The Zoe Report

3.12.2025
The winners of TZR 2025 Beauty Groundbreakers Awards mark the best beauty products of 2025
Emma Chao/TZR

The 2025 TZR Beauty Groundbreakers Awards

Another day, another viral beauty product. At least, that’s what your TikTok and Instagram feeds look like in 2025. With countless peptide-packed plumping serums, modern vanilla fragrances, and mascaras that promise extension-length lashes hitting both physical and virtual shelves weekly, brands are prioritizing innovation more than ever. No wonder the simple task of buying a new foundation, moisturizer, or shampoo feels so daunting. The dizzying pace of the industry also makes it nearly impossible to decipher which products are actually worthy of taking up long-term real estate in your medicine cabinet. For the second annual TZR Beauty Groundbreakers Awards, we’re spotlighting the year’s most innovative products and treatments that deliver results and live up to their lofty promises.

For this year’s awards, our beauty team combed through 1,671 product submissions, enlisting TZR editors, BDG staffers, and a panel of the industry’s top experts — from celebrity hairstylists to renowned dermatologists — to test 329 semi-finalist products for a month-and-a-half, then rate them based on ingredient innovation, formula technology, and sustainability initiatives in production and packaging. As the beauty industry continues to churn out more launches than ever, we’re excited to put our expert seal of approval on a set of products and treatments that cut through all of the noise.

Presenting the 107 most groundbreaking beauty products of 2025. We hope you discover a new holy grail (or two) that will revolutionize your beauty routine.

The TZR Beauty Team

Explore By Category

Groundbreakers

Makeup Winners

By TZR Beauty Team

Skin Care Winners

By TZR Beauty Team

Hair Winners

By TZR Beauty Team

Nail Winners

By TZR Beauty Team

Fragrance Winners

By TZR Beauty Team

In-Office Treatments

By TZR Beauty Team

Meet The Guest Judges

Daniel Martin

Makeup Artist

Daniel Martin is a beauty authority and social activist with a passion for education and self-improvement. Technically trained, he has more than 25 years of experience as a professional makeup artist for loyal clientele, including Michelle Yeoh, Ali Wong, Elisabeth Moss, Gemma Chan, Greta Gerwig, Jessica Alba, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jessica Biel, and Meghan Markle. Currently, Daniel serves as the Global Director of Artistry at Tatcha.

Laura Polko

Celebrity Hair Stylist

Laura Polko is a top celebrity hair stylist based in Los Angeles. She’s built up her clientele over 15 years working with some of the industry’s most stylish It girls, including Alix Earle, Maren Morris, and Hailee Steinfeld. Her work has graced the pages of top fashion and beauty publications such as Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, ELLE, and many more. Now, she’s added founder to her list of achievements, co-founding her namesake brand, Laura Polko Los Angeles.

Kim Truong

Celebrity Nail Artist

Kim Truong is one of the most sought-after celebrity and editorial nail artists. Known for her attention to detail, her impressive roster of clientele includes Chrissy Teigen, Taraji P. Henson, the Kardashian/Jenner family, Sofia Richie, and more. Truong’s talents have been featured in top publications such as Vogue, Vogue Australia, Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar Kazakhstan, Elle France, and Net-a-Porter Magazine.

Dr. Dhaval Bhanusali, MD, FAAD

Dermatologist

Dr. Bhanusali is a board-certified dermatologist based in NYC. In his young career, he has built numerous digital health companies in hopes to better the world, including Health Digital, HairStim Labs, Skin Medicinals, and AIRE Health. He also formulated Fast Beauty Co., Amazon’s first skin-care line, and serves as the dermatologist-in-residence for Rhode. He has served as consultant for brands such as P&G, Neutrogena, and CeraVe.

Maya Allen

Beauty Expert & Editor

Maya Allen is a leading beauty expert and editor whose work at Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, InStyle, and New York Magazine’s The Cut has cemented her as a powerful voice in the industry. A sought-after source, Maya has appeared on Access Hollywood, Good Morning America, and The Today Show and starred in Netflix’s Black Beauty Effect. She has advised global brands like L’Oréal and Unilever and partnered with Dior, Nike’s Jordan Brand, and Sephora.

Nai’Vasha Grace

Award Winning Hair Stylist

Nai’Vasha is an award-winning hair stylist, globally acclaimed for her work with natural hair, which has graced red carpets worldwide. She’s styled illustrious names such as Tracee Ellis Ross, Alicia Keys, Ayo Edebiri, Serena Williams, and more. Her extensive travels inspired the inception of luxury hair care line Curl Queen in 2018. Nai’Vasha’s work is frequently featured in leading publications such as Vogue, Vanity Fair, GQ, Marie Claire, and Allure.

Dr. Michelle Henry, MD, FAAD

Dermatologist

Dr. Michelle Henry, M.D., FAAD, is a board-certified dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon. She serves as the CEO and founder of Skin & Aesthetic Surgery of Manhattan, as well as the founder of The Henry Research Group. In addition to her private practice, Henry holds the position of clinical instructor of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College and is a member of the product validation board at L’Oréal.

30 Award-Winning Makeup Products That Outperform The Rest

By TZR Beauty Team

No smudging, caking, or flaking, guaranteed.

(+)

Best Brow Gel

ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS

Brow Freeze Gel

See On Anastasia Beverly Hills

Best Eyeshadow Palette

HERMÈS

Le Regard Ombres d’Hermès, Eyeshadow Quartet

See On Hermès

Best Lightweight Concealer

LANCÔME

Teint Idôle Ultra Wear Care & Glow Serum Concealer

See On Lancôme

Best Color Corrector

ISAMAYA

Color Correcting Serum

See on ISAMAYA

Best Bronzer

ILIA BEAUTY

Sunshift Cream Bronzer

See On Ilia Beauty

(+)

We’ve Tested Hundreds Of Skin Care Products – These 31 Have Come Out On Top

By TZR Beauty Team

Refresh every step of your routine.

(+)

Best Acne Treatment

SOFIE PAVITT FACE

Reset Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Treatment Mask

See On Sofie Pavitt Face

Best Brightening Serum

TATCHA

The Brightening Serum

See On Tatcha

Best Chemical Exfoliator

U BEAUTY

Resurfacing Flash Peel

See On U Beauty

Best Chemical Sunscreen

ALLIES OF SKIN

The One SPF 50 Invisible Sunscreen Gel

See On Dermstore

Best Clarifying Face Mask

NATURIUM

AHA Exfoliating Mask 10%

See On Naturium

(+)

These Hair Care Products Guarantee A Salon-Quality Style Every Time

By TZR Beauty Team

Meet your new holy grails.

(+)

Best Best Conditioner For Medium/Thick Hair

K18

Damage Shield Conditioner

See On K18

Best Best Conditioner For Textured Hair

FENTY HAIR

The Richer One Moisture Repair Deep Conditioner

See On Fenty Beauty

Best Curling Iron

PATTERN BEAUTY

The Interchangeable Curling Iron

See On PATTERN Beauty

Best Dry Shampoo

FUNCTION OF BEAUTY

Detox Everything Dry Shampoo

See On Target

Best Flat Iron

GHD

Chronos Styler

See On ghd

(+)

These Best-In-Class Nail Products Offer The Salon Look At Home

By TZR Beauty Team

From chip-resistant polish to nourishing cuticle oil.

(+)

Best Solid Nail Polish

LE MINI MACARON

Le Sweet Cherry Red Nail Polish

See On Le Mini Macaron

Best Cuticle Treatment

APRÉS NAIL

Winter Returns Cuticle Serum

See On Aprés Nail

Best Press-On Nails

OLIVE & JUNE

The Super Stick Mani

See On Olive & June

Best Clean Nail Polish

JINSOON

Nail Polish

See On JINsoon

Best Nail Treatment

ESSIE

Good As New Nail Perfector

See On Ulta Beauty

(+)

Award-Winning Fragrances Guaranteed To Earn You Compliments

By TZR Beauty Team

Your new signature scent awaits.

(+)

Best Citrus Fragrance

RABANNE

Mesh Metal Eau de Parfum

See On Rabanne

Best Floral Fragrance

PRADA BEAUTY

Paradoxe Virtual Flower Eau de Parfum

See On Prada Beauty

Best Gourmand Fragrance

GLOSSIER

You Rêve Eau de Parfum

See On Glossier

Best Musk Fragrance

CELINE HAUTE PERFUMERIE

ZouZou Eau de Parfum

See On Celine

Best Woody Fragrance

INFINIMENT COTY PARIS

Santal A La Vida Eau de Parfum

See On Infiniment Coty Paris

(+)

These Innovative In-Office Treatments Don’t Hold Back On Results

By TZR Beauty Team

Dermatologists love them for a reason.