At CEW, the holiday season got off to a sparkling start with the announcement of this year’s CEW Beauty Award Winners at a luncheon at The Marriott Marquis in Manhattan. Don’t miss our report on the event, which drew over 1,000 beauty industry executives, and also marked its 30-year anniversary. In addition, the CEW Product Watch November 2024 has dropped, revealing the month’s most buzzed-about launches in beauty — from bijoux-encrusted palettes to high end LED masks and winter-friendly skin care.

Also at CEW today, we talk to Kevin Lesser, founder of clean beauty skin care brand Ktchn Apothecary, about his venture to offer smaller to mid-sized brands the opportunity to fulfill minimum order quantities [MOQ]. “We realized we could empower emerging-to-midsized brands to do small batch productions,” said Lesser about Ktchn Apothecary Labs, which offers brands the opportunity to have an MOQ as small as 1,000 units. Meanwhile, CEW reporter Annie Tomlin takes a deep-dive into the popularity of Trader Joe’s TikTok-famous beauty offering. “The trick for Trader Joe’s seems to be finding the balance between trendy products and evergreen stalwarts, like body wash,” writes Tomlin. “High-performing SKUs never leave, but new ones are switched up frequently.”

In breaking news, Violette_FR has landed Series B funding, in a round led by Silas Capital, along with Experienced Capital. “I’ve always approached my business with a long-term vision, akin to building a luxury maison rather than a high-growth startup,” said Violette Serrat, the brand’s French-born makeup artist founder, who is based in New York. “Because of this, I have carefully orchestrated my dream line of products while staying customer-centric and true to my instincts.” In other business news, leading Italian manufacturer Ancorotti Cosmetics has acquired Cosmoproject, a Parma-based skin care producer. Meanwhile, stock in Shiseido has dropped to an eight-year low, reports Cosmetics Business.

Closer to home, The Makeup Show’s Makeup Shop returns to New York next week, for the weekend of December 7 to December 8 at The Metropolitan Pavilion. The event is for both consumers and industry professionals, and will showcase over 40 beauty brands, from Pat McGrath Labs to Glamazon Beauty.

Catch up on these and other stories at the links below.

2024 CEW Beauty Award Winners Announced. The winners were announced at the 30th annual luncheon at The Marriott Marquis in Manhattan. (CEW)

CEW Product Watch November 2024 Drops. This month’s launches of note range from bijoux-encrusted palettes to high end LED masks and winter-friendly skin care. (CEW)

How Ktchn Apothecary Labs Is Helping Smaller Brands. CEW talks to Kevin Lesser, founder of clean beauty skin care brand Ktchn Apothecary, about his manufacturing arm, Ktchn Apothecary Labs. (CEW)

Why Trader Joe’s Beauty Offering Is TikTok-Famous. We report on the way the retailer balances trendy products and evergreen stalwarts, with viral results. (CEW)

Violette_FR Secures Series B Funding, Led By Silas Capital. The range’s founder is French-born makeup artist founder Violette Serrat, who is based in New York. (WWD)

Ancorotti Cosmetics Acquires Cosmoproject. The result is a projected annual revenue of €220 million. (ESTETICA EXPORT)

Shiseido Stocks Drop. Cosmetics Business reports on a decline in stocks to an eight-year low. (COSMETICS BUSINESS)

The Make-Up Show’s Makeup Shop Returns To NYC. The holidays event will take place from December 7 to December 8 at The Metropolitan Pavilion. (HAPPI)

The Sweet Smell Of Success. According to Business Of Fashion, fine fragrances are getting “a new gourmet twist” through experimental “neo-gourmands.” (BUSINESS OF FASHION)

Euromonitor Reports ‘K-Wave’ Is Thriving. Euromonitor says consumer brands are growing, particularly beauty, food, and drinks. (BEAUTY PACKAGING)