The 2007 CEW Beauty Awards- Beauty, Business and a bit of Humor

If the Oscars are the award to covet for actors, the graceful, Lalique statues of the CEW Beauty Awards are the coveted prize for those in the cosmetics business. The 2007 CEW Beauty Awards Winners were announced on May 2nd.

The Cosmetic Executive Women's (CEW) Awards Luncehon at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City is a star-studded event, bringing together key players in major cosmetics and fragrance companies, entrepreneurs, and the beauty press. The event is more than two hours long, and there's never a dull moment, as entire tables of staff cheer for their nominees, and winners, and celebrities hand out the awards to winners in 31 different categories in both luxury and popular price groups. This year, more than 621 products were nominalted, with five finalists in each category. That's a LOT of products for consideration. More than 4,000 CEW members vote, with the Board of CEW making a definitive selection (there were some ties in this year).

Several thousand people fill not just the floor of the ballroom of the Waldorf Astoria, but two additional balconies. With so many awards, and so much commotion, the event could be dull, but comedian/actor Mario Cantone, a former Sex and the City Star (and the voice of Sunsilk "Hairapy") has been the MC for the past three years, and kept the crowd energized, with lively with jokes and comments. During the luncheon, "stars" of the beauty business were paired with celebrities such as Ivanka Trump, Top Chef host Padma Lakshmi, actress Sherri Saum, model Crystal Renn, Pirates of the Caribbean actress Naomi Harris, and Shear Genius judge and celebrity hairstylist Sally Hershberger, to present the awards in various categories.

If you are in the beauty business, winning one of the Lalique statues, featuring a graceful woman's torso, means that your product is a definite recommendation to women and men around the world who want the best-of-the-best at various price-points. The CEW awards seal is a virtual "seal of approval" that consumers want to know about.

The 2007 CEW Beauty Awards winners are:

FACIAL SKINCARE

Acne Treatment $10 and over - MD Skincare by Dr. Dennis Gross All-Over Blemish Solution

Acne Treatment Under $10 -- Neutrogena Rapid Clear Pads

Anti-Aging $30 and over -- Patricia Wexler M.D. Dermatology Wexler Intensive Night Reversal & Repair Cream

Anti-Aging Under $30 - Olay Definity Deep Penetrating Foaming Moisturizer

Cleanser & Scrub $12 and over - Clinique Liquid Facial Soap

Cleanser & Scrub Under $12 - Dove Energy Glow Skin Brightening Facial Cleanser

Eye Treatment $20 and over -- Avon Anew Clinical Eye Lift

Eye Treatment Under $20 - Tweezerman After Tweeze Soothing Cream

Lip Treatment $14 and over - FusionBeauty LipFusion XL

Lip Treatment Under $14 - Tarte fRxtion Sugar Exfoliator & Lip Balm Duo

Moisturizer $30 and over - Shiseido Cosmetics Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Moisturizing Cream

Moisturizer Under $30 - Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream

Peel and Mask $25 and over- Shiseido Cosmetics Benefiance Pure Retinol Face Mask

Peel & Mask Under $25 - Lumene Time Freeze Instant Lift Mask

MEN’S SKINCARE

Men's Skincare $15 and over (this was a tie) Kiehl's Eye Alert and The Art of Shaving Body Scrub with Tangerine and Eucalyptus Essential Oils

MAKEUP

Eye Product $15 and over - Chanel Inimitable Mascara

Eye Product Under $15 - CoverGirl LashExact Mascara

Face Product $18 and over - SK-II AirTouch Foundation

Face Product Under $18 - M.A.C Cosmetics Studio Touch-Up Stick

Lip Product $15 and over - Chanel Rouge Allure Luminous Satin Lip Colour

Lip Product Under $15 - Bourjois Paris Effet 3D Mobile Cell Phone Charm *see the review in our latest What Works Column

HAIR CARE

Hair Care & Coloring Product $15 and over - Frédéric Fekkai Ageless Damage-Defense Capsules

Hair Care & Coloring Product Under $15 - John Frieda Professional Hair Care Luminous Color Glaze

BATH & BODY

Body Treatment $15 and over - Origins Natural Resources Modern Friction for the Body

Body Treatment Under $15 - Dove Energy Glow Shimmering Lotion

Scented Bath & Body $15 and over - C.O. Bigelow Lemon Cream Body WashScented Bath & Body Under $15 - Olay Body Wash plus Ribbons

NAILS

Nail Care & Color Under $12 - Avon Instant Manicure

SUN

Sun Product $15 and over (this was a tie) - Clarins Sun Wrinkle Control Eye Contour Care SPF 30 and La Roche-Posay Anthelios SX

Sun Product Under $15 - Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunblock SPF 55

SCENT

Women's Scent $35 and over - Prada Eau de Parfum Tendre by Prada

Women's Scent Under $35 (this was a tie) Grassroots Happily Ever After and Sonia Kashuk Beauty @Target Sonia’s Solid Perfume Palette

Men's Sent $30 and over - Sean John Fragrances / Estée Lauder Unforgivable by Sean John

INDIE BEAUTY AWARD (celebrates innovation in independent companies that have been in existence for less than five years) 2007 Indie Beauty Award Winner: Sskyn ICELAND

Other sponsors of the CEW Beauty awards are: Allure, Givaudan, Arcade Marketing, FreshLook Color Contact Lenses, CVS/pharmacy, Restylane, Crest Whitestrips Daily Multicare, Rohm and Haas, Lalique, WWD Beauty Biz, Suite K, The Royal Promotion Group, KraftWorks, Vidicom, Ma Cher, HBA Global Expo, Alpha Logica, Digital Plus, Rpr Marketing Communications, Raw Media Network and Palmer’s.