The aim of the Awards, run by the team behind skin care site Skins Matter, is to recognise and encourage producers of cosmetics suitable for those who want or need to avoid a number of commonly used ingredients - especially those with skin allergies or sensitivities, who struggle to find products they don't react to.
"We feel the FreeFrom Skincare Awards are important because many other awards are based on voting, which merely rewards more widely distributed or popular brands with generous marketing budgets,” says Alex Gazzola, co-founder of the awards.
"Ours are based on rigorous month-long testing and independent week-long judging panels, and so recognise genuine strong performers - be they large brands, or tiny one-woman formulators operating from a shed in the garden!” he tells CosmteicsDesign-Europe.com.
2016 event
The 2016 awards will host 13 categories, including Family Skincare, Make Up, and a special ‘Free From Achievement’ award; while other categories include Men’s Grooming, Problem Skin, Hard Soaps, and Hair Care.
The Awards seek out products with strong natural qualities, formulated for skin health, or, as mentioned, which are suitable for people with skin or other sensitivities and allergies.
The organisers say they reward beneficial ingredients, the absence of undesirable ingredients, and clear, accurate labelling – as well as strong performance.
The 2016 Awards open for entries on 1st February, and close on 20th March, before month-long testing of all entered products takes place until April.
The final panel judging sessions are in May, with the presentations to the winners taking place at the Love Natural Love Organic Show at Olympia on 8th July.
The Awards will be run in association with partners, The Ultimate Natural Beauty Bible and The Love Natural Love Organic Show. Joining them this year is also Formula Botanica, an organic cosmetic science school.
Joining the Awards team as Co-ordinator this year is Nicola Nolan, who has over 8 years’ experience in health and beauty, and is a well-known figure in the organic industry, working with the Soil Association, and many organic brands.
Details of categories, rules, entry criteria, sponsorship, publicity and previous years’ winners can be found here.