The annual edit · 2026 edition
Volume 01
The Glow 100.
The hundred best beauty products available in Australia, ranked by Glow's editorial team across eighteen months of testing. The list of record. Read it once a year. Use it for the next twelve months.
Quick answers · The Glow 100, in summary
- What is the Glow 100?
- The Glow 100 is the annual ranking of the 100 best beauty products available in Australia, published by Glow each April. The 2026 edition was selected from 1,247 products tested over 18 months by Glow's six category editors, covering Skincare (25 entries), Makeup (20), Hair (15), Tan (15), Devices (12), and Wellness (13).
- What is the highest-scored product?
- The Omnilux Contour Face LED light therapy mask scores 9.4/10 — the highest single score in the 2026 list. FDA-cleared, dermatologist-endorsed, AU$595 direct from omniluxled.com.
- What is the #1 daily SPF in Australia?
- La Roche-Posay Anthelios UVMune 400 Invisible Fluid SPF50+ takes the #1 skincare position with a Glow score of 9.3/10. The dermatologist default in Australia, AU$35, available at most pharmacies and online beauty retailers.
- What is the cheapest product on the list?
- The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 at AU$11 is the cheapest entry in the Glow 100, scoring 8.4/10. The Ordinary range as a whole has six entries on the list, all priced under AU$20.
- Who selects the Glow 100?
- Six named, credentialled editors at Glow: Jess Hartmann (Skincare), Maya Lin (Makeup), Sasha Marsh (Hair), Naomi Park (Tan), Hannah Brooks (Devices), Claire Donnelly (Wellness). Selection is against a published five-axis rubric over an 18-month testing window. Methodology at /how-we-review.
Category 01 · 25 products
Skincare. Top 25.
01
La Roche-PosayAnthelios UVMune 400 Invisible Fluid SPF50+
SPF · Daily
The dermatologist default. Doesn't grease, doesn't white-cast, doesn't pill.
02
Alpha-HVitamin A Serum
Retinol · Night
The Aussie retinol that built a cult. Encapsulated, kind enough for daily.
03
Ultra VioletteQueen Screen SPF50+
SPF · Tinted
The hybrid sunscreen-skinscreen that finally made AU SPF aspirational.
04
The OrdinaryNiacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
Active · Daily
The $13 serum that normalised niacinamide. Outperforms products at 4× the price.
05
CeraVeMoisturising Cream
Moisturiser · Daily
Ceramides, hyaluronic, no fragrance, $30. The base layer most routines should start with.
06
AesopPrimrose Facial Hydrating Cream
Moisturiser · Combination
Genuinely lighter than its packaging suggests. The Aesop moisturiser worth the markup.
07
SkinCeuticalsC E Ferulic
Vitamin C · Daily
The clinical-tier vitamin C every other formula compares itself against. Worth the $260.
08
The OrdinaryRetinol 1% in Squalane
Retinol · Night
High-strength retinol for ~$15. The gateway to the category for most Australians.
09
CeraVeFoaming Facial Cleanser
Cleanser · Daily
Strips nothing. Foams just enough. The cleanser that ended the $80 cleanser conversation.
10
Go-ToZincredible SPF50+
SPF · Daily · AU-made
The Australian zinc formula that actually wears well under makeup. No white cast, no greasiness.
11
Alpha-HLiquid Gold Original
Active · Glycolic · Night
The exfoliating treatment that built the brand. Still the benchmark for at-home glycolic.
12
La Roche-PosayEffaclar Gel Cleanser
Cleanser · Oily / acne-prone
Zinc pidolate, gentle but thorough. Dermatologist default for breakout-prone skin.
13
The OrdinaryHyaluronic Acid 2% + B5
Hydrator · Daily
Three molecular weights of hyaluronic. Layers under or over anything.
14
Drunk ElephantProtini Polypeptide Cream
Moisturiser · Mature / dry
Rich, peptide-led, not for everyone. When it suits, it really suits. Read the Confession first.
15
Kiehl'sMidnight Recovery Concentrate
Treatment · Night
The squalane-and-lavender oil that created the night-recovery category in Australia.
16
Paula's Choice2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
Active · BHA · Daily
The salicylic that inspired most of its Aussie imitators. Still the cleanest formula on the AU shelf.
17
The OrdinaryVitamin C Suspension 23%
Vitamin C · Night
High-tolerance, gritty-finish vitamin C for under $12. Honest about its texture.
18
AesopParsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Eye Cream
Eye · Daily
Genuinely improves the under-eye area without making promises it cannot keep.
19
Drunk ElephantC-Firma Fresh Day Serum
Vitamin C · Daily
Reformulated for stability. The C serum to graduate to once you have outgrown The Ordinary.
20
Mario BadescuDrying Lotion
Spot treatment
Pink suspension, salicylic-and-sulfur, works overnight. Still the benchmark for spot treatment.
21
Go-ToExceptionoil Eye Cream
Eye · AU-made
Light, layerable, sits well under makeup. The Australian eye cream that earned its repeat purchase.
22
DermalogicaDaily Microfoliant
Exfoliant · Powder
The powder exfoliant that stayed relevant for two decades. Still the right entry point.
23
The INKEY ListRetinol Serum
Retinol · Beginner
Half the price of competitors, equally tolerable, harder to mess up. Recommended starter retinol.
24
Supergoop!Unseen Sunscreen SPF40
SPF · Primer
Genuinely invisible primer SPF. Earned its hype. The reason every other primer-SPF exists.
25
Medik8Crystal Retinal 6
Retinal · Night
Retinaldehyde — faster than retinol, gentler than tretinoin. The category's emerging benchmark.
Category 02 · 20 products
Makeup. Top 20.
26
Charlotte TilburyHollywood Flawless Filter
Primer-base hybrid
Does what Magic Cream cannot. Layerable, dewy without sliding, photographs beautifully.
27
NARSRadiant Creamy Concealer
Concealer · Hydrating
Brightening without creasing. The under-eye concealer that twelve other brands keep failing to match.
28
Mecca MaxFuture Skin Foundation
Foundation · Mid-coverage
The Mecca-house formula that beat $80 imports in our blind ranking. Australia's best-value base.
29
Fenty BeautyPro Filt'r Soft Matte Foundation
Foundation · Long-wear
The shade range that changed the foundation conversation. Still the benchmark for inclusivity.
30
MaybellineLash Sensational Sky High
Mascara · Daily
The $20 mascara that out-performs $50 imports. Buys you genuine length without clumping.
31
Pat McGrath LabsSkin Fetish: Sublime Skin Foundation
Foundation · Luxury
The luxury foundation that justifies the price. Wears like an investment.
32
Charlotte TilburyPillow Talk Lipstick
Lipstick · Universal
The shade that built the brand. Genuinely flattering across most skin tones.
33
MeritFlush Balm Cream Blush
Blush · Cream
Stick-format cream blush that blends like a serum. Travel-format, every-day formula.
34
Rare BeautySoft Pinch Liquid Blush
Blush · Liquid
The liquid blush that defined a year of TikTok. Pigment intensity earns the price.
35
Anastasia Beverly HillsBrow Wiz
Brow · Pencil
The brow pencil that built the modern brow. Twelve shades, one fine point, still the standard.
36
LancômeLash Idôle Mascara
Mascara · Volumising
The volumising mascara that does not flake. Lifts and separates without smudging.
37
Tower 28BeachPlease Cream Blush
Blush · Sensitive
Sensitive-skin formulation that performs like a colour-led product. The blush our sensitive-skin readers stay loyal to.
38
MACMatte Lipstick in Ruby Woo
Lipstick · Statement
The matte red. Still earns its place forty years after launch.
39
CliniqueAlmost Lipstick in Black Honey
Lipstick · Sheer
The cult lipstick that turns every shade of skin into the version of itself it is trying to be.
40
BenefitGimme Brow+ Volumising Eyebrow Gel
Brow · Gel
For the days the brow pencil is too much work. Tinted fibres, holds all day.
41
NARSSheer Glow Foundation
Foundation · Buildable
The hydrating-but-buildable formula every other foundation aspires to be.
42
GlossierBoy Brow
Brow · Tinted gel
The minimal-effort brow gel that started the soap-brow conversation.
43
Summer FridaysLip Butter Balm
Lip · Balm
The lip balm that earned the cult. Cushioning, glossy, nothing slides.
44
Pat McGrath LabsMatteTrance Lipstick in Elson
Lipstick · Statement
The matte that does not dry the lip. Pat McGrath's signature is in the texture, not the colour.
45
MaybellineTattoo Studio Brow Pen
Brow · Pen
$22 brow pen that beats $50 prestige equivalents on consistency and lasting power.
Category 03 · 15 products
Hair. Top 15.
46
OlaplexNo. 3 Hair Perfector
Bond builder · Treatment
The bond-building treatment that kept its lead. Eight years of evidence behind it.
47
DavinesOI Oil
Oil · Leave-in
Roucou-oil base, light enough for fine hair, conditioning enough for thick. Cult earned.
48
KérastaseElixir Ultime Hair Oil
Oil · Smoothing
Heavier than OI Oil. The oil to use on damaged or coarse hair when you want measurable shine.
49
OlaplexNo. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo
Shampoo · Daily
The shampoo to pair with No. 3. Continues the bond-building work between treatments.
50
Kevin MurphyAngel Wash
Shampoo · Volumising
The Australian-developed volumising shampoo that does not strip colour.
51
RedkenAcidic Bonding Concentrate Conditioner
Conditioner · Repair
Salon-grade conditioner with citric acid bond support. Strongest at-home repair conditioner tested.
52
Color WowDream Coat
Heat protectant · Anti-frizz
The heat-activated humidity barrier. Six months of frizz-free hair from one bottle.
53
TRESemméKeratin Smooth Shampoo
Shampoo · Drugstore
$14 shampoo that competes with $50 alternatives. The drugstore option to recommend.
54
BatisteOriginal Dry Shampoo
Dry shampoo · Daily
The category-defining dry shampoo. Cleaner than its imitators, cheaper than its imitators.
55
OlaplexNo. 8 Bond Intense Moisture Mask
Mask · Bond + Moisture
The mask Olaplex made for the moisture-needy bonds. Compelling for very damaged hair.
56
AvedaDamage Remedy Restructuring Conditioner
Conditioner · Repair
Plant-based bond repair. Lighter than Redken, suits finer hair.
57
DavinesMOMO Moisturising Shampoo
Shampoo · Hydrating
The MOMO line for dehydrated hair. Restores softness without weighing down.
58
PureologyHydrate Shampoo
Shampoo · Colour-treated
Sulphate-free, colour-safe, performs as a daily shampoo without stripping.
59
BriogeoDon't Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask
Mask · Repair
Curly-hair-developed mask that works across textures. The mask to keep in the shower year-round.
60
SchwarzkopfGot2b Heat Protector
Heat protectant · Drugstore
The $12 heat protectant that does the job better than $40 alternatives. Ugly bottle, useful product.
Category 04 · 15 products
Tan. Top 15.
61
Loving Tan2HR Express Deluxe Mousse
Mousse · Express
The most natural finish in the express category. Wears like a slow-tan, develops in two hours.
62
Eco TanWinter Skin Gradual Tan
Gradual · Daily
The Australian gradual tan that turned the category from ritual to routine. Cult-earned.
63
Bondi SandsPure Self Tanning Foam
Mousse · Standard
Fragrance-free, hyaluronic-led, the rebuilt Bondi formula that addressed every legacy criticism.
64
Isle of ParadiseSelf-Tanning Drops
Drops · Customisable
The drop-format that lets you mix tan into moisturiser. Customisable depth, no commitment.
65
Three WarriorsGradual Tan
Gradual · AU-made
Australian, organic-leaning, develops slowly. The gradual tan for skin that reacts to the standard formulas.
66
Tan-LuxeThe Face Illuminating Drops
Drops · Face
The face-only drops that built the face-tan category. Vitamin-rich, dries clear.
67
Bondi SandsEveryday Gradual Tanning Milk
Gradual · Drugstore
$22 gradual tan that earns repeat purchase. The drugstore choice to recommend.
68
St. TropezSelf Tan Express Bronzing Mousse
Mousse · Express
The express mousse that requires more skill than its price suggests. Rewards careful application.
69
Bali BodyFace Tan Water
Water · Face
Toner-format face tan. Layers under skincare, develops gradually, builds custom depth.
70
James ReadH2O Tan Mist Face
Mist · Face
Mist-format face tan, undetectable on application, wears with hyaluronic underneath.
71
Australian GlowSelf Tan Drops for Face
Drops · Face · AU-made
Australian-made face drops. Kind to acne-prone skin, customisable, develops believably on darker tones.
72
Loving TanOriginal Mousse
Mousse · Slow develop
The slower-developing Loving Tan formula. Eight-hour wear, deeper colour, more forgiving.
73
Eco TanCacao Tanning Mousse
Mousse · Organic-leaning
Cacao-based, fragrance-mild, develops with a soft golden undertone.
74
Coco & EveSunny Honey Bali Bronzing Foam
Foam · Hydrating
The brand that brought TikTok-credibility to the category. Mango-extract base, surprisingly clean fade.
75
Bondi SandsLiquid Gold Self Tanning Foam
Foam · Express
The Liquid Gold formula. Faster, deeper, cleaner finish than the original.
Category 05 · 12 products
Devices. Top 12.
76
OmniluxContour Face
LED · Anti-ageing
FDA-cleared, dermatologist-endorsed, clinical-grade results. The $595 device that earns it.
77
NuFACETrinity
Microcurrent · Lifting
The microcurrent device with twenty years of evidence behind it. Actually visible jaw definition over six weeks.
78
CurrentBodySkin LED Light Therapy Mask Series 2
LED · Anti-ageing
The Omnilux competitor that actually competes. Lighter, slightly less powerful, $200 cheaper.
79
PhilipsLumea Prestige IPL BRI957
IPL · Hair removal
The most reliable at-home IPL device on the AU market. Twelve-week visible reduction.
80
ZIIPHalo
Microcurrent · Premium
Nano-current technology, dermatology-grade, app-led protocols. The premium NuFACE alternative.
81
BraunSilk-Expert Pro 5
IPL · Hair removal
The Lumea alternative. Faster glide, slightly less consistent. Better value at AU$500.
82
ForeoLUNA 4
Cleansing · Sonic
The cleansing brush that doesn't shed bristles, doesn't shred. Hygienic, durable, justified.
83
ForeoUFO 2
Mask treatment · Thermal
Beautifully made. Solves a problem most readers do not have. Read the Confession before buying.
84
Dr Dennis GrossSpectraLite FaceWare Pro
LED · Wireless
Wireless, three-minute treatment, durable build. The "I won't actually use it" device people actually use.
85
FaceGymPro
Microcurrent · Affordable
The entry-level microcurrent. Pairs with the FaceGym studio routine. Visible jaw effect at four weeks.
86
Solawave4-in-1 Skincare Wand
Multi-modal · Wand
Red light + microcurrent + therapeutic warmth + facial massage. Four mediocre features in one device.
87
ForeoBEAR
Microcurrent · Compact
The compact microcurrent. Less powerful than NuFACE Trinity, more portable, half the price.
Category 06 · 13 products
Wellness. Top 13.
88
Vida GlowNatural Marine Collagen
Collagen · Powder
Australian-made marine collagen. The smaller daily dose with the cleaner ingredient list.
89
The Beauty ChefCollagen Inner Beauty Boost
Collagen · Liquid
Liquid collagen with fermented vitamins. Genuinely pleasant ritual, supported clinical evidence.
90
BioCeuticalsUltraMuscleze Night
Magnesium · Sleep
Magnesium glycinate for sleep, with theanine and glycine. The Aussie practitioner choice.
91
JSHealthHair + Energy Vitamin
Hair growth · Capsule
Iodine-led, twelve-week visible results, the most-reordered hair vitamin in Glow's database.
92
ImbibeMiracle Collagen
Collagen · Marine
The cleanest marine-collagen formulation tested. No additives, no sweeteners, no shortcuts.
93
SwisseUltiboost Sleep
Sleep · Botanical
Valerian-based sleep formula. The mass-market choice with the strongest evidence base.
94
Ethical NutrientsMega Magnesium Powder
Magnesium · Bioavailable
The high-bioavailability magnesium for genuine deficiency. Practitioner-grade for the home.
95
Nutra OrganicsBeauty Collagen
Collagen · Hydrolysed
Hydrolysed bovine collagen with biotin. Affordable everyday option for collagen-curious users.
96
Vida GlowHairology
Hair growth · Vegan
The vegan-friendly hair vitamin from the Vida Glow team. Kelp-led, twelve-week trial recommended.
97
The Beauty ChefGLOW Inner Beauty Powder
Probiotic · Powder
Fermented probiotic powder with bio-fermented bioactives. The Beauty Chef's flagship formula.
98
NutrafolWomen's Hair Growth Pack
Hair growth · Premium
The clinically-led hair growth supplement. Six-month commitment, supported evidence.
99
Vital ProteinsCollagen Peptides
Collagen · Bovine
The bestseller. Read the Confessions essay before buying — it may not be the right product for you.
100
JSHealthSleep + Calm Formula
Sleep · Botanical
Mass-market sleep botanical. Mild, well-tolerated, would not displace BioCeuticals UltraMuscleze.
Why we publish this list.
The Glow 100 is the single most important editorial moment of the Glow year. Eighteen months of testing distilled into a hundred verdicts. The list of record. The reference document brands chase, journalists cite, and readers bookmark.
We publish it on a fixed annual cadence — every April, the new edition replaces the previous one. Last year's hundred is archived but never silently re-ranked. If a product moved up or down, the new ranking shows it. If a product was knocked off the list entirely, the archived edition explains why.
We do not take submissions for the Glow 100. We do not accept paid consideration. We do not allow brands to suggest which of their products should be ranked. The methodology that produces this list is the same one used for every other ranking on the site — documented at /how-we-review, audited annually by an independent third party.
Read it as the most useful single document we will publish this year. If you only consult Glow once in 2026, consult this.
Jackson Morice
Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Glow
Melbourne, April 2026
Melbourne, April 2026