The judges

The judging panel at the Danish Beauty Award 2025 consists of 13 judges and a jury chairman. All the judges have a special area of ​​competence and function in the panel and each have their own approach to the world of cosmetics. In the composition of the judging panel, emphasis has been placed on the panel collectively possessing deep insight and experience in the various parts of the beauty industry.

The assessment process

The judges will first individually assess the submitted products and look at trends. Then comes the first judging round, which is a closed vote, where the judges, with their own approach, give the products points according to different criteria. The criteria are adapted to the individual category and are about composition, effectiveness, scent (or lack thereof), overall experience, etc. The judges then meet to discuss and to find 5 nominees in each category. The nominees will be announced in March/April 2025. Immediately before the award ceremony, the judges will meet again to find the winners of the Danish Beauty Award in all categories. The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on 25 April 2025.

Impartiality and competence

It is central that the judges are impartial and do not allow special interests to influence the judges' assessment. Before admission to the panel of judges, the individual judge has therefore described his competences and related activities to the DBA, so that the risk of potential conflicts of interest can be uncovered. A set of ethical guidelines has been drawn up by the DBA, which determines how the judges must act and deal with any conflicts of interest, including when a judge is incompetent and unable to vote. DBA can also in special cases choose to suspend a judge – e.g. in connection with a job change, where the act of judging is no longer possible and ethically justifiable.

Every judge must indicate at the start of a product assessment whether he or she is incompetent in relation to the product. At the judges' meetings, where evaluation and assessment take place, it is important that any judge who has a professional collaboration and/or interests in a specific product, himself declares this to the circle of judges before the discussions of the category in question take place. As a judge with interests in a brand or product, you can participate in technical/professional discussions, but the judge has no voting rights. In the final judgments, which determine the final position in a close race, a judge with competency problems may be asked to leave the meeting during the final vote. Alternatively, the judge's assessment can be neutralized in the overall assessment.

Confidentiality

The judges are bound by confidentiality. During the period when the products are selected, tested and judged, you may not discuss the submitted products, their qualities or in any way be in contact with manufacturers or distributors in a way that may have a competitive impact on the judgement. Guidance or advice on products in relation to DBA must only be of a technical, professional nature. No judge can refer from the judges' meetings and all matters surrounding the open discussions at these meetings must remain under DBA's auspices, unless otherwise agreed.

Judges' assessments

All judges' ratings must be treated confidential. Assessments may not be redistributed to third parties and are therefore only a tool in the judges process. All winning products receive a justification from the judges. Nominees and suppliers of registered products can subsequently ask to receive the judges' overall feedback.

'Shadow testers'

The judges occasionally use what we call 'shadow testers', where they put other experts or people in the products' target group (e.g. with acne, rosacea, young/mature skin, hair colour, etc.) to test the products. But all judges must ultimately share experiences, assessment and comments with the rest of the panel.

Sponsors

Sponsorship contributions, contributions to the goodie bag or other product shipments in connection with product launches have no influence on the judges' assessment of products in the competition.

If you have questions about the process and the judges' guidelines, you are always welcome to ask. Contact Anne-Dorte at adm@danishbeautyaward.dk / phone +4522912476.