In any awards presentation there are always winners. The 9am Beauty Awards is not a competition as such; it is more an acknowledgement of how a product fared after a whole year. Throughout 2008 I have featured a multitude of products, each excellent and performance driven in their own right – they don’t make the cut to the show if they are not up to scratch.
The products we feature on 9am go the distance so to speak. This awards segment is to present the best of the best for the year. They were chosen from feedback from you the viewers, our faithful testing panel and of course by me the adjudicator. We in Australia are very spoilt with the best of home grown products and the pick of the best from around the world.
The brands acknowledged here were picked on:
• Packaging
• Price – value for money
• Performance
• Innovation
• Ease of use
Where applicable I have given a choice of premium and budget priced products. However, this does not mean the budget priced products are substitutes for the premium priced products. Each product stands on their merits alone.
Best Moisturiser
Lust
Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Time Complex Moisture Cream
This cream is a silent achiever, creamy, rich and readily absorbed into the skin. Skin instantly feels smooth and soft and over time it achieves clarity. It contains ceramides - fatty molecules found in high concentrations within cell membranes. They act as indicators for when the skin needs nourishment. When you apply a cream chock full of ceramides you treat the skin before it needs help so to speak… prevention is always better than cure. I have testers who are completely addicted to this range from Elizabeth Arden.
Must
Garnier Nutritionist SPF 15 Regenerating Daily Moisturiser
Everything the name suggests, it is nutrition for the skin, and this gel cream goes on beautifully. Light and easily absorbed, the cream is good one to start combating the early signs of ageing. The SPF is a great bonus but it is always good to use a sunscreen too.
Best Cleanser
Lust
Lamer the Cleansing Foam
Wow, Wow, Wow, love this product! Easy to use, cleans thoroughly (yes even makeup, but it is always good to take off your makeup before washing your face) without stripping, ph neutral and this tube lasts a long time. All you need is a very tiny amount. Guys will love this product too!
Must
Olay Total Effects Cream Cleanser
Love this product; it softens, smoothes, hydrates and cleanses very effectively. A very gentle cream cleanser that does wonders without being abrasive. It removes dirt, excess oil and makeup.
Best Organic skincare – a great unisex range
Stem Organics wins this hands down. A very ethical Australian company that is setting the benchmark for excellent products that work on the skin and the only climate friendly manufactured range (This means both their office and production processes have been assessed for the amount of carbon they emits. They first reduce these emissions then purchase carbon credits which neutralise the remaining emissions by contributing to the renewable energy industry as a long-term solution for global warming.)
All the ingredients are sustainably sourced and are completely biodegradable; only recyclable glass and paper, PET packaging, corn starch packing beads and responsible printing and energy efficient printing processes are used. Currently, the dynamic duo behind the range, are working with Ecocert to certify their range. As they say the proof is in the eating of the pudding - the products work wonders on the skin!
Best Body Cream
100% Pure has come up trumps in this category. Their Nourishing Body Cream is like no other. Another organic, ethical, and sustainable produced range that has taken the world by storm. The body cream is thick and luscious but on the skin it absorbs easily and quickly without any greasiness…the driest skin becomes baby soft in no time. A definite must!
Best Shampoo and Conditioner
Pantene Pro V Sheer Volume Shampoo and Conditioner
Time and again this brand is named favourite in a lot of surveys, so something must be good. The testers who tried this combination say it is easy to use, did what was claimed and with good results. Hair appeared thicker and fuller although only cosmetically. Hair was smooth and silky to touch.
Makeup
Best Foundation
Clinique’s Superfit Makeup
There are a lot of foundations on the market but finding a good one is a tough call. Clinique’s Superfit Makeup has a lot of ticks and is a clear winner…mainly for how it glides on skin, its oil-free formulation, staying power on the skin, fade resistance, and good colour range. It also covers without being heavy and gives the wearer a light, smooth and flawless finish. This foundation is an excellent buy.
Lipsticks
Lust
Bobbi Brown Lipsticks
Still the best lipstick on the market - top marks for carrying the most flattering array of colours that suit any skin tone, great luxurious textures and sleekly packed. A must for every woman!
Must
Natio Lip Colour
An excellent quality lipstick that is small in colour range but huge on performance. Glides on lips effortlessly and moisturises them ever so perfectly – you have to try it to believe it – a proudly Australian produced product
Best Eyeshadow
DB Designer Brands 12 Eyeshadow Palette
This budget eyeshadow palette must be in everyone’s kit, excellent colours, great payoff and texture and wonderful wearability – go buy!
Best Mascara
Lust – A tie
Guerlain Le 2 – this great duo mascara delivers on its promise. The formulation, brush and results are phenomenal – your lashes never looked so good!
Givenchy Phenomen’Eyes – this mascara is so hot that there are only 11 left in Australia, since its release it has been selling like hot cakes. The ‘medieval torture implement’ inspired brush makes the product the easiest to apply with amazing results – go buy!
Must
L’Oreal Double Extension Beauty Tubes
For dramatic length do not go pass this mascara – wow!
Best Blusher
Lust
Nars Blushers
Wow, Wow, Wow – go buy – excellent especially the new ‘super orgasm’ colour, every woman should have this!
Must
Bourjois Blush
A hot favourite since the 1860s, that says a lot…wow, the colours, texture and slight perfume makes these blushers a definite must!
Best Nail Polish
Zoya is the one for colour, durability, longetivity, comfort on nails and high manufacturing standard – no DBP, Toluene and formaldehyde. Once you try this range you will never want to try anything else!
Stockist:
100% Pure – www.kitcosmetics.com.au
Bobbi Brown, Clinique, Elizabeth Arden, Guerlain – Myer/ David Jones
Bourjois – Priceline
Designer Brands - www.tbn.com.au
Garnier, L’Oreal, Olay, Pantene – Priceline and most pharmacies
Givenchy – selected Myers
Lamer – David Jones, www.cremedelamer.com.au
Natio – www.natio.com.au
Nars – www.meccacosmetica.com.au
Stem organics – www.stemorganics.com
Zoya – www.artofbeauty.com.au
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