12.09.21
Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW) revealed the winners of the Beauty Creators Awards during a virtual event on December 1. The awards recognize the top performers in 30 categories. The awards honor the creators and teams behind the products, as well as the products themselves. Carlotta Jacobson, president, CEW, was joined by Jill Scalamandre, president, bareMinerals, Buxom and Shiseido Makeup, and CEW chairwoman, welcomed attendees to the newest iteration of the recently re-named awards—which Jacobson noted have been ongoing for the past 27 years.
Scalamandre said that the thinking behind the creation of the products was ultimately key, and she acknowledged not only the brands and products, but also the chemists, marketers, beauty editors, suppliers and retailers, so critical in bringing the top performing products to fruition. CEW received 1,300 submissions, including a 52% increase in products in the wellness category. Jacobson acknowledged the inclusivity of the awards’ range, saying that the process recognizes all manner of beauty products on the market, from startups to global companies employing thousands. Clearly, the democratization of the industry was a thread that highlighted this year’s presentation.
Jacobson thanked Innovation Partners, Firmenich, CVS Pharmacy, Financo Raymond James, QVC, Satisfyer, Presperse, Nielsen IQ, New York Society of Cosmetic Chemists (NYSCC), and Event Partners, Badger & Winters, Beauty Inc, Cheddar News, Perfect You Cam Makeup, Consultancy Media, Fairchild Media Group, Suite K, Kaplow Communications, EWG-Elite World Group, NPD Group, and Ernst & Young; and introduced the event’s hosts, Julia and Batsheva Haart, stars of My Unorthodox Life.
Honoring the Best in Beauty
The event hosts, Julia Haart, and her daughter, Batsheva, are stars of the Netflix television docuseries My Unorthodox Life, which chronicles the daily life of Julia Haart, who is CEO, Elite World Group, her social influencer and their family. As self-professed lovers of “all things beauty,” the duo acknowledged the creativity and ingenuity behind all of the nominations.
The first award was presented by Bridget Love, VP, GMM, Beauty Merchandising QVC and HSN, who said, “Competition was stiff for the QVC Beauty Quest Award this year,” adding that she was delighted to present the award to Gussi Haircare, “the first ever winner of the Quest Award in the hair care space.”
During the past two years, the hair care category increased sales volume by 50%, according to the NPD Group.
In announcing the winners in the men’s and women’s scents in the fragrance category, the Haarts noted fragrance sales rose 14%, with online sales gaining 23.9%. In contrast, according to NielsenIQ data, in-store declines of -1.7%. NPD Group noted men’s fragrance was strong, having quadrupled in sales volume since 2019. Further, fragrance accounted for 56% of gains within the total prestige beauty market.
Men’s Scent Award winner was K by Dolce & Gabbana Eau de Parfum. Women’s Scent honors went to Gucci Bloom Profumi di Fiori Eau de Parfum. NPD noted parfums are the strongest and longest-lasting fragrance concentrations; parfum sales doubled this year, per NPD Group.
The Sustainability Excellence Award, presented by Firmenich, recognized brands that make sustainability an integral part of their process. This year, there was a 71% increase in brands entering the sustainability category. Ilaria Resta, global president, perfumery, Firmenich, explained that it is no longer enough to create a beautiful fragrance; it is essential to contribute to the well-being of the planet, the community, and the environment.
“This award celebrates the future of our planet and attests to our commitment to transparency and sustainability, and the measurable impact of the ingredients and packaging we use,” said Resta.
The winner of the Sustainability Excellence Award of 2021 went to Aveda. The brand’s message, “to care for the world we live in, from the products we make, to the environment, and across products and processes,” embodies the spirit of the Sustainability Award.
The Bath & Body category winner was Supergoop! Glowscreen Body SPF 40, a daily use body lotion with subtle shimmer, to hydrate and protect skin. According to NPD, bath & body sales rose 26% this year, following gains in 2020.
Men’s Grooming honors went to Keep It Anchored, Hair Anchoring Essence for Men, a collection of cleansing and conditioning kits designed to calm oxidative stress to the scalp and reduce hair loss. In the men’s grooming category, body products, which make up a quarter of the men’s grooming category, accounted for 67% of the growth this year, according to the NPD Group.
Essie took the honors in the Nail Product category, with Expressie by Essie in Crop Top and Roll. The nail segment, strong in 2020, continues to generate sales in 2021 at 12% above 2019 levels, according to NPD. The next award, in the Wellness category, was presented by Satisfyer and introduced by Stephanie Trachtenberg, director of marketing & PR for the Americas, Satisfyer. Trachtenberg highlighted growing aspects of wellness in the market, particularly in the areas of nutritional supplements, collagen, stress management, lubricants and balms. The winner in the Wellness category was The Honey Pot Company, for its Organic Moisturizing Lubricant with Organic Strawberry Flavor.
Within the Wellness category, CBD makeup and skin care products that contain cannabis/sativa ingredients spiked in 2020, and this year’s revenues are 72% above 2019 levels, according to NPD. The honors in this category were awarded to Burt’s Bees Full-Spectrum CBD Facial Oil. Gen Z and Millennial consumers are twice as likely as the average consumer to look for skin care products with CBD, per NPD. Facial skin care products containing CBD grew 47.2% in the past year, according to NielsenIQ.
Makeup and Makeup Tools
The winner in the Face Product category was The Ordinary - Concealer, a full coverage formula available in a wide range of shades. Makeup Tools honors went to Sephora Total Coverage Original Sponge. The Eye Product winner was Too Faced Cosmetics Born This Way - The Natural Nudes Eyeshadow Palette. According to NielsenIQ, eye cosmetics lead growth in the cosmetics category, with dollar growth of 15.6% YTD, vs. 7.9% for face cosmetics, and 7.2% for eye cosmetics. Sales of false eyelashes soared 26% YTD, per NielsenIQ.
Lip treatment sales jumped 22%, driven by moisturizing, anti-aging and plumping products, per NPD. The winner in the Lip category was Bobbi Brown Crushed Oil-Infused Gloss, a botanical-infused, non-sticky lip gloss in sheer shades. The makeup category was front and center, as YouCam Makeup, a CEW partner, introduced a scannable QR code during the presentation, for attendees to try different products.
The Hair Care category, which saw a 50% sales volume increase since last year, according to NPD, was next, with honors in the Hair Shampoo/Hair Conditioner category going to Olaplex No. 8 Bond Intense Moisture Mask, a reparative mask to add shine, smoothness and body to damaged hair. The Hair Style/Hair Care category winner was Bumble and Bumble Bb. Curl Defining Cream. According to NielsenIQ, hair care dollar sales were up 9.4%, with online sales 25.5%, and in-store declines of 0.4%.
Hair color sales rose 13%. DIY hair coloring products rose sharply in 2020, and continued climbing in 2021, per NPD. The winner in the Hair Color category was Moroccan Oil Color Depositing Masks. These dual benefit masks deposit temporary color and nurture hair for healthy look and feel. Hair Tools and Hair Accessories, per NielsenIQ, were the fastest growing segments of the Hair Care category. Hair tool sales jumped 27.3% and Hair accessories sales rose 21%. This year’s winner in the Hair Tool category was Dyson Corrale Straightener.
Indies and Skin Care in Growth Mode
The Indie category, sponsored this year by Financo Raymond James, was introduced by Vennette Ho, managing director, global head of beauty and personal care, consumer investment banking, Financo Raymond James. Ho noted the commitment, passion and people behind the brands in the Indie category, and introduced this year’s winner of Best Indie Beauty Brand, Ilia Beauty, skin care-powered makeup, designed to shield the skin from environmental stressors.
In Indie Skincare, Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops, took the honors. According to NPD, 76% of women over the age of 13, reported using facial skin care products, a significant increase over 2020. Drunk Elephant Protini Powerpeptide Resurf Serum won the Skincare Anti-Aging category. Anti-Aging represents 35% of face skin care unit sales, up one point, per NPD. Taking a closer look, “clean” skin care continues to win, representing 32% of skin care sales (NPD).
NPD stated that clinical brands account for 37% of eye treatment product sales, up seven points versus two years ago. The winner in the Eye Treatment category was Olay Regenerist Collagen Peptide24 Eye Cream. Lip Treatment honors went to Too Faced Cosmetics Hangover Pillow Balm Lip Treatment. The Skincare Tool category had two winners, NuFace FIX Line Smoothing Device and Révive Skincare Révolve Contouring Massage Roller.
Sun care was found to be the fastest growing skin care category this year, with NPD noting a 40% increase. Winner in the sun care category was Supergoop! Glowscreen with SPF 40, offering sun protection and hydration.
Grant Industries Inc.’s Granpowder BBP-700 won the Suppliers Award for Ingredients and Formulation, sponsored this year by Presperse. Susanna Fernandes, chair, New York Society of Cosmetic Chemists (NYSCC), and team lead e-sales presented the award and noted the importance of elevating the role of the suppliers and formulators, who are so integral to the creation process in the beauty industry.
Facial moisturizers, a consistently high-performing category, continue to be robust, said NPD, with nearly 45 facial moisturizers sold every minute. This year’s winner in the Facial Moisturizer category was First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Firming Collagen Cream. Other takeaways from NPD included the popularity of cleansers and scrubs, said to be the most used skin care product among Gen Z, Millennials, and Gen X consumers. This year’s winner in the Cleanser and Scrub category was Yes To Avocado Fragrance-Free Daily Cream Cleanser.
NPD data also showed vegan face masks outperforming all other face masks on the market. Honors in the Face Mask category went to Youth To The People Superclay Purify + Clear Power Mask.
The program concluded with the Social Superstar Awards, presented by Emine ErSelcuk, SVP-merchandising, Ipsy, and Cheddar News Anchor Hena Doba. The Social Superstar Awards were unveiled by CEW to represent the votes of the people, in a further effort to democratize the beauty industry. The Social Superstar award went to MAC Cosmetics Lip Pencil. The Iconic Beauty Award honors went to La Mer Créme de la Mer.
Additional category takeaways included the growth of unisex fragrances, up 11% in store during the past 13 weeks, and growing faster than both male and female targeted fragrances (NielsenIQ). Sales of hand and body lotions containing CBD jumped 19.3% this year and clinical brands captured the greatest share of skin care sales and drove the majority of gains (per NPD).
The complete list of winners can be found here.
Scalamandre said that the thinking behind the creation of the products was ultimately key, and she acknowledged not only the brands and products, but also the chemists, marketers, beauty editors, suppliers and retailers, so critical in bringing the top performing products to fruition. CEW received 1,300 submissions, including a 52% increase in products in the wellness category. Jacobson acknowledged the inclusivity of the awards’ range, saying that the process recognizes all manner of beauty products on the market, from startups to global companies employing thousands. Clearly, the democratization of the industry was a thread that highlighted this year’s presentation.
Jacobson thanked Innovation Partners, Firmenich, CVS Pharmacy, Financo Raymond James, QVC, Satisfyer, Presperse, Nielsen IQ, New York Society of Cosmetic Chemists (NYSCC), and Event Partners, Badger & Winters, Beauty Inc, Cheddar News, Perfect You Cam Makeup, Consultancy Media, Fairchild Media Group, Suite K, Kaplow Communications, EWG-Elite World Group, NPD Group, and Ernst & Young; and introduced the event’s hosts, Julia and Batsheva Haart, stars of My Unorthodox Life.
Honoring the Best in Beauty
The event hosts, Julia Haart, and her daughter, Batsheva, are stars of the Netflix television docuseries My Unorthodox Life, which chronicles the daily life of Julia Haart, who is CEO, Elite World Group, her social influencer and their family. As self-professed lovers of “all things beauty,” the duo acknowledged the creativity and ingenuity behind all of the nominations.
The first award was presented by Bridget Love, VP, GMM, Beauty Merchandising QVC and HSN, who said, “Competition was stiff for the QVC Beauty Quest Award this year,” adding that she was delighted to present the award to Gussi Haircare, “the first ever winner of the Quest Award in the hair care space.”
During the past two years, the hair care category increased sales volume by 50%, according to the NPD Group.
In announcing the winners in the men’s and women’s scents in the fragrance category, the Haarts noted fragrance sales rose 14%, with online sales gaining 23.9%. In contrast, according to NielsenIQ data, in-store declines of -1.7%. NPD Group noted men’s fragrance was strong, having quadrupled in sales volume since 2019. Further, fragrance accounted for 56% of gains within the total prestige beauty market.
Men’s Scent Award winner was K by Dolce & Gabbana Eau de Parfum. Women’s Scent honors went to Gucci Bloom Profumi di Fiori Eau de Parfum. NPD noted parfums are the strongest and longest-lasting fragrance concentrations; parfum sales doubled this year, per NPD Group.
The Sustainability Excellence Award, presented by Firmenich, recognized brands that make sustainability an integral part of their process. This year, there was a 71% increase in brands entering the sustainability category. Ilaria Resta, global president, perfumery, Firmenich, explained that it is no longer enough to create a beautiful fragrance; it is essential to contribute to the well-being of the planet, the community, and the environment.
“This award celebrates the future of our planet and attests to our commitment to transparency and sustainability, and the measurable impact of the ingredients and packaging we use,” said Resta.
The winner of the Sustainability Excellence Award of 2021 went to Aveda. The brand’s message, “to care for the world we live in, from the products we make, to the environment, and across products and processes,” embodies the spirit of the Sustainability Award.
The Bath & Body category winner was Supergoop! Glowscreen Body SPF 40, a daily use body lotion with subtle shimmer, to hydrate and protect skin. According to NPD, bath & body sales rose 26% this year, following gains in 2020.
Men’s Grooming honors went to Keep It Anchored, Hair Anchoring Essence for Men, a collection of cleansing and conditioning kits designed to calm oxidative stress to the scalp and reduce hair loss. In the men’s grooming category, body products, which make up a quarter of the men’s grooming category, accounted for 67% of the growth this year, according to the NPD Group.
Essie took the honors in the Nail Product category, with Expressie by Essie in Crop Top and Roll. The nail segment, strong in 2020, continues to generate sales in 2021 at 12% above 2019 levels, according to NPD. The next award, in the Wellness category, was presented by Satisfyer and introduced by Stephanie Trachtenberg, director of marketing & PR for the Americas, Satisfyer. Trachtenberg highlighted growing aspects of wellness in the market, particularly in the areas of nutritional supplements, collagen, stress management, lubricants and balms. The winner in the Wellness category was The Honey Pot Company, for its Organic Moisturizing Lubricant with Organic Strawberry Flavor.
Within the Wellness category, CBD makeup and skin care products that contain cannabis/sativa ingredients spiked in 2020, and this year’s revenues are 72% above 2019 levels, according to NPD. The honors in this category were awarded to Burt’s Bees Full-Spectrum CBD Facial Oil. Gen Z and Millennial consumers are twice as likely as the average consumer to look for skin care products with CBD, per NPD. Facial skin care products containing CBD grew 47.2% in the past year, according to NielsenIQ.
Makeup and Makeup Tools
The winner in the Face Product category was The Ordinary - Concealer, a full coverage formula available in a wide range of shades. Makeup Tools honors went to Sephora Total Coverage Original Sponge. The Eye Product winner was Too Faced Cosmetics Born This Way - The Natural Nudes Eyeshadow Palette. According to NielsenIQ, eye cosmetics lead growth in the cosmetics category, with dollar growth of 15.6% YTD, vs. 7.9% for face cosmetics, and 7.2% for eye cosmetics. Sales of false eyelashes soared 26% YTD, per NielsenIQ.
Lip treatment sales jumped 22%, driven by moisturizing, anti-aging and plumping products, per NPD. The winner in the Lip category was Bobbi Brown Crushed Oil-Infused Gloss, a botanical-infused, non-sticky lip gloss in sheer shades. The makeup category was front and center, as YouCam Makeup, a CEW partner, introduced a scannable QR code during the presentation, for attendees to try different products.
The Hair Care category, which saw a 50% sales volume increase since last year, according to NPD, was next, with honors in the Hair Shampoo/Hair Conditioner category going to Olaplex No. 8 Bond Intense Moisture Mask, a reparative mask to add shine, smoothness and body to damaged hair. The Hair Style/Hair Care category winner was Bumble and Bumble Bb. Curl Defining Cream. According to NielsenIQ, hair care dollar sales were up 9.4%, with online sales 25.5%, and in-store declines of 0.4%.
Hair color sales rose 13%. DIY hair coloring products rose sharply in 2020, and continued climbing in 2021, per NPD. The winner in the Hair Color category was Moroccan Oil Color Depositing Masks. These dual benefit masks deposit temporary color and nurture hair for healthy look and feel. Hair Tools and Hair Accessories, per NielsenIQ, were the fastest growing segments of the Hair Care category. Hair tool sales jumped 27.3% and Hair accessories sales rose 21%. This year’s winner in the Hair Tool category was Dyson Corrale Straightener.
Indies and Skin Care in Growth Mode
The Indie category, sponsored this year by Financo Raymond James, was introduced by Vennette Ho, managing director, global head of beauty and personal care, consumer investment banking, Financo Raymond James. Ho noted the commitment, passion and people behind the brands in the Indie category, and introduced this year’s winner of Best Indie Beauty Brand, Ilia Beauty, skin care-powered makeup, designed to shield the skin from environmental stressors.
In Indie Skincare, Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops, took the honors. According to NPD, 76% of women over the age of 13, reported using facial skin care products, a significant increase over 2020. Drunk Elephant Protini Powerpeptide Resurf Serum won the Skincare Anti-Aging category. Anti-Aging represents 35% of face skin care unit sales, up one point, per NPD. Taking a closer look, “clean” skin care continues to win, representing 32% of skin care sales (NPD).
NPD stated that clinical brands account for 37% of eye treatment product sales, up seven points versus two years ago. The winner in the Eye Treatment category was Olay Regenerist Collagen Peptide24 Eye Cream. Lip Treatment honors went to Too Faced Cosmetics Hangover Pillow Balm Lip Treatment. The Skincare Tool category had two winners, NuFace FIX Line Smoothing Device and Révive Skincare Révolve Contouring Massage Roller.
Sun care was found to be the fastest growing skin care category this year, with NPD noting a 40% increase. Winner in the sun care category was Supergoop! Glowscreen with SPF 40, offering sun protection and hydration.
Grant Industries Inc.’s Granpowder BBP-700 won the Suppliers Award for Ingredients and Formulation, sponsored this year by Presperse. Susanna Fernandes, chair, New York Society of Cosmetic Chemists (NYSCC), and team lead e-sales presented the award and noted the importance of elevating the role of the suppliers and formulators, who are so integral to the creation process in the beauty industry.
Facial moisturizers, a consistently high-performing category, continue to be robust, said NPD, with nearly 45 facial moisturizers sold every minute. This year’s winner in the Facial Moisturizer category was First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Firming Collagen Cream. Other takeaways from NPD included the popularity of cleansers and scrubs, said to be the most used skin care product among Gen Z, Millennials, and Gen X consumers. This year’s winner in the Cleanser and Scrub category was Yes To Avocado Fragrance-Free Daily Cream Cleanser.
NPD data also showed vegan face masks outperforming all other face masks on the market. Honors in the Face Mask category went to Youth To The People Superclay Purify + Clear Power Mask.
The program concluded with the Social Superstar Awards, presented by Emine ErSelcuk, SVP-merchandising, Ipsy, and Cheddar News Anchor Hena Doba. The Social Superstar Awards were unveiled by CEW to represent the votes of the people, in a further effort to democratize the beauty industry. The Social Superstar award went to MAC Cosmetics Lip Pencil. The Iconic Beauty Award honors went to La Mer Créme de la Mer.
Additional category takeaways included the growth of unisex fragrances, up 11% in store during the past 13 weeks, and growing faster than both male and female targeted fragrances (NielsenIQ). Sales of hand and body lotions containing CBD jumped 19.3% this year and clinical brands captured the greatest share of skin care sales and drove the majority of gains (per NPD).
The complete list of winners can be found here.