Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW) celebrated the 2024 Beauty Awards Expo, held at New York City’s Metropolitan Pavilion, on September 19, 2024. The event featured more than 310 Beauty Awards finalists—and invited attendees to network, experience, share, and vote for this year’s Beauty Award winners.

More than 1,000 attendees engaged with the most innovative beauty products of the year at the annual event before casting their vote, while enjoying a variety of demos, mini services, and photo ops. 

CEW's annual Beauty Awards recognize the most innovative products of the year. The winners are selected by beauty industry insiders, including CEW members, top beauty executives, beauty industry entrepreneurs, influencers, beauty enthusiasts, and VIPs. 

Two Floors of Sampling, Demos & More

Educational, exciting, and out-of-the-box ideas proliferated throughout the event. Attendees had the opportunity to experience firsthand some of the most outstanding products in the beauty industry. Discerning beauty aficionados came away with clear impressions of some of the most groundbreaking options before deciding which products to vote for as the winners.

The bustling main floor of the Expo featured brand sampling, finalist demos, product showcases and services. There were photo ops provided by CVS Pharmacy and Amazon Live had an on-site studio.

Nordstrom's booth featured a beauty product spinning wheel, while Drunk Elephant offered a beauty consultation and targeted products. The Evolus Experience provided a fun photo op with choices in aesthetic experiences.

On the second floor, guests were offered hand and shoulder massages, manis at the nail bar, a Tarot card reading, and an aromatherapy bar by Spa Chicks on The Go. Attendees left with a gift bag bursting with beauty products and samples.

CEW acknowledged this year’s sponsors, including Platinum Sponsors, Amazon, dsm-Firmenich, Evolus; Gold Sponsors, Raymond James, Q (QVC), Nordstrom, CVS Pharmacy, and Bazaar Voice; and Silver & Silver Plus Sponsors, Drunk Elephant, US Soy, and Beauty Barrage. 

Event partners included New York Society of Cosmetic Chemists, PIMS, Cosmoprof, RPG, Circana, Consultancy Media, Spa Chicks on The Go, and TM, Tonnie’s Minis.

Exploring Indie Innovations at the High-Energy Event

The energy was palpable at the Metropolitan Pavilion, as attendees navigated displays, sampling, and brand interactivity. Beauty finalists in Bath and Body, Fragrance, Hair, Skincare, Makeup, Wellness, Indies, and Trailblazers, and more, were prominently displayed on the Expo floor.

While each category offers an impressive array of distinctive finalists, the Indie category this year featured a roster of innovative and unique entries, with Polite Society, BeautyStat Cosmetics, and Olive and June.

The Indie Skincare category featured Alpyn Beauty’s Super Peptide & Ghostberry Barrier Repair Cream; Hear Me Raw - Good Clean Fungi with Oyster Mushroom+ Gentle Scrubbing Cleansing Balm; and Skinfix, Barrier + Triple Lipid + Collagen Activating Serum.

In Indie Scents, Eauso Vert featured its Fruto Oscuro eau de parfum, with an ingredient profile including guaiacwood, black cherries, pink pepper, quince jam, clover stem, blackberry, and patchouli. It offers a “symphony of darkened fleshy fruits that melt into a bed of earthy patchouli.”

Space's Due West Interior Fragrance equates home care with self-care. Space says it's a "clean, vegan home scent crafted as a fine fragrance." Clearly, the Indies had unique stories to tell.

Soy Products on Display

The United Soy Bean Board and Soy Nutrition Institute provided food for thought—with a timely overview of the skin benefits of soy. Two cups of soy milk or one cup of edamame was shown to decrease wrinkle depth, improve facial pigmentation, and increase hydration in post-menopausal women.

Notably, according to the Soy Nutrition Institute, 71% of dermatologists say soy-based ingredients can be beneficial to the overall health and appearance of the skin; 50% of Americans are unaware that a plant-based or plant-focused diet can help with overall health and potentially slow aging of the skin; and 77% of Americans find soy appealing when presented with a list of soy-based personal care and beauty product benefits.

Beauty products featured at the booth included Kiehl’s Crème de Corps Soy Milk & Honey Whipped Butter; Burt’s Bees Eyeshadow Trio; Ere Perez Natural Almond Mascara; and Tower 28 Beach Please Lip and Cheek Cream Blush.

Stay Tuned for the Winners

CEW will announce the 2024 Beauty Award Winners on November 21, 2024 at the Beauty Awards Winners’ Luncheon in New York City, at the Marriott Marquis.

See the complete list of 2024 Beauty Award Finalists here at CEW.