2011 Australian Beauty Awards Winners

Each year, a panel consisting of ACP magazines' beauty editors from OK, Madison, Cleo, Bazaar, Grazia, Dolly, Cosmopolitan, Australian Women's Weekly and highly respected industry experts Zoe Forster (Primped), Myer Cosmetics GM Liz Webster, leading hair stylists George Giavis amongst a few others get together to squabble over which beauty products they're tried in the past year should be worthy of being elevated to the beauty stratosphere and be worshipped by us mere mortals.

After much debate and tough calls, the votes were cast, tallied, tripled checked for good measure before finally announcing the winners. This year the lists on some product category are lengthy but all are drool-worthy and deserving of the their win.

So without any further ado, here are the Judge's winners of the 2011 Australian Beauty Award's

Lips 

Gloss: Max Factor Vibrant Curve Effect
Lipcare: Lanolips Lemonaid Lip Aid (review here)
Lipstick: Tom Ford Private Blend Lip Color (review Morrocan Rouge, Nude Blush)

Face Makeup

Primer: SMASHBOX Photo Finish Luminizing Foundation Primer
Bronzer: SMASHBOX Halo Hydrating Perfecting Bronzer
Blush: Clarins Blush Prodige
Concealer: Hissyfit Skin Perfector in Honey Beige
Powder: Laura Mercier Pressed Setting Powder
Foundation: Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua
Mineral makeup: ASAP Pure

 Eye Makeup

Eye shadow: Bourjois Round Pot Eyeshadow
Mascara: Lancôme Hypnose Precious Cells 01
Brows: Jane Iredale Bitty Brow Kit
Eyeliner: YSL Long Lasting Eye Pencil No.1
Eye innovation: CoverGirl LiquiLineBlast

Skincare

Prestige day: SK-II Skin Signature Melting Rich Cream

Mass day: L’Oréal Youth Code Rejuvenating SPF15 Daily Moisturiser

Eye cream: Elizabeth Arden Prevage Eye Ultra Protection Anti-Aging Moisturizer SPF 15+ 

Serum: SK-II Cellumination Essence

Night cream: L’Oréal Paris Youth Code Night Cream
Prestige night cream: Lancôme Genifique Repair Night Cream
Anti-aging treatment: Napoleon Auto Pilot Complex



Sunscreen: Neutrogena Ultimate Sport Face
Cult product: Dr. LeWinn’s Synergise Tinted Moisturiser SPF 30+

Facial mask: Chanel Ultra Correction Lift Mask

Prestige cleanser: Shu Uemera Skin Purifier Cleansing Beauty Oil A/O Advanced Formula
Cleanser: Aveeno Ultra-Calming Foaming Cleanser

Acne treatment: Dermaquest Clarifying Pads

Hand products

Nail Lacquer: Chanel Le Vernis Black Pearl
Hand Cream: Bloom Organics Nourishing Hand Cream
Manicure: Kit Quick Fix Manicure Kit

Body products

Body wash: NP Set Body Wash in Tahitian Vanilla
Body product: Kiehl’s Creme de Corps Soy Milk & Honey Whipped Body Butter
Body scrub: NP Set Body Polish in Tahitian Vanilla
Body sunscreen: Nivea Sun Ultra Beach Protect Sunscreen SPF 30+ 

Body Cream: Clarins Extra-Firming Body Cream
Hair Removal: Gillette Venus Embrace Pink Razor
Faux Tanner: St Tropez Instant Glow Shimmer Stick

Fragrance

Women: Maison Francis Kurkdjian Apom Pour Femme
Men: Bleu De Chanel
Cult: Michael Kors

Hair

Tool: Parlux 3800 Eco Friendly Ionic & Ceramic Dryer
Prestige Shampoo & Conditioner: Wella System Professional Color Save Shampoo, Conditioner and Mask (review here)
Shampoo & Conditioner: L’Oréal Paris Hair Expertise Ever Pure Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner
Anti-dandruff: Head & Shoulders Itchy Scalp Care Shampoo (review here)
Hairspray: L’Oréal Professionel Infinium Lumiere
Styling product: Maximise Mousse ghd
Cult hair product: L’Oréal Professionel PlayBall Beach Fizz
Home Colour: Schwarzkopf Perfect Mousse Permanent Colour in Dark Blonde
Hair innovation: Clairol Nice ’N Easy Colour Blend Foam

Other winning categories (beauty tools, men's products, breakthrough products, natural wonder products, and hall of fame) and the runner ups can be found here.

It looks like I've barely touched the list of this years winners so expect to see me visiting the shops in the near future to pick up a few of the items on the list to try. I think I'll start with the Aveeno Ultra Calming cleanser and Bloom nourishing hand cream before dashing out for the Clarins blush. 

Which of these products have you tried? which are your favourites?


P.S If you have reviewed a product on the list and would like me to link to your blog review of it, please feel free to drop me a line and I'll update this post to include it :)

Pantene Nature Fusion Shampoo & Conditioner

Over the years, the Pantene formula have been refined and re-developed and these days with improvements in technology findings, it is constantly evolving and advancing its hair care products.

Pantene’s latest line of products is the Nature Fusion in which contains the newest buzz ingredient in hair care - cassia flower extract,  proven to promote the health of hair and have previously used in Ayurvedic medicine and haircare for centuries before.

Pantene Nature Fusion Shampoo and Conditioner 

• Contains 2 varieties of cassia seed extract (cassia obtusifolia and cassia tora) to maximize the healthy hair benefits. Also contains naturally derived ingredients such as avocado oil, grapeseed extract and bamboo extract to penetrate into hair and strengthen it from within. 
• Coupled this with the high-tech Pro-V formula and a soft fruity, you have a winning creamy formula that spreads easily to leave each strand of hair more conditioned and stronger than before after continued use. 
• My hair is soft, lightweight and full of body and shine after use of the shampoo and conditoner. The most impressive thing for me is the difficult to manage ends that seem to flick in all directions are well behaved and easier to style. It definitely is my favourite range from Pantene to date and the conditioner is officially my new love!
• I also notice few hair breakages after 3 weeks of use of this latest range –testament that my hair is getting healthier and stronger. 

I’ve always enjoyed using Pantene hair products and appreciate their affordability (especially when they are on sale). In fact, I first tried them out some 15 years ago on my thick, wavy and somewhat coarse hair and they always managed to tame them and give me good-looking locks. 

I know some people don’t like Pantene shampoos and conditioners and it often gets a bad rap but I think that’s because they are a big brand and an easy target to pick on because frankly the claim of it being filled with silicones (hello – so does 100+ other brand’s shampoos) and it will make your hair fall out (bah – I wish, because I wouldn’t mind thinning out my thick mane) are baseless and bias.

Of course, I also use a clarifying shampoo on a weekly basis to remove residue and any silicone build-up from the various hair care products I use throughout the week. I think this is something most of us need to look into if our hair feels weighed down and coated with too many products and think its the regular shampoo causing the problem.

There's every chance that Pantene may not work for you depending on your hair type (I find that it works best for fuller thicker hair types rather than fine-haired people), but you can only try and find out for yourself whether the product is suitable for you.

At least it is cheap enough that if it doesn’t agree with your hair, you didn’t spend a fortune to find out. For me, it is an affordable everyday shampoo and conditioner that works well while I leave the more pricy salon speciality ones for weekly use.

Ingredients listings:

Shampoo

Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Xylenesulfonate, Cocamide MEA, Sodium Citrate, Fragrance, Citric Acid, Dimethiconol, Cassia Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Sodium Benzoate, Disodium EDTA, Panthenol, Panthenyl Ethyl Ether, Avocado Oil – Persea Gratissima, Bambusa Vulgaris Shoot Extract, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Grape Seed Extract – Vitis Vinifera, Yellow 10, Red 33, Blue 1

Conditioner, 

Water, Stearyl Alcohol, Behenamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Cetyl Alcohol, Bis-Aminopropyl Dimethicone, Fragrance, Benzyl Alcohol Dicetyldimonium Chloride, Disodium EDTA, Cassia Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride (Cassia Tora Seeds), Panthenol, Panthenyl Ethyl Ether, Avocado Oil – Persea Gratissima, Bambusa Vulgaris Shoot Extract, Yellow 10, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Blue 1, Vitis Vinifera (Grape Seed) Extract, Acid Red 33

200ml RRP $4.89 at major supermarkets, Priceline and various pharmacies.

A sample of the above product was provided for consideration.

Bloom Lip Balms with a Boost

Have you seen Bloom's latest creativity boost?

Yep they've outdone themselves by teaming up with tutty fruity Boost Juice and come up with 6 fabulous naturally fruity flavoured lip balms that is good enough to eat (but don't go licking your lips too much with it on - you'll dry them out).

With flavours such as Strawberry Squeeze, Mango Tango, Banana Buzz, Watermelon Crush, Berry Bang and Tropical storm, you'll want to collect them all as not only are they delectable, they are very moisturising and will provide hours of relief from chappness with nourishing ingredients like beeswax, jojoba seed oil  and vitamin E.

Get them for a steal in the month of July with a 2 for $10 deal to help you kick-start your collection today!

RRP A$6.95 at Myer and David Jones, Bloom's  flagship Chapel St store (South Yarra, VIC) and selected Boost Juice outlets.
Samples of the above product were sent for consideration.