Written by Annie Whitfield
Award-nominated formulas, featured in Vogue, loved by your favourite influencers… These used to be the phrases we would look out for when it came to picking out our next beauty buys, nowadays, the market seems to be, well, a little overcrowded. It’s a bit of a minefield when it comes to sifting through the thousands of ‘ultra-hydrating’ and ‘packed-with-pigment’ formulas and finding the products that do truely make a difference. As always here at LiB, we like to make beauty discovery as easy as possible, that’s why we put our faith in the CEW Awards.
Now, if you haven’t heard of the awards before, let us break it down. CEW is a non-profit organisation with a prestigious history. Established in 2006, the CEW Awards were created to recognise outstanding product innovation and creativity and the voters are made up of 1000 industry professionals and beauty experts. They recognise the very best in class the beauty industry has to offer. Convinced? Us too.
If you haven’t made your CEW Edit yet and aren’t sure where to start, we’ve got you covered. You can select NINE products in your edit, all of which have been nominated for a series of different awards. Read on to find out more about the categories, the products in them and why you’ll love them…
AWARD: BEST TARGETED SKINCARE
Essentially, these products focus on a specific area and ‘target’ the problem. From blemishes to redness, they’ve got you covered.
PRODUCTS: Fade Out – Advanced Brightening Day Cream SPF 20, Skin & Tonic – Fresh Face Exfoliating Water, Dr Lipp – CBD Calm Balm, AHC – Hydrating Essential Real Eye Cream for Face, Kate Somerville – DeliKate Recovery Cream, Balmonds Skin Saviour
YOU’LL LIKE IT IF: Quite simply, you’re looking for an overall brighter, more even complexion.
AWARD: BEST BRITISH BRAND
All about the brands that are either founded and headquartered in the United Kingdom.
PRODUCTS: NAILS INC. – Time For A Reset Plant Power Vegan Nail Polish, Yardley – English Lavender Hand Wash, Kollo – Premium Liquid Marine Collagen, NAILS INC. – And Breathe Plant Power Vegan Nail Polish
YOU’LL LIKE IT IF: You enjoy the very best hard-working formulas with serious performance payoff.
AWARD: BEST NEW EYE MAKEUP
Products that have burst onto the scene and enhance the appearance of the eyes.
PRODUCTS: NARS – Climax Extreme Mascara
YOU’LL LIKE IT IF: You’re looking for a dramatic, blacker than black mascara that lengthens and volumises all in one.
AWARD: BEST BEAUTY ICON
These products have been on the market for more than two years and have made a serious impact since they’ve been around.
PRODUCTS: PRAI Beauty – Ageless Throat & Decolletage Creme, Rimmel London – Scandaleyes Reloaded Mascara, Paula’s Choice – Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant, Oribe – Dry Texturizing Spray
YOU’LL LIKE IT IF: You’re set on reliable beauty that you want to go back to every single time.
AWARD: BEST NEW HAIR PRODUCT
Expect to find your brand new favourite styling, shampooing and conditioning products shining through in this category.
PRODUCTS: It’s a 10 – Miracle Leave-In Product, Fudge Professional – Aqua Blow Dry Primer, Batiste – Wonder Woman Dry Shampoo, Earthkind – Organic Oats Conditioning Bar
YOU’LL LIKE IT IF: You want your hair care regime to be quick and easy, with a combination of products that enhance a dramatic change in your locks.
AWARD: BEST BODY PRODUCT
Your go-to body heroes from everything spanning from scrubs to moisturisers to bath oils.
PRODUCTS: Sanctuary Spa – Ultra Rich Wet Skin Moisture Miracle
YOU’LL LIKE IT IF: You enjoy keeping your skin healthy but are stuck for time, this wet skin moisturiser hydrates instantly and you’re good to glow within five mins!
AWARD: BEST VEGAN BEAUTY PRODUCT
For the sustainable brands making a difference who’s products contain no animal derived ingredients and are cruelty free too.
PRODUCTS: The Beauty of Eczema™ – Calming Cream, Dr Paw Paw – Overnight Lip Mask, Skin Academy ZERO – ZERO 100% Natural Face Scrub, delilah – Intense Day-to-Night Buildable Volumising Mascara
YOU’LL LIKE IT IF: You love rich formulas that are packed with skin-loving and kind to the planet ingredients.
AWARD: BEST HAND OR FOOT PRODUCT
For all of the products that are made to make you feel good from the tips of your fingers to the tips of your toes.
PRODUCTS: Cutex – NEW Ultra‐Caring Non‐Acetone Nail Polish Remover, Apothecary – Calm Hand Lotion, Babington Soap Co – Moisturising Hand Sanitiser
YOU’LL LIKE IT IF: You love nourishing products that go the extra mile in making your beauty routine a little bit easier.
AWARD: BEST SUN CARE OR SELF TAN
For all of the beauty products that are our best friend in the sun, just getting out of the sun or when we just want to fake it.
PRODUCTS: Vita Liberata – Heavenly Elixir Self Tan – Medium
YOU’LL LIKE IT IF: You love a sun-kissed glow that develops over time whilst deeply moisturising the skin.
AWARD: BEST SKINTELLECTUAL
The very best facial skincare products that are made to make your complexion perfected and smooth, expect the highest grade ingredients to provide a luxurious skincare experience.
PRODUCTS: Palmer’s – Coconut Oil Formula Coconut Water Facial Moisturizer, Murad – Retinol Youth Renewal Night Cream, Dr Organic – Organic Guava Gel Moisturiser, Strivectin – Super‐C Retinol Brighten & Correct Vitamin C Serum
YOU’LL LIKE IT IF: You want a moisturiser or serum that packs a serious glowing punch and will leave your skin feeling quenched and healthy.
THE EXTRAS
If you were lucky enough to be first in line to get your CEW Edit, you will also have received one of TWO beauty goodies that we thought everyone should get to try. The ALLEVEN Stellar Mask, nominated for Best Mask – a gel-to-patch mask that has a shimmery golden formula OR the Erborian Skin Hero, nominated for Best Skintellectual ‐ Prestige, a bare-skin perfector of dreams!
