This year’s winners will be announced at the Cosmetic Executive Women awards luncheon event (sponsored by The New York Times) on May 18 at the Midtown Hilton in New York.
The long-running Beauty Awards rely on the expertise of beauty industry insiders—CEW members vote to determine the finalists and the organization’s board of governors and select industry influencers determine the winners.
“For more than two decades, the CEW Beauty Awards continue to be a primary resource for consumers to help navigate the crowded beauty aisles,” explains Carlotta Jacobson, president of CEW, in a media release about the finalists.
“There are countless products that launch each year across all categories. The products that become finalists are voted on by the industry – those who know the best in beauty. Further, the breadth of innovation makes these awards even more important to consumers, who use them as another indicator as to what's best in the marketplace,” she says.
Indie standouts
There are four award categories expressly for indie brands—indie skin care, indie hair, indie makeup, and indie brand—as well as several other categories where startup ventures and entrepreneur-led brands compete.
“CEW saw a 10% increase of indie entrants from 2017, which demonstrates the prominence of these blooming brands in the industry,” according to the organization’s media release.
Finalists for Indie Brand span several categories: ColourPop Cosmetics, Commodity, Drunk Elephant, Farmacy Beauty, OUAI Haircare, and Pat McGrath Labs.
The finalists for Indie Hair include Briogeo Hair Care’s Scalp Revival Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-exfoliating Shampoo, Pure CBD Shampoo from CBD for Life, Cuvée Beauty’s Volumizing Mist, Apple Cider Vinegar Scalp Scrub with Pink Himalayan Sea Salt from dpHue, SEVEN haircare’s Kente Bond Conditioner, and The Mane Choice’s Heavenly Halo Herbal Hair Tonic & Soy Milk Deep Hydration Pre-poo.
For Indie Makeup the finalists are Green Tea Fiber Brow Builder from 100% Pure, Satin Cream Lip Crayon from Ilia, Ultra Foil Shimmer Shadows Palette from Jouer Cosmetics, Browfood Aqua Brow Powder + Pencil Duo from LashFood, The Weekender from The BrowGal, and the Matte Blur Stick from tréStiQue.
And in Indie Skin Care, the finalists are Sensitive Skincare for Adults All Natural Healing Ointment from Babo Botanicals, T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial from Drunk Elephant, Hello FAB Coconut Skin Smoothie Priming Moisturizer from First Aid Beauty, Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask from Glow Recipe, Matcha Toner from Milk Makeup, and Artic Hydration Rubberizing Mask from Skyn Iceland.
Search through the full list of finalists here.
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Deanna Utroske, CosmeticsDesign.com Editor, covers beauty business news in the Americas region and publishes the weekly Indie Beauty Profile column, showcasing the inspiring work of entrepreneurs and innovative brands.