There are some awards ceremonies that are long, and feel like they’re dragging on for hours, but that is never the case with the Cosmetic Executive Women’s (CEW) Awards Luncehon at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City. This is the second year I’ve attended this star-studded event, which brings together key players in major cosmetics and fragrance companies, entrepreneurs, and the beauty press. There is an excitement about this event that makes me want to clap and cheer with every winner, as their entire tables do when someone is mentioned, or wins. The “team spirit,” the amazing array of products, the collegial atmosphere, and funnyman Mario Cantone, make the two hours, whiz by.
CEW is an organization that is a “must-know” for those in the beauty industry. It’s headquartered in New York City, but CEW also has associations in the United Kingdom and France. If you want to learn more about CEW and it’s programs and mission, or you want to learn more about the 2007 CEW Beauty Awards, visit their web site http://www.cew.org
Each year, the CEW Beauty Awards honor the developers of the most innovative beauty products of the year. I believe CEW’s more than 4,000 members get to vote on the awards, with the Board of CEW making a definitive selection. I don’t know how many people or companies submitted individual products, but there were 621 product nominated in 31 different categories with five finalists in each category. That’s a LOT of products for consideration. I have tried many of these products personally, and it must be a difficult job to pick just one out of the five, as all have merit (there were a few ties this year).
The CEW Beauty Awards is not a small event in it’s actual, physical size, either. The ballroom of the Waldorf Astoria seats hundreds, and tables were crammed into every possible area of the main floor, but two entire balconies were also filled with tables, choc full of beauty professionals. I was in the first balcony, at a table with some of the finalists, including two lovely women from Easy Straight (we have reviewed their products in past What Works columns), three people from Ralph Lauren, Sally Hershberger’s Assistant (she was one of the presenters), and representatives from Tractenberg and Smashbox Cosmetics (also up for an award). I arrived early enough to get a seat overlooking the dais, so I was able to take some photos, a few of which appear in this blog, if I did it right (smile).
The ceremony runs about two hours, but the host of the vent, comedian/actor Mario Cantone, a former Sex and the City Star (and the voice of Sunsilk “Hairapy”)kept things lively with jokes and comments. 
Other “stars” of the beauty business were paired with celebrities such as Ivanka Trump, Top Chef host Padma Lakshmi, actress Sherri Saum, model Crystal Renn, Pirates of the Caribbean actress Naomi Harris, and Shear Genius judge and celebrity hairstylist Sally Hershberger, to present the awards in various categories. 
The winner’s awards are statues are by Lalique, featuring a graceful woman’s torso. Winning one of these is a bit like getting an Oscar or an Emmy if you are in the beauty biz. As CEW President Carlotta Jacobson said when she opened the ceremonies, and so many winners mentioned as well, winning a CEW beauty award is a definite recommendation to women and men around the world who want the best-of-the-best at various price-points. It’s actually a “big deal.” Other sponsors of the awards are: Allure, Givaudan, Arcade Marketing, FreshLook Color Contact Lenses, CVS/pharmacy, Restylane, Crest Whitestrips Daily Multicare, Rohm and Haas, Lalique, WWD Beauty Biz, Suite K, The Royal Promotion Group, KraftWorks, Vidicom, Ma Cher, HBA Global Expo, Alpha Logica, Digital Plus, Rpr Marketing Communications, Raw Media Network and Palmer’s.
So who won? Of course you want to know! The 2007 CEW Beauty Awards winners are:
FACIAL SKINCARE
Acne Treatment $10 and over – MD Skincare by Dr. Dennis Gross All-Over Blemish Solution
Acne Treatment Under $10 — Neutrogena Rapid Clear Pads
Anti-Aging $30 and over — Patricia Wexler M.D. Dermatology Wexler Intensive Night Reversal & Repair Cream
Anti-Aging Under $30 – Olay Definity Deep Penetrating Foaming Moisturizer
Cleanser & Scrub $12 and over – Clinique Liquid Facial Soap
Cleanser & Scrub Under $12 – Dove Energy Glow Skin Brightening Facial Cleanser
Eye Treatment $20 and over — Avon Anew Clinical Eye Lift
Eye Treatment Under $20 – Tweezerman After Tweeze Soothing Cream
Lip Treatment $14 and over – FusionBeauty LipFusion XL
Lip Treatment Under $14 – Tarte fRxtion Sugar Exfoliator & Lip Balm Duo
Moisturizer $30 and over – Shiseido Cosmetics Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Moisturizing Cream
Moisturizer Under $30 – Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream
Peel and Mask $25 and over- Shiseido Cosmetics Benefiance Pure Retinol Face Mask
Peel & Mask Under $25 – Lumene Time Freeze Instant Lift Mask
MEN’S SKINCARE
Men’s Skincare $15 and over (this was a tie) Kiehl’s Eye Alert and The Art of Shaving Body Scrub with Tangerine and Eucalyptus Essential Oils
MAKEUP
Eye Product $15 and over – Chanel Inimitable Mascara
Eye Product Under $15 – CoverGirl LashExact Mascara
Face Product $18 and over – SK-II AirTouch Foundation
Face Product Under $18 – M.A.C Cosmetics Studio Touch-Up Stick
Lip Product $15 and over – Chanel Rouge Allure Luminous Satin Lip Colour
Lip Product Under $15 – Bourjois Paris Effet 3D Mobile Cell Phone Charm *see the review in our latest What Works Column
HAIR CARE
Hair Care & Coloring Product $15 and over – Frédéric Fekkai Ageless Damage-Defense Capsules
Hair Care & Coloring Product Under $15 – John Frieda Professional Hair Care Luminous Color Glaze
BATH & BODY
Body Treatment $15 and over – Origins Natural Resources Modern Friction for the Body
Body Treatment Under $15 – Dove Energy Glow Shimmering Lotion
Scented Bath & Body $15 and over – C.O. Bigelow Lemon Cream Body WashScented Bath & Body Under $15 – Olay Body Wash plus Ribbons
NAILS
Nail Care & Color Under $12 – Avon Instant Manicure
SUN
Sun Product $15 and over (this was a tie) – Clarins Sun Wrinkle Control Eye Contour Care SPF 30 and La Roche-Posay Anthelios SX
Sun Product Under $15 – Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunblock SPF 55
SCENT
Women’s Scent $35 and over – Prada Eau de Parfum Tendre by Prada
Women’s Scent Under $35 (this was a tie) Grassroots Happily Ever After and Sonia Kashuk Beauty @Target Sonia’s Solid Perfume Palette
Men’s Sent $30 and over – Sean John Fragrances / Estée Lauder Unforgivable by Sean John
INDIE BEAUTY AWARD (celebrates innovation in independent companies that have been in existence for less than five years) 2007 Indie Beauty Award Winner: Sskyn ICELAND