Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW) celebrated the year’s most innovative beauty products at its 2024 Beauty Awards luncheon earlier this month, at New York’s Marriott Marquis. The annual event, hosted this year by Fat Mascara podcasters, Jessica Matlin and Jennifer Sullivan, recognized an impressive array of cosmetic products across 41 categories, honored the winners, and highlighted market growth in numerous beauty categories over the past year.

A rousing opening dance performance by The Laws Dance Group, choreographed by Jason Laws (BookAFlashMob.com), brought the performers down from the stage and into the midst of the ballroom. From there, CEW President Carlotta Jacobson, took the stage to welcome attendees. She thanked the supporters of CEW and the day’s event, and acknowledged the 1,000 product submissions received and the 500 companies that were represented.

“Congratulations to all of the 2024 CEW Beauty Award winners,” said Jacobson, “The innovation, creativity, and continued drive to advance the industry is remarkable and a true testament to the future of the beauty business.”

This year marked the 30^th anniversary of the CEW Beauty Awards, which are recognized as the only ones voted on by industry insiders, including brand executives, VIPs and leaders in beauty-related industries. DJs Joscelyne Delgado & Gianna Faith, kept the energy going, as the award ceremony kicked off with the Iconic Beauty award.

MAC Is an Iconic Beauty

This year’s winner of the Iconic Beauty award was MAC Cosmetics Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation. The Wellness category followed, encompassing Wellness, Sexual Wellness, Men’s Grooming and Personal Care Product. Throughout the ceremony, presenters shared market statistics to provide context for each category. The Personal Care category, according to Circana Complete Beauty, including skincare deodorant and fragrance deodorant, grew 10%, inclusive of prestige, masstige, and mass brands, and the total US deodorant market exceeding $3.8 billion.

The Consumer Obsession Award, following Wellness, was presented by Amazon’s Melis del Rey, GM of Beauty, Baby and Beauty Technology. Honors went to Clinique this year. Segueing into the Fragrance and Body category, which included Body Moisturizer/Treatment, Personal Scent: Men, Personal Scent: Women, Personal Scent: Gender Neutral, Home Scent, and Body Wash/Scrub, Larissa Jensen, vice president, Circana, provided a look at market data in those areas. In particular, Jensen cited a 14% increase in body moisturizers/treatment sales across prestige and mass retail, which is being driven by body mists/sprays, lotions/creams, and body oils.

In Personal Scent: Men, the number of U.S. consumers that purchased men’s scent this year expanded 14%, according to Circana.  In Personal Scent: Women, nearly two women’s fragrance products are said to be sold every second in the US, per Circana. Closing the Fragrance & Body category, Therese-Ann D’Ambrosia, VP-Beauty & personal care vertical lead, NielsenIQ, presented the award for Body Wash/Scrub to LaRoche-Posay Lipikar AP+ Gentle Foaming Cleansing Oil.

Sustainability, Makeup and Indie’s Best

The Sustainability Excellence Award, presented by Robin Mason, president NAM fine fragrance, DSM-Firmenich, was awarded to Prose, a carbon-neutral custom beauty brand, recognized for its sustainable practices, climate neutral certifications and responsible ingredient sourcing.

Moving on to Makeup, which included Base & Complexion Product, Makeup Tools, Lip Color Product, Nail Product and Eye/Brow Product, Circana cited significant growth in the lip category, noting that lip remains the fastest growing segment within makeup, increasing 11% in dollars and +7% in units, driven by tinted lip oils and balms. Adding pizazz to the Lip Category honors, was singer and rapper, Lil Mama, known for her song, “Lip Gloss,” and her new lip gloss collection. She danced onto the stage to present the Lip Color Product award to Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Tinted Lip Oil. Rare Beauty founder, Selena Gomez, accepted the award via video.

In eye/brow product category news, consumer demand is strong for performance, with 290 mascaras sold every minute in the US (Source: Circana Complete Beauty). Clinique High Impact High-Fi Full Volume Mascara, took home the Eye/Brow Product honors.

The Indie category awards, presented by Raymond James, were announced by Vennette Ho, managing director, global head of beauty & personal care, investment banking, Raymond James. The Indies comprise the Indie Skincare Beauty Award, Indie Brand Beauty, Indie Makeup and Indie Scent. Indie brands continue to drive the industry forward with innovative products including serums, scents and reparative skin creams. Indie Skin Care honors went to SkinFix Barrier + Triple Lipid + Collagen Activating Serum; Indie Beauty Brand, Makeup by Mario; Indie Makeup Product, Saie Glowy Super Skin Weightless Hydrobounce Serum Foundation; and the Indie Scent winner was Homecourt Balsam Fireplace Scent.

Launch of the Year, Ingredients and Influencers

The Launch of the Year Award, which is chosen by consumers went to ELF Cosmetics Halo Glow Highlighter Wand – Champagne Campaign. The Supplier’s Award: Ingredients and Formulation, presented by Dr. Amber O. Evans, chairwoman, New York Society of Cosmetic Chemists (NYSCC), and sponsored by NYSCC, was awarded to DSM-Firmenich, for DSM-Firmenich Eterwell Youth.

Ayla Anaya, President, PIMS, presented the Influencer of the Year Award to Alejandra Torres @iallietorres.

Hair and Skincare

Kahh Spence, Beauty & Style Expert and Creative Entrepreneur introduced the hair category, noting significant markers in growth for the market. Shampoo and conditioner sales increased 5% and surpassed $8 billion dollars. In addition, hair treatment sales rose 11%, according to Circana Complete Beauty. Oribe Serene Scalp Oil Control Shampoo took home the shampoo honors; while the conditioner award went to Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate 5-Minute Liquid Mask. In hair care treatment, honors were awarded to K18 Hairscience Molecular Repair Oil; and hair styling honors went to Bumble and Bumble Thickening Dryspun Texture Spray Light.

Shab Caspara, board-certified trichologist and founder, Leona, presented the award for Natural/Textured Hair Product, noting that products designed for wavy/curly/coily hair brought in upwards of a quarter billion dollars within prestige retail and grew double digits vs. one year ago (+12%), according to Circana. The winner in the Natural/Textured Hair Product category was SheaMoisture Amla Oil Bond Repair Leave-In Conditioner.

Hair color honors went to Madison Reed Root Perfection Root Touch-Up Kit, promising salon quality results without harsh ingredients. Dyson’s Airstrait Straightener won the honor in Hair Tools and completed the category.

Skincare, introduced by Celebrity Esthetician Ian Michael Crumm was the final category of the day. Skincare comprised facial cleanser/scrub, skincare tools, suncare, facial moisturizer, facial treatment, acne product, facial serum, eye/brow treatment, and lip treatment. Crumm cited a 10% sales increase in the skincare category, and strong performance in sun care products. According to Circana, 21 million people purchased sun products in the 12 months ending August 2024, an increase of 13% versus one year ago. Facial moisturizer also grew 13% since last year.

Acne treatment products demonstrated strong growth as well. While prestige retail had strong double-digit growth in acne treatment products, +15% in dollars, mass retail is outpacing prestige, growing 22%. (Source: Circana Prestige Beauty Total Measured Market/OmniMarket). Prestige Face Serums targeted for mature or sensitive skin were also strong, bringing in nearly $80 million in incremental dollar gains (Source: Circana Prestige Beauty).

Dr. Dhaval Bhanusali, board-certified dermatologist, Hudson Dermatology & Laser Surgery, presented the honors for the Acne Product of the Year Award, which was CeraVe Acne Foaming Wash. Other winners in the skincare category were Facial Cleanser/Scrub: CeraVe Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser; Skincare Tool, NuFace Trinity + Complete Set; Suncare: SuperGoop! Glowscreen SPF 40 – Golden Hour; Facial Moisturizer: Beekman 1802 Oh! Mega Milk Fermented Barrier Boosting Facial Oil; Facial Treatment: Laneige Bouncy and Firm Sleeping Mask; Facial Serum: Olay Super Serum; Eye/Brow Treatment: Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream; and Lip Treatment: ELF Skin Holy Hydration! Lip Mask.

Fat Mascara’s Jessica Matlin and Jennifer Sullivan, closed the show, congratulating the winners and extending holiday wishes. The complete list of winners and event sponsors follows.

The 2024 Beauty Award Winners:

Acne

CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Wash

Base & Complexion

Drunk Elephant B-Goldi Bright Drops

Body Moisturizer/Treatment

Dermalogica Clarifying Bacne Spray

Body Wash/Scrub

La Roche-Posay Lipikar AP+ Gentle Foaming Cleansing Oil

Eye/Brow Product (Makeup)

Clinique High Impact High-Fi Full Volume Mascara

Eye/Brow Treatment (Skin)

Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream

Facial Cleanser/Scrub

CeraVe Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser

Facial Moisturizer

Beekman 1802 Oh! Mega Milk Fermented Barrier Boosting Facial Oil

Facial Serum

Olay Super Serum

Facial Treatment

LANEIGE Bouncy & Firm Sleeping Mask

Hair Care/Treatment

K18 Hairscience Molecular Repair Hair Oil

Hair Color

Madison Reed Root Perfection Root Touch Up Kit

Conditioner

Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate 5-Minute Liquid Mask

Shampoo

Oribe Serene Scalp Oil Control Shampoo

Hair Styling Product

Bumble and bumble Thickening Dryspun Texture Spray Light

Hair Tools and Accessories

Dyson Airstrait Straightener

Natural/Textured Hair Product

SheaMoisture Amla Oil Bond Repair Leave-In Conditioner

Iconic Beauty Product

MAC Cosmetics Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation

Indie Brand (Presented by Raymond James)

Makeup by Mario

Indie Makeup Product (Presented by Raymond James)

Saie Glowy Super Skin Weightless Hydrobounce Serum Foundation

Indie Scent (Presented by Raymond James)

Homecourt Balsam Fireplace Scent

Indie Skincare Product (Presented by Raymond James)

Skinfix Barrier+ Triple Lipid + Collagen Activating Serum

Lip Color Product

Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Tinted Lip Oil

Lip Treatment

ELF Skin Holy Hydration! Lip Mask

Makeup Tool

Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Face 2.0 Teardrop Complexion Kabuki Brush

Men’s Grooming

Old Spice Super Hydration Body Wash GentleMans Blend Vanilla + Shea Butter

Nail Product

Essie Hard to Resist Advance Nail Strengthener

and Olive & June The Super Stick Mani

Personal Care Product

Native Whole Body Deodorant Stick

Home Scent

Bath & Body Works Laundry Day Wallflowers Fragrance Bulb and Scent Control Heater

Personal Scent: Gender Neutral

Diptyque L’Eau Papier Eau de Toilette

Personal Scent: Men

Creed Absolu Aventus

Personal Scent: Women

Parfums Christian Dior Miss Dior Parfum

Sexual Wellness

Love Wellness – PH Balanced Cleanser

Skincare Tool

NuFACE Trinity+ Complete Set

Suncare

Supergoop! Glowscreen SPF 40 – Golden Hour

Wellness

Bath & Body Works Aroma Breathe Deep Eucalyptus Lavender Essential Oil Mist

Supplier’s Award: Ingredients & Formulation (Presented by NYSCC)

DSM-Firmenich Etherwell Youth

Sustainability Excellence Award (Presented by DSM-Firmenich)

Prose

Consumer Obsession Award (Presented by Amazon)

Clinique

Launch of the Year:

ELF Cosmetics Halo Glow Highlighter Beauty Wand – Champagne Campaign

Microinfluencer of the Year

Alejandra Torres @iallietorres

Platinum Sponsors: Amazon Beauty, DSM-Firmenich, Evolus

Gold Sponsors: Raymond James, L’Oréal Groupe, Presperse, Unilever, QVC, Nordstrom, CVS Pharmacy, Bazaarvoice, P&G Beauty

Silver and Silver Plus Sponsors: Drunk Elephant, Beauty Barrage, NielsenIQ, Advent International, 24 Seven, Victoria Beckham Beauty, Kenvue, Future U.S., Civic Science

Event Partners: NYSCC, Futura Collective, PIMS, Cosmoprof North America, RPG, Circana, Consultancy Media.

Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW) is a global network of 9,000+ thought leaders, trendsetters, and rising stars in the beauty industry. Additional information may be found at: www.cew.org.