Shining light on 

• innovations
• passion
• brands
• products
• people
• new markets
• inclusivity
• sustainability
• ideas
• teams
• community
• visionaries
• founders

Nominees

• Incredible Innovations

  Topflight brands see the need and set the trend with new designs, spirited campaigns and genuine purpose

  • Best Social Media

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    Bathtubs, shelfies, and viral overshares might win likes—but truly exceptional brands go beyond the algorithm. The smartest social players use their platforms to spark connection, foster community, and stay authentic in a space that’s always shifting. In a world where one misstep can spark a backlash and one TikTok can sell out an entire SKU, these brands showed up, stayed true, and stood out.

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  • Best Packaging

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    Refillable, functional, and impossibly chic—great packaging is more than just a pretty face. It protects the product, elevates the unboxing moment, and becomes a physical expression of a brand’s identity, all the while executing a noble mission. Whether it’s a sculptural glass jar or a cleverly designed carton, this is the packaging that made us pause, admire, and maybe even keep the empty.

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  • Inclusivity Champion

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    Inclusivity can be niche, driven by a desire to serve overlooked communities—or it can be expansive, aiming to reflect the full spectrum of today’s beauty consumer. However it manifests, we applaud the brands making inclusivity a guiding principle, not a marketing tactic.

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  • Sustainability Champion

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    Building a better beauty industry means building a better world. These brands are proving that sustainability and innovation can go hand-in-hand, from reducing waste to rethinking ingredients, packaging, and supply chains.

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  • Product Innovation – Technology

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    AI-powered tools, robotics, and next-generation devices are redefining how consumers care for their skin, hair, and bodies. This category recognizes consumer-facing devices and tech-enabled beauty products designed for use as part of a beauty and wellness routine. These innovations stand out for their advanced technology, proven results, and capabilities that signal the industry’s next chapter.

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  • Product Innovation – Formulation

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    We may say we’ve seen it all—but then comes a formula that challenges what we thought was possible. Whether it’s a streamlined hero product, a breakthrough in texture or delivery, or a clean reformulation of a once-problematic category, these innovations remind us that there’s still magic to be made in the lab. These are the launches that redefined routines and made consumers rethink what a product can do.

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  • Philanthropy Champion

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    In beauty, impact isn’t just about transformation on the outside. The most inspiring brands see their business as a vehicle for broader change—whether that means championing mental health, advancing racial equity, supporting local communities, or amplifying underrepresented voices. These brands don’t just write checks or run campaigns; they make giving back a part of how they create, operate, communicate, and lead. For them, philanthropy isn’t a side project—it’s an extension of their purpose.

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  • Treatment

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    Whether it lifts, sculpts, tightens, or transforms, a great treatment doesn’t just work—it wows. These services deliver real results and spark the kind of word-of-mouth that only great skin (or body) can. Recognized for their innovation, effectiveness, and rising popularity, these modalities and the practitioners behind them are shaping the future of wellness or aesthetics—one glow-up at a time.

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  • Technology Platforms

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    As the market becomes more complex and competitive, technology and AI are becoming indispensable to growing a beauty brand. What was once considered a competitive advantage is now core infrastructure, powering smarter decisions, faster execution, and scalable growth. This category recognizes the platforms and service providers operating behind the scenes to help brands modernize workflows, unlock actionable data, and build resilient, future-ready businesses.

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• Inspiring Brands

  Success! Behind every winning product there is an idea that turned into a story told well—and worth retelling.

  • Brand Launch

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    A first impression doesn’t just introduce a brand—it sets its trajectory. The most successful launches do more than drop products; they establish a point of view, signal purpose, and ignite curiosity. From the visual identity to the voice, from the initial assortment to the rollout strategy, everything must click into place to create early momentum and lasting impact. These brands nailed that high-stakes moment, landing with clarity, cohesion, and cultural resonance.

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  • Best Brand

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    Building a beauty brand takes guts. Growing one takes grit. But to thrive over time—amid shifting trends, fierce competition, and evolving consumer expectations—requires something more: vision, adaptability, and unwavering purpose. These brands have done just that. They’ve scaled with intention, stayed true to their core values, and continued to lead with creativity, community, and commercial strength.

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  • Indie Deal

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    Securing funding as an emerging brand is no small feat. With limited resources, little room for error, and everything still to prove, only a few manage to cut through the noise. These brands did just that—capturing the attention (and capital) of investors by showing they had something truly special. Whether through product innovation, market insight, or mission-driven focus, they demonstrated the potential to create long-term value and shape the future of the industry.

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  • Reference Deal

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    In dealmaking, comparables are more than just data points—they’re guideposts. They shape expectations, influence strategy, and often define what’s possible. The most iconic transactions become the benchmarks others aspire to, studied by investors and founders alike. To be the deal that others reference, emulate, or try to reverse-engineer is a rare accomplishment. It means you didn’t just close a deal—you set a new standard for what success looks like.

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  • Best Campaign

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    The best campaigns don’t just grab attention—they shape perception and spark action. They take a powerful, often complex idea and distill it into something clear, resonant, and unforgettable. Then they bring it to life across channels, touchpoints, and formats—each execution reinforcing the message while expanding its reach. By the end, you can’t help but notice it, feel it, and be moved by it. These are the campaigns that didn’t just make noise—they made impact.

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  • Product Launch – Skincare

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    Skincare is the biggest category in beauty and the hardest to break through. With shelves saturated and consumers more informed than ever, standing out requires more than just good ingredients. It takes strategic clarity, a clearly defined need, and a launch that captures attention and builds trust. These standout skincare launches did exactly that—filling a whitespace, generating authentic buzz, and giving consumers a reason to lean in and, ultimately, buy in.

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  • Product Launch – Cosmetics

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    Cosmetics have the power to transform not just how we look, but how we feel—in an instant. But in a space as trend-driven, SKU-intensive and saturated as color, making a lasting impact requires more than great pigment. These launches stood out by filling a clear gap in the market and pairing bold product innovation with thoughtful execution—from smart social strategy and earned media to organic community buzz. These are the cosmetic products that didn’t just show up—they made a statement.

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  • Product Launch – Wellness

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    Wellness is one of the hottest—and most loosely defined—categories in beauty and personal care. It’s a space crowded with hype, half-truths, and fleeting trends, where brands must fight to be taken seriously. To stand out, a product must do more than promise results; it must introduce a thoughtful, credible solution to a need that may not even be fully recognized yet. These launches cut through the noise with clarity, purpose, and proof—inviting consumers to try something new, and trust it enough to make it part of their lives.

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  • Product Launch – Personal Care

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    Personal care is one of the most essential—and often most overlooked—corners of the beauty and wellness world. Many of its categories have seen little innovation for decades, dominated by functional, commoditized products. To stand out here requires more than novelty: it demands a clear value proposition and the ability to convince consumers that a better solution is worth the premium. Sometimes, the challenge is even greater—tackling needs that have long gone unspoken in categories that are taboo or hard to talk about. These launches broke through by pairing real innovation with empathy, empowering consumers without shame and elevating the everyday.

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  • Product Launch – Haircare

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    Haircare has become one of the most exciting frontiers in beauty innovation. What was once limited to shampoo and conditioner now spans scalp health, styling science, hair growth, color technology, and holistic hair wellness. Today’s consumers expect more—better performance, cleaner formulas, and real solutions to long-standing challenges. These launches are leading the charge, combining scientific advances, cultural insight, and elevated experience to redefine what haircare can deliver.

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  • Product Launch – Home + Lifestyle

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    Beauty is no longer confined to the bathroom shelf—it’s expanding into the spaces we live in and the rituals that shape our everyday lives. The rise of home and lifestyle products reflects a deeper shift: consumers are seeking joy, intention, and aesthetic value in all corners of their routines. This emerging category blurs the lines between beauty, wellness, design, and function—bringing scent, mood, and experience into living rooms, kitchens, nightstands, and beyond. These launches reimagine what it means to live beautifully, offering thoughtful innovations that elevate not just personal care, but the spaces and moments that surround it.

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  • Product Launch – Fragrance

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    Fragrance is no longer just an afterthought or finishing touch—it’s a central, standalone expression of beauty and identity. Today’s fragrance category is being redefined by both high artistry and technical innovation. From new formats and delivery systems to longer wear, skin compatibility, and mood-enhancing benefits, scent is being elevated to equal footing with any other beauty benefit. It’s not just what something smells like—it’s how it’s experienced, how it performs, and how it lingers in memory. These brands are leading the way, bringing fresh ideas and sensory storytelling to the forefront and reshaping how fragrance is perceived, used, and valued.

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• Outstanding Contributions

  Beauty entrepreneurs are a breed apart, and we celebrate the best of their achievements.

  • Entrepreneur

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    What sets a true entrepreneur apart isn’t just the boldness of their vision—it’s the grit to keep pursuing it when the odds are stacked against them. In beauty, where trends shift quickly and competition is fierce, the ability to persist, adapt, and lead with purpose is what transforms a good idea into a lasting brand. These individuals have captured the attention of consumers, retailers, investors, and peers alike—not just for what they’ve built, but for the way they’ve built it: with creativity, resilience, and unwavering drive.

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  • Industry Icon

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    The beauty industry runs on entrepreneurial energy—whether it’s coming from an indie founder or a global executive. But true icons go beyond personal success. They lead with vision, inspire with action, and uplift others along the way. Their impact isn’t just measured in milestones, but in the lasting influence they have on the people and the industry around them. It’s that rare combination of trailblazing achievement and generosity of spirit that earns them iconic status.

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  • Seed + Small Growth Investor

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    Spotting a breakout brand before the rest of the world takes more than capital—it takes conviction, imagination, and the willingness to embrace the unknown. These investors saw something special in early-stage companies others might have overlooked. They looked beyond what was currently “hot” and placed bold bets on a different future. With their support—financial, strategic, and emotional—these investors helped lay the foundation for brands to not just grow, but thrive. They’ve embraced the messiness of early stages, guiding founders through teething pains with patience, insight, and a belief in what’s possible.

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  • Growth Investor

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    The best growth investors aren’t tourists in the beauty industry—they’re true believers. They’ve committed meaningful capital across multiple investments, building a track record of helping brands scale without losing their edge. These investors know that money alone isn’t enough. They bring the right mix of discipline and empathy, guiding brands through the complexities of growth while respecting the creative instincts that made them special in the first place. They offer more than funding—they offer partnership: advising without overreaching, supporting without suffocating, and always keeping the long game in sight.

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  • Brand Builder

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    Not every brand-shaping force is a founder. Some of the most impactful leaders step in after the early chapters have been written—amplifying what’s already there and unlocking what’s yet to be imagined. These executives build on a brand’s foundation with clarity, vision, and skill, elevating its potential and expanding its reach. They honor the brand’s roots, but aren’t bound by them—helping transform promising businesses into breakout successes.

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• Retail Honorees

  • Brand Booster

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    With a thriving community both IRL and online, this retailer isn’t just a point of distribution—it’s a launchpad. For emerging brands, getting on these shelves can mean reaching an audience that would otherwise take years to access. But it’s not just about scale—it’s about support. This retailer empowers its partners with more than shelf space: they offer insight, guidance, and feedback that helps brands sharpen their positioning, improve their execution, and grow with intention. By combining deep consumer reach with a true spirit of collaboration, they help young brands evolve faster, connect deeper, and unlock their next stage of success.

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  • Audience Educator

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    In a sea of beauty options, this retailer isn’t just here to move product—they’re here to move people. Their mission goes beyond transactions; it’s about transformation. They view their customers holistically, aiming to support them not just with great products, but with the knowledge and tools to make informed, empowered choices that lead to real results. Through ingredient education, tutorials, founder stories, and in-person or digital activations, they meet consumers where they are—guiding them every step of the way. For brands, they’re a trusted partner who can translate a complex sell, demystify a routine, and help customers connect deeply with a product’s value. Education isn’t an add-on here—it’s the foundation.

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  • Assortment Innovator

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    This retailer doesn’t chase trends—and they don’t stock newness for newness’s sake. Instead, they operate with a clear and confident vision: to curate an offering that is innovative, inclusive, and truly impactful. They have the discipline to pass on fleeting fads, the courage to champion bold ideas before anyone else, and the humility to keep evolving. Their assortment reflects not just what’s now, but what’s next—serving as a source of inspiration for other retailers, a mark of credibility for emerging brands, and a signal to investors of where the market is headed. They’ve built a reputation as the gold standard for what’s worth discovering in beauty and wellness.

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  • Service Maven

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    “That Girl” regimens may dominate TikTok, but these independently owned spas and service providers are built for more than just the moment—they’re built for loyalty. Consistently delivering a standout experience that keeps clients coming back is no small task. It requires orchestrating dozens of moving parts: expert practitioners, advanced tools, the perfect products, and a finely tuned environment. It’s a delicate dance of doing what’s necessary with just enough “wow” to make it unforgettable—without ever feeling overdone. These providers are trusted experts who curate every detail with intention, creating transformative experiences that feel deeply personal, in the right place, at exactly the right time.

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