Beacon Awards 2021

 

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Winners

  • 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

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      Does the world need another product? Intellectually, we say no—until something so simple and brilliant comes along and we realize this is a bit of genius in a bottle that we can’t do without. Kudos to the brands whose products will turn heads for years to come.

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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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  • 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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    • 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 – Home + Fragrance

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      Once an afterthought in beauty, fragrance and home essentials have now claimed their own spotlight—ushering in a new era where scent and setting are central to self-care. From sensorial room sprays to sophisticated candles and skin-adjacent perfumes, this category blends emotion, memory, and mood with design and utility. The best launches in this space don’t just smell amazing—they tell a story, elevate a space, and evoke feeling. These products filled a whitespace and captured consumer imagination through sharp positioning, thoughtful storytelling, and launch strategies that made discovery irresistible.

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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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  • 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.

      • Olivia Alexander

        Founder & CEO,

        Kush Queen

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      • Sarah Brown

        Founder & CEO,

        Pai Skincare

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      • Grace Eleyae

        Founder & CEO,

        Grace Eleyae Inc.

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      • Stephanie Morimoto

        Owner & CEO,

        Asutra

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      • Danessa Myricks

        Founder,

        Danessa Myricks Beauty

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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.

      • Paula Begoun

        Founder,

        Paula's Choice

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      • Brook Harvey-Taylor

        CEO,

        Pacifica

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      • Josie Maran

        Founder,

        Josie Maran Cosmetics

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      • Eric Ryan

        Co-Founder,

        Method, Olly, Welly

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      • Jaime Schmidt

        Founder,

        Schmidt’s Naturals

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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.

      • Elizabeth Ashum

        President,

        Moon Juice

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      • Amanda Baldwin

        CEO,

        Supergoop!

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      • Melanie Bender

        President,

        Versed

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      • Erika Kussmann

        Chief Marketing Officer and GM of North America & Australia,

        Paula's Choice

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      • Kiana Reeves

        Chief Brand Officer,

        Foria

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  • Game-Changing Retailers

    The best outlets entice passionate consumers by championing new beauty and exploration.

    • Large Retailer

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      With more than five doors and each building a thriving community instore and online, these champions of indie beauty are independently owned themselves. Their challenges to large chains are changing consumer perceptions for the better.

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    • Small Retailer

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      Boutique beauty stores provide the lifeblood to emerging brands and local communities. Personality-driven and speaking to some of the most opinionated consumers, they represent a chance for a brand to break through the clutter.

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    • Online Retailer

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      The best e-commerce platforms in beauty know how to draw attention to innovation, and foster the spirit of exploration among even the most jaded, time-pressed customers who never even step foot in a store.

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    • Online International Retailer

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      Innovative digital strategies, unique brand curations, effective external communications and global reach are enabling these online international platforms to elevate the conversation around beauty and the use of beauty products. These are the gold standard.

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  • Best Social Media
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    Awkward Essentials

    A Word From The Nominee

    I am so excited that Awkward Essentials' social media was nominated for a Beacon Award. We have a super unique brand voice for the category, and I really try to let my own humor and personality shine through in our content. People should vote for Awkward Essentials because we keep it real - much of our content is employee generated. We really love involving everyone in the company!

    Who They Are

    Awkward Essentials is a brand that produces innovative hygiene products, best-known for its marquee product—the dripstick—that makes post-sex cleanup a piece of cake.

  • Best Social Media
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    Axiology

    A Word From The Nominee

    I'm so excited Axiology is nominated because we truly put our hearts and real lives in front of our social media. On any given day, you'll see the Axiology team making lipsticks, eating burritos, or volunteering at an animal sanctuary. It's important to us to be as real with our followers as possible. :)

    Who They Are

    Axiology is a vegan and planet-first makeup company.

  • Best Social Media
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    Glow Recipe

    Winner

    Who They Are

    Glow Recipe is a clean, fruit-powered, unapologetically fun skin-care line inspired by Korean beauty. Co-founded by beauty industry veterans Sarah Lee and Christine Chang in 2014, Glow Recipe is committed to making Korean beauty accessible to all beauty lovers across the world and empowering them to feed their skin the essential ingredients it needs when it needs it, because no day is the same.

    The Glow Recipe skin-care formulation philosophy pairs effective superfruits with proven actives while being proudly Leaping Bunny certified and Clean at Sephora. Glow Recipe is known for unexpected sensorial textures and innovative ingredients that deliver lasting hydration, healthy skin benefits and a natural, lit-from-within glow. Each product is easy-to-use with multipurpose benefits for all skin types. Formulated with the highest quality, clean, and natural ingredients, all of Glow Recipe’s skin-care essentials are cruelty-free and made without parabens, sulfates, and phthalates. Our mission is to educate and excite people about taking better care of their skin with an unapologetically fun approach. Glow Recipe is available online at glowrecipe.com and sephora.com.

    Why They Won
    We looked for a brand whose social media channels are highly engaging, aesthetically pleasing and an accurate reflection of the brand. We also evaluated each brand’s use of its social channels to effectively foster community, educate consumers and promote products. Glow Recipe's social media pages are bright, informative, engaging, innovative, and diverse. We can't wait to see what they will come up with next!
  • Best Social Media
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    Kiramoon

    A Word From The Nominee

    Kiramoon’s motto is “Work Your Magic” and we encourage our followers to do the same on social media, expressing their individuality no matter how they look or feel each day. We include our community in the journey of building our brand: in 2020 we let our followers help us design a product, our Heart Mirror, by voting on their color and finish preferences in an IG story poll. This SKU was released 3 months later per their specifications. We also polled our audience about their favorite skincare ingredients, textures, and packaging and we have used their answers to develop our next formulas. As a result, our followers truly feel like they are part of our story because they are. With four viral videos leading up to our launch, we gained 30k TikTok followers in just 3-months and have an impressive engagement rate of 3.25%. Within two months of launching buyers from four major retailers found us on social media and contacted us about partnerships. Our online community has been such an integral part of our story and we are so honored to be nominated for this award!

    We recently polled our audience to learn why they love being a part of our online community and here are a few of our favorite answers:
    “I love how much Kiramoon values the involvement of their online community in their brand decisions.”
    “I love that Kiramoon shared the process of starting up a brand on their social media.”
    “The rawness, inclusivity, and awareness shown is refreshing to see in a brand on social.”
    “Inclusivity, positivity, and diversity. I love feeling like a part of the Kiramoon fam on IG!”
    “Confident, supportive, girl power!”
    “It’s so fun and bright! The trivia and creator features make this page amazing!”

    Who They Are

    Kiramoon creates the cutest, happiest and most effective skincare products on the planet to add some magic to your beauty routine. Founded by a former tech executive who suffered from anxiety, exhaustion and burnout, Kiramoon’s approach to skincare is whimsical and joyful, helping you look good and feel good. Kiramoon supports Friendship / Mental Health / Self-care / Joy / Positivity / Kindness / Inclusivity / Authenticity / Self-acceptance / Forgiveness and a portion of each purchase is donated to Bring Change to Mind, a non-profit dedicated to ending the stigma surrounding mental illness such as depression and anxiety.

  • Best Social Media
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    SUDSATORIUM

    A Word From The Nominee

    Not only is being nominated in this category incredibly exciting news, it is proof positive that our approach of letting our products speak for themselves and focusing instead on education and speaking truth to power can be effective. SUDS believes in the power of social media as a platform for driving social and environmental reform, as well as delivering truthful information at a time when fear-mongering and misinformation has begun to dominate headlines. Voting for SUDS is one way to let the rest of the industry know that social media can be about a hell of a lot more than just pushing product and driving profits.

    Who They Are

    SUDS is a science-led, ingredients-driven haircare and skincare brand that believes in making sustainably-sourced, organically grown plant-based products that are good for both people and the planet.

  • Best Social Media
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    Trademark Beauty

    A Word From The Nominee

    As a fresh beauty brand it’s such an honor to receive recognition from industry experts. On an overwhelmingly saturated social channel, we have worked really hard to create a space that is fun, educational, and inspirational. Our approach has always been to lead with epic content and give our community all the knowledge we can, understanding that the trust and belief in our products will follow. We want our community to support our brand because they feel supported by Trademark Beauty. Storytelling and community are the foundation of Trademark. This nomination is such an honor and a win that encourages us to keep creating.

    Xx Joseph and Sabrina Maine
    The brother/sister duo behind Trademark Beauty

    Who They Are

    Celebrity Hair Stylist Joseph Maine co-founded Trademark Beauty alongside his sister Sabrina to offer a line of fun, affordable and easy to use hair tools. Beauty obsessed since childhood, the siblings always bonded over their mutual love of experimenting with hair tools and products. After over a decade as beauty industry professionals, they launched Trademark Beauty, striving to improve industry favorites and offer them at affordable prices. Beauty is meant to be fun and accessible. Beauty is your Trademark.

  • Best Packaging
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    Biography

    A Word From The Nominee

    Biography is beyond excited to be nominated for the 2021 Beacon Award for Best Packaging. We spent years brainstorming, designing, testing and producing our packaging to fill a gap in the skincare market. We believe clean, sustainable and repurposable product should also be boldly designed and on display. Thank you for this nomination!

    Who They Are

    Biography is a brand of active oils for faces with character, launched in 2020 out of NYC. We are a company for anyone who believes that beauty doesn't come from a snapshot, but from a sequence.

  • Best Packaging
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    Cellular MD

    A Word From The Nominee

    When we were creating this packaging, we wanted to make sure it not only reflected our true science background but also the values we hold in sustainability which is why it was important to us to use recycled materials as much as possible. We also wanted the packaging to reflect the simplicity and power of our ingredients and have it be a subtle statement piece in your bathroom.

    Who They Are

    Cellular MD is a science-backed skincare brand focused on preserving and restoring health to your skin.

    Today, our skin not only requires shielding from natural aggressors such as the sun, but also tech-driven and lifestyle irritants that are embedded in our modern day to day, from blue light rays and stress, to in-flight impact, air pollutants, and lack of sleep. Because of this, our products carry both sun and environmental protection factors, working to either repair existing damage on a cellular level, or creating a barrier against them in real-time.

  • Best Packaging
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    Melyon

    A Word From The Nominee

    With your support, Melyon truly wants to change the inclusivity idea in the beauty industry with in mind Minority is majority and quality over quantity.

    Who They Are

    Melyon, a Swedish skincare brand founded in Stockholm in 2020 by Roger Dupé, aims to be an inclusive force in an exclusive industry. Melyon is the combination of melanin and enyonam, meaning “which is good for me” in Togolese- Ghanaian.

    Melyon is his way of paying homage to his upbringing, by offering products that make people, regardless of their skin tone and status, feel included. Melyon interprets beauty through diversity. Excellence has as many faces as there are people - Melyon will show the world yours.

    The skincare line is made with people of colour in mind, focusing on conditions commonly found among darker skin tones while still being suitable for all. With roots in West Africa, the Scandinavian lifestyle brand combines the best from nature and science, to create safe and ethical products with proven results.

    By telling authentic stories through a line of skincare developed for people who deviate from today's norms, Melyon aims to contribute to more progressive beauty standards; and in the long run work for a society where beauty is perceived through diversity.

  • Best Packaging
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    Natureofthings

    Winner

    A Word From The Nominee

    It's an honor to be nominated. We are thrilled to be recognized for our packaging design. We put a lot of thought behind how we wanted to position the brand and while design was important for aesthetics, it was also important from an environmental perspective.

    At natureofthings, we are as thoughtful about what goes into our packaging as we are about our formulations. Our aim is to minimize our environmental impact and close the loop between what we take from the Earth and what we give back. This means thinking beyond recycling with its current infrastructure issues and limitations.

    We use the least amount of plastic possible while maintaining quality standards, and we design our glass and wood vessels with minimal branding to encourage that they be repurposed, rather than discarded, when empty. Simply wash the jars thoroughly with soap and warm water, towel dry and think of creative ways of using them for decorative storage.

    We’ve introduced a new bag for our Fortifying Magnesium Soak that is compostable with a few considerations and easy steps. While still to be perfected, it is a step in the right direction and is a feature we’re moving toward for other products, including refillable solutions.

    For our outer-packaging, we now make everything stateside, reducing our carbon footprint and using FSC certified recycled hemp boards that are easy to compost or recycle and an eco-friendly soy-based ink for labeling.

    Who They Are

    natureofthings is a modern wellness house rooted in the enduring wisdom of nature. We believe that health is harmony. It’s the synchronicity of body, mind, and the natural world.

    Our ingredients come from the Earth-plants, minerals and elements. Our formulas are equal parts curative and preventative, beautifying the skin while alleviating stress, anxiety and pain.

    Why They Won
    As the panel reviewed this category we marveled at the refreshing approach to packaging design and thoughtful attention to detail and the user experience across all of the nominees. Natureofthings’ design aesthetic and attention to materials and textures, with the goal of reuse of the components, were just some of the key factors that we felt made Natureofthings’ the winner.
  • Best Packaging
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    PAUME

    A Word From The Nominee

    I'm so thrilled to see PAUME nominated in the Best Packaging category, as so much time and thought was put into our packaging concept. From day one, our mission was to create a brand and product that is totally opposite of what you would expect from a hand sanitizer. The category is dominated by utilitarian formulas, single use plastics and fairly basic dispensers. PAUME was intended to be skin nourishing and indulgent, design-driven, architectural, elegant, and sustainable. To take our sustainability mission one step further, we have partnered with rePurpose Global, who has helped us achieve our Plastic Neutral Certification. Each unit of our packaging now carries a Net Zero Plastic Footprint.

    Who They Are

    PAUME is award winning hand sanitizer that nourishes as it protects, packaged in elegant dispensers for at home and on the go. Its unique formula contains 69% ethyl alcohol to kill harmful germs and bacteria, premium plant based emollients that deliver long lasting hydration to the skin, and a signature blend of essential oils for a woodsy citrus herbaceous scent. All packaging is either refillable, multi-use, recyclable or made with previously recycled materials. PAUME is Certified Plastic Neutral through its partnership with rePurpose Global. PAUME donates a percentage of every product sale to fund Repurpose Global in removing and recovering as much plastic waste from the environment as they create. Their donation specifically funds multi-layered plastic packaging recovery in Bekasi, Indonesia. This facility employs and empowers waste pickers to tackle low-value plastic, diverting 2,224 KGs of plastic waste from oceans and landfills every year.

  • Inclusivity Champion
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    Cheekbone Beauty Inc

    A Word From The Nominee

    The team at Cheekbone Beauty is honoured to be nominated for the Inclusivity Champion award. This nomination brings us one step closer to having Indigenous faces showcased in the beauty industry.

    Who They Are

    Cheekbone Beauty is on a mission to help every Indigenous youth see and feel their enormous value in the world while creating sustainable colour cosmetics.

  • Inclusivity Champion
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    Good Light

    A Word From The Nominee

    Inclusivity has been in our DNA since I started Very Good Light, the beauty publication, way back in 2016 — years before good light, the beauty brand, even existed. It’s taken this long for the rest of the world to catch up to what I know has always been true: beauty is for everyone. No matter who you are or what your gender identity is, how you identify — you are inherently beautiful, and you deserve to feel like you are seen in the beauty community, and industry as a whole.

    I coined the phrase “gender-inclusive” in a world of “genderless” brands. It was essential we bring folx across all identities into the beauty conversation and tell them that yes, they belong, and yes, they do matter. Gender-inclusivity means we recognize and honor folx and their long fought for identities, it’s more precise than “genderless” and makes it so that we are celebratory.

    This brand means so much to a queer, Korean American founder like me. Growing up in Colorado Springs, CO in a predominantly white space, I was always invisible. I was told I didn’t belong. That I wasn’t beautiful. I don’t want anyone to ever feel alone or as if they aren’t anything less than exceptional. Good light means shining one’s unique light brightly, unabashedly. This brand is all about connecting your inner and outer beauties to shine and make this world a less dark place. We want to inspire people to understand that if beauty is in the eye of the beholder we are that beholder. So shine brightly — we need it.

    We believe in our slogan “beauty beyond the binary” and how this resonates with folx in more ways than one.

    We’re thrilled to be nominated for this award that speaks to our core mission of inclusivity and diversity, and I know we still have so much work to do! We’re excited to continue this important work of making the beauty industry more representative of the world we live in today.

    Who They Are

    good light, from the beauty website Very Good Light, is a personal care brand that believes in beauty beyond the binary. The gender-inclusive brand creates a new space in the market for those who don't quite shop beauty by gender. good light's formulation ethos is all about creating a more robust skin barrier with products that will hydrate, plump, nourish, and repair. Each of good light's products are gentle, clean, cruelty-free, vegan, and made with 100% sustainable packaging.

  • Inclusivity Champion
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    Inahsi Naturals

    A Word From The Nominee

    We are so excited to be nominated because this is further validation of our brands focus and commitment to empowering our customers to embrace their natural curls. In the beauty industry there is a standard of beauty that long straight flowing hair is beauty, whereas textured hair is deemed unattractive and unprofessional, but there are people all around the world who are not buying this narrative. They have taken a stand to say we are not going to use harsh chemicals and high heat to straighten our hair, but we are going to embrace our curls. Embracing your curls can be a very scary endeavor. It comes with questions like how do I take care of my curls? Will I be accepted by family peers and professionals? Will I look beautiful? What products should I be using? These are some of the questions that people have when they embark on this natural hair journey and we at Inahsi Naturals are committed to help them along the way through quality products, quality education and quality service.

    Who They Are

    We are a cruelty free plant based hair products company formulated for naturally curly hair. Our mission to Bring Clarity to Confused Curls through Quality products, Quality Education and Quality Service. You without compromise. This is why we do what we do. We are passionate about making quality Hair Care products, that incorporate natural ingredients, allowing you to fully embrace the natural you from head to toe.

  • Inclusivity Champion
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    Selfmade

    A Word From The Nominee

    We are so honored to be nominated in the Inclusivity Champion category. I grew up in the South as a Chinese-Vietnamese tomboy, with no role models, brands, or narratives that reflected my experience so I personally understand the importance of inclusivity. The more we’re able to create a safe space and give our community a platform to talk about their unique lived experiences, the more young folks, especially women and nonbinary people of color, will see people that look and sound like them and help them to learn that beauty and self-worth are inherent and should not be defined by societal BS.

    Who They Are

    SELFMADE is the emotional wellbeing brand at the intersection of beauty and mental health. We infuse our digital and physical product ecosystem with credible therapeutic practices, proven stress relieving ingredients, and storytelling from our community to help people redefine self-worth.

  • Inclusivity Champion
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    VictoriaLand Beauty

    Winner

    A Word From The Nominee

    VictoriaLand Beauty's nomination for Inclusivity Champion of the Year further recognizes the importance of disability inclusion in the beauty industry. VictoriaLand is the first, truly barrier-free skincare brand that empowers the blind or visually impaired to experience beauty through universal design and a multi-sensory experience. Through our sense we can all learn to see better.

    Who They Are

    In a world where beauty is dominated by visuals created for those who are sighted, VictoriaLand is the first, truly barrier-free skincare brand that empowers the blind or visually impaired to experience beauty through Universal design and a multi-sensory experience. Universal Design is based on the belief that by designing products for special needs first, products work better for everyone else regardless of age, size, ability or disability. It gives everyone else a better experience.

    Each VictoriaLand product features: A unique raised symbol – from VictoriaLand’s proprietary and certified CyR.U.S. System – appears on each package to facilitate product identification. Embossed QR codes allow users to use a screen reader app on their smart phones to prompt audio product descriptions and product usage instructions. And aromatic essential oils are used to not only enhance product performance, but to differentiate between each product.

    Victorialand Beauty’s commitment to the visually impaired community can also be seen in its giveback program, a partnership with Boston Children’s Hospital (BCH). 1% of all product sales are designated to support BCH’s Pediatric Ophthalmology Department, the largest in the country, and its life-changing efforts to identify new diagnostic paradigms and treatment modalities for visually impaired children

    VictoriaLand is not only changing the way the world sees beauty but who it is for.

    Why They Won
    VictoriaLand’s work to put diversity awareness and accessibility for all groups first, with their tactile recognition system as well as their efforts in giving back to Boston Children’s Hospital was what made them stand out in a group of great nominees.
  • Inclusivity Champion
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    Vive Cosmetics

    A Word From The Nominee

    We're honored to receive this nomination! We've been championing inclusivity, diversity and, most importantly, EQUITY, for our community since 2017 not only through marketing campaigns but how we operate as a brand and do business. We're thankful for the nomination not only for us but also for our community to be recognized for the impact we have in the beauty industry as consumers and now brand creators.

    Who They Are

    Vive Cosmetics is an unapologetic beauty brand honoring the beauty, culture and diversity of the Latina/x/e community through inclusive and intentional beauty products.

    Our brand is unapologetically for la cultura (culture) and community. We're building a brand that truly reflects our community - from company leadership, brand development, product inclusivity and everything in between.

  • Sustainability Champion
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    APTO Skincare

    A Word From The Nominee

    As a small brand, we understand how utterly overwhelming it feels to tackle the sustainability issue. At some point, we decided to stop trying to find the perfect solution, and instead focus our energies on just doing better. We hope this nomination will bring visibility to the work done by small businesses that with daily small actions are actually leading the path towards a more sustainable industry.

    Who They Are

    APTO is simple, effortless & sustainable skincare at an affordable price (from $5 to 25$).
    We are vegan and cruelty free certified, we use non toxic ingredients and our packaging is made from sustainable materials (Aluminium and Post Consumer Resin).
    We have a streamlined assortment with 7 easy-to-use products that work for all skin types. And all of them are formulated, manufactured and shipped from our family-run factory in New Jersey.

  • Sustainability Champion
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    Elate Cosmetics

    Winner

    A Word From The Nominee

    I am honoured to be nominated for a Beacon Award! Winning this award would help shine a light on my personal mission: to focus on corporate responsibility to create a positive impact. We have a great opportunity in the beauty industry to set the standard for sustainability and change the world, one lipstick at a time.

    Who They Are

    At Elate, our focus is our communities and our world. We make high-performing, vegan and cruelty-free cosmetics with an ethical supply chain, responsible marketing and sustainability woven into the heart of everything we do. We educate, power and inspire everyone to simplify their beauty rituals to reduce waste.

    Why They Won
    From their refillable bamboo palettes to their pencils made with wood from sustainably managed forests, this certified B corporation puts the earth first. Elate Cosmetics is also vegan, 75% of their ingredients are organic, they’re Surfrider Foundation approved, and members of the Green Business Association. I hope you’ll share some of your suppliers and secrets with the rest of the Beauty Independent community!
  • Sustainability Champion
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    Georganics

    A Word From The Nominee

    We are absolutely delighted to be have been nominated for the Sustainability Champion Award. The Beacon Awards program is a fantastic opportunity for innovative brands in the indie beauty and wellness space like us to get recognised. Please vote for us so we can continue to transform the oral care space, making it more sustainable whilst utilising natural ingredients. Receiving a nomination truly is an honour and we have so much respect for all other nominees, good luck everyone.

    Who They Are

    At Georganics, our mission is to produce natural and sustainable oral care products which are accessible to everyone. Conscientiously working with the Earth, innovating products inspired by nature. Everything we do is aimed at minimising the environmental impact of this essential daily routine, utilising compostable and reusable packaging. Partnering with retailers and brands who share our vision to inspire change and make a low-impact lifestyle a reality for everyone.

  • Sustainability Champion
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    Le Prunier

    A Word From The Nominee

    Our commitment to the environment is a driving force behind Le Prunier. So much fo what our family does depends on our beautiful earth. From start to finish, our product remain ethical, eco-friendly, and organic so that our customers can reap the benefits in every last drop and together we continue to protect our source. We use 100% up-cycled plum kernels. We’ve committed ourselves to eliminating waste by discovering innovative and sustainable plum-based ingredients using 100% up-cycled plum kernels, which were previously which were previously a waste byproduct from our 100-year-old organic family farm. Our family has a been committed to organic farming since the 1980’s - long before the term was a household phrase. We pride ourselves on sustainable farming practices, including the use of compost, cover crops, and heat-treated chicken manure for our fertilizer program, allowing bees to naturally pollinate crops, and using environmentally friendly biological insecticides derived from natural materials. We also put into practice a revolutionary waste-water system called BioFiltro, in order to treat our processing water. This water is altered to remove solids, then sprinkled over thick, layered beds of earthworms, wood shavings, and river rock. The worms digest the biomass and produce castings; the water filters through the layers, emerging for orchard use. For over 10 years, our processing facility has been 100% solar powered. Solar power is one of the cleanest, most sustainable and most renewable resources in the world. It has also slashed our farm's energy bills and reduced our carbon footprint. Lastly, at the end of harvest, we also allow 2,000 goats to roam through the orchards eating down the excess cover crops which eliminates the need for machinery. Without heavy machinery, we reduce emissions and leave the soil healthier. Good for the goats, good for us. It’s a win-win. We are a brand, a family, and a farm that is redefining beauty through our unwavering commitment to sustainability.

    Who They Are

    Le Prunier believes in The Power Of Plum. We also believe in simple, sustainable beauty. Dried plums contain some of the highest amounts of antioxidants of all fruits and are largely regarded as a superfood. By utilizing 100% all-natural, organic plum byproducts from our 4th generation family farm, we aim to offer only the purest, most innovative skincare products. Our patent-pending Plum Beauty Oil helps restore, replenish and balance skin. The proprietary blend of plum varietals is an excellent source of antioxidants, polyphenols, fatty acids and vitamins. It’s highly absorbent, and weightless on the skin. Plum Beauty Oil locks in moisture for a soft, youthful radiance, making it the perfect antioxidant booster for glowing skin, hair and nails. All of our products are grown, harvested and cold-pressed on our farm in Sutter County, CA., which operates as the world’s largest grower of organic plums. We never use added fragrances, parabens or sulfates. We are USDA & CCOF Certified Organic, Halal Certified, and Peta Certified (Vegan & Cruelty-free). Our products are also Non-Comedogenic, Dermatologist & Allergy tested and certified, and suitable for all skin types.

  • Sustainability Champion
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    Mushroom Design

    A Word From The Nominee

    We're excited to be nominated as a Sustainability Champion, because our mission has always been to normalize conscious consumerism. To us, conscious consumerism is that which supports both people and planet. When we started this company, we did so with the recognition that the onus of conscious consumerism lies in the hands of the companies creating the goods, not the consumers.

    It's in our (the companies) power to choose the better packaging solutions (such as non-GMO, 100% biodegradable corn form instead of packing foam, backyard compostable packaging, 100% recycled cardboard, and carbon-negative algae ink) that reduce the overall carbon footprint of consumption. If sustainable options are not easily available to consumers, of course consumers cannot be expected to choose them!

    Who They Are

    Mushroom Design is the first-of-its-kind multivitamin with the immune support of 9 functional mushrooms.

    Mushroom Design inspires a better quality of life for both people and planet. 9 non-GMO mushrooms combined with 9 essential daily vitamins in a uniquely bio-available form for optimal absorption are delivered in planet-friendly, reusable-for-life packaging, with refills shipped in backyard-compostable pouches!

  • Product Innovation
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    Billion Dollar Beauty Box

    A Word From The Nominee

    I am thrilled to be nominated amongst other leaders in the beauty industry who are like-minded, inspiring, and innovative with a commitment to advance the industry in a positive direction. When creating new products, my focus is always on resolving a problem for our consumers.

    My life, very much like our consumers, is hectic between family, work, and social commitments, all of it mainly on the go. The Billion Dollar Box was the answer to needing a grab-and-go palette with all my makeup needs in one place; brows, eyes, cheeks, and lips. In addition, the bonus element gives our consumers the ability to customize the box with just the colors and products they use, eliminating waste and making it more cost-effective. We are excited to continue to innovate based on our consumer's needs and feedback.

    Who They Are

    Billion Dollar Beauty sells innovative, professional-grade products designed to address specific problems in our everyday beauty routines. Under the BDB banner, we sell the following:• Billion Dollar Brows: A full line of brow products and tools, including pencils, gels, pomade, and tweezers.

    Billion Dollar Brushes: High-quality makeup brushes and other beauty essentials. The Billion Dollar Box: a customizable, sustainable, and convenient solution to traditional makeup palettes, including 35 lip, eye, and cheek SKUs sold separately and as bundles. Launched 2021 in Target.

  • Product Innovation
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    Droplette Device

    Winner

    A Word From The Nominee

    Droplette is honored to be nominated for such a prestigious and credible award that recognizes the entrepreneur community in the beauty and wellness industries. Backed by NASA and developed by two MIT-trained scientists, Droplette is a breakthrough device that transforms serums into a powerful micro-mist, to get ingredients 20x deeper than traditional skincare. Clinical-strength, dermatologist-approved formulations nourish skin from within as a result of the device technology to address common skin concerns, including Collagen, Retinol, and Glycolic capsules.

    Who They Are

    Droplette is a breakthrough device that turns dermatologist-recommended skincare ingredients into a powerful micro-mist, allowing for a needle-free and pain-free delivery of skincare deep into your skin for long-lasting results. The Droplette technology dispenses skincare products 100x smaller than the width of a human hair and turns them into a fast-moving mist that can be absorbed up to 20 cell layers deep into your skin. As a result, Droplette is clinically validated and proven to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, acne, scarring, and hyperpigmentation.

    Why They Won
    If you’re a skincare junkie that's very invested in how to get the best use out of every ingredient in your skincare routine, the Droplette Device completely solves this issue in an efficient and exciting way, allowing serums to get 20 times deeper than traditional skincare by transforming them into a powerful micro-mist. Droplette can cross the skin barrier that most topical skincare creams and serums can’t and is the only device that seamlessly integrates skincare and hardware painlessly and effectively to get skincare into (not just onto) skin.
  • Product Innovation
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    Water-Based Luxury Fragrance

    A Word From The Nominee

    We are thrilled to have been recognised for Product Innovation in the Beacon Awards and will be honoured by each vote! Our personal wellness journeys began over a decade ago with our transition to clean beauty; Maison Sybarite's development has been a true passion project, and we’re sincerely committed to caring for people and planet through education and choice.

    When we compared the ingredients in clean beauty to those in our perfumes then, we were terrified! Some years later, after educating ourselves on the truth about alcohol and its effects, we adopted an alcohol-free lifestyle. The few alcohol-free perfumes then on the market were unsophisticated scents which did not inspire change.

    We took it upon ourselves, as two young women in a male-dominated and stories industry, to challenge the best-selling status quo with a new concept.

    Our perfumer of choice, French independent Master perfumer Antoine Lie, has been been the most amazing partner. He earned a degree in chemistry before attending Givaudan perfume school and is a pioneer of the slow perfume movement. He first built his reputation for his unique scents but also for the conscious sourcing of his ingredients - like us, he refuses to wall off his work from his deepest values. Both should be intrinsic to the other.

    After years of hard work - with more to do, to extend our message and movement further still! - winning the Beacon Award for Product Innovation would mean the world to our entire Maison Sybarite family and community.

    Who They Are

    Introducing the world’s first water-based fine fragrances, free of alcohol - made in collaboration with avant-garde Master perfumer and slow perfume movement pioneer, Antoine Lie.

    Maison Sybarite, based between Paris and Dubai, launched in late 2019 with their collection of clean, innovative, and opulent gender-neutral fragrances.
    The house was founded with a mission to enact a renaissance in fine fragrance through skin-safe science.

    In traditional perfumes, denatured alcohol (or ethanol) is used - which also happens to be the worst form of alcohol for us. We cannot drink it, yet we disperse it freely on our skin!

    Maison Sybarite takes advantage of a patented technology, oil-in-water (O/W) method to bring the world’s first water-based fine fragrances to life. Also free from cruelty, the clean and vegan perfumes are grounded in both wellness and sustainability.

    The “Sybarite” in the house’s name originates from Ancient Greece’s progressive city on the Ionian coast, Sybaris - now Calabria in Southern Italy.
    Sybarites are known for having been ahead of their time; for emphasising balanced lifestyle choices to increase productivity, appreciate a more harmonious coexistence with nature, and heighten transcendent mindfulness.

    Maison Sybarite perfumes are consciously conceived, manufactured, and packed in France with a commitment to quality, safety, and sustainability, using environmentally-friendly methods.

  • Product Innovation
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    Plus Body Wash

    A Word From The Nominee

    Thank you Beauty Independent for nominating us and helping share our mission! Plus makes personal care products for a smarter clean and a happier planet. We started by re-creating bottled body wash from top to bottom with a zero waste, just-add-water body wash sheet housed in dissolvable packaging. We can all make a difference starting with small changes in our daily routines, and we believe sustainable choices can be no-compromise, and even a little magical.

    - Cathryn Woodruff, Co-Founder and CEO

    Who They Are

    Plus launched in April 2021 from the creatives behind Starface (Julie Schott + Brian Bordainick) alongside co-founder and CEO Cathryn Woodruff. Every year in the U.S., 42.1 billion bottles are used to ship products that contain over 70% water. With this in mind, Plus is reimagining personal care and providing solutions that are better for you and the planet.

    Plus' debut product is Plus Body Wash - a just-add-water, no-bottle cleanser made with nourishing ingredients. The product’s dehydrated formula eliminates unnecessary water from the typical body wash experience and the completely dissolvable packaging leaves no trace behind. Simply add water to activate a rich lather and watch the packaging dissolve down the drain.

    Plus Body Wash features a clean, pH-balanced formula packed with efficacious ingredients, such as aloe leaf, sweet almond oil, shea butter, and ferulic acid, making it suitable for all skin types. The product comes in two gender-neutral scents: SUMMER (neroli, orange, lemon) and WAVES (coconut, sea salt, jasmine), as well as an unscented variety, CLOUD. Each Plus Body Wash pack contains 16 single-serve sheets for $16.50 and can be purchased exclusively on cleanwith.plus.

  • Product Innovation
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    Soke Chest/Decolletage Treatment

    A Word From The Nominee

    I am thrilled to be nominated for the Beacon Awards’ Product Innovation category! The Beacon Awards raises the bar to recognize products that are making an impact in the beauty and wellness industry, and I am honoured that my startup company is a contender. I know I am in excellent company with like-minded beauty obsessives who harness technology and the purest of ingredients to deliver the best results. As a female-led small business, Soke Beauty has hit the mark with the development of a treatment solution that minimizes wrinkles and restores our skin around the more neglected parts of our face, neck and chest.

    Soke Beauty was created out of need to address the impact of age on the most delicate and often overlooked parts of our body - our eyes and chest. The Soke treatments include hero ingredients that are easily absorbed by the skin. Its proprietary formulation includes key peptides, Camellia Sinensis leaf extract, sodium hyaluronate, and a tightening complex to nourish the skin to reduce fine lines, deliver essential moisture, tighten the skin, build collagen, as well as firm and rejuvenate. Within 30 minutes, users will witness statistically significant improvement in fine lines, wrinkles, skin tone, skin smoothness, and skin roughness from the baseline. Soke Beauty breaks new ground in its field as it is backed by clinical trials that reinforce its effectiveness.

    Soke is about aging with agency and the concept that luxury is more about time than money. I know that taking 30 minutes out for anyone can be nearly impossible so Soke had to be easy--one can apply it anytime, in front of the computer or making dinner. It stays seamlessly in place so you can wear Soke under clothes at home or our running an errand, or even while getting ready for a big night as it doesn't need to be rinsed off.
    I developed Soke Beauty to create a brand that would be accessible but also effective.

    Thank you for the opportunity.
    Amy

    Who They Are

    Soke Beauty, engineered skincare for commonly neglected areas of the body such as the Chest/Decolletage and Eyes. Soke is made of a proprietary combination of potent hydrogel and peptides that infuse the targeted area to boost collagen production, plump fine lines, brighten and rejuvenate skin and provide overall advanced firming. Soke designed with a unique patent pending delivery system, the hydrogel, is a flexible matrix that is applied for 30 minutes. Afterwards, peel away to reveal plump, nourished , hydrated skin.
    Soke is backed by clinical trials that reinforce Soke's effectiveness, the measurable and noticeable results conducted on females( ages 35 to 67) reveal improved radiance, a reduction of fine lines and wrinkles and improvement in the skin's texture after one single 30-minute treatment.

    Soke is suitable for all skin types and never tested on animals. Made without Parabens, Sulfates, Phthalates,Silicones, Fragrance and Dyes.

  • Product Innovation
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    Moondust Hair Wash

    A Word From The Nominee

    I am incredibly honored to have Susteau nominated in the product innovation category. It was over 5 years ago that I began telling people the future of personal care was waterless. I envisioned smaller bottles that lasted longer and performed just like the luxurious products my stylist would use at the salon. The difference? Powder formulations that transform when activated with water. Sounds like magic, but it’s not. It’s science.

    I took my background in chemical engineering and spent two years iterating the formulation on my bedroom floor to create, what today is known as, Moondust Hair Wash. This though is only where my vision begins.

    Susteau’s approach to beauty encourages consumers to rethink what personal care looks like while challenging the industry to be more transparent when it comes to sustainability. This is only the beginning, and we hope you’ll join us in rethinking the routine.

    Who They Are

    Susteau creates clean, conscious, concentrated haircare inspired by the future. The science-backed brand is the first to deliver transformative powder-to-liquid formulas that are designed with people and planet in mind. Efficacy meets sustainability with our futureproof haircare. Join us in rethinking the routine.

  • Philanthropy Champion
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    LOUM

    A Word From The Nominee

    We are so honored for LOUM to be nominated Philanthropy Champion of the Year at The 2021 Beauty Independent Beacon Awards. Beyond our skincare range, LOUM has a bigger ambition – to create a platform for a meaningful discussion around stress and how it affects us. At LOUM we’re proud to partner with NAMI (the National Alliance on Mental Illness) to raise awareness and provide support for anyone suffering from stress, anxiety and burnout, and we were thrilled to partner with NAMI to bring brands across the beauty industry together to provide a forum for discussions around mental health via our 'Beauty Cares’ initiative. We believe it’s time to talk about the mind-skin connection and we have a unique opportunity as the beauty industry to normalize the conversation around mental health at a time when it’s never been more needed.
    Kat Bryce, Co-Founder LOUM Beauty

    Who They Are

    LOUM is an innovative clean skincare brand designed to stop stress getting under your skin. Developed with a leading Psychodermatologist, the Tri∙Serene™ complex at the heart of our products has been clinically tested to dial down and reverse the drying, aging and unbalancing effects of stress hormones to leave skin louminous and stress-free. At the heart of the brand is a strong social mission - 'where there is stress we will bring calm' - and we're proud to partner with NAMI (the National Alliance on Mental Illness) to provide education and support for anyone suffering from stress, anxiety and burnout. We are always looking for opportunities to create a discussion around mental health and convened 'Beauty Cares' for Mental Health Action Day in May, bringing together 14 brands from across the beauty industry for an industry-first day of x-brand IG Live programming that reached over 100k views and generated press UVM of 755MM.

  • Philanthropy Champion
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    PhilanthroBee

    A Word From The Nominee

    I bee-leive in a world where we can have amazing skincare products that do so much more than deliver powerful hydrating nutrients to our skin. At PhilanthroBee ®️, we not only offer clean and powerful ingredients, but we also offer sustainable packaging that doesn't end up sitting in a landfill for years. We are also passionate about educating our consumers and community about the importance of our honey bees, and what they mean to our survival. The buzz from this award could give this philanthropic company a mighty platform to reach more communities, and spread the word on our philanthropic and conservative efforts.

    Thank you so much for your consideration.
    "Bee-Cause we care",

    Michelle Scheumeister
    Philanthropist, and Founder of PhilanthroBee®️

    Who They Are

    PhilanthroBee®️ is a philanthropic apiary flower-to-table skincare line that bases its practices on conservation and pay it forward philanthropic initiatives. These initiatives include: Clean effective skincare formulas that deliver powerful nutrients to your skin without the use of toxic chemicals that would be caustic to your health and your environments. Clean and sustainable packaging that is biodegradable and won’t take up room in your landfills, or end up in your oceans.
    Conservation! PhilanthroBee®️ has built its business on a foundation that pays to educate their community about the importance of pollinators. Through their Willow Glen Apiary and in partnership with San Jose City’s Happy Hollow Zoo, they have raised over $500K to help support the pollinator for progress programs in San Jose California.

    THE FAMILY MOTTO... "FROM OUR HIVES TO YOUR HOMES, BEE-CAUSE WE CARE"

    Bee-cause our skin is the largest organ in our bodies, PhilanthroBee®️ is devoted to making the cleanest skin care product possible and delivering it to you in a sustainable, Eco-Friendly package. The PhilanthroBee®️ family has a rich history in biological sciences with years of knowledge in apiary care, and its product development. They not only own the honeybee apiaries, but they also own the research and formulations that make up their product lines. They also develop and hand package their products, ensuring the consumers their natural hive ingredients, and antioxidant rich botanicals are as fresh as possible when they arrive at their homes.

    The family bees-ness is passionate about creating a net positive company. From their conservation work as beekeepers and educators, to their efforts in sourcing all of their non-apiary ingredients from fair-trade communities around the world, to their raw clean formulas and bio-degradable packaging, PhilanthroBee®️ has Philanthropy built into its DNA.

    PHILANTHROPY RUNS DEEP IN PHILANTHROBEE®️. THE PRACTICE STARTS WITH HOW & WHERE THE INGREDIENTS ARE SOURCED.

    The family is determined to have a clean, sustainable product. PhilanthroBee®️ does this by making sure the ingredients they source outside of their apiaries is as clean and sustainable as their own. Fair trade is about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world. Fair trade empowers farmers and their employees to take control of their lives, businesses and communities through trade.

    PHILANTHROBEE®️ IS A SUSTAINABLE COMPANY, WE CARE ABOUT WHAT WE PUT BACK INTO THE ENVIRONMENT.

    Because PhilanthroBee®️ is determined to have a clean sustainable product, they want to make sure the packaging, just like the product, is clean and sustainable. The Hive bath bombs, and their Bee-Cause Body Bars are packaged in an Eco-Friendly, combustible cardboard that can be placed in your garden or worm farm when you are done with them. The company is also very close at developing NET POSITIVE Package for all of its lines. One more add to PhilanthroBee's®️ philanthropic initiatives , that gives back to the pollinators.

  • Philanthropy Champion
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    Saalt

    Winner

    A Word From The Nominee

    As a certified B Corp, Saalt allocates 2% of revenue to donate improved period care to areas with the most need, and funds initiatives in menstrual health, girls education, and environmental sustainability. Since Saalt’s launch in 2018, Saalt has donated over 20,000 period cups to underprivileged women and girls in 34 countries to help them confidently manage their periods, stay in school, and lift themselves out of poverty. Saalt has diverted over 4 million disposable products globally by helping people make the switch to menstrual cups. We believe in using business as a force for good, and we are so honored to be considered for the Beacon Award for the Philanthropy Champion.

    Who They Are

    Saalt is a female-founded, women-owned period care company with the vision to make cleaner, more sustainable period care accessible to everyone. We support individuals to make better choices for their menstrual health through stigma-breaking branding and an industry-leading product line that offers modern, reusable products to the mainstream consumer. In an era where disposable products yield far more profit, Saalt offers only reusable products that are healthier for both consumers and our planet. We also believe that business governed by strong ethics creates a powerful vehicle to bring about positive change.

    Why They Won
    It’s hard to choose a winner in this category because giving back isn’t a contest. But, Saalt was selected because of the consistency of their giving, the true need addressed by their cause and the positive impact that supplies, education and support to menstruators around the world. Saalt works with period poor communities around the globe, creating deep relationships that can change the course of a young person’s life, who can go to school in some cases and get an education, because of their support.
  • Philanthropy Champion
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    Soapbox

    A Word From The Nominee

    We're humbled and honored to be nominated. Soapbox was started in my college kitchen and over the past 11 years, our team has worked hard to create amazing products for our customers.

    Our customers make this amazing change happen! Together, we've donated over 22,000,000 bars both here at home and abroad... and we're just getting started. Join us in this mission to make hygiene accessible for all!

    Who They Are

    Soapbox is a mission-driven, natural personal care brand. Every time someone buys one of our products, we donate a bar of soap to someone in need either here at home or around the world. To date, we've donated over 22 million bars to those in need through various hygiene programs and we're looking forward to donating millions more!

    We've also built the world's largest bottle of soap and we're driving across the country to 16 cities building awareness about how some people in our country, and around the world, do not have access to the necessary hygiene to kept their families healthy. We're going to be getting the world record for biggest bottle and most hygiene products donated within a week.

  • Philanthropy Champion
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    Trestique

    A Word From The Nominee

    Jack and I are honored and thrilled to be in the running for Philanthropy Champion this year. As a small brand, it's always been important to us that we give back consistently and thoughtfully. Whether it's donating to women's empowerment and anti-hate organizations or giving our customers the opportunity to donate to the charitable organizations they love the most, it's important to us that we use our brand and platform for good. — Jennifer Kapahi

    Who They Are

    When founders Jenn Kapahi and Jack Bensason launched trestique six years ago, they focused on extraordinary quality, innovative packaging and uncomplicated, time-saving makeup routines. Their industry expertise empowered them to create an original, clean makeup line of super-performing products that really do what they promise. With next generation formulas made in Italy, the 2-in-1 makeup crayons feature built-in application tools to deliver fun and ease. Jack and Jenn have always cared about more than just creating innovative beauty products. That's why every year the brand participates in Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Earth Day, Pride Month activations and more. And not only that, trestique offers 20% Off to customers who choose to donate $5 with their purchase to a philanthropic organization of their choice. Customers can choose from a list of organizations ranging from environmental to social justice advocacy and includes organizations like Dress for Success, Charity Water and the NAACP. During the pandemic, the brand also introduced a discount to all healthcare employees and donated products to them through hospitals in NYC.

  • Brand Launch
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    Experiment

    A Word From The Nominee

    We've seen many brands we admire, like Hero Cosmetics and Topicals, winning the Beacon award. To be nominated for Brand Launch of the Year as a small bootstrapped brand launched in a pandemic means a whole lot. It's always hard to create a buzzy launch but it's even harder when you have to be really scrappy and creative to get it all done on a budget of essentially zero.

    To do that, we knew our first product drop had to speak for itself. That's why we launched Avant Guard– a fun and functional, lime green reusable sheet mask that's equal parts absurd brand billboard and effective sustainable solution to wasteful single use sheet masks. Without spending a dime on marketing we were able to organically grow our army of green faces across social media and get major organic endorsements from top skinfluencers like James Welsh. For Experiment's launch, we partnered with popular Gen Z brand, Topicals with our "Butter N' Bake" set that sold out in 10 hours on launch day.

    By leaning into the humor of how absurd the mask looked, our product basically became a meme to consumers who, when posting a selfie on their stories wearing the product, could crack jokes about how Avant Guard is "giving shrek vibes". We all became part of a little inside joke about how silly the mask looked on everyone. The nature of our first product launch propelled the brand to be instantly recognizable on social media.

    To have folks in the industry recognize the thoughtful strategy we put behind this launch is incredible. A vote for Experiment is a vote for scrappy strategy and the future of fun, science-forward, sustainable Gen Z beauty.

    Who They Are

    Experiment is a chemist-led brand building the next generation of skintellectual beauty for Gen Z. We're liberating routines and uncomplicating products with effective beauty that's ridiculously fun, thoughtfully sustainable, and pretty damn smart.

  • Brand Launch
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    Ingredients

    A Word From The Nominee

    We are excited to be nominated because Ingredients® is the product of our life’s work. Our brand is driven by our personal philosophy and passion. Our purpose is to educate consumers about natural health, empower them to reduce toxicity in their daily lives, and develop the habit of reading ingredient labels. Our mission is to disrupt the beauty industry and cause a shift towards radical transparency and reducing the use of petrochemicals. By exposing our exact formulation, we expose everyone else’s.

    People should vote for the most innovative and inclusive new brand of 2021. We are the first brand to put our exact formulation with exact percentages on the front of our bottles. Our products contain 8 concentrated plant-based ingredients or less to optimize our product’s efficacy. Our farm-to-bottle process is one of the strictest in the industry, and it ensures maximum purity and freshness while minimizing our brand’s carbon footprint. We believe in a common human skin function regardless of age, race, or gender. This is why our formulas are designed to promote a healthy skin microbiome and respect all skin’s natural pH level of 5.5. Our brand is leading the future trend on safety and transparency. This is why people should vote for Ingredients®.

    Who They Are

    The name says it all. We’re obsessive about everything that goes into our products. So much so, that we named our company after what’s inside — Ingredients®. And, we placed these ingredients directly on the front of our packaging. Ingredients® is a chemical-free line of daily essential products formulated only with organic, plant-based ingredients in high concentrations to deliver optimal benefits.

  • Brand Launch
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    Naturally Drenched

    A Word From The Nominee

    I am so excited that Naturally Drenched is nominated for Brand Launch Of The Year for the 2021 Beauty Independent Beacon Awards!

    I am a full-time attorney for the Federal Government, a salon owner, and a single mom. Most people assume lawyers make a lot of money, which is not true, especially when you have to pay law school loans. My parents provided me with a top-notch upbringing, and I wanted to do the same for my daughter. Therefore, I knew I had to come up with a side hustle that would be profitable. My college friend had told me about an extension concept. After doing some research, I decided it was a good idea and I inadvertently stumbled into the beauty world. After owning the salon for a year, I had an epiphany to change the name to Maggie Rose, after my daughter Magnolia Rose. I hired a stylist that was familiar with natural hair and that is how I jumped into the world of textured hair. The close relationships I developed with my stylists is what ultimately led me to develop Naturally Drenched. The stylists would talk about the different types of textured hair they were working with and the lack of high-quality, effective products to use on all of their clients. I felt called to create a haircare line that put natural hair at the forefront of its values and purpose. Naturally Drenched is a haircare line engineered for curly hair but also encompasses a strong commitment to sustainability and environmental consciousness which are equally as important to me.

    Being nominated for Brand Launch Of The Year means the absolute world to me. I have poured my heart and soul into my brand. Every dollar that is made goes right back into the business and my goal is to create a space where everyone can love and embrace their natural hair. Thank you for your support!

    Who They Are

    Inclusivity is the cornerstone of Naturally Drenched. Recognizing the lack of Black representation in the beauty space, Jamila Powell created Naturally Drenched to work with underrepresented communities to ensure all voices are heard—and our curls are loved! It is Jamila’s goal to encourage all to embrace, love, and preserve their unique hair texture.

    Naturally Drenched is creating a “curl-clusive” community, specializing in curly and natural textures, and is a vegan haircare brand catered toward women and men seeking a healthy and eco-conscious hair product. This hair care line is deeply committed to sustainability and making a positive impact around the world. Naturally Drenched offers consumers a way to upcycle their sturdy aluminum bottles with a reusable pump and trigger spray, allowing them to reuse the Rebalance bottles in a useful and fun way. In addition, all proceeds from the reusable pump and trigger spray sales will go to Charity: Water, a non-profit organization committed to providing clean water around the world.

  • Brand Launch
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    Nopalera

    A Word From The Nominee

    Nopalera was founded to fight the Euro-centric beliefs that products from Western Europe with French and Italian names are worthier of higher price tags and conversely, things made with Mexican hands should be cheaper. This nomination validates that we are accomplishing what we set out to - to celebrate and elevate Latin@ culture in this space. Voting for us is recognizing the beauty and richness of Mexican culture.

    Who They Are

    Nopalera is Mexican Botanicals for Bath & Body on a mission to celebrate and elevate Latin@ culture. We take our inspiration from the nopal (cactus) for its cultural symbolism, resilience, sustainability, and versatility.

  • Brand Launch
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    Vamigas

    A Word From The Nominee

    We are a brand created by two Latinas - one Mexicana and one Chilena - on a mission to reclaim the ingredients from our homelands. Because it’s time for a Latina clean  beauty revolution.

    Did you know that us Latinas outspend other groups in beauty purchases by 30% - and 60% of us use nine or more makeup products? Studies have also found that because we buy more beauty products, our bodies have more hormone-disrupting chemicals like phthalates.

    Yet sometimes we are left out of the clean skincare and wellness space; clean skincare products are very expensive, avoid marketing to Latinas, or don’t market to us very well. We’re treated as a monolith and like we come from one country and have one skin tone.

    What’s more, many of today’s hottest brands use ingredients like Rosa Mosqueta or Chia Seed, which actually come from our ancestral homelands.

    So how are you going to use products from our ancestral lands and strip away their cultural context or avoid marketing to us?

    Enter Vamigas, a new clean, fragrance-free skin care line that includes the first face oil ever to use 8 ingredients from Latin America, and one of the only Rosa Mosquetas with no additional ingredients or added fragrances. We are also one of the most affordable brands.

    We use organic ingredients like Maqui, Yerba Mate, Maracuja, Rosa Mosqueta, Babassu, Pataua, Prickly Pear, and Chia from Chile, Mexico, Peru, Brazil, Ecuador and more.

    Who They Are

    VAMIGAS is a clean skin care, hair care and beauty brand created by Latinas using botanicals from Latin America.

    The brand was founded by two Latinas - Chilean and Mexican-American - on a mission to reclaim the cultural identities of Latin American Botanicals and celebrate ancestral beauty.

  • Brand Launch
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    Womaness

    Winner

    A Word From The Nominee

    Thank you, sincerely, for the Brand Launch of the Year nomination. To say we’re thrilled is an understatement.

    Some may wonder why two successful C-suite executives decided to become entrepreneurs (during a global pandemic no less), but we were itching to do more -- and do it on our own terms. We wanted to build something that made a real difference in women’s lives and asked ourselves where do women in their 40s, 50s, and beyond go to find solutions and inspiration as they move into menopause? The answer was nowhere...so we knew It was due time to take the "pause" out of menopause and show menopause it met its match.

    After all, there are comprehensive categories for menstruation and maternity, but the market fell short when it came to menopause - which we were dumbfounded by, given that 50+ million women are going through menopause at any given time. Yes, there are brands that target incontinence, brands that target sexual wellness, brands that target menopausal skin concerns ~ but there wasn’t an overarching brand that offered a suite of solutions no matter what the symptom was. That’s what we do with Womaness; we offer modern menopause solutions from head to toe (and everything in between).

    We are ecstatic with how well received Womaness has been by consumers in just the few months since we’ve launched, and receiving a coveted BeautyIndependent Beacon Award and recognition from our industry and peers would help further validate what we know to be true: #menopositivity is here to stay.

    Again, we thank you for your consideration and the honor of the Brand Launch nomination.

    Who They Are

    Womaness, a collection of modern, effective menopause products created by women, for women that offer solutions from head to toe (and everything in between), was born out of a desire to speak to and serve the 50+ million women approaching or in menopause and the 80% of those women dealing with the most common symptoms, from hot flashes to sleep issues, light leaks to fine lines.

    This is not your mother’s menopause… Forget what you may initially associate menopause with (aka dusty, dated products with unfortunate names lurking on the bottom shelves at drugstores). Womaness is chic, it’s cheeky, and it celebrates this particular period (pun intended) of life by destigmatizing menopause and ensuring women’s health and wellness remains at the forefront of conversation.

    Formulated alongside a panel of menopausal experts, including gynecologists who specialize in menopause, women's health experts, and nutritionists and skincare advisors who understand the ingredients that are most effective for menopausal skin, Womaness offers accessible (13 SKUs, each under $40 and widely available via Target.com), safe, chic solutions in skin and body care, supplements, feminine care and sexual health. Marrying form with function, Womaness designed products that are vanity-worthy and a luxurious experience (without breaking the bank). The range is cruelty free, vegan, dermatologist- and allergy-tested, and all products are formulated without animal-derived ingredients, parabens, phthalates, sulfates, artificial colors, formaldehyde, mineral oils, estrogen, phytoestrogen, or added hormones.

    Why They Won
    Because of its unique positioning, thorough portfolio of products, impressive DTC and wholesale rollout supported by truly impressive media placements, Womaness stood out to the evaluation committee. They’ve created a comprehensive line at an affordable price point to bring solutions to an underserved group of women. Their product efficacy for the whole body and sense of humor made them a stand-out choice.
  • Best Brand
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    Adwoa Beauty

    A Word From The Nominee

    Thank you for nominating me! Entrepreneurship is tough and it has been a challenging couple of years for all of us! It always feels good to be respected and admired by your peers and a nod to keep going. My goal with Adwoa Beauty has always been to show multi-cultural people that they belong in prestigious spaces. We will continue to push the envelope by creating innovative formulations, unique packaging and maintaining our educational stance. I appreciate the nomination!

    Who They Are

    adwoa beauty is a modern, non toxic, gender neutral beauty brand catering to multi-cultural hair textures. taking advantage of nature’s goodies allowed us to create a products with intense moisture and elongation to deliver healthy + happy coils for all kinky-curly-wavy kinds. our inaugural baomint™ collection, prioritizes a healthy scalp for steady hair growth from root to tip. happy scalp = happy hair!

  • Best Brand
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    Beekman 1802

    A Word From The Nominee

    We are so thrilled to be nominated for Beauty Independent’s ‘Brand of the Year’ award! As a company that has been self-financed and independently owned from the beginning, we are proud to represent our community of customers (whom we call Neighbors), as we continue to pave our way within the industry. Our core belief that There is Beauty in Kindness™ has fueled our business growth by double digits year over year. Standing behind our Clinically Kind® approach to skincare, we have proven that the long game pays off in the long term, showing everyone that nice guys can sometimes finish first!

    Who They Are

    Beekman 1802 was born when founders, Josh Kilmer-Purcell and Dr. Brent Ridge, moved to the historic Beekman 1802 farm in rural Sharon Springs, NY. There they found a tightknit community and 100 goats looking for a home. Next thing you know, they became the world’s biggest goat milk-based skincare company, earning the right to call themselves the first and only certified microbiome-friendly brand at Ulta stores for the moisturizing, exfoliation, and nourishing properties of the goat milk found in their products across the board. With their Clinically Kind® approach to skincare that’s clinically tested, scientifically proven, and made for sensitive skin, they have long proven, There’s Beauty in Kindness™.

  • Best Brand
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    Lake & Skye

    A Word From The Nominee

    I am thrilled to be nominated in this category by Beauty Independent. I launched this brand in 2015 and my journey to Lake & Skye was a winding one. A health crisis and a chance meeting with a healer sparked a passion for alternative therapies. Over 10+years I became a kundalini yoga teacher, a holistic nutritionist, and an aromatherapist, as well as a student in reiki and meditation. My goal is to create a beauty brand that intertwines scent with wellness. Our fragrances, candles, and essential oils are modern, and elegant. They are designed to enhance and elevate the every day. I aim to infuse all of these experiences into Lake & Skye in everything from the formulas, packaging and product names to how we give back and support sustainability.

    Who They Are

    Lake & Skye is modern and conscious beauty, simple in its essence. From the signature fragrance and candles to the floral waters, our products are responsibly created, vegan, cruelty free and unisex. We plant a tree with every online order through the organization One Tree Planted.

  • Best Brand
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    Oui The People

    A Word From The Nominee

    I want Oui the People to push the boundaries of culture and challenge the language used in the beauty industry. When I was young my mother banned beauty magazines from our house because she wanted to protect us from messaging that made us feel we weren’t beautiful or lovable. Unfortunately, not much has changed over the last few decades and modern beauty brands continue to use this type of language. A recent search found 17,666 products with the term “anti-aging,” 1665 with the word “perfect” and 524 with the word flawless. We say “f#ck flawless,” because beauty shouldn’t come at the expense of our psyche. The imagery on Oui The People’s website and social media channels show skin looking like skin and I hope in the next decade women are no longer sold products under the guise they need to be perfect or ageless to be considered valuable.

    Who They Are

    Oui the People makes beautiful, efficacious body care products delivered in sustainable, clean, and thoughtful packaging. The brand’s cult-favorite sensitive skin safety razor is hand-made and engineered in Germany to be gentler on the skin than traditional safety razors and the brand’s award-winning body care products work to hydrate, smooth and exfoliate the skin while preventing ingrown hairs, keratosis pilaris and uneven skin tone to give you a healthy, natural glow. The brand’s mission is to help people feel more beautiful in their own skin while they feel good about their purchase.

  • Best Brand
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    ROSEN Skincare

    A Word From The Nominee

    We're so honored to be included as one of the top brands by such an influential beauty publication. ROSEN was truly built off of a $1,500 credit card I had in college and my passion for the acne space. To see our growth, impact and recognition in a space I've been so close to as a consumer my whole life means everything!

    Who They Are

    ROSEN Skincare is creating the next generation of mass acne care. Research around acne + the customers have changed a ton since 1990, but the products haven't. It's time to change the way we think about breakouts!

    At ROSEN, our mission is to make the acne space a cleaner, more enjoyable place to shop. We do that by taking a clean-ical approach to formulas fueled by modern research.

  • Best Brand
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    Youth To The People

    Winner

    A Word From The Nominee

    It's an honor to be nominated in this category. Since we began in 2015, Youth To The People has been more than pro-grade vegan skincare responsibly made in California—it’s been a movement. Skincare was just the start. Our purpose is bigger than superfood formulas inspired by the 40 years of innovative, professional skincare knowledge our family comes from, it’s always been about the people and the planet.
    We’ve seen incredible growth globally in the last two years that’s allowed us to amplify the stories of people in our communities creating change for social justice and climate justice on our platforms. That same passion and mindfulness continue to guides us during every step of our journey—from sourcing, formulating, and manufacturing, as we remain committed to making the most responsible and mindful choices that have the lowest impact on our communities, our planet, and the highest impact on your skin health. We believe even small actions can inspire collective change.

    Who They Are

    When we founded YTTP in 2015, our family of women were at the heart and soul of the brand, beginning with our grandmother Eva who was not only a pioneer in professional-grade skincare, but a dominant force in our lives. When our grandmother retired, she passed on the business and work ethic to our Aunt Lori and Greg’s mom Lisa, who are our mentors. Today, we continue our family’s legacy, which shapes our standard for innovation.

    Why They Won
    Youth To The People’s co-founders, Joe Cloyes and Greg Gonzalez, really stand out. They are so true to their consumer and to themselves as well. Not only have they created a really clean brand, but truly efficacious products. And just as impressive, they have put their money where their mouth is with their Good To The People funds which contribute to diverse nonprofits supporting climate and social justice organizations.
  • Indie Deal
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    Dame Products

    A Word From The Nominee

    We are honored to be recognized for this award. Beauty Independent's advocation for sexual wellness and normalizing pleasure has been instrumental to the growth of Dame Products.

    Who They Are

    Dame Products engineers for sexual wellness by building welcoming community, designing innovative tools, and bringing life-changing education to your bedroom. We began our mission to close the Pleasure Gap — the disparity in satisfaction that people with vulvas experience in the bedroom, versus their cis male counterparts. It’s a real problem! The Dame team represents a wide range of ages, genders, ethnicities, backgrounds, and lifestyles. A variety of voices in the lab helps us develop products that address the needs of as many humans as possible.

  • Indie Deal
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    Hero Cosmetics

    Winner

    A Word From The Nominee

    We're thrilled to be recognized for Best Indie Deal! We raised in 2020 during the pandemic when fundraising suddenly became a lot harder than it already is. We never veered away from our principles of finding the right partner who shared our vision of creating a top functional skincare brand. Our persistence and staying the course paid off when we inked our deal with Trevor Nelson and Jackie Dunklau of Aria Growth Partners. While we are their first deal from this new fund, Jackie and Trevor are longtime consumer investors with trained eyes that know how to spot brands with exceptional potential and we are honored that they chose us as their first investment.

    This deal is a first for us both - Hero's first (and last) round of outside capital and Aria's first investment. This was also a deal accomplished despite a turbulent 2020 and we are proud to have made it happen.

    Who They Are

    Hero Cosmetics is a functional skincare brand focused on acne breakouts. Since launching in 2017, the brand sells a box of Mighty Patch acne patches every 15 seconds in over 8,000 doors and has grown from a startup with a single product to an established acne-care brand with customizable toolkits that span your skin's entire healing journey, from start to finish. Hero takes a consciously clinical approach to skincare, developing products with gentle ingredients, transparent product details, and clinically high standards for efficacy. Hero helps people clear their skin and reclaim their confidence

    Why They Won
    We were looking for a brand that stands out by driving cutting edge innovation and that pursues a serious unmet need.The committee liked the truly holistic approach to acne care and the communication plan of the Hero Cosmetics. We believe the partnership signed with Area Growth partners is perfect to build the brand and to make it bigger in the future.
  • Indie Deal
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    Maude

    A Word From The Nominee

    Sexual wellness has long been the last frontier in personal care and beauty. We are honored that Beauty Independent has recognized maude as an indie brand disrupting the overall wellness industry with a nomination this year.

    Who They Are

    Founder and CEO Éva Goicochea spent her early career as a legislative aide in healthcare and then a decade working with forward-thinking companies. No matter where she went, the sexual wellness aisle looked the same: outdated, confusing, and not inclusive. Finally, she converged her experiences to create the next chapter in the sexual wellness industry—a modern company built on quality, simplicity, and inclusivity. A company with beautiful, well-designed and affordable products. Maude launched in 2018. In 2020, Dakota Johnson joined the team as an investor and Co-Creative Director.

  • Indie Deal
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    Papr

    A Word From The Nominee

    There is no greater honor than to be recognized by peers and by our industry. Beauty Independent is at the intersection of brands, investors, news - you are our voice.
    Every vote is a direct support message to us. It helps us to create products that not only perform while you are using them, but after you are done as well. The only way forward is without plastic. Thank you for all your support!

    Who They Are

    Our mission is to create conscious beauty products - as good as they get for you and with as little impact on the planet as possible. Paper is light, versatile and functional. Most importantly it is fully recyclable and it makes for great packaging. And when we take down one tree, we plant a new one. We aim to sustain. It is the only way. Not only do we look after mother Earth, we also only use ingredients that won’t harm you! We research, we search and we aim to create better. We believe in science, we are vegan, we don’t test on animals and we are conscious as human beings. PĀPR deodorants are made from all natural ingredients and come in 100% biodegradable paper packaging. The deodorants are plastic-free and non-toxic.

  • Indie Deal
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    SUNDAY II SUNDAY

    A Word From The Nominee

    The beauty industry is often based off static moments that are beautiful like wedding days or galas, but that’s not daily life. That’s not what the women in my life are looking like every day, so we built the brand off of their daily lives. It’s called Sunday II Sunday because during the week is when your life is happening. We want to help get you from activity to activity and moment to moment. For me, it was about shifting the conversation of static beauty to active, living beauty. Our mission is ensuring that our consumer is living their lives without any compromises, and ensuring they have a healthy base to start from when they do have a formal moment.

    Who They Are

    SUNDAY II SUNDAY is for active women. We believe that nothing, especially not your hair, should hold you back from living your life to the fullest. Our products are made with active botanical ingredients that remove sweat, balance moisture, and maintain the health of your hair and scalp pre, post, and during your workouts. When used daily, our proprietary formulas are proven to deliver reduced itch in 15 minutes and a healthier scalp in just 28 days.

  • Best Campaign
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    Carbon Theory

    A Word From The Nominee

    We are thrilled to be recognized as a nominee for the 2021 Beauty Independent Beacon Awards. As a brand that launched in the US in Q1 2020, we perservered during a challenging time, always remaining true to our core mission of bringing affordable, natural, and results-driven skincare to keep breakouts at bay and boost confidence, no matter where you are in your skincare journey.

    Who They Are

    Established in the U.K. in 2018, Carbon Theory offers accessible cleansing solutions to target breakout-prone skin, and are lab-formulated using natural ingredients such as charcoal and tea tree oil. The award-winning Facial Cleansing Bar ($9.99), has garnered a cult-status; before and after images from consumers that appear on the brand's instagram (@carbontheory) are a testament to its efficacy. Carbon Theory is currently available in the US at Ulta and Walgreens. All products are vegan and cruelty free.

  • Best Campaign
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    Fur

    Winner

    A Word From The Nominee

    Being nominated is such an honor because it means that our mission to celebrate body hair and remove the unnecessary stigma surrounding it resonates with some of the most respected and influential people in our industry. We provide comfort and care in the form of high-quality products and cutting-edge grooming tools—but providing comfort and care goes further than just our products; it’s also about sending the message that everyone deserves to feel empowered to make their own choices about their bodies, and body hair. A vote for us is a vote for that message.

    Who They Are

    Fur is the first line of all-natural, vegan & cruelty-free products dedicated to body hair and skin. Wherever you fall on the spectrum of bare to full, we make clean products that hydrate skin, soften hair, and eradicate ingrowns from head to toe. Gentle enough for pubic hair and skin, but effective from head to toe, our products play well with any haircare routine—whether you wax, shave, laser, or go au naturale

    Why They Won
    Fur, whose campaign focused on the launch of its The Fur Trimmer, successfully engaged viewers in a conversation about standards of beauty around body hair as well as shame and stigma. With its bold and smart wheatpasting campaign plastered around New York City, Fur showcased models across the gender spectrum and got people talking about body hair—especially pubic hair—as well as body hair diversity and acceptance.
  • Best Campaign
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    Monpure

    A Word From The Nominee

    Less than 45% of women go through life with a full head of hair, and yet no one - particularly in the luxury space within the beauty industry - seems to be talking about it. It's so great to see that a topic affecting so many women globally is finally being recognized, and MONPURE is proud to spearhead the conversation in a way that is powerful, supportive and inclusive.

    Who They Are

    MONPURE is a sustainable, vegan, luxury brand created by a collective of beauty experts, dermatologists and scientists who are all dedicated to finding a real solution to the issues of hair loss and thinning. Everything in MONPURE’s results-driven, six product range stars sustainably sourced nourishing botanicals and potent actives, adopting a holistic approach that goes beyond topical treatment. The product line features a shampoo, conditioner, scalp mask, scalp scrub and two serums.

    Committed to bringing awareness about female hair loss to the forefront, MONPURE launched a powerful social media campaign called #It'sNotJustHair in May 2021, spotlighting personal stories from women who have struggled with hair loss issues. In the first week alone, the video had 1M views across MONPURE's collective channels, and they've seen an influx of women sending in their own videos to share hair loss stories and experiences to join the conversation.

  • Best Campaign
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    Skin Proud

    Who They Are

    Cutting away the confusion, Skin Proud believes in being totally transparent, our products are 100% vegan and PETA approved cruelty free, with clear talking, easy to use ingredients that create happy and healthy skin that you’ll wear with pride.

  • Best Campaign
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    The INKEY List

    A Word From The Nominee

    We are so honored to be nominated for a 2021 Beauty Independent Beacon Award. Coming up on our 3rd birthday, knowledge is at the core of everything we set out to do. Our Knowledge is Your Power campaign was our first major brand campaign that established our commitment to education around skincare – from what ingredients are, to how to use them in your routine, plus how to build a personalized routine for yourself via our Recipe Builder tool supported by #askINKEY – a 24/7/365 one-to-one service with real advisors available for those curious or confused about skincare – and now scalp/haircare. We truly believe in the credo that Knowledge powers everything, when it comes to beauty, and beyond.

    Who They Are

    Founded by Colette Laxton and Mark Curry in 2018 in the UK, The INKEY List believes that better knowledge powers better decisions. The world of beauty, and particularly skincare, can be confusing and the brand exists to spread knowledge about the power of ingredients, and how to use them in one’s personal skin and hair care routines.

    The INKEY List innovates with high-quality, single (and often first-to-market) ingredient-led formulas, always under $15, and available in over 60 countries globally. The brand delivers knowledge through their #askINKEY platforms, offering expert advice from skincare advisors 24/7/365. The INKEY List skincare is available in the US exclusively at Sephora; the Hair & Scalp Treatment range is available via theinkeylist.com.

  • Best Campaign
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    Vacation

    A Word From The Nominee

    The response to our launch earlier this summer completely blew us away; to have our efforts recognized by the beauty industry with this nomination is a true honor, and validates all the hard work we put into it. The campaign itself was super fun to make. We came up with around 4,000 crazy job titles like “SVP of Speedboat Weddings,” “Head of Hot Tubs,” and “Shrimp Cocktail Designer,” and asked people to select their honorary role in the company. The campaign was a reflection of our desire to make sunscreen fun again. Everything we do, from our products, to our merch, to our marketing is all designed to “enhance leisure.” So a vote for us would not only be a vote for making sunscreen marketing more fun, but making beauty marketing in general more fun, too.

    Who They Are

    Imagine a sunscreen that took leisure as seriously as it took protection. Where the best in modern skincare science met a sensorial experience specifically designed to take you to paradise. Introducing Vacation®, a nostalgia-fueled, “leisure-enhancing” sunscreen brand from the makers of Poolsuite FM. Developed in conjunction with Miami sunscreen entrepreneurs Lach Hall and Dakota Green alongside Dr. Elizabeth Hale, Board Certified Dermatologist and a VP of The Skin Cancer Foundation, Vacation® launched Summer 2021 with the mission to make sunscreen as fun as it should be.

  • Product Launch – Skincare
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    Carbonnique Roller

    A Word From The Nominee

    Launching a brand is not easy. It takes patience and grit but when you see happy faces of your customers, when you know that your product is transforming their beauty routines you get the best award you could imagine. We are thrilled to be nominated for Beacon Awards. Vote for us if you appreciate beautiful design and believe in supportive skincare- skincare that is supporting the skin’s inherent functions with the power of lymphatic and deep tissue massage.

    Who They Are

    Carbonnique is a beauty devices brand that is reimagining face and neck massage tools with unique combination of sustainably sourced walnut wood and biocompatible ceramic. Carbonnique is designed to lift, contour and reinvigorate your skin. The tool mimics professional massage techniques and supports lymphatic drainage across face and body.

    Carbonnique is more than beauty devices brand.
    Launching fall 2021 Carbonnique Studio will offer holistic approach to beauty and wellness with fitness style online face and body massage classes, wellness practices curated by dermatologist, esthetician, yoga teacher, marathon runner and American Ballet Theatre ballerina.

  • Product Launch – Skincare
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    Antü Brightening Moisturizer

    A Word From The Nominee

    We have spent more than two years developing the AntuComplex, a new anti-oxidant cocktail from Patagonia that is as potent as the gold standard Vitamin C, yet remains stable in formulation, supports the microbiome, and does not impact the NO-pathway for wound healing. We have spent two years formulating creams and serums with the AntuComplex, that not only function as a chemical barrier for free radicals and trap pollution at the surface, but also deliver the anti-oxidants through the skin barrier into the epidermis to allow re-densification and increase collagen. We are very proud of our Antu collection and believe it is a major milestone in combatting inflammaging from the totality of the exposome.

    Who They Are

    Founded in 2018 by Silicon Valley, Calif. entrepreneur Barb Paldus, PhD, Codex Beauty Labs is a biotech company, grounded in science, dedicated to supporting the microbiome, obsessed with sustainability, committed to biodiversity, and pioneering products having clinically proven, meaningful skincare benefits. Our mission is to blend the sciences of ethnobotany and plant biology with biotech innovations to create a new standard: plant-based biotech beauty.

  • Product Launch – Skincare
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    Facial Treatment System

    Winner

    A Word From The Nominee

    We are honored and excited for this nomination- thank you for the opportunity!

    Seeing the before and afters from our customers, and hearing how it’s made such an impact in their lives and confidence, makes this journey incredibly rewarding.

    Nothing feels better than walking out of the house makeup free–radiating with confidence. La Luer stems from the French word for light, and Mira to see in Spanish. We want people to see the light within themselves without the layers of makeup, and made this our mission.

    With so many options in the skincare market, it’s surprising to find how many people struggle to find a comprehensive solution for their skin concerns. At La Luer, we’re making skincare straightforward, comprehensive, and results driven.

    As the first company to patent and integrate 6 technologies across 4 treatments into 1 compact device, La Luer allows users to curate a bespoke beauty regimen that responds to their skin’s ever-changing needs. There’s a treatment for all ages (18-80+) and various skin concerns. Instead of needing multiple devices to target different skin concerns, you only need one.

    We want to give people the independence to take skincare into their own hands.

    Who They Are

    At La Luer, we believe there should be no barriers to achieving great skin. La Luer's Facial Treatment System is disrupting the beauty tech market, making technology-enhanced facials quick, accessible, and highly effective. We’re all your beauty tools in one!

    As the first company to patent and integrate Red, Blue, & Green LED Light Technology, EMS, Ultrasound, Radio Frequency, Ion Infusion, and Sonic Pulsations into one tool, La Luer helps you get the high-performance results you would expect from professional facials from the comfort of home.

    Featuring 6 advanced technologies across 4 comprehensive treatments, we take you through a complete facial routine in less than 5 minutes.

    Each treatment (DETOX, TONE, LIFT, and INFUSE) contains a specific set of technologies, delivering unparalleled efficiency and customization. The treatments stimulate your skin’s natural ability to regenerate, resulting in visibly firmer, smoother, and healthier-looking skin.

    Everyone deserves to feel beautiful and confident in their own skin without the layers of makeup. At La Luer, we made it our mission to develop skin tools that are easy to use and results driven—helping you look great and feel your best self.

    Why They Won
    Launched as a single hero SKU, this tool offers the benefits of four separate tools, with an array of customization for each user, regardless of age or skin concerns. Users can personalize their treatment to detox, tone, lift or infuse – used individually or in combination – with tangible results after just one use and reducing the dependence on derm visits. In-store demonstrations led to meaningful conversion, user-shared results led to word-of-mouth endorsements, and sell outs in the US and beyond.
  • Product Launch – Skincare
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    Tattoo Art Preservation Stick

    A Word From The Nominee

    We are incredibly proud to be nominated for best product launch in the skincare category, as it will enable us to highlight an industry that is often mistakenly perceived as a niche. Although close to 50% of the US population has at least one tattoo, the aftercare experience is full of low-quality products anchored in tattoo stereotypes (think sexism, body-builder, rock).

    At People of Substance, we are bringing a fresh narrative focused on art and authenticity, that fits the modern and diverse background of today’s tattoo consumers.

    On the product side, our unique background in cosmetic development and manufacturing has allowed us to develop high quality products made with premium ingredients that are vegan, natural and organic. Moreover, we developed a convenient stick format that aims to provide modern tattoo consumers with an easy and mess-free aftercare experience in a category that is often forgotten and overlooked. Indeed, today’s tattoo consumers aren’t well educated on how to properly take care of their tattoos. Their knowledge typically stops at the immediate aftercare steps until their fresh ink has healed. However, most of the tattoo fading process happens after tattoos have fully healed, and is a direct result of a lack of sun protection and daily skin moisturizing. We are proud to announce that we will soon be launching additional aftercare products such as a clean SPF products, and body oils.

    On the brand side, we are bringing a fresh narrative to break stigmas around people with tattoos. We launched “Stories of Substance”, a series of profiles featuring inspiring people talking about the stories behind their tattoos and how they mirror their values. Some of the interviewees includes London-based designer and LGBTQI+ advocate Wednesday Holmes, shoe entrepreneur Matthew Chevallard, and wellness entrepreneur Cyndi Ramirez-Fulton.

    Moreover, in an effort to showcase the incredible creative talents in the industry, we teamed up with visual and tattoo artist Lenny Mathé to create our logo. Called Des Fleurs Dans La Tete, (Flowers in the Head) it represents the many life stories that build our inner character, define the people that we are, and build the substance in all of us.

    As you probably understand by now, we are building a brand that is bigger than skincare. People of Substance is about using the lens of art to celebrate people and their unique stories. We believe that our differences and our uniqueness are what bring value to this world. We must be proud of them. We must embrace them. We must preserve them.

    Who They Are

    People of substance is a clean and tattoo-friendly skincare brand on a mission to preserve the unique stories behind people's tattoos.

  • Product Launch – Skincare
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    Winky Lux Skincare

    Who They Are

    Winky Lux is a joyful makeup and skincare brand founded by Natalie Mackey in 2015. Luxurious, yet accessible, we offer a range of innovative, high-quality beauty formulations with clean and kind ingredients—all designed to deliver real results.

  • Product Launch – Cosmetics
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    Cream Blush

    A Word From The Nominee

    Our team here at AP is so honored to be nominated for this category! So much love and work go into our formulas and we're beyond happy to be able to share our products with you.

    Who They Are

    Alima Pure is a natural cosmetics brand from Portland, Oregon. Made using clean, non-toxic ingredients, our products are designed for everyone. As a woman founded and run company, empowering and connecting with others has always been at the forefront of what we do. We believe that your makeup should be able to do many things at once, just like you. Makeup should enhance what you love most about yourself without hiding who you are.

  • Product Launch – Cosmetics
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    Ami Colé Skin-Enhancing Tint

    Winner

    Who They Are

    Ami Colé is a clean beauty brand designed to celebrate melenin-rich skin, inspired by Senegal, born in Harlem.

    Why They Won
    We elected the Ami Cole Skin-Enhancing Tint because it helps to meet a need in the industry by providing a product that celebrates and is built around melanin-rich skin. The marketing and description of the product was powered by a compelling story and history behind the brand and purpose of the product while making it easy for the consumer to understand what the product would do.
  • Product Launch – Cosmetics
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    Underlined Kajal Eyeliner

    A Word From The Nominee

    I am honored to have been nominated for the Beauty Independent Beacon Award and to continue to share the value and mission that drives Kulfi Beauty. I started Kulfi to center and celebrate South Asians because I didn’t see that space within beauty, even though there are over a billion of us around the world. That’s both in front of the camera: who gets space for their stories? Who do we see in campaigns? And behind the camera: who gets to be the tastemaker, the founder, and the investor? Kulfi is shaking the entire ecosystem to create a space that is by us, for us, and doesn’t treat us as an afterthought.

    There has been a rise in our collective consciousness of reclaiming and celebrating our unique beauty and the differences that come with it and I look forward to the growth and change we see in our society moving forward.

    Who They Are

    As a South Asian woman, Priyanka Ganjoo rarely felt represented by beauty brands. With a background in helping indie beauty brands establish and grow their business, Ganjoo grew tired of the lack of inclusivity for South Asian women. Looking for a brand that would put South Asian women at the center of its narrative, Priyanka left the corporate beauty industry to create her own company, Kulfi Beauty, which brings celebration into beauty with fun and approachable products.

  • Product Launch – Cosmetics
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    Eye Primer

    A Word From The Nominee

    I created M2U NYC because I felt that high-quality makeup should be accessible to everyone - beauty is for every skin tone and every budget, that’s our way to be a truly inclusive brand. We make affordable high performing products to help people show up as their best, most fun and confident selves and we want to continue to amplify that message through our brand and product launches. Our new eye primer is long-lasting, vegan, cruelty-free, clean and made in accordance with EU regulations – and retails at just $8. We want to show all makeup lovers you really can have it all. Safe, effective, ethical, affordable, and fun — what makeup is supposed to be.

    Who They Are

    High quality doesn’t have to mean high prices. That’s why we are here: Vegan, Cruelty-free, and Clean makeup at amazingly affordable prices. M2U NYC was created with Gen Z’s direct input and collaboration, and offers a variety of products in the makeup category – from fun items like $4 creamy Eye Crayons to our best-selling $7 Cream Blush, and makeup staples like our $6 Moisturizing Lipsticks - we bring the NYC spark in every step of product development to deliver electric, on-trend products to all makeup lovers.

  • Product Launch – Cosmetics
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    BYO Blush

    A Word From The Nominee

    With our hero product BYO Blush Oil, we worked really hard to create something that hadn't been done before. I set out to make a universally flattering blush that worked on all skin tones and skin types, including acne-prone and mature skin. We wanted to make a blush that was so good for your skin, you could sleep in it. And making it without fossil fuel ingredients was super important to us too.

    It's been extremely rewarding to watch BYO Blush go viral on TikTok and to read messages from customers (especially from those with darker skin tones) telling us that they FINALLY found a flattering blush, that they FINALLY found a blush that works on acne-prone skin, and that they even put it to the sleep test and would wake up with better skin where they applied BYO Blush.

    I've always believed that the best part of makeup is sharing what you love with your friends. BYO Blush is a product that people clearly love to share and talk about with their friends. About 90% of our sales are organic.

    I'm beyond excited to be nominated because we put so much hard work and innovation into this product, it's beloved by our growing community, and it's on its way to becoming a cult classic.

    I hope people vote for us because they relate to our mission and appreciate our dedication to creating high quality, skin-loving makeup products that don’t rely on fossil fuels for texture and performance.

    Who They Are

    Youthforia is a clean + sustainable makeup brand that creates complexion-friendly formulas safe enough for all skin types to sleep in. (Yes, you read that right.)

    We’re best-known for BYO Blush - the world’s first color-changing blush oil, which reacts to the skin’s individual pH and gives everyone their own customized flush. Enriched with over 20 plant-based antioxidant-packed oils, the acne-safe formula aids in soothing, hydrating, and protecting the skin from environmental aggressors like pollution — and yes, it’s 100% safe to sleep in. In fact, Youthforia’s founder Fiona Co Chan and her husband both slept in BYO for two full months to see how the formula measured up, and they woke up to clearer, brighter skin where the blush was applied. It’s also infused with our own proprietary Skin Chi Complex technology, which contains six soothing ingredients designed to nourish skin and promote healthy blood circulation (a key component to a glowing complexion).

    Our TikTok-famous BYO Blush currently boasts over 10 million views and was named one of Vogue.com’s “Best New Sustainable Beauty Products of 2021” less than a month after launching. All of our products are plant-based, cruelty-free, and certified by USDA BioPreferred — a.k.a. the only certification program that tells you the specific percentage of a cosmetic formula that’s made without fossil fuels. In order to achieve top notch textures and performance while still practicing Green Chemistry Principles, which are guidelines that help brands reduce their carbon footprint, we specifically go out of our way to source plant-based synthetics. This is something we love educating our community on, especially because many of our customers have shown a strong interest in our sustainability efforts and what it means to be biobased.

    Above all, our goal here at Youthforia is to create high quality, sustainable makeup products that are innovative, fun to use, amazing for your skin, and inclusive for everyone. Moving forward, our mission is to make even more boundary-pushing products that prove it is possible to formulate makeup that’s both great for your skin and the environment, as well as super efficacious and texturally satisfying. As of now, you can find our best-selling BYO Blush and Dewy Glosses DTC on youthforia.co.

  • Product Launch – Wellness
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    Hello Mellow Capsules

    A Word From The Nominee

    As a new brand we are not only thrilled but so honored to receive such incredible recognition. We are proud of our products and their ability to help people through a variety of difficult times, and hope that this nomination will help more people discover the wonderful benefits of Betoken products.

    Who They Are

    Betoken makes plant-based products to make adulting easier. Each product contains a proprietary blend of Hemp and Botanicals to solve the most common problems people face as they get older!

  • Product Launch – Wellness
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    Skin Glow

    Winner

    A Word From The Nominee

    The gift of being able to share wisdom that has been passed down to me by my teachers in Taiwan is an honor. To be nominated in the field of wellness acknowledges the partnership we have begun to create that brings authentic support to our communities. Joining together with people who are as equally dedicated to empowering each other to embrace their own bodies through self-care and self-love is a tremendous gift. Thank You.

    Who They Are

    Dr. Janine Mahon's unique line of formulas developed out of her clinical practice as a doctor of Chinese medicine in New Mexico. Dr. Janine believes in harnessing only the most potent medicinal ingredients to formulate her products. Products like Rejuvenating Breast Oil, Menopause, Skin Glow and Stress Relief center on rebalancing the body during every stage of life. The line is infused with generational wisdom that has been gifted to Dr. Janine by her teachers in Taiwan.

    Why They Won
    We chose Skin Glow because it takes a unique approach to beauty by formulating with herbs from Taiwan and is an ingestible oil. This unique delivery system and using herbal tradition makes Skin Glow our award recipient for the year. This is truly wellness and beauty from the inside out.
  • Product Launch – Wellness
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    Super-Ades

    A Word From The Nominee

    We’re thrilled to be nominated for wellness launch of the year! Since Golde’s launch in 2017, we’ve been on a mission to make wellness more easy, inclusive, and feel-good for all. The Super-Ades truly embody this, with real superfood ingredients like coconut water and pineapple juice that dissolve right into cold water to support skin hydration, debloating, and stress relief. These SKUs were over a year in the making as we worked to pair the perfect juicy formulas with ingredients that really work. As one of very few BIPOC-led businesses in our category, we’re not just creating irresistible products at unmatched values — we’re shifting the narrative on who wellness is for, and why we all deserve to take care.

    Who They Are

    Golde is on a mission to make wellness easy, accessible and fun for all. We believe that being well should feel good. That means products that fit seamlessly into your lifestyle, not the other way around.

  • Product Launch – Wellness
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    SuperPower Capsule

    Who They Are

    Moon Juice was born from Amanda Chantal Bacon's experience — putting an autoimmune condition into remission after being told it wasn’t possible. She sought out experts and educated herself on diet, lifestyle, spirit, and traditional wisdom. Amanda saw radical changes in her blood and hormone panels. On paper, she started to read biologically younger than she had a decade prior. It was through simple daily practices that big changes were made.

    What was born out of Amanda's kitchen has evolved into a global source. Moon Juice bridges the world of alchemy and biology for functional benefits. Everything we make (adaptogenic supplements, skincare, and foods) is inspired by a need; either it isn’t being made, or there isn’t a version to Moon Juice standard of efficacy or purity.

  • Product Launch – Wellness
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    Semaine PMS & Period Support Supplements

    A Word From The Nominee

    We are so honored to be part of a program of so many brands and individuals we are inspired by daily! Our biggest goal with Semaine Health is to provide empathetic solutions to common women's health concerns and break the stigma surrounding women's health while we do it.

    Who They Are

    Semaine Health is a science-backed wellness company that provides plant-based supplements for women from her first period through menopause, and every UTI in between.

  • Product Launch – Home + Fragrance
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    Dally Botanical Hand Wash

    A Word From The Nominee

    We're honored to be nominated for a Beacon Award in our debut year as a brand. Dally sits at the intersection of personal care, beauty, and interior design and is perfectly suited for today's world. Since we launched the reception has been overwhelming and this recognition validates that. The Beacon Awards represent the best in emerging trends and brands so we're honored to be included.

    Who They Are

    Dally celebrates a slower-paced lifestyle. Founded by a husband & wife team in NYC, Dally crafts its goods with an attention to detail & a spirit that has a “loose understanding” of time.

  • Product Launch – Home + Fragrance
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    Prebiotic Toothpaste and Mouth & Microbiome Supplements

    A Word From The Nominee

    We are the first brand to step into in the oral care microbiome category. It would be an honour to be recognised for this innovation because we truly believe it's the future of oral care.

    Who They Are

    Launched in 2016, Gallinée is the first brand to focus on caring for the good bacteria of your microbiome. Products contain a patented complex of prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics to nourish and support the good bacteria that make your own personal ecosystem.
    Gallinée's mission? Empower your microbiome, everywhere. In 2021, they launched a new way to care for your mouth & teeth.
    They are stepping away from a stripping, overly sanitised approach to oral care, and embracing a supportive approach of the existing mouth bacteria ecosystem & original balance.

  • Product Launch – Home + Fragrance
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    Rael Soothing Vulva Care Line

    A Word From The Nominee

    We are thrilled to be nominated as the best product launch in the personal care category for our new Soothing Vulva Care Collection!

    As a brand started by 3 Korean American women, we take great pride in leveraging K-Beauty technology to improve women’s personal care with clean, effective solutions that provide support throughout a woman’s whole cycle, not just the week of their period. This includes organic period care, hormonal acne care, drug-free cramp relief and most recently, our Soothing Vulva Care Collection.

    Vulvar skin is sensitive, prone to irritation and has been neglected in our self-care routines for a long time. Most women will experience vulvar irritation in their lifetime for a variety of reasons but have limited choices that are clean and effective. Our new collection which is infused with high quality K-Beauty ingredients that are oftentimes used in facial skin care, including Cica and Hyaluronic Acid, was developed with feminine care expertise to create a line of products that truly help women feel more comfortable down there. We are proud of this breakthrough innovation as we’ve received rave reviews from our customers about the relief and comfort they feel after using the products, and also being able to empower women to not ignore or feel shameful about a natural, very important area of their bodies.

    Who They Are

    Rael is a holistic women’s wellness brand on a mission to reinvent feminine care with a fresh approach to hygiene, skincare, and cramp care with the goal of providing better, natural support for women throughout their cycle.

  • Product Launch – Home + Fragrance
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    Stimunail Device

    Winner

    A Word From The Nominee

    As a cosmetic chemist and brand manager I have worked in the beauty industry for over 30 years, developing and launching hundreds of products. It is so exciting to have my dream of launching my own brand finally come to fruition.

    Who They Are

    Stimunail is the first nail wellness device that features gentle heat, massaging vibration and red LED light to support overall nail health for optimal growth and strength.

    Why They Won
    Devices aren’t prevalent in the nail space, but with Stimunail, we feel we may see more devices popping up in this particular category. Heat, vibration and red light have proven to be effective for the skin, and we love seeing these therapies applied to our phalanges for stronger, healthier nails. Created by a cosmetic biochemist and product development expert, we’re excited to see what else Stimunail has up its glove.
  • Product Launch – Haircare
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    ReFINISH Dry Shampoo

    A Word From The Nominee

    We are so proud of our nomination for the Product Launch of the year in Haircare for The 2021 Beauty Independent Beacon Award –– not only in recognition of our hard work and passion as an indie beauty brand, but because these awards are judged by veritable experts of beauty. We put so much love into making great hair care. This acknowledgement from our peers means so much to us.

    –– NICK ARROJO, Owner + Founder of ARROJO Product

    Who They Are

    Whether your take on hair style is contemporary or creative, vintage, classic or cool shape your own trendsetting looks with ARROJO Product.

  • Product Launch – Haircare
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    Naturally Brite Hair Color Made From Plants

    A Word From The Nominee

    We are so excited that our ground-breaking, pre-mixed formula has been nominated! Naturally Brite Hair Color Made from Plants is designed to color & strengthen your hair at the same time, leaving it feeling stronger & looking vibrant!

    Who They Are

    In a category controlled in mass by large brands, we saw an opportunity to bring fun and innovation firmly founded on the principles of vegan, cruelty free, clean, and high-performance salon quality products at an everyday accessible price point. Naturally Brite Hair Color Made from Plants is a 100% plant-based demi permanent hair color available in 7 shades with a hydrating oil-based formula that leaves your hair feeling soft.

  • Product Launch – Haircare
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    BACK TO YOUR ROOTS Scalp + Hair Prewash

    Winner

    A Word From The Nominee

    We are over the moon to be nominated for the 2021 Beacon Awards! Independent Beauty is a leader in the beauty industry and it's an honor to be nominated and recognized by such a prestigious and credible leader. We are a brand new haircare company that is really disrupting the hair space by bringing a 5,000 year old healing system to today's world. We are creating an ethical and responsible production through an intersectional lens by sourcing from small, sustainable Indian farms, which are gentle to grow on our planet and reliable for our farmers. Our formulas and products are like nothing that exists! We are creating new product categories and building a holistic haircare regimen for ALL hair types.

    Who They Are

    SHAZ & KIKS is reimagining haircare rooted in ancient Indian rituals. Founders and sisters, Shaz and Kiku, are sharing the Ayurvedic practices and ingredients that they learned from their grandma, passed down by generations of Indian women, that take care of your entire hair ecosystem, root to tip, inside out.

    Why They Won
    We ultimately chose BACK TO YOUR ROOTS Scalp + Hair Prewash by SHAZ & KIKS because we love that, in a new product category, this product speaks to all women with targeted formulations that are inclusive of all hair types.
  • Product Launch – Haircare
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    GRO Revitalizing Shampoo

    A Word From The Nominee

    We’re thrilled to be nominated in the ‘Product Launch of the Year in Haircare’ category! It’s truly an honor to be recognized by Beauty Independent, an organization that has always been supportive of emerging brands like VEGAMOUR, providing us all with a platform from which to be seen and heard by our peers as well as being a rich source of valuable information, resources and inspiration for the beauty community. Our hope is to be able to one day inspire other founder-led beauty startups to dare to dream big and to offer a helping hand wherever we can, just as we were helped and coached by the members of this wonderful community when we first started.

    2020 was a breakthrough year for VEGAMOUR. After digitally launching a truly innovative haircare line (we’ve recently been awarded a technology patent for our HERO hair serum formula and have three additional patents pending on breakthrough products launched in 2020 & ‘21) that filled a greatly underserved white space via thoughtfully orchestrated digital marketing campaigns centered around product education, key media placements and organic reviews, VEGAMOUR has the distinction of being one of the world’s fastest-growing hair brands (in terms of revenue [8x from 2019-2020] and EMV) and is well on its way to achieving its goal of redefining the hair care category for the 21st Century.

    Key Milestones:
    KARMATIN™ Haircare Launch - a groundbreaking, patent-pending process that enables micro-encapsulated biomimetic spider silk (a vastly superior, vegan alternative to hydrolyzed animal-derived keratin) to bond to hair via our high-performance, rinse-away shampoo & conditioning products, forever replacing and out-performing silicon in hair products for volume, color and shine.
    Securing a technology patent for our hair serum formula.
    Three patents pending on our proprietary micro encapsulation & bioavailability technology
    Reaching $35 million in NET revenue in 2020 (up 750% from 2019) while maintaining profitability.
    On target for projected 2021 DTC NET revenue of $90 million.
    Our first wholesale partnership (Sephora.com)!
    A successful DTC launch in China
    Completing an $80 million minority round of investment from General Atlantic
    60% of revenues derived from returning customers
    Selling an average of one bottle of hair serum every fifteen seconds

    Who They Are

    Founded by Hodgdon in 2016, Vegamour takes a uniquely holistic and science-driven approach to hair health, formulating all its products with nontoxic, organic, wild-harvested ingredients used in amounts clinically proven to boost hair density and volume. In collaboration with the company’s chemists, Hodgdon plays a key role in product formulation — to create Vegamour’s shampoos and conditioners, for instance, he followed his research findings to a synthetic form of silk keratin made from fermented yeast. The result: a premium vegan line that treats hair loss from the inside out, combining its high-functioning hair-care products with specialized vitamins and supplements to enhance overall wellness.

  • Product Launch – Haircare
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    Virtue Flourish

    A Word From The Nominee

    We’re very excited to be nominated for the Beacon Award for the launch of Virtue Flourish®, a completely new approach to addressing hair thinning and hair loss in women and the first real advancement in this category in a generation. Women experience hair loss at an alarming rate – in fact, 40% will experience hair loss by the time they’re 40. With Virtue Flourish, we’re on a mission to lift the taboo, change the conversation, and give women better hair growth products that really work by addressing not only scalp fertility but also, importantly, hair fiber survival – clinically strengthening those new fragile hairs so that they have a better chance to survive and thrive. In consumer perception studies, our 100% drug-free, botanical-based Flourish Density Booster performed better than Minoxidil, the only FDA-approved drug for hair growth. In addition, our technology-based formulas are designed to repair and rejuvenate the hair you have, so it looks amazing while you’re growing more. We’re thrilled to be bringing new energy and new solutions to this growing concern and really gratified by the initial response from real women. Thank you for this amazing honor – we appreciate every vote!

    Who They Are

    Virtue Labs, the biotech hair care brand, introduces Virtue Flourish®, a completely new approach to addressing hair thinning and hair loss in women and the first real advancement in the category in a generation. Powered by two groundbreaking Keratin proteins and born from regenerative medicine, Virtue Flourish® products cleanse, purify, and enrich the scalp, creating fertile ground for hair to grow. As each new hair emerges, it’s nourished and strengthened so it can survive and thrive.

  • Entrepreneur
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    Olivia Alexander

    Founder & CEO,

    Kush Queen

    A Word From The Nominee

    Being an entrepreneur that pushes the boundaries of plant medicine, innovates and gives people real alternatives in wellness is my ultimate joy. It's time we give people the tools they need to lead healthy lives, increase access to plant-based options and bring hope where many cannot find it.

    Who They Are

    Olivia Alexander has grown Kush Queen into a multi-million dollar, multi-channel brand manufacturing only the finest cannabis infused products. The Kush Queen product line includes award-winning bath bombs, pain relief lotions, indigestible, wellness supplements, and skincare.

    Since working in her first dispensary in 2006, Olivia has worked with countless cannabis companies in social media, creative direction, and digital growth strategy. Referenced as the Queen of CBD by the LA Times, Olivia has a knack for being able to develop, connect and relate cannabis to community, health, and wellness.

    After years in the industry, she sought out to create her own brand that was part cannabis, part wellness and part beauty. Kush Queen is the result of Olivia identifying the lack of products representing a different take on cannabis culture and wellness.

    She explains, “I approach cannabis from a wellness perspective, and want to create products that make cannabis more accessible and harness the true power of the plant.” Olivia’s belief in, and passion for cannabis shapes her determination to normalize lifestyle and medical usage for everyone.

    As a voice for progressive change and industry inclusion, Olivia was recognized as one of the cannabis industry’s top women founders by Variety Magazine, Green Entrepreneur and Ganjapreneur in 2020, as Dope Magazine’s 2017 Social Media Influencer of the Year and shouted out as “The Mariah Carey of Weed” by ELLE. In 2020,

    As a thought leader, Alexander shares, “Since cannabis is an emerging industry people are so worried about compliance, funding, and marketing their product. All of those things are important, but so are the people who use the product. Other than the 18-35 white male stoner, most people’s cannabis experience has been invisible, not unlike their own personal narrative. When you see all types of people with differing beliefs and life paths seeing themselves in your brand, it strikes you like little else can, that you have done something more powerful than marketing a product.”

    You can find Olivia’s everyday activism on Snapchat as Weed.bae where she openly talks about the challenges of being a woman in cannabis, running a business in an emerging market and family life. Olivia now is an advisor and investor in a diversified group of CBD and functional mushrooms brands like Smile, Pacific Thyme CBD, and Brighter Days. After going viral with microdosing , she now has over 136,000 followers on TikTok who follow her wellness journey Olivia is an inclusive tastemaker, an advocate and a proud contributor to the cannabis and psychedelics industry.

  • Entrepreneur
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    Sarah Brown

    Founder & CEO,

    Pai Skincare

    A Word From The Nominee

    I am so delighted to be nominated in the "Entrepreneur of the Year" category. I started Pai, a certified organic brand, out of a drafty garage in West London with just £15,000 of savings.

    Thirteen years on we operate out of our own 12,000 sq foot custom built factory with a 63-strong team. We sell a Rosehip BioRegenerate Oil every 3 minutes and our free consultation service helps customers everyday struggling with their skin, regain their confidence.

    What am I most proud of? The fact we still own the formulation and manufacturing process which delivers a unique product quality and gives us full visibility of our supply chain. We are sustainable end to end and certifiably so, as our numerous voluntary accreditations means someone independent is checking.

    Who They Are

    Sarah Brown, founder and CEO of Pai Skincare is an organic skincare pioneer whose
    expertise developing all-natural, efficacious products was born from her own experience
    living with challenging skin. Sarah developed Chronic Urticaria in her mid-twenties and
    started mixing her own formulations from her garage as a last ditch solution for her hyper
    reactive skin.

    Pai launched in 2007 at a time when the organic category was under-developed and clean
    beauty wasn’t yet a thing. Sarah was one of the early champions of certified organic,
    responsibly cultivated ingredients, passionately believing in their therapeutic properties when many around her didn’t. Pai continues to formulate, manufacture and distribute all products from its own custom built facility in West London.

    This development process is owned end to end, giving the company creative freedom, full
    visibility of the supply chain and vigilance over production processes. Sarah believes this due diligence leads to unique, ownable formulations that are of a higher quality. In 2015, Sarah won ‘First Woman in Manufacturing’ at the CBI First Women Awards in recognition of her commitment to British manufacturing.

    Before Pai, Sarah was International PR Manager for E&J Gallo Wines in California, having
    previously managed communications for brands such as Nike and Barclaycard. In 2015 Sarah was appointed to the Board of CEW (Cosmetic Executive Women), a leading beauty industry trade group and won their Achiever Award the same year. Sarah was promoted to the CEW’s Executive Board in 2018. She has appeared as a business commentator on BBC News, Newsnight, Sky News, CNBC and in The Daily Telegraph, Guardian and Financial Times. Pai won a Queens Award for Enterprise (Export) in 2016. Sarah lives in West London with her husband and two sons.

  • Entrepreneur
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    Grace Eleyae

    Founder & CEO,

    Grace Eleyae Inc.

    A Word From The Nominee

    When I created the first Slap in 2014, I was just solving a very real problem of hair breakage in my own life. I had no idea that 7 years, and a lot of sweat and tears (and wins) later, I would even be considered for such an amazing honor,” said Grace Eleyae, brand founder. She continues, “The last couple of years have had incredible challenges, but it has also been exciting as we continue to grow our family business and expand our collection into giant retailers such as Nordstrom, Macys and Sephora. It would be an immense achievement and the opportunity of a lifetime to be voted Entrepreneur of the Year.

    Who They Are

    In 2014 Grace Eleyae turned her issue with hair breakage into a multimillion-dollar business by reinventing the way we protect our hair. Since the initial launch of the Satin Lined Cap aka the SLAP, Grace now designs a full line of headwear for day and night. This year, Grace has introduced her first menswear collection, offered cosmetics such as hair oils, brushes and masques, and soon will be launching loungewear as well as growing her children’s collection. With well over 1 million products sold across the globe, over 500,000 customers including many celebrity fans such as Gabrielle Union, Viola Davis, and Eva Longoria, Grace continues to expand into a full lifestyle brand. It's been a year of tremendous growth with new retailers added including Nordstrom, Ulta, Sephora, Macy’s and HSN selling or to soon be selling Grace Eleyae products.

    Grace and her collection have been featured in hundreds of outlets including Vogue, Harper’s, Beauty Independent, New York Magazine, Allure, Refinery29, Good Morning America, The Today Show, The View, The Real, and so much more. Good Housekeeping says she’s a top Black beauty brand to keep an eye out for, while Cosmopolitan has awarded her the 2021 Holy Grail Beauty Award. Essence announced she won a 2021 beauty award as well. Grace was named one of three “kick-ass women entrepreneurs you should know” by the Huffington Post. And Black Enterprise exclaims she’s a millennial brand to watch out for.

    For more information please go to: www.GraceEleyae.com

  • Entrepreneur
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    Stephanie Morimoto

    Owner & CEO,

    Asutra

    Winner

    A Word From The Nominee

    I’m thrilled to be nominated because I love that IBMG shines a spotlight on emerging brands that have distinctive products and unique voices.

    Regarding distinctive products, at Asutra, we help you rethink the medicine cabinet: instead of popping a pill for pain or sleep, you can use our topical magnesium and melatonin lotions, sprays and soaks to relieve pain and sleep better AND take your wellness to the next level. If you’re in pain or lacking sleep, you can’t feel or be your best. We’re here to help you feel amazing.

    Some background: Magnesium is the 4th most abundant mineral in your body and is essential for over 300 different chemical reactions, including maintaining energy, helping you relax, and sustaining the health of your heart and muscles. Yet, 2 in 3 people are magnesium deficient so need to supplement. Asutra is helping you supplement your magnesium in innovative, easy-to-use topical formats that also add the practice of self-care to your daily routines.

    As a repeat customer recently wrote, “Asutra is absolutely life changing. The products are better than popping a pill.” Another said, “I apply the [magnesium] body butter after a workout / game (plus I use the Magnesium Oil before). I feel better faster. I've done a comparison and the Asutra Magnesium Body Butter is the best OTC post-workout/post-game recovery lotion on the market.”

    Regarding unique voices, Asutra is BIPOC-owned and -led by myself as CEO (an Asian American woman), and Venus Williams, our Chief Brand Officer. I personally experienced burnout in intense corporate and nonprofit jobs, while Venus is a global tennis champion and entrepreneur. I had to reset my life to prioritize my well-being -- mind, body and soul. Venus shifted her lifestyle to manage her Sjogren’s diagnosis while staying at the top of her game. We, plus our team with diverse experiences and backgrounds -- including folks with chronic pain -- know first-hand what works to help people take care of themselves well so they can take on anything.

    As Venus says, “I truly believe in this brand; it has had a lasting effect on my life, and it can for yours too.”

    I would be absolutely delighted to win the Entrepreneur of the Year award. It would be a huge validation of the importance of Asutra’s mission: if we want to be our best, we have to set aside time for self-care. Self-care isn’t selfish, it’s important.

    Who They Are

    Stephanie is Owner & CEO of Asutra, where we're passionate about helping people take care of themselves on purpose so they can get the most out of life – what we call active self care. Asutra offers over 50 organic, natural remedies for pain relief, sleep and rejuvenation, so you can care for yourself well.

    At Asutra, we’re proud to provide good jobs with career pathways at a living wage with benefits. Asutra is woman-owned and women-led; 60% of our team are people of color; and 100% of our staff would recommend Asutra as a great place to work.

    Stephanie is an enthusiastic board member of Equality Illinois, which advocates for LGBTQ rights; Naturally Chicago, which creates an ecosystem for natural products companies to thrive; Global Cosmetic Industry, which delivers forward-thinking insights for product and brand innovation; and Dell Women’s Entrepreneur Network. In her spare time, she’s an avid urban gardener who grows everything from tomatoes to lilacs.

    Why They Won
    Sarah Brown of Pai, a pioneer has been blazing a trail and changing the industry in her wake for over a decade. And Stephanie Morimoto of Asutra is a relative newcomer who is creating a new category of product in the active wellness space and challenging long-standing perceptions and norms along the way. In the end, and after much debate, we decided that the only fair outcome is to have two winners.
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    Danessa Myricks

    Founder,

    Danessa Myricks Beauty

    Who They Are

    As a makeup artist, photographer, and entrepreneur Danessa Myricks has mastered the perfect beauty application and image and made a name for herself as one of the most creative in our makeup industry. With the creation of her eponymous line, Danessa Myricks Beauty and her work in the studio, Danessa continues to creatively combine art and product manipulation as she pushes the beauty industry forward in both her artistry and product innovation.

    Inspired initially by the inner sphere of the beauty business, Danessa’s career hit the ground running at the corporate level, where she discovered her true passions aligned the trajectory towards artistry. With insight and business structure intact, she noted the highest opportunities were to alleviate the issues of cosmetic marketing for ethnic skin tones coloring the world. From fair to deep complexions, Danessa always aimed to touch all faces equally.

    Danessa’s artistic expertise and drive enabled opportunities to work on the faces for numerous celebrity projects with entertainers from music to film and her approach to beauty ignited the desires to co-create with global beauty brands like Kiss , Benefit Cosmetics & Limelight By Alcone . Danessa also has had multiple consulting initiatives for both prestige , pro, and masstige beauty brands globally.

    Always ahead of the digital curve with great success she produced her best techniques into over a dozen how-to videos where devotees of beauty around the world could access professional artistry first hand. As a published author Danessa manifested makeup instruction with two books focused on contour, highlight and color for makeup artists.

    Currently Danessa spends her time training makeup artists and enthusiasts globally and creating her brand Danessa Myricks Beauty, a global beauty blend of professional insight and wearable cosmetics available to every makeup devotee on the planet.

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    Paula Begoun

    Founder,

    Paula's Choice

    Winner

    A Word From The Nominee

    I was overwhelmed when I learned I was nominated for the Industry Icon Award with Beauty Independent. Being considered an icon in an industry I’ve been passionate about for 40 years is truly an honor. My mission has always been to challenge beauty myths and to only rely on research and facts about skin. I’ve always believed that beauty begins with truth even when the truth wasn’t popular. Helping people take the best care of their skin possible all over the world has been a privilege. The feeling of confidence and self-esteem this bestows is fundamental to everything I’ve done from the first book I wrote to the first product I formulated. To be recognized as an icon in the industry for this is very exciting.

    Who They Are

    Paula struggled with acne when she was a teenager and no matter which products she tried, her acne never got better (in fact, many times it got worse). The cycle of getting her hopes up and then being disappointed was terribly frustrating, so she began to research and learn everything she could about skincare. After studying science in college and years of research led Paula to write 21 books on skincare and beauty. Her passion was to prevent people from ever having to go through what she went through. Her best-known book series was Don’t Go To The Cosmetics Counter Without Me. Paula then took her knowledge about skin physiology and skin care ingredients and began formulating Paula’s Choice Skincare which launched on the internet in 1995.

    Why They Won
    To become an icon, the individual must have affected a deep impact over an extended period of time—one that transforms the industry in a positive way. Paula’s Choice founder Paula Begouin is someone who was a pioneer in both ingredient transparency and education. She is someone who created such a legendary brand that it recently filed for an IPO, but was picked up by Unilever for over $1 billion. Paula is someone who has been a beacon in our community for over 25 years and is someone who has dramatically changed the beauty industry forever.
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    Brook Harvey-Taylor

    CEO,

    Pacifica

    A Word From The Nominee

    I feel truly honored to be nominated as the Industry Icon for the 2021 Beauty Independent Beacon Awards. For the past 25 years at Pacifica, I have been dedicated to building a brand based on our core value, compassion. Compassion for animals, humans, and the planet. This core value extends to all that we do at Pacifica. We create accessible products that fall under this core value, we also work to create an inclusive and authentic community, give back to meaningful causes, support animal rights, social justice and consider the planet in all our decisions. 25 years ago, there was no such thing as a vegan beauty brand. From day one, we made the decision to create standards for ingredients we used, including using only vegan and cruelty-free ingredients, and we pushed for more sustainable packaging. We are so proud to have been a leader in the clean and sustainable beauty movement. I hope to continue to be a part of this amazing industry for the next 25 years and that Pacifica will continue to thrive and serve the planet, animals, and generations to come.

    Who They Are

    Brook Harvey-Taylor has spent her career fearlessly challenging the status quo and breaking down boundaries. As the CEO of Pacifica, a fast growing, successful wellness beauty company that she and her husband, Billy Taylor, founded nearly 25 years ago, she leads with compassion for the planet, animals, and people as her driving force. A product innovator and clean beauty leader, she is passionate about natural ingredients, animals rights, social justice, sustainability, and climate change. She also believes in accessibility — that everyone deserves access to the best products and formulas. Through true collaboration, Brook has worked to push new ideas and standards in the beauty industry. Referred to as “the godmother of clean beauty” by Jenny Fine, editor at WWD, she continues to inspire more brands to be better.

    Brook was raised on a small cattle ranch in Montana, where she fell in love with nature and animals. While attending school at the University of Oregon, she apprenticed with an aromatherapist. It was that work that led her to a love for natural perfuming. Brook first created seven perfumes which she sold at a local farmers market, and even at a few Grateful Dead shows. Those seven perfumes were the first products Pacifica launched. Soon after, Whole Foods picked up the brand and they expanded into skincare, hair care, and cosmetics. Brook champions boundary-less beauty, which has paved the way for Pacifica to become a leader in several categories. Today, Pacifica is available at Ulta and Target, and continues to be a national brand at Whole Foods.

    Brook currently resides with Billy and their three children in Carpinteria, CA. When she isn’t planning what’s next for Pacifica, she enjoys surfing and hiking with her family, gardening, and activism.

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    Josie Maran

    Founder,

    Josie Maran Cosmetics

    A Word From The Nominee

    I have the utmost respect for Beauty Independent and its mission of supporting and amplifying entrepreneurs, so it’s really exciting to be recognized for the work we’ve done in the last 14 years, and how we’re spearheading positive changes going into the future.

    Who They Are

    After a career as a model and actress, I was told there was no way to create high-performing, luxury beauty products that were also clean, organic, and sustainable. This lit a fire in me to prove them wrong, and I set out to champion the healing and helping power of nature, launching my Argan oil-powered beauty brand in 2007. My earth-first line includes clean, skin-transforming, and cruelty-free formulations centered around sustainably sourced 100% Pure Argan Oil.

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    Eric Ryan

    Co-Founder,

    Method, Olly, Welly

    A Word From The Nominee

    I'm very honored to be nominated for the Industry Icon Award.

    Most entrepreneurs start with an idea. With Method, Olly, and Welly I tried to figure out what the cultural shift was that each category had missed and brought them back up to speed. I learned early on that creativity and design are key to allowing consumers to make an emotional connection with each brand. Combine those things with amazing people and you have something really special.

    Who They Are

    Eric likes to make things. Really nice things. Like soap that smells like unicorns, delicious gummy vitamins, and bandages so pretty you look forward to needing one (well, sort of).

    He started out squeaky clean when he and his high school buddy Adam launched every designer’s dream soap, method, back in 2001. Together they built it into a global industry leader for both design and sustainability.

    Because the guy never sleeps, Eric quickly shed his clean rep to launch OLLY in 2015. A disruptive line of gummies & proteins that shook up the vitamin aisle with smart design and downright deliciousness. As they grow he’s pivoting roles once again to “Mr. Worldwide” to help OLLY take over the globe. OK, Europe and Asia to be exact, but can he still have the cool title?

    Fun fact: he once won Connect Four in three moves. And because three is the magic number, this serial entrepreneur is at it again. He recently Co-Founded Welly, maker of the finest fabric bandages and ointments, in the cutest stackable tins you’ve ever seen. Really. And if that’s not enough, despite his less than average build (he said it!), this adrenaline junkie is an avid kite-surfer, snow skier, sailor and Dad to three lively kiddos.

    Eric has been named an eco-leader by Vanity Fair, an eco-revolutionary by Time Magazine, PETA's Person of the Year, a recipient of the Clinton Global Citizen Award, and was named to Fortune’s 40 under 40. Sadly, he is now over 40. But who’s counting? Well, Eric actually–to 1 billion, twice (don’t ask).

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    Jaime Schmidt

    Founder,

    Schmidt’s Naturals

    A Word From The Nominee

    It’s an honor to be nominated as an Industry Icon for the 2021 Beacon Awards. When I first set out to build Schmidt’s Naturals, my goal was to make healthy personal care products accessible to as many people as possible. Now, after bringing my brand to major retailers and households across the globe, my mission has evolved to support the entrepreneurial community that once supported me.

    Through my investment fund Color, my book Supermaker, and a number of community-building initiatives, I am working to level the playing field and create opportunities for the next generation of consumer brands. I believe that anyone with real passion and motivation can be a successful entrepreneur, and the most rewarding work is helping others recognize this potential in themselves. While I may be known for my best-selling deodorant, I want my legacy to be focused on supporting those who come next.

    Who They Are

    Jaime Schmidt is an entrepreneur and the founder of Schmidt’s Naturals, a brand of natural personal care products that she started in her kitchen in Portland, Oregon in 2010. Jaime is known for modernizing natural personal care products, including the customer-favorite deodorant, and bringing them to the mainstream market. Under her leadership, Schmidt’s grew into a household name lining the shelves of retailers including Target, Costco, Whole Foods, Walmart and CVS across 30 countries. In 2017, Schmidt’s partnered with CPG giant Unilever, with Jaime continuing as the brand’s founder.

    Jaime is the co-founder of Color, an investment portfolio that specializes in the consumer product industry, retail and ecommerce, brand positioning, and M&A. She is the author of “Supermaker: Crafting Business on Your Own Terms,” a personalized guide on how to put your business on the map, turning your passion into profit. Later this year, Jaime will serve as a mentor on Going Public, a new original series debuting on Entrepreneur Media that allows viewers to invest in IPOs.

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    Fab Ventures

    A Word From The Nominee

    I'm excited to back purpose-driven founders building brands and platforms in the Conscious Fashion and Beauty space. With Fab, we are proud to invest in underserved needs (femtech, cleanbeauty, gender fluidity, circularity...) and amplify the voices of female founders and underrepresented founders.

    Who They Are

    Launched by former Lancôme CEO Odile Roujol, FAB Ventures Co-Creation Studio invests in seed-stage companies in the direct-to-consumer beauty and fashion markets. Their portfolio of 15 companies includes brands such as Luum, Bloomi, Very Good Light, Bubble and Yina.

  • Seed + Small Growth Investor
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    True Beauty Ventures

    Winner

    A Word From The Nominee

    We are truly honored to be nominated for an Investor Beacon Award. Winning this award would mean the world to us as it reflects precisely why we launched True Beauty Ventures in the first place. Over the course of our careers, we saw a significant white space in the market, where early stage indie beauty brands had few places to turn to for $1-5M investments from trustworthy investors with domain expertise. As the only beauty-wellness dedicated emerging growth fund, we offer founders three decades of combined beauty investing and operating experience, a successful track record of beauty exits, and an extensive beauty ecosystem - what we call our unfair advantage.

    As sector focused investors, we know what it takes to scale (and exit) a successful beauty-wellness brand and, as beauty operators, we have been in founders' seats and know the grit and passion it takes to achieve a vision. As servant investors, we always strive to give back to beauty indie founders (whether we invest or not) through mentorship, guidance, and access to our beauty network. With a female Latinx co-founder and majority female team, we aim to break barriers to have more women and people of color on both sides of the table, utilizing our human and financial capital to push the beauty industry forward. We believe values create value and true partnerships drive successful outcomes. In the past year, we have been fortunate to invest in six such values-driven beauty-wellness brands across all sizes and stages (Aquis, K18 Hair, Kinship, Feals, Crown Affair, maude), whose founders and teams motivate, energize, and reinforce why we do (and love) what we do.

    Thank you for the nomination!

    Cristina and Rich

    Who They Are

    True Beauty Ventures pursues $1-5 Million investments in beauty, wellness and personal care brands seeking a partnership anchored in strategic and operational sector expertise. The partners’ extensive investing and operating experience combined with their beauty knowledge and network, allow them to identify winning brands at an inflection point of breakout growth and help them scale and exit successfully. Portfolio brands include Aquis, K18, Maude, Crown Affair, Feals, and Kinship.

    Why They Won
    True Beauty’s focus on investments in beauty specifically, their long track record of successful exits of previous investments, and the hands-on operational expertise they have given to founders to propel long-term growth makes the organization stand out. They’ve added tremendous value to the businesses in which they have invested and have fostered an environment where founders and brands thrive.
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    L Catterton

    Winner

    Who They Are

    With approximately $20 billion of equity capital across seven fund strategies in 17 offices globally, L Catterton is the largest and most global consumer-focused private equity firm in the world. L Catterton's team of nearly 200 investment and operating professionals partners with management teams around the world to implement strategic plans to foster growth, leveraging deep category insight, operational excellence, and a broad partnership network. Since 1989, the firm has made over 200 investments in leading consumer brands such as Tula, Il Makiage, Function of Beauty, The Honest Company, Kopari and Bliss.

    Why They Won
    L.Catterton’s focus in identifying and scaling emerging and growth brands and their consistent performance in delivering exceptional results in getting their partner brands to a successful exit, going IPO and expanding and extending their investment both in capital and talent in their existing portfolio of brands is why this group was selected as the winner.
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    Waldencast

    A Word From The Nominee

    We are very excited to be nominated again for the Beacon Awards and to be in the good company of such great fellow nominees!

    Who They Are

    Our ambition is to build a global best-in-class beauty and wellness operating platform by creating, nurturing, and scaling conscious, purpose-driven brands. We offer an alternative, unique path for entrepreneurs to scale great independent brands and partner with us to to bring to life this ambition.

    We invest in brand-led business models and go beyond traditional incubation and acceleration to develop a collective of innovative and unique brands that place responsible entrepreneurship at the heart of its operations. Investments include Whind, Kjaer Weis, Sallve and Manual.co.

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    Elizabeth Ashum

    President,

    Moon Juice

    A Word From The Nominee

    I'm honored to be nominated for a Beacon Award as I have deep appreciation for independent beauty brands that continuously innovate and push our industry ahead.  It has been incredibly rewarding to build Moon Juice as an authority within the beauty wellness category.  I have a deep passion for building brands and teams and have the honor to work alongside so many incredibly passionate and intelligent individuals during my time at Moon Juice.   It's such a thrill to be recognized by Beauty Independent.

    Who They Are

    A dynamic marketing leader with over 20 years of experience implementing strategic business plans for top-tier brands, Elizabeth Ashmun is the current President of Moon Juice. After joining four years ago, Ashmun quickly accelerated the brand’s awareness, building upon its authority of Intelligent Self CareTM and catapulting what was once a niche concept into a new category of Beauty Wellness. With it, Ashmun has cemented the purveyor of adaptogenic supplements, skincare and functional food as an aspirational lifestyle brand. Her expertise in international expansion has taken the brand to Canada, Australia, and soon the United Arab Emirates.

    Before joining Moon Juice, Ashmun held a nearly three-year post as Chief Marketing Officer of Murad, where she oversaw global marketing, brand development, advertising/PR, and all other facets of consumer engagement. Prior to that, she served as Vice President of Global Marketing at Kate Somerville, where she helped lead the company to achieve double-digit growth across all retail channels and expand internationally into Canada, Australia, and Asia. Her experience also includes running the $400 Million Willy Wonka confectionery business for Nestlé.

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    Amanda Baldwin

    CEO,

    Supergoop!

    A Word From The Nominee

    I'm thrilled to be nominated, as the moment I learned about Supergoop! I knew it was one-of-a-kind and ahead of its time. It has been such a joy to work with Holly and our team to truly create and lead a category, and this would be a win not just for me as an individual, but more importantly for the power of creating joy and a healthy habit that we all benefit from every single day.

    Who They Are

    Amanda Baldwin is the CEO of Supergoop!, the first protective skincare brand that puts SPF at the forefront. The brand’s mission is to change the way the world thinks about sunscreen through its clean, feel-good, highly innovative formulas that are fun and easy to use daily—not to mention superpowered to
    shield your skin from the full spectrum of light and other aggressors. Amanda oversees the entirety of the organization, setting its strategy for growth, building a world class team and leading the company’s
    marketing, sales, product development, operations and finance divisions. Under her leadership for the past five years, the company has grown over 20x and become highly profitable.

    Amanda is a veteran of the beauty industry, and before joining Supergoop!, she was a member of the operating team at L Catterton, the largest global consumer-focused investment fund, collaborating with management teams across the portfolio with a particular focus on the beauty sector. Prior to L Catterton, she led the omnichannel marketing strategy of Dior Beauty at LVMH, Inc. and held several positions at Clinique, a part of The Estee Lauder Companies. Her career began in finance as a private equity investor
    at Apax Partners and an investment banking analyst at Goldman, Sachs & Co.

    Amanda earned an A.B. magna cum laude Phi Beta Kappa from Harvard College and an M.B.A. with honors from The Wharton School of The University of Pennsylvania, where she was a Palmer Scholar. She is also a graduate of the Aspen Seminar. She presently serves on the Board of Directors for the
    Books for Kids Foundation and is a member of Wharton Women in Leadership and the Baker Retailing Center Directors’ Council. She lives in Manhattan with her husband and seven-year-old son.

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    Melanie Bender

    President,

    Versed

    Winner

    A Word From The Nominee

    I'm pinching myself to be nominated by Beauty Independent for one of your prestigious Beacon Awards. Because not everyone can drop $300 on a skincare regimen. (But if you want to, that's cool, too). Not everyone has a Credo Beauty within range. (I try to drop by whenever I am.) And not everyone knows the 1,317 ingredients banned from cosmetics in the EU but allowed in the US. (Versed formulates with 0 of them.) But everyone has skin. Everyone has a body to do good by. And everyone is reliant on the planet.

    I built Versed for all of the above. This nomination is a testament to what we've accomplished over our two short years in business - with over 30 skin-changers for under $25 sold in 3,500 stores across the globe, and maintaining net-zero climate emissions through it all (the biggest US beauty brand to do so). It's a testament to how our industry has evolved to embrace the less conventional, like a girl from Hawaii hellbent on making sustainability mainstream. And it's a testament to the future we're creating together - in which businesses join hands with our consumers and collaborators (nee competition) to be the change we want to see.

    Who They Are

    One of Fast Company's Most Creative People, Melanie bridges hyper-growth management with purpose-driven leadership to scale businesses that perform for people, planet and profit.

    As the founding President of Versed, Melanie leads the fastest growing mass brand in clean skincare, overseeing all strategy, vision and growth since inception. Melanie was previously Vice President of Marketing and Brand Development at Who What Wear, leading marketing for a $150M annual retail business while incubating Versed and Merit.

    Prior to Who What Wear, Melanie shaped brand development and growth initiatives for Mana Products, one of the world's leading contract beauty manufacturers, driving owned and partner brands across mass retail, DTC, salon and MLM channels. Melanie also previously co-founded Post+Beam, a marketing consultancy helping brands reach millennials through emerging digital channels, with clients including Sephora, Li & Fung and Make Up For Ever.

    Melanie earned a B.S. in sustainability, accreditation for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), and is an active Board Member and advisor.

    Why They Won
    Melanie Bender displays a passion for product and brand innovation that resonates with the ever-changing needs and wants of her consumer. Her vision as a leader and approach to business embodies a start-up mentality that’s not afraid to look at things differently and make bold decisions quickly to positively impact the bottom line. She has shown a distinct acumen for product innovation, including sustainability, efficacy, and price point. During the pandemic, she shifted resources at Versed to focus on their Direct-to-Consumer site, resulting in 4 times YOY growth. She was unafraid to reduce 1/3 of her product development to fortify the core Versed product offering instead. It’s no wonder Versed’s Dew Point moisturizer sells one bottle per two minutes!
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    Erika Kussmann

    Chief Marketing Officer and GM of North America & Australia,

    Paula's Choice

    A Word From The Nominee

    Since joining Paula’s Choice four years ago, Erika Kussmann has brought the beloved skincare brand to the forefront as the leader in the knowledge empowerment movement, rapidly expanding its reach putting the beloved Paula’s Choice on the map as noteworthy and relevant in the skincare category. Erika oversaw a 360-degree brand refresh and acclaimed new packaging look and has brought awareness to the brand’s leadership in customer advocacy and innovation that has ultimately made Paula’s Choice the largest direct-to-consumer skincare brand. Erika significantly expanded the scale of the digital DTC business at Paula’s Choice with a combination of a brand-forward approach and precision marketing in key e-commerce channels. In her tenure, customer acquisition grew five-fold and the highly branded creative developed through an agile approach achieved accolades. Under her leadership, she elevated innovation capabilities and launched award-winning new products that have also become established customer favorites.

    Who They Are

    Paula’s Choice Chief Marketing Officer and General Manager of North America & Australia, Erika Kussmann, has brought the cult-favorite skincare brand to the forefront since she joined the company four years ago. Kussmann’s strategy has attracteda new generation of customers, showcased theefficacy of the products and has empowered thecustomer with knowledge to take back control oftheir skincare needs. Kussmann has overseen a 360-degree brand refresh with acclaimed new packaging and has brought awareness to the brand’s leadership in customeradvocacy, innovation and empowerment that hasultimately made Paula’s Choice the largest direct-to-consumer skincare brand.The digital DTC business at Paula’s Choice expanded significantly under Kussmann due to the combination of a brand-forward approach and precision marketing in key e-commerce channels. In her tenure, customer acquisition grew five-fold and the highly brandedcreative developed through an agile approach achieved accolades.Additional notable growth factors for the brand with Kussmann in the role of Chief Marketing Officer over the past two years include two times the sales growth, four times the Instagram following and over four times customer acquisition.Under her leadership, Kussmann has elevatedinnovation capabilities and launched award-winning new products that have become established customer favorites. The key to the company’s success has been a combination of her dedication to building talented teams, collaboration, communities and transparently sharing Paula’s Choice research & science that has built long-lasting trust with the consumers. With over 15 years in the beauty industry, Kussmann has built brands from Revlon to Rodan + Fields, driving profitable omni channel growth. Prior to her success in the industry, Erika worked in management consulting at Bain & Co. and investment banking at Piper Jaffray. Kussmann earned her MBA from Harvard Business School and her BA from the University of Washington.

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    Kiana Reeves

    Chief Brand Officer,

    Foria

    A Word From The Nominee

    I am so honored to be nominated for Brand Builder of the Year. My mission at Foria is to offer comprehensive, inclusive, and pleasure-based sexual education and formulas to support sexual wellbeing. Sex is an essential, universal, and primal part of our lives and it is vital that we contribute to and expand the cultural dialogue around sexual wellness, so that all feel welcome to learn, unlearn, participate and grow.

    Comprehensive whole-being sex education for women and people with vulvas has been particularly lacking. We need to have honest conversations about pleasure, pain, how our bodies work, and the complex nature of sexuality––through a whole body, whole being lens.

    In my work as Foria’s Chief Brand Officer, I’ve made a commitment to building education and these important conversations into all we do, using our brand as a platform to help us all feel more connected to our bodies and deepen our sexual experiences. Helping support Foria’s brand mission in this way is one small piece of this vital conversation, and one that I’ve been thrilled to champion.

    Who They Are

    Kiana Reeves is a somatic sex educator, pelvic care practitioner, full-spectrum doula, mother, and Chief Brand Officer at 100% plant-based sexual wellness company Foria.
    Kiana started her career in birth work as a full spectrum doula, working with mothers and families during birth, postpartum, and pregnancy loss. The more she studied, the more she realized society’s need for education around pleasure, intimacy, and sexual wellness from a holistic perspective. Her education spans the intersecting fields of wellness, sexuality, birth, embodiment, and the physiological changes women and people with vulvas go through during their lifetime. Her hands-on experience and education ultimately led her to become a voice for Foria, as Chief Brand Officer. Kiana harnesses her direct experience and qualifications to help drive Foria’s product development, messaging, and educational content.
    Prior to joining Foria, Kiana founded her own company called The Tulip, centered around female pelvic health.

  • Large Retailer
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    Bluemercury

  • Large Retailer
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    Ulta Beauty

    Winner

    A Word From The Nominee

    As the nation’s largest beauty retailer, Ulta Beauty is committed to being the best partner to established, emerging and game-changing brands across every beauty category. We are passionate about bringing a guest-centric approach to everything we do, and that includes sharing and amplifying the unique stories of the brands we carry. Our merchandising team actively identifies brands to learn key about what makes them special and how they can deliver on our guests values, wants and needs. Our assortment continues to grow and thrive and we are accomplishing that in purposeful ways to help beauty enthusiasts see possibilities in a new light. With Sparked at Ulta Beauty, we shine a spotlight on up and coming brands and products. We take great care to identify and welcome Black-owned brands into our assortment. And we celebrate brands that meet criteria within the five pillars of Conscious Beauty at Ulta Beauty program to help educate, guide and simplify complex, value-oriented categories. At Ulta Beauty, we have the power to shape how the world sees beauty – and, we have a responsibility to drive greater diversity, inclusivity and equity through our work – across assortment, experiences, content and more. We believe the possibilities are beautiful and take pride in leading the industry.

    Who They Are

    Ulta Beauty is the largest U.S. beauty retailer and the premier beauty destination for cosmetics, fragrance, skin care products, hair care products and salon services. The company brings together all things beauty, all in one place with more than 25,000 products from approximately 600 well-established and emerging beauty brands across all categories and price points, including Ulta Beauty’s own private label. Since 1990, Ulta Beauty has offered guests a full-service salon in every store with hair, skin, brow, and make-up services. Ulta Beauty operates retail stores across 50 states and distributes products through its website and mobile app, which include a collection of tips, tutorials and social content.

    Why They Won
    Ulta was selected because of its large and diverse assortment of brands, its launch of Sparked at Ulta, to launch and support new brands, and its innovative partnerships with Credo and Target. Ulta's Credo partnership highlights its commitment to clean and sustainable brands. Ulta's innovative Target partnership gets Ulta brands in front of a whole new audience.
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    Walmart

    Who They Are

    Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT) helps people around the world save money and live better - anytime and anywhere - in retail stores, online, and through their mobile devices. Each week, approximately 220 million customers and members visit approximately 10,500 stores and clubs under 48 banners in 24 countries and eCommerce websites. With fiscal year 2021 revenue of $559 billion, Walmart employs 2.2 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting corporate.walmart.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/walmart and on Twitter at twitter.com/walmart.

  • Small Retailer
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    BEAUTYBEEZ

    A Word From The Nominee

    I’m so excited and grateful to be nominated for Small Retailer OTY. I was motivated to start BEAUTYBEEZ after constantly finding myself frustrated while shopping for beauty products that fit my specific needs. The shopping experiences for women of color are largely inadequate. Beauty supply stores that have our beauty essentials lack the customer service that we are afforded at prestige beauty retailers. However, these prestige retailers do not have inclusive product offerings. We are challenging the narrative that multicultural beauty must be regulated to a few shelves in a large retailer. BEAUTYBEEZ has created a space specifically dedicated to the needs of Black and Brown women and voting for BEAUTYBEEZ will help us show the industry that we deserve the best beauty experience.

    Who They Are

    Brittney Ogike is championing inclusivity by building a community that celebrates multicultural beauty. After the disappointing experiences she faced at traditional beauty supplies, Brittney, along with her husband, worked tirelessly to build a brand that offers the best in natural hair care, melanin skincare, and brown girl beauty in an intentionally designed space for an elevated beauty supply experience. BEAUTYBEEZ was created so women of color could shop, explore and play in a world full of beauty.

    BEAUTYBEEZ is the modern beauty supply for women of color–where we know the difference between kinky, curly & coily and melanin is celebrated.

  • Small Retailer
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    Credo

    Winner

    A Word From The Nominee

    Credo is honored to be nominated and would love to be recognized for our work in championing indie beauty brands and for our industry-leading sustainability standards.

    Who They Are

    Started by two beauty industry veterans, Shashi Batra and Annie Jackson, Credo is the shared desire of wanting to clean up the beauty industry. In 2015, Credo opened its first store in the company's hometown of San Francisco. Now, Credo is the largest clean beauty retailer on the planet with stores across the nation and 130+ brands. On a mission to change business-as-usual, Credo established an industry-leading definition of clean and the most ambitious sustainable packaging standard in beauty today. In 2021, Credo was recognized by Fast Company as one of The World’s Most Innovative Companies and was named the #1 most innovative in the beauty category.

    Why They Won
    Credo is a clear winner in its specialty. The commitment to its long-term vision, strategy and execution is not only clear and cohesive but exemplary. The rigor to educate both customers and brand community alike is evident. It is considered the gold standard in curating the best beauty assortments that are clean and sustainable for customers and the environment.
  • Small Retailer
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    Kinder Beauty

    A Word From The Nominee

    The Kinder Beauty team is over the moon about our Beacon Award nomination. We are a small group of beauty-obsessed animal lovers on a mission to make shopping for ethical beauty easier and more accessible for everyone. Kinder Beauty is so much more than just a one-stop-shop for all of your cruelty-free and clean beauty needs, though; we're a community working tirelessly to bring more kindness into the world. For anyone who agrees that beauty products shouldn't be tested on animals, and that we could all use a bit more kindness these days, vote for Kinder Beauty!

    Who They Are

    Kinder Beauty is on a mission to help customers discover the best cruelty-free, vegan, and clean beauty products at the lowest prices.

  • Small Retailer
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    Knockout Beauty

    A Word From The Nominee

    I am grateful and honored to have Knockout Beauty nominated.

    Who They Are

    Knockout Beauty, where beauty meets efficacy, is a result-driven approach to beauty and skincare. Our point of difference is personal consults and follow ups. This ensures that our clients are reaching their skin goals, and allows for us to track their progress and outcome. We focus on the customer and the experience. Representation on our shelves is as imperative to us as understanding all skin concerns and Fitzpatrick skin types. We have a strong focus on founders and their stories. It is our responsibility to have a cruelty free and inclusive assortment that we believe in and can support through sustainable business, allowing for growth and projections. We are conscious beauty for the modern minded, which translates to an awareness of not only ingredients but of diversity and equity when it comes to the clients we serve and the brands we carry.

  • Small Retailer
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    Trellis Beauty

    A Word From The Nominee

    We are SO excited and truly grateful to even be nominated! Beauty Independent is dear to our hearts at Trellis and have been there since the beginning! Described by Beauty Independent as Fiercely Inclusive, Trellis is truly more than just a retailer. A LGBTQ+ and Woman Owned business, we pride ourselves in making everyone feel the most comfortable when they visit our shops. Along with our amazing partnerships with our brands, our Trellis experts, and through our innovative approach to beauty services, Trellis is redefining the beauty industry and enhancing the consumer experience when walking through a retailer’s doors. Trellis definitely stands out in a crowd of retailers, from its branding and unique approach to Clean(er)™️ Beauty retail and services, all under ONE roof! Even through a global pandemic Trellis was able to quickly pivot, survive one of the toughest years of business, keep the spirit alive, and even open a new store in the meantime. Trellis Beauty is your neighborhood’s coolest beauty shop, promise.

    Thank you again for this amazing opportunity!
    Xo
    Tracy

    Who They Are

    More than just a retailer, Trellis Beauty is a Clean(er)™️ Beauty experience that is redefining the beauty industry. Shop from your favorite mindfully created beauty brands in our retail boutique, visit the Country’s first Beauty Steam Bar™️, treat your skin to our results driven facials, shape your brows, or get glam by our makeup artists. No matter the occasion, you are welcomed! Truly a premier retail destination with all the stops!

  • Online Retailer
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    B-Glowing

    Winner

    A Word From The Nominee

    We're honored to be recognized and considered for a Beauty Independent Beacon Award! b-glowing started with a passion for beauty and innovation and while we were one of the first online retailers, we continue to grow and adapt along with the industry. Curating beauty since 2004, we remain the best destination to discover emerging and cult-favorite brands.

    Who They Are

    b-glowing sells the best in beauty: we are an essential edit of brands across skin care, makeup, body, hair care and more. When you shop with us, you shop in the knowledge that everything you buy is tried, true, and tested.

    Why They Won
    What a banner year it was for beauty e-commerce. For over 16 years, B-Glowing has been a market leader successfully curating and elevating beauty brands with a focus on driving education, innovation, greater inclusivity, and excellent customer service. Congratulations to B-Glowing for this well-deserved award
  • Online Retailer
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    Marjani

    A Word From The Nominee

    At Marjani, I am selling the possibility that shopping for beauty can be different. Brown girls want more than a corner in the back of the store or 3 dark shades in a foundation line. We want something real. Finally, a destination for endless brown girl approved options. I am so excited for this nomination and even more excited that Marjani has created a platform where we are mainstreaming brown beauty.

    Who They Are

    Marjani launched in January 2017 as the first black-owned indie e-tailer exclusively curating black and brown owned beauty brands. It is now an innovative retail space located in Washington, DC that serves as a sanctuary for women of color to find community, network, learn and shop for beauty.

  • Online Retailer
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    Olivela

    A Word From The Nominee

    We are beyond excited for this nomination. We know our customers have a choice in where they shop, but when they purchase their beauty and wellness products on Olivela, it’s not just about looking and feeling their best. It’s about having a real, tangible impact on important charities. To date, we have raised more than 700,000 days of school (or its equivalent) for our cause partners. We wouldn’t have been able to do this without our loyal customers and incredible brand partners. The nomination means the absolute world to us because it reinforces the good we are doing, and we are honored to be recognized.

    Who They Are

    Founded by social entrepreneur Stacey Boyd, Olivela is an entirely new concept that sits at the intersection of retail and philanthropy. Every purchase, every day, has a purpose. Olivela enables luxury brands the opportunity to transform inventory into measurable impact, and consumers the chance to fund important causes simply by buying what they love. 20% of proceeds on every purchase goes to charity, with zero additional cost to our customers.

  • Online Retailer
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    The Fascination

    A Word From The Nominee

    We are very excited to be nominated for Beauty Independent's Online Retailer of the Year award. As a new retailer, we are excited that people have quickly adopted The Fascination as a trusted source to shop the internet's best brands. It makes us even more excited to build new features and expand our offerings.

    Who They Are

    We explore the science and soul of today's top emerging direct-to-consumer brands, testing hundreds of brands' products and curating our top picks for you. At The Fascination, you can read product reviews, browse our curated brand directory, find brands that align with your values, and shop bestsellers, seamlessly in one experience. We curate brands based on their science and soul. The science is the quality of the product and the soul is the impact that the brand makes on the environment, culture, people, and more.

  • Online International Retailer
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    Flaconi

    Who They Are

    Find your beauty. Everyday. At flaconi, it is our passion to inspire and guide our customers through a world of curated brands and products to fullfil their needs in every possible way. We rethink beauty to empower everybody. Our digital DNA allows us to deliver a fantastic beauty experience at our customers’ fingertips – anytime and anywhere. The online shop’s extensive portfolio consists of more than 900 international brands and 55.000 products in the categories perfume, skincare, makeup, hair, natural cosmetics and accessories. The products range from well established brands, over innovative trendsetters, curated newcomers to local and global super-brands. The brand portfolio is consistently tailored to the needs of our customers and covers all product segments from drugstore over organic cosmetics to premium and niche. flaconi is one of Germany’s leading online beauty retailers and operates in Germany, Austria and Poland. Our management board with Kathrin Nusser (CFO), Dr. Steffen Christ (COO), Christoph Honnefelder (CCO) and Benjamin Ludigs (CRO) is a diverse team of professionals with thorough experience in the beauty industry and e-commerce.

  • Online International Retailer
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    Muse & Heroine

    A Word From The Nominee

    There is never the wrong time to do the right thing.

    For the last 15 years of my life, I didn't had the time to realize my dreams because I was too busy with my life working 24/7 and spending more time at airports than home. Four days after the strict Italian lockdown has been announced, while I was just coming back from Paris Fashion Week, I decided that this is my chance. The moment I've dreamed about since so long to turn my thoughts into things, my dream into reality and my vision into a mission-driven business called Muse & Heroine. With all my heart and gut feeling, I knew that this will be the right thing to do and even if everyone told me that this is definitely the wrong timing to start a new business, I was convinced that there is never the wrong time to do the right thing. The end of the story: I was right and nowadays, Muse & Heroine is the fastest growing Conscious Beauty, Health, and Wellness Online Store Community in Europe. But one more very important thing to add, why you should decide for Muse & Heroine: I started Muse & Heroine with my very own financial background, I decided to put my face, my personality, my knowledge, my experience, my values, my passion out there because I want that people know who's curating the brands and products as well as the big educational content part. I want that people trust Muse & Heroine and feel the positive, personal and authentic vibe of a real human being rather than an online store.

    Who They Are

    In March 2020, a few days after lockdown has started, I decided to turn my thoughts into things, my dream into reality, and my vision into a mission-driven company called: Muse & Heroine, an international wellbeing platform and content-driven online store.

    But it all started with my personal story.
    After leaving the fashion world and having created the first European Clean Beauty Agency in Paris and Milan many years ago, I felt ready to push myself even to greater heights, making an even bigger impact in other`s people life and on this planet.

    Times are tough and what`s more needed than true values?
    Authenticity. Transparency. Efficiency. Innovation. Education. Respect. Empowerment. Mindfulness. Trust. Support. Transformation. Consistency. Love.

    And my purpose was, is and will always be to create a community around these values with well-aligned positive and energetic driven spirit.
    A unique community full of cultural richness with open-minded, forward-thinking, respectful, powerful, loving and self-loving people.

    Within one year I have exceeded my own company expectations,
    Muse & Heroine has been grown from 32 of the best-in-class beauty and health brands from all over the world to more than 70+ brands. Our very own ‘Live Like a Heroine Magazine’ is belonging to the most read Online Store Journals.

    We have been voted as ‘the largest Clean Beauty Shopping Community in Europe’ by Vogue Italy, I have been personally nominated for the Marie Claire Prix Excellence de la Beauté and have been called as one of the world’s most famous Greenfluencers by Elle.

    When Muse & Heroine launched, we made a bold statement when we said: We will transform your life! We will give you the tools and the education to empower you to sit in your driver´s seat of your own health to live the best purpose-driven life.

    Muse & Heroine is what happens when dreams become reality and a big vision is getting a powerful mission with like-minded people from all around the world.

  • Online International Retailer
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    Secret Skin

    Winner

    A Word From The Nominee

    Our 'secret skin' is the deepest, purest part of us; it is also the strongest. Yet we hide its truth from the world, afraid of being judged, deeply conscious of our vulnerabilities. My mission is to evoke self-love and strength of purpose beyond socially-conditioned restrictions and biases of race/color/ gender, and channel this energy to promote a revolution of Mindfulness through the narrative of Clean Beauty.

    We are thrilled to be nominated for Beacon Awards given how young we are. Our intention is to meaningfully disrupt the beauty landscape in the Middle East, with passion and purpose.

    Who They Are

    Secret Skin is an impact-driven Ecommerce discovery platform that connects beauty consumers in the Middle East to sustainable beauty brands from around the world. Built on a framework that focuses on social and environmental impact, all brands are responsibly curated with sustainable products that are safe for people and the planet ie. without any harmful toxins. As a Beauty Tech start-up incorporated locally in UAE, our mission is to raise awareness of mindful consumption and Women’s Health and Wellness in the region, through the narrative of Clean Beauty.

    Why They Won
    We loved Secret Skin for their excellent storytelling, commitment to social impact, and their unique position of expanding access to indie products in the Middle Eastern market.
  • Online International Retailer
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    The Beautyaholic’s Shop

    A Word From The Nominee

    The Beautyaholic’s Shop was born from a personal need and desire to use clean non toxic beauty products and to be able to educate Italians about being more mindful, conscious and informed about the products they use daily. Back in 2011, this was really a very brave move and well ahead of the times.

    More than a decade on, I am proud and happy to be part of the global clean movement making a true difference to consumer trends in Italy. It is a true honour for this achievement to be recognised Internationally.

    Who They Are

    Founded in 2011 as a purely online beauty retailer specialising in premium, clean beauty.
    Today, The Beautyaholic’s Shop is Italy’s number one destination online and offline for prestigious premium hard-to-find, cult efficacious beauty brands.

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Brand Report Paula Begoun, Sarah Brown, Youth To The People And More Revealed As 2021 Beacon Awards Winners Paula's Choice founder Paula Begoun, Pai founder Sarah Brown and skincare brand Youth to the People took home honors in the second annual Beauty Independent Beacon Awards. They were among 24 winners revealed on Wednesday during a virtual ceremony. Other Beacon Awards winners... READ THE FULL ARTICLE →

Meet The Experts

  • Kelly St. John

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  • Janet Gurwitch

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  • Lisa Price

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  • Muffy Clince

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  • Nini Zhang

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  • Joël Palix

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  • Carol Hamilton

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  • Rahama Wright

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  • Cristina Nuñez

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  • Chelsea Clark

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  • Jennifer Goldstein Sullivan

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  • Julissa Prado

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  • JuE Wong

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  • April Gargiulo

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  • Elizabeth Edwards

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  • Corey Huggins

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  • Margarita Arriagada

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  • Jeannie Jarnot

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  • Sarah Cheung

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  • Melisse Gelula

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  • Kirbie Johnson

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  • Elizabeth Lamont

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  • Yve-Car Momperousse

    Founder & CEO,
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  • Brittney Ogike

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  • Christine Mielke

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