I don’t know about ya’ll, but every spring I put my beauty spending on hold until all of the “Best Of” lists come out. It’s impossible to try all of the new and innovative products on the market right now, so sifting through these lists is a helpful tool in determining what I’ll end up buying at Sephora’s VIB sale (this usually happens in April”>. Right now, I have a few things in my cart that I’ve had my eye on for months, but after CEW released their Beauty Award Finalists, I may have to add a few more goodies to my cart!
The experts of the Cosmetic Executive Women organization gather each year for the CEW Beauty Insider Product Demonstration, where they sift through the year’s best products (over 1,000 entries from more than 500 brands”> and vote for their favorites. Following the convention, the experts narrow down their entries to finalists, and give the very top honorees their “seal of approval” by adding them to this list.
“For more than two decades, the CEW Beauty Awards continue to be a primary resource for consumers to help navigate the crowded beauty aisles. There are countless products that launch each year across all categories. The products that become finalists are voted on by the industry – those who know the best in beauty,” says Carlotta Jacobson, President of CEW.
Among the products that received their prestigious “seal of approval” are some of 2018’s newly launched and innovative beauty items (we’re looking at you Briogeo Hair Care Scalp Revival Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-exfoliating Shampoo“> along with acne treatments, affordable anti-aging products, no-photoshop necessary foundation, indie brands, and of course – the top-rated new hair care launches. So save your pennies and clear out some cabinet space because the 2018 Beauty Industry is not playin!
Acne Treatments
1. Differin Gel
Differin Gel is an acne treatment that all of my favorite beauty bloggers keep raving about, so it’s no surprise it landed itself on CEW’s list of best acne treatments. This acne gel is non-comodegenic and fragrance-free, making it a great alternative for sensitive and acne-prone skin. It’s what you and your skin have been waiting for.
2. Yes To Tomatoes Detoxifying Charcoal Sleeping Mask
Yes To Tomatoes has been my favorite drugstore skincare brand for years. Their new product uses detoxifying charcoal and salicylic acid to clear up skin so you can honestly say #iwokeuplikethis. Just put on the mask before you go to bed, and wake up with smaller blemishes and smoother skin overnight.
Moisturizer
3. Clinique Moisture Surge Hydrating Supercharge Concentrate
A bit more expensive and made for all skin types is the beautifully designed Clinique Moisture Surge – A supercharged water-gel hydrator that instantly quenches dehydrated skin with a 179% moisture boost. This moisturizer keeps skin hydrated for a full 24 hours, and as an owner of this brand, I can attest to this claim. Activated aloe-water and hyaluronic acid plump skin with moisture that lasts and helps to prevent premature aging and dull skin.
4. Cetaphil Rich Hydrating Night Cream
Cetaphil is known for their simple ingredients and fast-acting results at affordable prices. This product stays true to their promise and re-hydrates dry skin in need of nourishment so you can wake up with a glow. Infused with hyaluronic acid, this product works best for extra dry to dry skin. So get your smooth and pick up this night creme on your next trip to your local grocery or convenience store.
Cleanser & Scrub
5. boscia Charcoal Jelly Ball Cleanser
This one-of-a-kind, jelly-textured face cleanser deep cleans pores with purifying activated black bamboo charcoal, leaving skin refreshed and balanced. Ingredients like tamarindus indica seed gum and hinoki oil calm, soothe, and hydrate for a stronger, more youthful-looking complexion, and the unique, innovative jelly consistency creates an indulgent cleansing experience. It also comes in an innovative travel case, so you can take it with you anywhere you go!
6. Olay Luminous Micellar Water
Micellar water is one of the best ways to take off makeup or simply cleanse at the end of the day. Olay’s version makes the task of makeup removal easy and does it without drying out your skin in the process. The CEW finalist combines rice bran and aloe extract to gently sweep away impurities to leave skin looking brightened, evenly toned and feeling refreshed
Iconic Consumers Choice Beauty Award
7. Bioré Deep Cleansing Pore Strips
I used to sneak these out of my mom’s bathroom when I was in high school; I was addicted to seeing all of the gunk that the strips took out of my nose! Biore Deep Cleansing Charcoal Pore Strips work to clean and invigorate your skin, clearing out all of the bad stuff that builds up. With the help of natural purifying charcoal, each of the six nose strips will pull out even more dirt that can cause blackheads, leaving your skin feeling fresh and clean.
8. Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser
A best-seller and fan favorite, Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser is a mild, non-irritating formulation that soothes skin as it cleans. In fact, it’s gentle enough for a baby’s delicate skin. Designed specifically to work for all skin types, it is a simple, yet highly effective way to care for your skin.
Hair: Shampoo/Conditioner
9. Joico Blonde Life Shampoo
As a proud, chemically dyed blonde, Joico is one of my favorite color-safe brands. Joico Blonde Life knows how to treat your fragile hair and cleanse without stripping its natural moisture. Their extraordinary sulfate-free Brightening Shampoo, a highly targeted formula that lifts away dirt and oil, banishes brass, and produces a luscious lather that most sulfate-free shampoos simply can’t muster, is perfect for wash-day.
10. Bumble and bumble Prêt-à-Powder Très Invisible (Nourishing”> Dry Shampoo
Shampooing just got so much easier. We have all had those days where we just do not want to shower, even if our hair is begging for it. This dry shampoo instantly creates volume, adds texture, absorbs oil, and refreshes your style. Simply shake or squeeze bottle and massage the mixture into your roots for a quick fix to greasy or oily hair. You can also add a pinch to your brush and work through. Viola, clean, grease-free hair.
Hair: Color (At Home”>
11. Joico Color Butter
A must for curlies who love switching up their color. Joico’s Color Intensity Color Butter is an ultra moisturizing hybrid to amp up the richness of high-beam hair color or add a pop of color to blondes who want to shake things up. Color doesn’t have to damage, and with Joico’s state-of-the-art technology, including restorative Arginine, and powerful Bio-Advanced Peptide Complex to strengthen and repair hair, you can have fun colors year round.
12. Clairol Color Crave Hair Makeup
Want to color your hair, but only for a day? Clairol has the perfect product for you. “Shake. Shimmer. Dry. Go.” Clairol Color Crave temporary hair makeup gives you just the colorful boost you’ve been looking for. Their shimmering hair makeup instantly adds a 1-day wow-factor that’s visible on any hair color, even the darkest brunettes. With color like this, you can change your hair color every few days to suit your mood. The color lasts until you shampooo it out – making it perfect for a fun night out on the town, festival season, or just to switch it up. With no ammonia, no peroxide, no parabens, and no commitment, there’s no reason not to try it out!
Indie Hair: Shampoo
13. Briogeo Hair Care Scalp Revival Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-exfoliating Shampoo
Scalp products have been all of the rave recently, and Briogeo has stepped up to the challenge of creating the perfect scalp care shampoo. This unique charcoal and coconut oil-infused scalp shampoo detoxifies, exfoliates, soothes and balances the scalp for optimal health.
14. The Mane Choice Heavenly Halo Herbal Hair Tonic & Soy Milk Deep Hydration Pre-poo
Heavenly Halo Herbal Hair Tonic & Soy Milk Deep Hydration helps to restore moisture-depleted hair with intense and lasting hydration. With a hybrid blend Umutanga oil, palmarosa oil, Yashtimadhu root, yucca root, burdock root oil and soy, the pre-poo claims to promote hair growth, combat your dry, flaky scalp, strengthen and nourish hair, and create a shine that lasts for days. I’m a huge advocate for pre-pooing on wash days, so if you haven’t started this practice – here’s a sign to add this pre-poo to your healthy hair regimen.
Face Products (Mass”> #NoFilter
15. NEUTROGENA Hydro Boost Hydrating Tint
Available in 10 blendable shades, Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Tint applies flawlessly while instantly quenching skin, leaving skin hydrated and smooth all day. This foundation moisturizes and plumps skin for 24 hours with the help of skin hydrating essentials like hyaluronic acid, it creates a natural, moisturized and fresh look.
16. L’Oréal Paris Infallible Total Cover Foundation
I am all for finding new drugstore foundations that won’t break my skin out, and when I tried this one I knew I had found a new love. This is the kind of foundation you put on if you know you are going to be out and about all day, and won’t have time to reapply. It’s a lightweight and full-coverage foundation that lasts up to 24 hours because of their unique formulation of Alliagel and illuminating pigments, meaning you can enjoy your day looking flawless.
Face Products (Prestige”> #NoFilter
17. Estée Lauder Double Wear Nude Water Fresh Makeup SPF 30
Another 24-hour staying power foundation, Estee Lauder Double-Wear is a holy grail for beauty gurus around the globe. It’s lightweight, fluid, and long-wear and feels like you have nothing on. Additionally, with SPF 30 and anti-oxidants, it’s your invisible defense against environmental damage from UV rays and pollution. With ingredients like red fruit extracts, including watermelon, lychee seed, and apple, your skin will stay hydrated and healthy underneath the foundation, so no need to worry about breaking out.
18. BECCA Cosmetics Sunlit Bronzer
Inspired by sun-drenched destinations, Sunlit Bronzer makes it look like you just came back from a vacation every day. With a shade for every skin tone, this neutral bronzer creates a healthy, natural warmth so skin looks sun-kissed and never orange. Each beach-inspired bronzer features an iconic creamy powder in a dimensional matte finish that allows you to customize your glow – go from a hint of light to just-stepped-off-the-beach bronze.
Iconic Consumers Choice (Prestige”>
19. The Original Beautyblender
Everyone’s favorite pink sponge, The Original Beauty Blender, is a cult favorite for applying makeup.The unique shape and exclusive material ensures impeccable, streak-free application with minimum product waste. You can use it with foundations, powders, and any other complexion product. When wet, it expands to about twice its size and becomes super soft to create an even, smooth blend and bounce, returning to its original size when it air dries.
20. Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder
A cult-favorite, and award-winning, this silky powder has a touch of sheer coverage to set makeup for lasting wear. The Translucent Loose Setting Powder locks in makeup for long-lasting wear, without adding weight or texture. This bestseller creates a modern, matte finish with a touch of sheer coverage, while it absorbs oil and reduces shine all day. Additionally, their no-flashback formula means you’ll look great in photos, and it creates a soft-focus effect to subtly blur the look of fine lines and imperfections. It will not settle into fine lines or pores and never looks cakey.
Hair Styler
21. Pantene Gold Series Hydrating Butter Creme
Pantene has taken the moisture game to a new level with their Gold Series line, and this hydrating butter creme deserves all the buzz it’s receiving. Infused with argan oil, the product melts into wet or dry hair to soften hair and tame frizz. This crème will give you up to 72 hours of rich moisture that every curly or straight style craves.
22. OUAI Haircare Memory Mist
Protect and perfect your hair with Memory Mist, the high octane heat protectant that primes hair and locks in any style, shape or texture you create until your next shampoo. Simply spray in sections on damp or dry hair before styling to shield strands from heat up to 450 degrees (although we wouldn’t recommend turning your heat tools up that high“> and lock in your look until you wash it next.
Anti-Aging
23. Pixi Beauty Rose Caviar Essence
A weightless anti-aging serum, this Pixi essence melts onto skin for a dewy smooth finish. Infused with botanical oils to nourish and hydrate, this anti-aging product works to restore skins brightness for immediate and long-term radiance. Bonus: the packaging will look great no matter where you keep your beauty items!
24. Olay Regenerist Whip
Olay Regenerist Whip delivers powerful wrinkle results without the heaviness of many anti-aging cremes. This breakthrough facial moisturizer transforms from cream to liquid on contact for fast absorption and a breathable feel. Formulated with advanced Amino-Peptide Complex II, this anti-aging moisturizer hydrates to improve elasticity and firm skin for a lifted look while diminishing the look of fine lines and wrinkles. Skin is left with a smooth, matte and shine-free finish- perfect as a primer before applying makeup.
Hair Tools (DIY”>
25. Amika The Antidote Silk Wrap Styler
This one-inch styler featuring nano silk plate technology – a combination of silk, teflon, mineral, and ceramic nanoparticles embedded into the plates – delivers healthier-looking hair. At NaturallyCurly we are all for individual choice when it comes to straightening your hair – as long as you keep it healthy. A good-quality heat tool is an essential part of this.
26. Aveda Pramsana Exfoliating Scalp Brush
In preparation for optimal cleansing, dry brushing begins the cleansing process by exfoliating the scalp to help loosen build-up and impurities. This brushing technique also helps increase microcirculation, creating an optimal foundation for beautiful hair. Aveda Pramasa Exfoliating Scalp Brush exfoliates the scalp to help loosen build-up and impurities in preparation for optimal cleansing. I haven’t tried this yet, but it sounds like it could give you a really nice scalp massage!
Indie Skincare Beauty Award
27. Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial
I’ve written about this brand before, and it’s no surprise it found itself on the CEW best Indie skincare list. This is a holy-grail product to every skincare junkie I know, and the results are simply incredible. And they better be, for how much this little guy costs! This mask is a pro-quality AHA/BHA-based mask that works as a “facial” to reveal greater clarity, improved skin texture and tone, and a more youthful-looking radiance.
28. Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask
This lightweight sleeping mask hydrates, smoothes and perfects skin overnight, and their non-transferable technology makes it so you won’t have to worry about a messy pillowcase! “The oil-free, breathable, glow-boosting hybrid is formulated with ultra-soothing watermelon extract, hydrating hyaluronic acid, and gentle AHAs that work while you sleep to tone and clarify roughened, dull complexions. AHAs smooth the surface of the skin by banishing dead, rough surface cells, clearing the path for ultra-effective, lasting hydration, while hyaluronic acid binds moisture to the skin for an incredibly nourished complexion.” Bonus: This mask smells INCREDIBLE.
Lip Treatment
29. Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask
I was so excited to see that this mask was on this year’s list. I was hesitant about the idea of a lip mask at first – especially for $20 (isn’t that what chapstick is for”> – but after seeing my favorite beauty Instagrammers rave about the product, I picked up a sample and I’ve been obsessed ever since. Their exclusive technology that features a mineral network of moisture-rich beta-glucan to form an 8-hour time-release moisturizing layer over skin leaves my lips soft, plump, and moisturized all through the night and preps my lips for the next day. Game Changer.
30. Bite Beauty Agave Lip Scrub
Bite Beauty takes lip scrubs to the next level with their gentle ingredients that cleanse, exfoliate, and condition lips with raw brown sugar, pineapple enzymes and exotic oils, leaving them beautifully smooth and soft. You can lick your lips after too! I use my lip scrub before my lip mask, but it can be used any time of day as long as it has its own moisturizing ingredients.
What’s waiting in your cart for a sale to drop so you can splurge on some new goodies? More than a few of these are on my list! Share in the comments below!
