Beauty Breakthroughs

The most revolutionary beauty products have a chance of winning a Best of Beauty Breakthrough Award. If you’d like your product(s) to be considered for our Breakthrough Awards, email their names in a separate document to allurebestofbeauty@condenast.com, and include a sentence or two on why it is the first of its kind and truly revolutionary.

It can be hair, makeup, skin, or fragrance. Submissions can include devices and in-office procedures. Products that earn the Allure Breakthrough seal do more than just perform beautifully — they transform our beauty routines with a new ingredient, technology, or design. 2021 Breakthrough nominees must have a launch date between October 2020 and October 2021.

Submission Format

Please follow this format for each Best of Beauty, Clean, and Breakthrough submission: 

• Brand name:
• Full product name (including shade name, if applicable):
• Launch date mm/yy:

The deadline for all submissions is Friday, February 5th. If you have any further questions you can reach us at allurebestofbeauty@condenast.com.

Thank you and may the best of beauty win!