The Independent Cosmetic Manufacturers and Distributors 2014 Cosmetic Innovator of the Year Awards celebrated the organization’s 40th anniversary and introduced its new chairman.
The organization has named Dr. Robb Akridge, cofounder, senior vice president and global general manager of Clarisonic, as its 2014 chairman, a role formerly held by Ian Ginsberg, president of C.O. Bigelow, for the past three years.
Akridge served as the evening’s keynote speaker and told the audience about the evolution of Clarisonic, which is now in 43 countries and has generated $132 million in sales on QVC.
“[The best indie brand] would be something that is totally unique and no one else has and you would be in a blue ocean where there would be no other competition, creating your own category,” said Akridge. “Clarisonic was in that world, but now the landscape is changing. It’s a little more crowded. Now you have to set yourself apart, and that often comes from innovation from within.”
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He added, “Another thing that sets a good indie brand apart is great packaging. If you’re not known, you’re packaging has to become your educator.”
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The awards, held at Battery Gardens restaurant in New York, have taken place since 2004. This year, they celebrated innovative products that bowed in 2013. Winners were selected by five judges hailing from the beauty, design and marketing industries, including Ron Robinson, independent cosmetic chemist and founder and chief executive officer of BeautyStat and Beautystat.com; Maria Corbiscello, president of Studio MC2; Jérôme Bérard, principal and creative director of Bérard Associates; Lara Eurdolian, cofounder of Pretty Connected, and Kaye Karch, president and founder of Beautymark Development.
The winners included:
Best Color Cosmetic Product:
Grande Naturals — Grande Liner
Best Skin Care Face Product:
Dr. Dennis Gross — Ferulic+Retinol Fibroblast Anti-Aging Moisturizer
Best Bath & Body Product:
Kallista — Daily Moisturizing Cream for Creative Hands
Best Fragrance Product:
Lux Beauty Group Royal Apothic — Jasmine Vine
Best Hair Care Product:
Ecru Lifestyle Beauty — Little Green Lice Guard Collection
Best Nail Color & Treatment Product:
Prostrong — Probrite Natural Nail Whitener
Best Accessories & Tools Product: It Cosmetics — Tightline 10-in-1 Custom Cut Brush
Best Color Cosmetic & Nail Package Design:
Japonesque — Velvet Touch Finishing Powder
Best Skin Care Face Package Design:
Foreo — Luna
Best Bath/Body/Hair Care Package Design:
Lux Beauty Group Royal Apothic — Holland Park Cream Crème
Best Fragrance Package Design:
Thymes — Jade Matcha Cologne
Best Accessories & Tools Package Design:
Patchology — Energizing Eye Patches
Best Marketing/Advertising Print Ad:
Orly International — “It All Started With Pink” ad campaign
Best Social Media Campaign:
NYX Cosmetics — NYX Cosmetics 2013 Face Awards
Best Grass Roots Marketing/Advertising Campaign:
The Elixery — Roller Girls Team Lipsticks
Members’ Choice:
Product: Clarisonic — Deep Pore Detoxifying System
Package Design: Jane Iredale — Mineral Cosmetics