The Oscar for best beauty product goes to...
THE GREAT and good of the beauty industry gathered at London’s InterContinental Hotel on Friday to unveil the essentials no woman can do without.
From low-cost favourites to high-end cult products the annual Cosmetic Executive Women CEW (UK) 2012 Beauty Awards covers them all. Sponsored by Superdrug and known as the beauty Oscars the ceremony recognises the best lotions, serums, balms and scrubs which are voted for by a 600-strong judging team of beauty insiders.
We take a look at the winners and show you what should be on your must-have list this year.
BEST HIGH STREET BODY CARE
Burt’s Bees Honey & Shea Sugar Scrub, £12.99 (burtsbees.co.uk)
The environmentally friendly range has expanded from beeswax candles and lip balms into baby, male and body care products. The honey, shea, ground almonds and aloe leaf juice in this indulgent sugar scrub combine to polish and soften the skin.
Kim Jones reveals the winners of Britain’s most prestigious make-up and skincare awards
BEST HIGH STREET HAIRCARE
Batiste Dry Shampoo XXL Volume, £3.99 (superdrug.com)
Uniting the legendary reviving benefits of Batiste’s dry shampoo with a volume boost will transform limp locks into a big and bouncy style. This deserves the accolade.
BEST HIGH STREET SKINCARE
Olay Regenerist Night Renewal Elixir, £29.99 (superdrug.com)
This serum accelerates the skin’s natural surface renewal during sleep, improves hydration and contains Olay’s signature pentapeptides (five amino acids linked by peptide bonds) to reveal younger-looking and smoother skin by morning.
BEST HIGH STREET TREATMENT
Carmex Moisture Plus, £4.49 (superdrug.com)
Moisture Plus is the first premium lip balm launched by classic American brand Carmex in more than 70 years. The three sheer tints in clear, peach and pink, relieve lips from dryness and sun damage.
BEST HIGH STREET FACIAL MAKE-UP
Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum, £10.99 (superdrug.com)
With a vitamin-rich formula derived from lychee, goji and pomegranate, this foundation is packed with antioxidants to erase signs of fatigue. The refreshing gel texture glides on to skin for a flawless effect and radiant complexion.
BEST HIGH STREET EYE MAKE-UP
Bourjois Intense Eyeshadow, £6.99 (superdrug.com)
A highly concentrated formula containing 87 per cent mineral pigments, this promises twice as much coverage as a classic eyeshadow. It’s also hypoallergenic, paraben and fragrance-free which means its good for contact lens wearers and anyone with sensitive skin.
BEST HIGH STREET CLASSIC
Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor, £4.99 (superdrug.com)
This deep conditioner contains safflower seed oil and Australian balm mint extract to smooth rough hair cuticles and help conceal split ends. Hair will be
left manageable and shiny.
BEST NEW HIGH STREET BRAND
Manuka Doctor, £3.49 - £49.99 (hollandandbarrett.com)
The collection uses naturally harvested purified bee venom (PBV) and manuka honey. High-performing and innovative, the range has anti-ageing and anti-bacterial benefits for skin.
BEST LUXURY BODY CARE
Balance Me Rose Otto Body Cream, £18 (johnlewis.com)
A velvet, soothing treat with a subtle rose aroma this moisturiser quenches dry skin and is packed with antioxidants from ingredients such as arctic cloudberry, soothing rosehip and camellia oils.
BEST LUXURY HAIRCARE
Kérastase Elixir Ultime, £33.50 (kerastase.co.uk)
A few drops of this hair treatment which is enriched with a mixture of maize, argan, camellia and pracaxi oils will help hair feel supple, silky and nourished. Use before washing or styling to leave hair feeling silky.
BEST LUXURY SKINCARE
Eve Lom Eye Cream, £48 (evelom.com)
From the beauty brand founded by the Czech-born facialist, this cream promises to lock in moisture, reduce puffiness and dark circles. Sodium hyaluronate improves hydration, polysaccharides moisturise, age-defying peptides firm and extracts of Swiss garden cress help even skin tone.
BEST LUXURY TREATMENT
Eve Lom Hydration Serum, £75 (evelom.com)
Although lightweight, this gel-like serum tackles dry and stressed skin effectively. Containing hyaluron – a natural chemical that helps bind moisture – it boosts hydration and plumps skin.
BEST LUXURY FACIAL MAKE-UP
Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus All-Smooth Makeup SPF15, £27 (clinique.co.uk)
This moisturising foundation softens the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. With ingredients to improve skin texture and protect against the sun, it creates a younger-looking and glowing complexion.
BEST LUXURY BRAND
Bloom And Blossom, £14 - £24 (bloomandblossom.com)
A stylish range of skincare products for new mums, mums- to-be and babies. They are eco-friendly and haven’t been tested on animals.
BEST LUXURY EYE MAKE-UP
Chanel Illusion D’Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadow, £22.50 (selfridges.com)
Available in six jewel tones this high-shimmer, long-wear eyeshadow has a creamy gel texture and pearlescent finish which makes it ideal for use as a shadow and eyeliner.
BEST LUXURY CLASSIC
Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant, £22.50 (johnlewis.com)
This cult all-purpose beauty balm works wonders on everything from cracked lips, dry elbows and eyebrows to cuticles, insect bites and windburn, or as a gloss for lips and cheeks.
BEST FRAGRANCE
Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau So Fresh Eau de Toilette, from £43.20 (johnlewis.com)
A more youthful, fresh version of the original Daisy perfume (with hints of wild strawberry and gardenia) this bright fragrance has notes of raspberry, rose and lychee.
BEST CERTIFIED ORGANIC SKINCARE PRODUCT
Neal’s Yard Remedies Beauty Sleep Concentrate, £30 (nealsyardremedies.com)
The new offering from Neal’s Yard is this lightweight serum loaded with natural ingredients including narcissus tazetta bulb and grape seed oil to soothe, moisturise and help reduce fine lines as you sleep.
BEST SELF-TAN
St Tropez Naturals Self Tan Lotion, £26.55 (st-tropez.com)
The subtle hint of tan in this lotion comes courtesy of Vegetan, an active ingredient derived from vegetables. The cream is enriched with hydrating avocado butter and exotic mango seed oil which promotes a longer-lasting colour.
BEST HAND CARE
L’Occitane Immortelle Brightening Hand Care SPF15, £18 (uk.loccitane.com)
A non-oily, protective hand lotion that smooths skin, tackles dryness and protects against the sun. Daisy extract helps even tone and brighten skin.
BEST BRITISH BRAND
Molton Brown, £15 - £65 (moltonbrown.co.uk)
A London company that began life in 1973 as a hair salon but has since expanded into top of the range skincare, male grooming, fragrance and body lotions.
THE MOST REVOLUTIONARY BEAUTY PRODUCT OF THE LAST 20 YEARS
Liz Earle Naturally Active Skincare Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser, £12.75 (lizearle.co.uk)
Since it launched 17 years ago Cleanse & Polish has become a cult product for women in more than 90 countries. The creamy cleanser enriched with essential oils removes all traces of make-up and the muslin cloth whisks away dead skin cells.
THE ECO BEAUTY AWARD SPONSORED BY GIVAUDAN
Weleda Pomegranate Firming Facial Skin Care Range, £21.95 - £34.95 (weleda.co.uk)
For women aged over 40 this natural and organic range harnesses the power of pomegranate seeds, argan and borage oils – all rich in antioxidants – to help firm skin and reduce the appearance of wrinkles.