The Cosmetics Business Innovation Awards 2013

On 6 June 2013, the inaugural Cosmetics Business Innovation Awards honoured the brightest stars of the beauty industry. Organised by the team behind Cosmetics Business and SPC the awards were presented during an evening ceremony at the London Film Museum, located on the capital’s Southbank.

Uniquely, the event celebrated individuals and companies involved in the beauty business in its entirety – from raw materials to retail – recognising the vital role that each stage plays in the continued success of the industry.

The big night

The evening began with a champagne reception where guests were ‘papped’ by paparazzi-style photographers. During the reception, the Urban Retreat at Harrods team ran a pop-up spa, offering guests treatments including movie style up-dos, brow shaping, make-up touch ups, manicures and henna tattoos.

Following this opportunity to glam up and network, a unique beauty themed dinner was served, interspersed with keynote presentations from industry illuminati and the all important awards ceremony.

The ceremony was hosted by Katie Piper, presenter and founder of The Katie Piper Foundation, which provides support for those living with scars and burns. Piper, herself a survivor of a life-changing acid attack, enlivened the event with her energy, professionalism and clear enthusiasm for an industry that does so much to help people feel better about themselves.

The night helped raise funds for both The Katie Piper Foundation and Look Good…Feel Better, the beauty and fragrance industry’s charity, formed to help women combat the visible side effects of cancer treatment.

The Cosmetics Business Innovation Awards 2013

The best in beauty

More than 150 nominations were received and the standard of entries was outstanding, according to the judges. The awards were divided into four segments, reflecting the different stages of product development. The winner of each category was awarded a beautifully hand-crafted trophy, designed and kindly donated by HCP Packaging.

Finalists in the New Product Development and Innovation sector included:

Innovation in Ingredients: Mibelle Biochemistry, Dove Spa, Sirona Biochem, The Dow Chemical Company and Seppic
Innovation in Packaging: L’Oréal, Jimmy Choo, HCP Packaging, HCT Packaging and OEKAbeauty
Innovation in Technology: X-Rite, Crystal Clear International, Delphic HSE Solutions, Clinogen Ltd and Descomed Limited

In the Retail Innovation category the finalists were:

Premium Beauty Retailer: Urban Retreat at Harrods, Marks & Spencer Your Beauty Department and Debenhams
Mass Beauty Retailer: Superdrug and Tesco Stores
Online Beauty Retailer: feelunique.com, QVC, The Fragrance Shop and Urban Retreat Beautique

Meanwhile in the Brand Innovation sector, finalists included:

Beauty Brand Launch: B. Beauty, Clarins, Selexir of Switzerland, Oriflame and Eyeko
Brand of the Year: nails inc., Gazelli, GLAMGLOW, I Love Cosmetics and Bourjois
Advertising and/or Social Media Campaign: Bare Escentuals, Clariant International, CODE Beautiful, Lipotec and Bio-Oil

Finally in the Creative Teams category, the finalists were:

PR Team or Agency: Bourjois, Pegasus PR and Kilpatrick PR
Store Design and POS: Innovation Premier and Momentum Instore

In addition, there were two Special Awards recognising companies’ commitment to sustainability and rising stars in the beuaty business. Finalists for the

Eco-Sustainability award: Weleda, Northstar Lipids, Neal’s Yard Remedies, Givaudan and BioAmber,

Rising Star in Beauty award: Reena Hammer (Urban Retreat Group), Rose Brown (PHB Ethical Beauty), James Brown (I Love Cosmetics) and Jamila Askarova (Gazelli)

THE WINNERS

New Product Development & Innovation
Innovation in Ingredients: Mibelle Biochemistry – PhytoCellTec Symphytum
Innovation in Cosmetic Packaging: L’Oréal – L’Oréal Paris Mousse Absolue
Innovation Technology: X-Rite – Pantone CAPSURE

Retail Innovation
Premium Beauty Retailer: Urban Retreat at Harrods
Mass Market Beauty Retailer: Superdrug
Online Beauty Retailer: feelunique.com

Brand Innovation
Beauty Brand Launch: B. Beauty
Brand of the Year: nails inc.
Advertising and/or Social Media Campaign: bareMinerals – Be a force of beauty campaign

Creative Teams
PR Team or PR Agency: Bourjois Cosmetics UK
Store Design and POS Innovation: Premier - Dead Sea Premier SALT SPA

Special Award – Eco-Sustainability: Weleda

Special Award – Rising Star in Beauty: Reena Hammer

Judging excellence

The Cosmetics Business Innovation Awards winners were selected by a panel of ten beauty industry experts headed by Emma Reinhold, Editor of SPC and Cosmetics Business. The panel included George Hammer, founder of Urban Retreat Group; Jo Malone, creator of JO LOVES…; Jonathan Ford, Creative Partner at design agency Pearlfisher; Vivienne Rudd, Mintel’s Director of Insight, Beauty & Personal Care; Hilary Dart of Hilary Dart Associates; Julie McManus, Scientific and Technical-Regulatory Affairs Director at L’Oréal UK & Ireland; Aaron Chatterley, founder and CEO of feelunique.com; Alice Hart-Davis, award winning beauty journalist and creator of Good Things; and Simon Duffy, co-founder of Bulldog Natural Skincare.

On the night, four of the judges – Malone, Hammer, McManus and Ford – delivered entertaining and informative keynote speeches about their respective areas of expertise in the beauty business, as well as each encouraging those assembled and the wider industry to continue to innovate and take those all important risks.

Certainly, nobody could accuse any of the night’s winners of being timid or ‘me-too’ companies – they are paving the path for our industry and as such we are proud to recognise their achievements.

For more information about the awards and how you can be involved in the 2014 Cosmetics Business Innovation Awards, visit www.cosmeticsbusiness.com