LIPS Best Cosmetics 2026 First Half Announced Today! Highlighting the Most Popular Beauty Items of the First Half of 2026

AppBrew Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Takashi Matsuda) has announced the 'LIPS Best Cosmetics 2026 First Half' on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, through its beauty platform 'LIPS'.

1. What is the 'LIPS Best Cosmetics 2026 First Half'?

'LIPS Best Cosmetics' aims to become the most trusted beauty award by selecting winners based on genuine user reviews and voting data.

This year, in addition to the 'First Half New Product Grand Prize' and 'First Half New Product Award', we are introducing the 'First Half Passion Awards', which recognize items that have gained strong support for their unique features and values.

Details of the 'LIPS Best Cosmetics 2026 First Half' Award Categories

First Half New Product Grand Prize / First Half New Product Award

Recognizes the most popular products launched during the first half of 2026, categorized by product type.

Review collection period: October 21, 2025 – April 13, 2026 Product launch date eligibility period: October 17, 2025 – April 13, 2026 Total reviews analyzed: 79,772 Total products evaluated: 2,917

First Half Passion Awards

Recognizes products based not only on overall ratings but also on specific attributes such as 'curl', 'shine', and 'packaging appeal'.

Review collection period: October 21, 2025 – April 13, 2026 Product launch eligibility period: All products registered on LIPS as of April 13, 2026 Total reviews analyzed: 197,190 Total products evaluated: 12,934

2. 'LIPS Best Cosmetics 2026 First Half New Product Grand Prize' Winners

shu uemura / Bright Cleansing Oil

According to LIPS research (*1), many users prioritize 'cleansing' within skincare, indicating strong interest in foundational skincare.

In recent years, demand for dullness care due to dryness has steadily increased. The product’s ability to incorporate radiance care into the daily cleansing step has gained support. Its unique formula, featuring fermented ingredients (*2), which helps improve the skin’s foundation (*3), resonated with beauty-conscious users.

*1: LIPS user survey data (N=2,321)

*2: Sake lees extract, Bifidobacterium ferment lysate (skin conditioning ingredients)

*3: Stratum corneum

MAQuillAGE / Essence Liquid EX Bright Glow

Amid ongoing trends emphasizing radiance, this product gained significant attention for its bright finish reminiscent of 'jade-like skin' (*4). Despite containing glutathione (*5) and unique Bright Peach Pearl, it achieves a natural look without whitening cast—earning high praise.

User comments such as 'I love the bright color, rare in Japanese cosmetics!' suggest it successfully met consumer demand for both radiance and natural-looking skin, contributing to its award win.

*4: Makeup effect

*5: Skin conditioning and protection

Dior / Dior Addict Lip Glow Oil

Recent lip trends show growing preference for finishes that enhance natural lip beauty rather than heavy color coverage.

The product gained attention for its Color Revival Technology, which reacts to lip pH, and its shine from cherry oil (*6), earning high ratings on LIPS. Praised as the 'explosive beauty lip', its sheer color payoff and moisturizing finish support the trend toward 'no-makeup makeup' looks, establishing it as a standout item.

*6: Prunus avium (sweet cherry) seed oil (moisturizing ingredient)

melt / Creamy Melt Powder Biole / Ouchi de Esthe Deep Clay Facial Cape / Cape for Straight

Visée / Layered Fulli Cheek Narisu Up / by365 Powder UV Gel Yunth / Nama AZ Sheet Mask CipiCipi / CipiCipi Dewy Film Tint R

View the special page

LIPS Best Cosmetics 2026 First Half Special Page

3. The Star of Beauty Trends in the First Half of 2026: #Radiance

Following the 2025 pore care boom, 'radiance care' has become the central trend in the 2026 beauty market. Consumer interest has grown in combating yellowish dullness caused by skin glycation and achieving brighter skin appearance. Ingredients such as glutathione, PDRN, and azelaic acid, known for enhancing moisture and radiance, have gained prominence.

In base makeup, the 'real brightening' trend, exemplified by 'jade foundation serums', continues to expand. On lips, sheer, glossy finishes and serum-inspired formulas are popular. The boundary between skincare and makeup is blurring, with a growing emphasis on enhancing natural skin beauty.

Image by LIPS (Photo: Yuki Inagaki)

4. Webinar on June 23, 2026: Reviewing First-Half Trends and Highlighting Second-Half Topics

We will review 2026’s beauty trends based on the award-winning products and preview upcoming second-half trends. Registered participants will receive a webinar URL link via the form below. Registration closes at 23:59 on Monday, June 22, 2026.

Register for the Webinar

5. Special Content to Celebrate the 'LIPS Best Cosmetics 2026 First Half'

'LIPS Collection' showcases trending makeup looks that defined the first half of the year.

View 'LIPS Collection'

To commemorate the announcement of 'LIPS Best Cosmetics 2026', we are hosting a hashtag campaign, 'LIPS Posting Award', where users share their favorite items on the platform. For details, please see the article.

Join the 'LIPS Posting Award'

Try the 'Best Cosmetics Fortune Teller' on the special page, post your result on X with the hashtag #LIPS_Fate_Best_Cosmetics_Gacha, and you could win award-winning products. Don’t miss this exciting campaign!

Spin the 'Fate Best Cosmetics Gacha'

About LIPS

Launched in January 2017, LIPS achieved the 'No.1 downloaded cosmetics and makeup review search app' in Japan (Source: AppTweak, domestic iOS & Android combined, January 2020 – June 2025). In October 2022, it rebranded with a new logo reflecting its concept: 'Be more freely who you want to be.' The platform empowers individuals of all genders and generations to freely pursue their 'happiness' and 'ideal self' through makeup and beauty. As of October 2025, it surpassed 14 million cumulative downloads (based on company research, January 2017 – October 2025, total downloads from App Store and Google Play). LIPS offers a wide range of free features and content, including product reviews, user interactions, popularity rankings, new product information, and gift campaigns.

Company Overview

Company Name: AppBrew Co., Ltd. Headquarters: 4F, Tosei Honcho Building, 1-11-6 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo CEO: Takashi Matsuda