Welcome to Who What Wear UK’s inaugural Next in Beauty Awards 2023. Here, we are crowning and celebrating the very best in beauty. From the game-changing newcomers that are industry innovators, to the tried-and-tested classics that remain a worthy mainstay in our skincare cabinets and makeup bags alike. To help us find the very best in beauty, we called upon our esteemed panel of industry experts, hard-to-please editors and in-the-know influencers, who put each and every single product to the test. We enlisted our judges to document and share their testing for every product they tried, so you can see all the winners in action—as well as those very important before-and-after results. After much testing, swatching and reviewing, the results are in. Join us in celebrating the best in our Body Breakthroughs category.
Much more than just a chic bottle that slots beautifully into any bathroom interior, our judges adored Nécessaire’s The Body Wash in its Eucalyptus scent, which creates a sensorial spa experience in the shower whilst hydrating the skin. “I loved the fragrance and it hydrated my skin, leaving it super soft even after drying off. It’s also really good to shave with,” says Who What Wear UK news writer Natalie Munro.” Formulated with niacinamide, vitamin C, vitamin E, omega-6 and omega-9, it restores the skin as it lathers, leaving it cleansed and comfortable.
Receiving 10/10s across the board of our judges, U Beauty’s Resurfacing Body Compound is a very deserving winner of our Best Exfoliator category, leaving judges’ skin silky smooth without compromising its barrier.
“As someone who has some patches of keratosis pilaris on my legs, I couldn’t wait to try Resurfacing Body Compound,” says Who What Wear UK affiliates manager Jerrylyn Saguiped. “The formula uses SIREN Capsule Technology, which helps to exfoliate and intensely moisturise deeper layers of the skin that are in need of repair, and this doesn’t affect healthy surrounding skin. I was surprised that I could feel results even after the first use, and my legs felt smooth and hydrated the more I used it,” she adds.
Bringing the benefits of LED to the body, The Light Salon’s Boost LED Body Patch is an incredibly versatile device to treat a whole number of concerns, from boosting collagen and reducing hair loss, to treating skin conditions and wound healing. With its clinically-proven wavelengths, you’ll see visible results when using this consistently—and each treatment takes 10 minutes, making it easy to slot into a busy lifestyle.
Who What Wear UK Copy editor Georgia Seagofound the tool particularly helpful in the management of her psoriasis. “I’ve been treating my arms and legs to 10-minute LED sessions around three times per a week as part of my psoriasis-management plan, and whilst it takes a while to see results from LED (and you have to be consistent), I really think it’s helping the healing process,” she says. “If you want to try LED to help heal skin conditions, joint pain or wounds on the body, this ‘patch’ is such a good idea. It’s made from soft but sturdy flexible silicone, and the elasticated velcro strap means you can use it anywhere you can secure it.”
Freelance beauty editor and esthetician Grace Day also loved her results from the device. “This is a really versatile LED device—due to its size and shape, it’s easy to use anywhere on the body and so can be employed to target a range of concerns, from skincare issues to sports injuries and even period pain,” she says. “Light therapy has been a lifesaver for my acne-prone skin and is one of my favourite treatments to add into client facials. This is a great way to reap the benefits from the comfort of your own home.”
Sorted Skin’s solutions-driven Intensive Rescue Spray particularly impressed our judging panel. Designed with those with inflammatory skin conditions in mind, this soothing spray offers instant relief for those with eczema, psoriasis or dry, itchy skin.
“With a blend of 15 natural essential oils and extracts including aloe vera and eucalyptus leaf oil, these ingredients instantly hydrate and provide relief for various skin conditions,” says Dr Ifeoma Ejikeme, medical consultant, skin expert and Aesthetic Medicine Magazine’s 2023 Best Aesthetic Doctor UK. “The ingredients can help with relief for individuals susceptible to conditions like eczema, dermatitis and psoriasis, or those with dry, parched skin.”
Seago also rates this intensely soothing spray for her psoriasis. “This is such a clever product. It basically prevents you from scratching your skin by stopping itchy sensations on contact. A few quick spritzes of this milky spray provides instant relief, whilst the prebiotic ingredients help improve skin health by rebalancing the microbiome,” she says.
Several fragrances were spritzed by our judges, but it was ARgENTUM Apothecary’s Become Eau de Parfum that was the runaway winner, earning a permanent place in our editor-in-chief’s fragrance rotation.
“From the experience of opening the box (and all of the intricate little details that are inside it) through to the long-lasting fragrance and its innovative moisturising properties for both hair and skin, I am head over heels for ARgENTUM Apothecary as a brand,” says Hannah Almassi, Who What Wear UK editor-in-chief. “This has earned the prime spot in my fragrance collection, which is no easy feat.”
As for the scent itself? It’s going to earn you compliments. This herbaceous fragrance combines smooth sandalwood, earthy patchouli and zesty bergamot. It’s very wearable and long-lasting, but what makes this fragrance truly innovative is that it is formulated without alcohol or solvents (which can cause issues for those with sensitive skin). It can be applied to both skin and hair and is comprised of 98.53% ingredients from natural origins.
When a pedi isn’t possible, this is the next best thing to treat your feet in the comfort of your own home. Taking all the labour out of traditional foot filing, the rotating filing head on this device left our judges’ feet soft and smooth. Dead skin? We don’t know her. Whether it’s for prepping feet ahead of sandal season or treating our soles as we slip them into our new-season boots, this helpful tool delivers results that we’ll be calling upon year-round.
“Just wow. In only one quick use the hard skin on my neglected feet looked and felt so much better,” says Almassi. “This tool takes all of the faff out of filing your feet at home, and with the dual file (one side does the hard work, flip it over and the other side smooths for a softer finish) you get a really professional effect. I want this to live in my bathroom forever.”
Whilst we’re accustomed to using exfoliating acids on our face, it’s only in recent years that brands have drawn upon the benefits of incorporating exfoliating acids into body cleansers. Beauty Pie’s AcidEnzyme Exfoliating Face & Body Cleanser was a standout in this category, leaving our judges’ skin gently exfoliated, thanks to a winning combination of 2% salicylic ccid and 3% C-X-papaya enzyme complex, helping to clear both body acne and keratosis pilaris as you lather.
This body-wash marvel ticked all the boxes for Who What Wear UK beauty editor, Eleanor Vousden. “My skin is very hormonally driven, and I recently had a breakout of blemishes across my shoulders. Using this has really helped to clear the congestion whilst leaving my skin feeling really smooth and soft from head to toe,” she says. “I also used this to help shimmy along fake tan remnants that had overstayed their welcome, and it did a great job at gently exfoliating. Those bumps on the backs of my arms? Gone. Props to Beauty Pie for creating efficacious products at an affordable price point, too.”
Price shown is members’ price.
Deodorant is often the unsung hero of our body routines, but Dr. Hauschka’s Rose Deodorant makes a mundane daily ritual a treat. With its gentle rose scent, it leaves a subtle floral fragrance, whilst the low-alcohol formulation is ultra-gentle, making it ideal for those with sensitive skin. Plus, this roll-on deodorant works without aluminium salts, keeping you fresh all day long without leaving marks on your clothes.
“A good price for natural deodorant, this smells great and leaves you feeling fresh and clean. It’s also sustainable and recyclable and doesn’t contain any nasties—everyone can use this,” says makeup artist and hairstylist Mira Parmar.
Self-tanners can be divisive, but Skinny Tan’s Self-Tanning Whip seriously impressed our judging panel. Available in both medium and dark shades, this light-as-air mousse glides onto the skin, delivering seamless application without feeling sticky (and, we’re happy to report, no strong smell). With a guide colour, its ideal for those who are beginners when it comes to self tanning, but dedicated self-tan fans also swear by it, too.
“I have tried so many fake tans in my lifetime that I see myself as somewhat of a connoisseur,” says freelance beauty editor Mollie Burdell. “I tested this out whilst on a staycation with the in-laws and the tan looked that good, both my sister and mother-in-law ordered it. I had a top-to-toe even tan which gave my skin such a gorgeous, deep bronze glow that lasted for days. Granted, you have to leave it on a little longer than the express formulas I usually opt for, but it’s worth every second. Plus, I was able to get dressed and run errands without giving anyone a jump scare.”
Every now and then, your bodycare routine requires a little extra indulgence, and bath salts are the ideal thing to help soak away the stresses of the day and encourage a good night’s sleep. Dreem Distillery’s The Z’s blew our judging panel away with its innovative formula containing calming CBD that soothes both the body and mind for a restful slumber. When poured under a running tap, the blend of Epsom and Himalayan salts—along with blue spirulina and arrowroot—helps to soothe aching muscles whilst reducing skin irritation.
“These bath salts made an incredible difference to the quality of my sleep every single time I used them,” says Vousden. “If you struggle with a sleep routine, these make a great investment to help encourage better-quality slumber when you really need it. A handful under a running tap is enough for the CBD, Himalayan and Epsom salts to get to work to relax both body and mind and have you waking up feeling rested.”
Celebrity session manicurist Sabrina Gayle also noted her love for these bath salts, commenting, “A favourite. Best scent. Great packaging.”
First Aid Beauty’s KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub requires a special mention, as our judges found it to be the most effective product for keratosis pilaris—those pesky bumps that can sometimes appear on limbs. Packed with both granular exfoliants, which physically buff the skin, and alpha-hydroxy acids, which chemically nibble away at dead skin; they work in tandem to soften and smooth the skin, removing stubborn bumps as you buff. Our judges loved it, scoring it very favourably for its effective results.
“I’ve had keratosis pilaris on my upper arms for as long as I can remember. I’ve tried every exfoliating scrub to try to smooth it out, but nothing has been this effective before,” says Who What Wear UK affiliate editor Emily Dawes. “After just one or two uses I noticed a real, lasting difference, especially with regular moisturising afterwards. It’s good value for a big size, and you only need to use it one or two times a week for it to work. No stinging or sensitivity either.”
Our judges felt that Nuxe’s Huile Prodigieuse was also deserving of a highly commended award. Favoured by editors and French women alike (it’s a French pharmacy staple, after all), this multi-purpose oil goes beyond just a body oil. Whilst it leaves limbs silken with seven botanical oils, it can also be used as a hair and facial oil. Its dry-oil texture means it never fells heavy, and the luxuriously understated scent is universally loved.
“I can see why everyone adores this iconic product,” says Vousden. “The lightweight oil mists onto the skin to provide a nourishing but ultra-lightweight, dry-oil texture, meaning you can get dressed quickly without fear of feeling sticky—you’re instead left with a satiny sheen,” she says.
“I felt a noticeable difference in my skin—which was left silky soft—on the first test, and the results kept getting better and better with each use. The scent is also stunning yet subtle, with orange blossom, vanilla and magnolia that is never overbearing,” adds Vousden. “A little goes a long way, so I feel the price point is reasonable, and the mist applicator makes it easy to apply to the skin. I really can’t fault anything with this product—no wonder French women love it!”
Next Up: Next in Beauty Awards 2023: The Winning Skincare Products