Large or small, corporate or independent, this year’s winners at Cosmetic Executive Women’s 2023 Beauty Awards, came away with well-earned recognition, peer acknowledgement and industry-wide accolades. The awards were presented at the 29th Annual CEW Beauty Awards luncheon, which honored the most innovative beauty products across 35 categories.

DJ Tiana Verhagen provided the soundtrack to the awards ceremony, as the beauty products of the year took center stage earlier this month in New York City. Jill Scalamandre, CEO, Beekman 1802; and chairwoman, CEW, welcomed attendees and traced the growth of the awards program from its beginning to what has become the pre-eminent beauty honor in the industry, as witnessed by this year’s 1,100 entries. The awards hold the distinction of being the only award voted on by industry insiders, including brand executives, VIPs and leaders in beauty-related industries.

Carlotta Jacobson, president, CEW, said, “I am thrilled to announce the winners of the 2023 CEW Beauty Awards. These represent the best of the best in innovation, creativity and performance.”

This year, all finalists are shoppable on CEW.org, enabling attendees and members to explore and experience the excellence of these award-worthy beauty products firsthand, according to Jacobson.

Scalamandre highlighted the impact of receiving a CEW beauty award.

“As an individual who has worked at both large and small companies, winning a CEW beauty award is all about quality and differentiation. Beyond the tangible benefits, awards are a source of pride; and regardless of a company’s size, we have the power to make a significant impact.”

She noted strong performance in the men’s market this year, the rising trend of the sexual wellness category, and strong performance in skincare.

Of course, CEW is more than the Annual Beauty Awards. Lisa Klein, senior vice president, CEW, highlighted the success of this year’s Beauty Bazaar, its innovative range of beauty entries, CEW’s efforts to advance women in the industry, and the creation of leadership platforms so crucial to the future of the industry. She also thanked Beauty Award sponsors: Amazon, DSM-Firmenich, Dyson, Raymond James, CVS Pharmacy, Nordstrom, Presperse, QVC, P&G Beauty, L’Oréal Groupe, Unilever, NIQ, Therabody, Drunk Elephant, 24 Seven, Victoria Beckham Beauty, Kenvue, Advent International, BeautyBio; and Event Partners, NYSCC, Cosmoprof North America, Beauty Inc, Fairchild Media Group, RPG, PIMS, Cheddar News, Circana, Kaplow Communications, Consultancy Media.

Klein introduced the host of the afternoon, Jessel Taank, star of Bravo’s The Real Housewives of New York franchise, and the first Indian Real Housewife of New York, as well as a tastemaker, brand consultant, and founder, The Know. Taank kicked off the awards by setting the stage for “the beauty products we can’t live without.”

She introduced the Iconic Beauty Award winner of the day, Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey. Thirty-five category awards were announced over the course of the afternoon, with Sustainability honors going to Amika; the People’s Choice Vote for Launch of the Year, going to ELF Power Grip Primer; Ingredients and Formulation honors won by Givaudan Active Beauty PrimalHyal Hydra+; Influencer of the Year honors went to Rose Siard; and the Amazon Customer Obsession Award went to Laneige. 

Sales Gains Across Beauty Categories and Channels

Throughout the event, market statistics were shared which highlighted performance in all beauty categories. Among them, skincare continues to be a strong performer, with facial moisturizer up 15.0% in dollars vs year-ago (Source: NielsenIQ Omnipanel Shopper Total US latest 52 weeks ending 6/17/2023). Meanwhile, sales of facial treatments rose 24.9%, according to NielsenIQ, which reported that sunscreen sales rose 12.3%.

In prestige channels, facial serum sales accounted for nearly 30% of the anti-aging market and brought in close to half of the $152 million gains through August 2023, according to Circana/Beauty Trends/Total Measured Market. In the makeup category, prestige makeup continues to be the fastest growing segment across both prestige and mass markets, increasing 17%, according to Circana.

In bath and body, online searches for ecofriendly products rose 41% in the first seven months of 2023, according to Label Insights. Overall, Circana reported the hand/body lotion market, inclusive of prestige and mass, is growing 8% a year and exceeds $4 billion.

Haircare sales rose 8.2% for the 52 weeks ended June 17, according to NielsenIQ. Men’s grooming led the way with a 34.7% gain. Other categories that outpaced overall segment growth include: accessories, 11.9%; hair growth products, 11.7% and hair treatments, 10.9%.

For the same period, NielsenIQ reported fine fragrance sales jumped 15.1%. Fragrance searches reveal growing interest in ingredients and packaging. For the six months ended July 31, online searches for refillable packaging are up 119%, as are online searches for travel size, up 76%, according to Label Insights. At the same time, Label Insights found online searches are growing for ingredients are vanilla, musk, strawberry, coconut, orange blossom, cherry and chocolate.

Growing Demand for Sexual Health Products

In the men’s grooming category, body cleansers accounted for just 12% of the men’s grooming market, according to Circana. But the product form grew 17% for eight months through August 2023. As a result, body cleansers drove 29% of men’s grooming category growth.
    
Other significant categories tracked by NielsenIQ include sexual health, supplements and indie brands. For the 52 weeks ended June 17, 2023, sexual health sales rose 1.3% and supplement sales rose 9.0%.

But the biggest gains continue to come from indie beauty brands. Indies register $30.5 billion in sales and are growing 15.7% a year, outpacing gains of the overall market, according to NielsenIQ. 

For the eco-conscious, Nielsen reported that plastic-free beauty sales rose 14.9%; vegan beauty sales rose 12.6% and biodegradable beauty is up 11.1%.

Here’s the list of 2023 CEW Beauty Award Winners

Acne

CeraVe Acne Control Cleanser

Anti-Aging

SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Interrupter Advanced

Bath & Body Cleanser

Olay Cleansing & Nourishing Body Wash

Bath & Body Moisturizer

La Roche-Posay Lipikar AP+M Triple Repair Moisturizing Body Cream

Cleanser & Scrub

Beekman 1802 Milk Scrub Oat + Goat Milk Exfoliating Facial Cleanser

Eye Product

MAC Cosmetics M·A·CStack Mascara

Eye Treatment

Farmacy Beauty Wake Up Honey Eye Cream

Face Mask

Drunk Elephant Bouncy Brightfacial

Face Product

Nars Cosmetics Light Reflecting Advanced Skincare Foundation

Hair Coloring

Madison Reed Root Perfection Root Touch Up Kit

Hair Conditioner

Bumble and Bumble Bb.Thickening Plumping Mask

Hair Shampoo

Olaplex No. 4D Clean Volume Detox Dry Shampoo

Hair Style/ Hair Care

Mielle Organics Pomegranate & Honey Air Dry Styling Lotion

Hair Tools

Dyson Airwrap multi-styler

Iconic Beauty Award

Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey

Indie Brand

Bubble and K18 Biomimetic Hairscience

Indie Skincare

Skinfix Barrier+ Skin Barrier Restoring Gel Cream

Lip Product

Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm

Lip Treatment

Supergoop! Lipscreen Sheer SPF 30

Makeup Tools

Tweezerman Lash Guard & Comb

Men's Grooming

Old Spice GentleMan's Blend Exfoliating Body Wash, Himalayan Sea Salt and Glacier Water

Men's Scent

Parfums Christian Dior Sauvage Elixir

Moisturizer (Face)

Olay Regenerist Niacinamide + Peptide 24 Facial Moisturizer

Nail Product

Olive & June The Instant Mani Press-on Nails

Personal Care

Dove 0% Aluminum Deodorant Stick

Sexual Wellness

The Honey Pot Company Intimacy Wipes

Skincare Tools

NuFace Trinity+ Smart Advanced Facial Toning Device

Sun Product

Neutrogena Invisible Daily Defense Sunscreen Lotion SPF 60+

Wellness

Nutrafol Women’s Vegan Hair Growth Nutraceutical

Women's Scent

Billie Eilish Fragrances Eilish No. 2

Influencer of the Year

Rose Siard

Launch of the Year

ELF Power Grip Primer

Ingredients & Formulation

Givaudan Active Beauty PrimalHyal Hydra{+}

Amazon Customer Obsession Award

Laneige

Sustainability

Amika

Additional information about CEW may be found at www.cew.org.