To celebrate their 15th annual Best of Beauty issue, Allure’s beauty team gathered with industry insiders and guests in New York City on September 14 to recognize 236 winning products in 17 categories.

“Our esteemed seal is the strongest endorsement in the beauty industry today,” said Agnes Chapski, vice president and publisher of
Allure. “We hired Interbrand to determine the incremental value of the seal, and today, your Best of Beauty win means more than ever. The seal now creates a sales uplift of nine percent.”

For months, Allure staffers transformed their bathrooms into testing labs filled to the brim with beauty products in order to bring their readers the best of the best. They consulted cosmetic chemists, dermatologists, and hair and makeup artists to help separate the standouts from the substandard—the products that really solve problems, save money, or just make life easier.

“I feel incredibly lucky and deeply grateful, as the Best of Beauty Awards started as just a story in the magazine—we used to hand deliver flowers to each of the winners—and now it is a phenomenon,” said Linda Wells, editor in chief of Allure. “We owe our good luck to the women who have come to love the awards, and the seal…the seal is a badge of honor for all of us.”

Allure’s Agnes Chapski and Linda Wells with Bob Sauerberg of Condé Nast.

Josie Maran Cosmetics’ Josie Maran
with Mike Indursky of Bliss.

Linda Wells and Agnes Chapski with
Leslie Blodgett of Bare Escentuals (c.).

Allure’s Michelle Thorpe with Maria Dempsey of Clarins.

P&G’s Kelly Vanasse and Brent Miller
with Christina Kang Krolopp of Allure (c.).