The winners of MakeUp in LosAngeles’ Innovation and Trends (IT) Awards were revealed during a special ceremony held on the opening day of the beauty trade show, March 4, 2026.
The jury [1] selected the winners among 94 entries, submitted by 58 exhibitors, across seven categories: Contract Manufacturing; Packaging; Full Service; Ready to Market; Accessories; and Ingredients.
The Contract Manufacturing / Private Label / OEM / ODM Award went to Itobe Group’s Born to Slide Lipgel, which was praised by the jury for its “unique and highly aesthetic appearance, even application, outstanding technical level.” Based on a new, robust wax-free technology, this lipstick delivers lightweight feel, effortless glide and optimal comfort. Its formula enhances the performance of coated pigments through a pre-blend of ester gelling agents combined with natural esters derived from the recycling of olive by-products.
In the Packaging category, FusionPKG’s Pure Needle Nose Tube stood out of 25 submissions. Featuring a PE one-way valve derived from FusionPKG’s air-less-pump technology, this tube offers “unrivaled airtightness” compared to standard tubes. The collapsing valve body enhances stability and protects sensitive, active rich formulas while ensuring extreme precision.
Ancorotti’s Blush Crush scooped the Full-Service Award. Described as a “multiuse blush stick” the product features a silky, ultralightweight texture that blends easily and delivers buildable color on cheeks, lips, and eyes for a natural finish. The formula includes natural ingredients such as Murumuru butter and mineral powders. It is free from microplastics, alcohol, PEGs, mineral oils, and talc.
The new Ready-To-Market Award went to Trendcolor’s Airy Balm, a water-based lip balm embodying key market trends. Its airy consistency, soft lightweight texture, and sheer matte color deliver a refreshing, tingling sensation that stimulates microcirculation for a plumping effect. It leaves a comfortable film on the lips with a blurring effect that smooths fine lines.
There were two winners in the Accessories category. French brush maker Raphael scooped an award for French Kiss, a dual-ended lip brush featuring a Fill + Blur concept, crafted in solid brass with premium synthetic fibers. Its chic, portable format enables one-step lip filling and blending for a trendy “just bitten” effect. Another award was remitted to U.S.-headquartered company Anisa for ProPress, a complexion brush with an iron-shaped head composed of fibers with varying densities to cover large areas, and a tapered tip for micro-controlled application. Its patented design enhances foundation performance.
Two companies also scooped an award in the Ingredients category. Activen’s XEP-716 Miniprotein was honored for its ability to redefine facial skin architecture by precisely modulating the TGFβ receptor. This mini-protein helps lifting, sculpting, and rejuvenating the skin. This innovative, supports performance while preserving biodiversity.
The other winner is Cosmecca Korea’s PDRN Bubble Cream, described as “a foaming serum and sheet-free mask in one.” The dense cream-and-bubble formula delivers long-lasting hydration and strengthens the skin’s hydrolipidic balance. With low-molecular-weight polymers and a specialized emulsifier, it forms a stabilizing film compatible with mesh pumps, ensuring precise diffusion of the PDRN essence.
