Process, Criteria & FAQ

Key Dates

Early Entries Open: February 2, 2026
Early Entry Deadline: March 9, 2026
Regular Entries Open: March 10, 2026
Regular Entry Deadline: March 29, 2026

Finalists will be notified by CEW via email before the CEW Beauty Expo on September 17, 2026
CEW Member Voting: September 17 – October 08, 2026
Winner Celebration: November 10, 2026 at Beauty Awards Luncheon

All deadlines close at 11:59 PM EST.

Entry Criteria

Products/brands that launched after March 2024 and are available for purchase by March 29, 2026.
Gift sets are NOT accepted.

Category Guidelines
See Eligible Award Categories.

• Indie Brand: 51+% independent ownership as of March 27, 2026. This category is open to all indie brands, regardless of when they were founded.
• Iconic Products: on the market for 10+ years and still available for purchase. Past submissions may enter.
• Sustainability Excellence Award: Additional considerations outlined in category description.
• Suppliers Award: Ingredients & Formulation: Additional considerations outlined in category description.
  

Evaluation Criteria

Products will be reviewed based on the following:

• Innovation
• Efficacy

Submission Guidelines

Number of Products: Brands may enter as many products as they’d like in each category.
A product must be submitted to the relevant product category. Products that do not meet category criteria may be disqualified. See the Award Categories.
Multiple Category Submissions: A product may enter multiple times if it meets the category criteria.
Entries must be completed online through the Product Entry Form by March 27, 2026, at 11:59 PM EST. There will be no extensions granted.

Entry Fees

Early Entries: $700 per product (February 2 – March 9, 2026)
Regular Entries: $775 per product (March 10 – March 29, 2026)

A product that is entered in multiple categories will incur a separate entry fee for each category submitted.
The entry fee covers all associated costs, including processing and research required of the CEW staff and Finalist Nominating Committee, to determine the winners.
All deadlines close at 11:59 PM EST.

PRODUCT SUBMISSIONS

How to Submit Your CEW Beauty Award Entry

Step 1: Log In to Your CEW Account – Click here to log into your CEW account.

Step 2: Navigate to the Beauty Awards Entry Tab in the Left Sidebar or in the Top Menu. 

Step 3: Purchase Your Award Entry 

1. Navigate to the Store section to purchase your entries.
2. Select the desired Beauty Award entry(s) and quantity.
3. Click “Add to Cart.”
4. View your cart, add payment details, and review your order.
5. Submit your purchase.
6. Once your purchase is complete, you will reach the Order Summary page, where you can view all purchased entries.
   • Access your purchased entries here: Award Entry Dashboard.
   • You will also receive an email with the next steps.

Step 4: Fill Out or Modify an Entry

1. From the Award Entry Dashboard, click on the Award Entry # in the first column to begin.
   • For new entries, you will be prompted to select an Award Category to generate the form.
   • Important: The selected Award Category cannot be changed after submission. Please review the Award Categories page before making a selection.
2. Select your desired award category(s) and click Save.

Step 5: Complete the Product Information Form

1. Click the pencil icon next to the entry to begin editing.
   1. Refer to the help text for guidance if you have questions.
2. On the Product Information Form, provide the following:
   1. Brand Name: Name of the product company (not the registrant).
   2. Product Name: Full name of the product being submitted (do not include the brand name).
   3. Product Description: Describe your product. Pricing and purchasing details will be removed.
   4. Note: Information submitted on the Product Information Form will appear exactly as written on the voting ballot and all CEW materials (both online and in print). Ensure all capitalization, trademark symbols, accents, and spellings are correct. Errors are the sole responsibility of the registrant.
   5. CEW reserves the right to edit entries to conform with the CEW Style Guide. Brand or product names may be abbreviated for space considerations (e.g., The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. → Estée Lauder).
3. Add the product details and upload the following:
   1. Product Images: Two images required.
      • Specs: 200 x 200 pixels, no larger than 250kb.
      • File formats: jpeg, gif, or png.
   2. High-Resolution Image: Transparent background, no larger than 10mb.
      • File formats: jpeg, gif, or png.
   3. One Sheet: Optional, but highly encouraged. If uploading, ensure the file is no larger than 2mb.
      • File formats: PDF or Microsoft Word (.docx or .doc).
   4. Special Categories: For categories like Indie Brand, Sustainability Excellence, or Supplier for Ingredients & Formulation, a brand logo should be submitted in place of a product image.
4. Once all fields are completed and files are uploaded, click Submit Entry to finalize your entry.

Step 6: Repeat for Additional Entries

• Repeat Steps 4 and 5 for each award category you are entering.

 
 
Terms & Conditions

By submitting an entry to the CEW Beauty Awards, you accept and agree to these Terms & Conditions. These may be updated from time to time without prior notice, at CEW’s sole discretion. Questions? Please email us at beautyawards@cew.org.

How do I check if I am submitting multiple products by multiple brands?
To submit products for multiple brands, first purchase the total number of entries needed for all the brands you’re submitting in the Store. After completing the purchase, you can assign each entry to a specific brand and product using the Award Entry dashboard. This way, you can manage submissions for multiple brands efficiently.

I am unsure what category my product falls under. What should I do?
If you’re unsure which category your product falls under, submit it in the category that seems most appropriate. Before making your selection, be sure to review the 2026 Award category descriptions, as this choice cannot be edited later. If you select the wrong category, simply complete your submission as usual and email beautyawards@cew.org to request a change. All submissions are reviewed by experts to ensure they are placed in the correct categories. If your product is better suited to a different category, we’ll contact you to make the necessary adjustment.

How many products can I submit?
There is no limit! Brands may enter as many products as they’d like in each category. A product can be entered multiple times if it matches the product category description.

I want to submit three products in one category. How many entry fees will I pay?
Entry fees are charged per product, per category. For example, if you enter three products in the Moisturizer category, you will pay three entry fees. If you want to enter one product in both the Indie category and the Skin Tools category, you will pay two entry fees.

Are samples required for entry?
4 units of each entry product will be requested to ensure products meet entry criteria and for review by the CEW Finalist Nominating Committee during finalist voting. The CEW Events Team will follow up with shipping instructions.

I submitted my entry but I need to update some of the information.
If you need to make changes after submission, click “enter/edit” from the Award Entries dashboard. You can update the necessary information and then click “submit”. If you need to make changes after product submissions close (March 27, 2026), email beautyawards@cew.org and we will do our best to accommodate the revision.

I decided to submit additional products. How do I proceed?
To submit additional products, simply purchase more entries in the Store. Click here for detailed instructions on how to check out and complete your submission.

What if I am not a CEW Member?
You do not have to be a CEW Member to submit a product. However, you must be a CEW Member to vote for the winners. Click here to become a member.

VOTING

How is the CEW Finalist Nominating Committee selected?
The CEW Finalist Nominating Committee is made up of a diverse group of executives, entrepreneurs, industry insiders, editors, and social influencers. They are chosen for their proven expertise in beauty, familiarity with the Beauty Awards, industry influence, and enthusiasm for CEW initiatives.
 
How will I know if I am a finalist?
Finalists will be notified by CEW via email before the CEW Beauty Expo on September 17, 2026.

How can I vote?
You must be a CEW Member to vote. Click here to become a member. Voting opens on September 17, 2026 and ends October 8, 2026 at 11:59 EST.
 
When are the winners announced?
Winners will be announced at the CEW Beauty Awards Luncheon on November 10, 2026, in New York City. Finalists are required to have a team member attend the luncheon. Information on the event will be released closer to the date. Winners will receive information about how to promote their win and a licensing toolkit following the event. Questions? Please email us at beautyawards@cew.org.