Beacon Awards 2025

Shining light on 
  • innovations
  • passion
  • brands
  • products
  • people
  • new markets
  • inclusivity
  • sustainability
  • ideas
  • teams
  • community
  • visionaries
  • founders

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Nominees

  • Incredible Innovations

    Topflight brands see the need and set the trend with new designs, spirited campaigns and genuine purpose

    • Best Social Media

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      Bathtubs, shelfies and oversharing may bring in followers, but the savviest brands know how to pivot in their campaigns to build a true community. In a time when one false statement can bring the wrath of the Twitterverse to bear or a single TikTok can produce millions of sales, these are the brands who were true and triumphant.

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    • Best Packaging

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      From functional and practical refillable options, to eye catching designs and glass jars or metallic casings that are just too damn beautiful to toss, packaging does more than protect product. It draws us in, elevates the purchasing experience and adds to a brand's story. These are the best of the best.

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    • Inclusivity Champion

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      Inclusivity can be niche-driven, fueled by a desire to embrace underserved communities, or simply recognize the need for a multitude of voices to represent today’s beauty consumer. We applaud these brands for leading the way.

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    • Sustainability Champion

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      Making peoples lives better through beauty and wellness now means leaving the world in a better place as well. Wasteful processes and packaging will soon be a thing of the past, thanks to the innovative efforts of our nominees.

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    • Product Innovation – Technology

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      AI, robots, and other technological advances are pushing the beauty and wellness space into new territories. This new wave of products and devices, distinguished by their remarkable efficacy, efficiency, and ingenious applications, are game changers.

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    • Product Innovation – Formulation

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      Does the world need another product? Intellectually, we say no—until something so simple and brilliant comes along and we realize this is a bit of genius in a bottle that we can’t do without. Kudos to the brands whose products will turn heads for years to come.

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    • Philanthropy Champion

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      It's not all about the bottom line in the indie community. Challenger brands are often built around the concept of community or highlighting underserved markets. Whether it is social justice reform or mental health advocacy, these brands are moving the needle for causes they care about.

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    • Treatment

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      We're always on the hunt for the next big breakthrough in beauty—whether it lifts, tightens, smoothes, tones or restores. These cutting-edge treatments don’t just deliver results; they spark conversations where someone asks, "Wait… what’s your secret?" Recognized for their innovation, effectiveness, and rising popularity, these modalities and the practitioners behind them are shaping the future of wellness or aesthetics—one glow-up at a time.

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  • Inspiring Brands

    Success! Behind every winning product there is an idea that turned into a story told well—and worth retelling.

    • Brand Launch

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      The old adage of being able to say something for the first time makes a brand launch mission-critical. A launch requires coordination and outreach inspired by a vision with mass appeal. Here’s who did it right.

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    • Best Brand

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      We are generally in awe of indie brands that persevere through good times and bad. As for the ones that excel, well, they would be worthy of an award. A Beacon Award. We don’t envy the judges.

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    • Indie Deal

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      Investors are like retailers, even more so. Before they commit putting their capital at risk, they run a 360-degree evaluation of a brand’s position in the market. These deals show the most upside to take a brand to the next level.

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    • Reference Deal

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      To be a reference deal, is to be a source of both admiration and envy. For you have either set the bar or raised it for everyone. You are the new standard.

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    • Best Campaign

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      It takes more than a clever hashtag or a killer Instagram to generate long-lasting buzz. Thoughtful details, strategy, and efficient, cohesive storytelling across several touch points make up a standout campaign.

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    • Product Launch – Skincare

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      Lotions, mists, serums, oh my! As beauty's largest category, skincare is arguably the most crowded and most scrutinized lane. To stand out, a product needs to be a game changer. From filling a white space, to deploying carefully orchestrated social campaigns, nabbing key media placements and earning organic reviews, these these launches made a compelling and motivating case for consumers to learn more.

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    • Product Launch – Cosmetics

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      Whether it's making the eyes pop or swiping on the perfect shade of red lipstick, cosmetics have the unique ability to immediately transform and uplift. From filling a white space, to deploying carefully orchestrated social campaigns, nabbing key media placements and earning organic reviews, these launches made a compelling and motivating case for consumers to learn more. These are the cosmetics launches that checked all of those boxes and then some.

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    • Product Launch – Wellness

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      Following the pandemic, the business of being well is bigger than ever. From developing a product that fills a white space, to deploying carefully orchestrated social campaigns, nabbing key media placements and earning organic reviews, these launches made a compelling and motivating case for consumers to learn more. These are the wellness launches that checked all of those boxes and then some.

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    • Product Launch – Personal Care

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      Whether its intimate care, sexual wellness or hygiene essentials, its a hot topic. From filling a white space, to deploying carefully orchestrated social campaigns, nabbing key media placements and earning organic reviews, these launches made a compelling and motivating case for consumers to learn more. These are the personal care launches that checked all of those boxes and then some.

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    • Product Launch – Haircare

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      Haircare was the dark horse of 2020 and 2021, as the category exploded in both prestige and mass. From developing a product that fills a white space, to deploying carefully orchestrated social campaigns, nabbing key media placements and earning organic reviews, these launches made a compelling and motivating case for consumers to learn more. These are the haircare launches that checked all of those boxes and then some.

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    • Product Launch – Home + Fragrance

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      Once considered an afterthought in beauty, scents and home essentials have carved out a strong position in the market. From filling a white space, to deploying carefully orchestrated social campaigns, nabbing key media placements and earning organic reviews, these launches made a compelling and motivating case for consumers to learn more. These are the home and fragrance launches that checked all of those boxes and then some.

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  • Outstanding Contributions

    Beauty entrepreneurs are a breed apart, and we celebrate the best of their achievements.

    • Entrepreneur

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      To command the attention and respect of audiences and consumers, let alone editors, is proof of a beauty innovator’s vision. To do so in style is a demonstration of will and grace. Each of these personalities is a force.

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    • Industry Icon

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      The entrepreneurial spirit fuels the best people in beauty whether they work for themselves or a multinational conglomerate. As great their success, it is their inspiration to those that follow their lead, and their generosity of spirit, what turns them into an icon.

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    • Seed + Small Growth Investor

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      It's a certain skill to be able to spot a diamond in the rough. These investors saw potential early on and by throwing their weight behind nascent brands, were able to the help lay the foundation for a breakout brand.

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    • Growth Investor

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      The investment community thrives on a mix of analytics and improvisation, and the best investors foster their creativity by nurturing growing brands with the right amount of cash, connections and compassion. These investments are creating long-term value by fueling the expansion of independent brands that are driving our industry forward.

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    • Brand Builder

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      A strong founder is only as good as the support team surrounding them. The ability to implement strategy, manage growth and motivate teams are just a few of the traits these leaders possess as they elevated a brand's offerings and strengthened infrastructure.

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  • Retail Honorees

    • Brand Booster

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      With several doors and a thriving community both IRL and online, making it onto this retailer’s shelves can propel a brand into a new stratosphere of growth.  This retailer excels by giving brands the stage to generate major awareness and offers scale in a meaningful way.

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    • Audience Educator

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      There is a sea of choices in beauty and a great retailer offers more than a place to just purchase goods. Instead, it is a hub of information that anticipates the questions shoppers will have along their discovery journey. This retailer’s platform goes above and beyond product detail pages by providing digital or in-person activations, tutorials, ingredient deep-dives, founder to consumer connections and a highly-trained staff helping a brand to break through the clutter.

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    • Assortment Innovator

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      Known for setting the trends, not following them, this retailer has established a reputation as the gold standard in offering the coolest finds, the most effective essentials and inclusive options in beauty and wellness.

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    • Service Maven

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      “That Girl” regimens are all the rage on TikTok, but these lifestyle retreats have true staying power. Personalized facials, cutting-edge lasers, cryo-therapies and body treatments are just a few of the can’t-live-without services that spas are enticing wellness lovers and beauty fanatics with. These providers are the best of the best, and are independently-owned. 

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  • Best Brand
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    amika

    A Word From The Nominee

    “We’re honored to be recognized for the values we stand by every day as a salon-raised, inclusive brand where all hair is welcome. We’re committed to creating efficacious products that spark joy. Over the past year, amika has continued to accelerate growth while doubling down on purpose, driving industry-leading innovation and deeper connections with our community.”

    Who They Are

    amika means friend. We’re a fearless, Brooklyn-born haircare brand and a friend to all hair, hairstylists, the planet, and you. We are devoted to caring for your hair while cultivating community self-expression. amika is salon-raised, has a superfruit soul, and is rooted in results for all strands. We flip hair rules on their head and make prestige haircare joyful and accessible to everyone. At amika, all hair is welcome.

  • Best Brand
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    cocokind

    A Word From The Nominee

    I started cocokind to change the status quo of the beauty industry and break the cycle of “aspirational beauty.” We are a company that doesn’t need to hide how we formulate; rather, we invest in highly effective but gentle formulas, and set fair prices based on what’s inside the bottle. Most importantly, cocokind exists to ensure that all of us have a safe place in the beauty industry where we’re celebrated and accepted, exactly as we already are.

    Who They Are

    In 2015, Priscilla Tsai set out to create a brand that would transform the beauty industry by empowering and celebrating people for exactly who they are. After years of not seeing her real skin reflected in the beauty industry and overpaying for a lack of results, she decided to start cocokind - a community brand rooted in transparency and accessibility. With a commitment to high-quality formulas at transparent prices, cocokind develops every formula to deliver powerful results while being kind to sensitive skin. Their formulating philosophy is “a little bit often,” which means incorporating effective, clinical ingredients that can be used every day without compromising the skin barrier. Her products are accessible at every Target and Ulta in the country.

  • Best Brand
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    Dr. Diamond’s Metacine

    A Word From The Nominee

    Founded by a globally-renowned facial plastic surgeon with 20+ years of expertise treating the world’s most photographed faces & led by medical aesthetic experts, Dr. Diamond’s Metacine is rooted in skin health & biohacking cellular longevity. Today’s beauty consumer demands proof over promises, and our cutting-edge formulas deliver visible, measurable, clinically-significant results that meet Dr. Diamond’s unprecedented standards of aesthetic excellence.

    We believe the Future is Metacine, and it's an honor to be recognized for moving the needle in this industry.

    Who They Are

    THE FUTURE IS METACINE.
    Dr. Diamond’s Metacine delivers clinically significant results without the clinic. Founded by Dr. Jason B. Diamond and inspired by his globally renowned medically-proven procedures, our scientifically-advanced formulas deliver transformative, clinically proven skin rejuvenation without a doctor’s appointment.

  • Best Brand
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    evolvetogether

    A Word From The Nominee

    We're fortunate to have been awarded 20 beauty and fragrance awards since launching our personal care vertical 3 years ago. We're humbled to be recognized and trusted by industry leaders and consumers for our product performance, and we're especially grateful to be recognized for our brand ethos, our purpose, by Beauty Independent, a publication and community we hold dear. We create because we care - we're dedicated to building a timeless, universal brand that serves, connects, and outlasts us, and is thus considerate of our community - past, present, and future - and our planet.

    Who They Are

    Our story began with a simple question: how can we go beyond "just product," adding value to people's lives and encouraging connection? Eight billion of us share this one beautiful world and when we evolve together, all our small actions can add up to a lot of good. That's how we came up with our brand name and the global coordinates we stamp on each item—symbolizing we are all connected, no matter our race, religion, gender, or where we live. We redefine everyday luxury in personal care through our distinct minimal and beautiful aesthetic, fine fragrances, and proven performance that is always kind to people and our shared planet.

  • Best Brand
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    Timeless Skin Care

    A Word From The Nominee

    "This nomination is incredibly meaningful to me as the co-founder and CEO of Timeless Skin Care. What started as a passion project has grown into a global brand trusted by millions and it’s all thanks to our loyal customers. Every vote helps shine a light on the work we do to keep skincare honest, affordable, and effective. I am honored and grateful to our community for supporting Timeless every step of the way."

    Who They Are

    Founded in 2009 by Veronica Pedersen, Timeless Skin Care is a leader in clean, science-backed skincare that delivers powerful results without the luxury price tag. Built on the principles of simplicity, transparency, and potency, the brand formulates advanced skincare solutions with high concentrations of clinically studied, active ingredients free from unnecessary fillers.

    Proudly operating out of its Houston, Texas facility, Timeless Skin Care manufactures and packages all products in small batches to guarantee optimal freshness and potency. Each formula is Leaping Bunny Certified Cruelty-Free and designed to promote vibrant, healthy skin with targeted solutions that help boost skin health, reverse visible signs of aging, and protect from future damage—proving that effective, results-driven skincare doesn't have to be expensive to be effective.

    Equally committed to ethical and sustainable beauty, the brand partnered with TerraCycle to launch a national recycling program for its empty plastic packaging in an effort to reduce its carbon footprint and promote responsible recycling. Once collected, the plastic packaging is cleaned and melted into hard plastic that can be remolded to create new recycled products, such as park benches and picnic tables.

    What started as a female-founded startup has since grown into a globally recognized brand, with over 5 million serums sold worldwide, availability in 80+ countries, and stocked in 1,500+ Target stores across the United States, all while staying true to its mission of making high-performance skincare accessible to all.

  • Best Brand
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    Touchland

    A Word From The Nominee

    I’m incredibly honored that Touchland has been nominated for a Beacon Award. From day one, our mission has been to reinvent everyday personal care moments through design, innovation, and sensorial joy. This recognition is a testament to the amazing community that has supported us along the way. If you believe in the power of thoughtful, elevated essentials, vote for Touchland!

    Who They Are

    Touchland creates sensorial self-care on-the-go essentials that combine innovative form factors and packaging, uplifting fragrances, and skincare-infused formulations that bring delight to everyday moments. By reimagining personal care as a sensory ritual, the brand empowers users to infuse beauty, wellness, and excitement into their daily routines. Unlike traditional sanitizers, Touchland’s Power Mist hand sanitizer provides a skincare-forward, nourishing formula, leaving skin feeling refreshed and revitalized after each spray. The brand continues to disrupt the personal care space with the newest addition of Power Essence Body & Hair Mists. Each fragrance is crafted with mood-boosting fragrance technology, MoodScentz™+, and odor-eliminating technology, Eliminaze™, and packaged for on-the-go use, providing an effortless way to stay fresh throughout the day. Touchland effortlessly combines wellness, luxury, and convenience into daily mundane rituals.

Brand of the Year
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