The beauty industry celebrated its finest, as Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW) recognized the most innovative beauty products of the year at the 17th Annual CEW Beauty Awards.

The CEW Beauty Awards is the only awards program where the winners are determined exclusively by more than 4,000 beauty insiders and professionals working in the industry. The Awards signify the industry’s highest recognition for manufacturers and brands, as well as a trusted guide to the most innovative new products for consumers.

“When it comes to buying beauty products, women are looking for proven performance and value. The CEW Beauty Awards make it easy to get insight on the best products in order to be able to make an informed decision when choosing and purchasing a product,” says Carlotta Jacobson, CEW president.

This year marks the first CEW Eco Beauty Award. Sponsored by Givaudan, the new Award was created in response to the growing consumer demand for products which are good for you and good for the planet. It recognizes products or product lines that have specifically moved toward the goal of sustainability. This year’s winner is Yves Rocher North America Inc. Culture Bio.

Throughout the year, the winners will display the Winners’ seal and will be showcased with custom promotions in-store, online and on TV. Upcoming media promotions include: TODAY Show, slated for May 24, 2011, and QVC, slated for July 13, 2011. For a complete list of product categories and winners, visit www.cew.org. Winning products will be posted on the site throughout 2011.

Also –for the first time – CEW has partnered with the social networking site, foursquare, to bring Beauty Award winning products directly to consumers at retail. Using this tool, consumers can visit the CEW foursquare page and “check in” to retail stores to discover where winning products are sold.