The Annual CEW Annual Beauty Insider Awards Product Demo is one of the most eagerly anticipated events for beauty media, professionals and influencers. This year, I was there.
By Alison Blackman
Imagine an event where hundreds of beauty products are beautifully displayed in front of you as walk around and touch, smell, even try them, while talking to the creators and company representatives. It’s a beauty editor’s dream, but it’s not a fantasy. The CEW Beauty Awards Products Demo is an annual event that kicks off the awards season of the Cosmetics Executive Women (CEW).
Now in it’s 22nd year. the 2016 demo included more than 703 of the 800 innovative products competing for the coveted CEW Beauty Award Seal. The seal is extremely valuable to the brands and individual products that win in one of 37 total award categories (announced at a fabulous CEW awards luncheon in NYC, May) . It’s the Oscars of the beauty industry, as the Beauty Insider Awards recognize the most innovative beauty products of the year. Winners Winners are judged based on innovation, delivery system and packaging, and are selected by CEW’s United States members totally about 6,000 beauty industry professionals.
Carlotta Jacobson, President of CEW and Jennifer Falik
“Winning a CEW Beauty Insider Award is one of the highest honors in the beauty industry, which is why 429 brands are competing this year – the highest in the history of the Beauty Awards,” says Carlotta Jacobson, President of CEW. “The Awards act as a guide for consumers by recognizing the top beauty products and innovations of the year.” Ms. Jacobson also mentioned that for the first time, social media will really be a part of this process, as the award finalists will be announced live on Twitter on Thursday, March 24. CEW’s Board of Governors and select industry experts will then vote to determine the winners, who will be announced at the Beauty Awards Luncheon May 13 at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City.
no wonder they look happy, they’re inside the CEW Beauty Products Awards Demo
At the preview, more than 2,400 beauty-savvy media, cosmetics professionals, and beauty influencers arrived to check out the products, meet the public relations and marketing representatives, and of course, each other. While it’s exciting and entertaining for an editor like me to see all the products and chat with others in the know, the CEW Beauty Product Demo is also a way for us to get the word out about what’s hot, new and exciting in the world of beauty, especially about new trends, new brands, and new products.
Dior Lipsticks, artfully displayed
this cake is not a beauty product, but it’s an edible feast for the eyes. It was surrounded by cupcakes to keep guests from being too hungry!
Trending: When it comes to trends there are some particularly important for 2016:
Indie Brands: Ms. Jacobson noted in her opening remarks to journalists that more 43 Indie brands are entered in the Indie Brand category, which is a 30% increase from 2015, making indie brands an important focus for the CEW Beauty awards. She also mentioned that the winner of the Indie Brand Beauty Award will get a bonus — a complimentary booth from Cosmoprof North America at their annual show in Las Vegas, (July 24-26) valued at $8,000. Obviously, CEW is really showing some serious support for Indie brands this year.
Beauty Apps: Another new trend in beauty is the creation of “Apps” so CEW has launched the Best Beauty App category, recognizing one mobile beauty app that simplifies the beauty category for users.
Eco Friendly: Eco-friendly products are increasingly popular.CEW will announce the Eco Award category finalists the week of March 14. The CEW Eco Beauty Award recognizes a brand that has moved further toward the goal of sustainability. The award, sponsored by Givaudan, was established to encourage taking steps towards sustainability within the beauty industry.
Product Emphasis: When it comes to actual products, other trends mentioned in the opening remarks included attention on new formulations for foundations, skincare peels and more at-home skincare treatments, and more brow products. That’s just for starters! There’s just so much going on in the world of beauty, and it’s big business!
Sweet Swag: Event attendees don’t go home empty-handed. Most leave lugging a big bag of products estimated to be worth over $1000.00. The nominees for the award donate a certain amount of products so each bag is different and what you might get in yours is the luck of the draw. Here’s a photo of the some of the products I received in my bag. I wish I could share this with each and everyone one of you.
Sponsors: The 2016 CEW Beauty Awards Product Demonstration is sponsored by Givaudan, QVC, ULTA Beauty, Perfect Corp, DermStore, Beauty Inc, Arcade Beauty, Costco Wholesale, Birchbox, Conair + Scunci, Piper Jaffray & Co., RPG, Mintel, Albéa, MaCher, Nielsen, Anisa International, Cosmoprof North America, Rpr Marketing Communications, ChemAid Laboratories, Inc., Verge Creative Group, Consultancy Media, KraftWorks, Suite K, PIMS New York Inc., Good Engine Media, WWD, Tonnie’s Minis, The NPD Group and Ernst & Young LLP.
About CEW: Cosmetic Executive Women, Inc. (CEW) is a global, nonprofit professional organization with 8,000 global members, both men and women, from over 2,250 companies in the beauty and related industries. CEW brings the beauty community together, at every stage of their careers, from every facet of the industry. CEW leads the conversation in beauty, addressing topics that are shaping the future of the industry and provides unparalleled access to industry influencers and thought leaders. CEW provides the connections, tools and leadership development resources to move careers forward. CEW recognizes professional achievement and innovation in the industry to inspire the next generation of leaders. CEW is based in New York City, and also hosts events for the beauty community in Los Angeles. Additionally, CEW has associated organizations in France and the United Kingdom. The CEW Foundation supports Cancer and Careers, a comprehensive program for people balancing work and cancer. For more information, log on to cew.org.
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