Every year, companies of the beauty industry work hard to introduce new and innovative products to the market. Many products claim to be “breakthrough” products which most of us eagerly go purchase, use, and then are disappointed. Not everything was a pointless purchase. Check out this year’s breakthrough products of the year; Winners of the WWD Beauty Biz Awards 2008.

COSMETICS: It isn’t easy finding great mascara; darker, thicker, long lashes.  Women search long and hard for that magical mascara which would transform their lashes into those ridiculously, un-naturally gorgeous lashes the women on the ads have. This year, Givenchy’s Phenomen’eyes Mascara is just that magical mascara we have been searching for. This sphere-topped mascara looks like nothing we want to place remotely close to our eyes, yet “the ergonomic brush allows the mascara to grab the very roots of the lashes and, by coating this critical area, the mascara mimics the same effects as eyeliner: Eyes appear fresher, enhanced and more awake”, explained Nicolas Degennes, Givenchy’s creative director of makeup.  Think the wand is revolutionary, the formula isn’t bad either; “the fluid waxes for maximum playtime and molding polymers to keep lashes in place once the desired amount has been applied. “ Launched in August exclusively at Sepohora’s nationwide, Phenomen’Eyes sold out in a month and is still a top seller in the U.S. and France.

FRAGRANCE:  Many famous people insist they can create great perfumes. I don’t know about everyone else, but I am picky about what scent I want to be spritzed with. I happened to really like Gwen Stefani’s LAMB perfume and thought the bottle design was pretty darn cool too. So Gwen joined the other surprise perfume connoisseurs in creating a successful and actually nice scent.  That’s not what got her noticed this year. Gwen Stefani created five different scents and five different doll s which many companies thought was insane. Not Coty; they launched Gwen’s Harajuku Lovers in September and are expected to hit $30 million globally in the first year sales. Gwen’s scents are based on herself and her four real-life backup singers; Love, Angel, Music and Baby.  Since each of them is so different, The Harajuku Lovers scents allow everyone to find the scent that best suits them.

SKIN CARE: Many of us were intrigued by at home high tech devices that would dramatically help our skin. Then again, how many of these actually worked. Well this wasn’t the case with TRIS Laser. It is the first  laser hair remover approved for direct to consumer sale by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The device launched in Bergdorf Goodman stores, Studio at Fred Segal, select Bliss spas and dermatologist offices earlier this year. For a mere $995, you save numerous trips to the spa or the dermatologist office, and you remove unwanted hair.

HAIR: Good hair care is difficult to find. So with the whole organic craze going on, it is only natural for our hair to participate in the indulgence of organic products. Horst Rechelbacher, creator of Aveda, launched a line of hair care products baring the USDA Organic seal; Intelligent Nutrients.  All items consist of a 100% certified organic ingredients; proprietary seed oil complex, described as anti-aging, antioxidant blend of black cumin, pumpkin, red grape, raspberry and cranberry seed oils. This hair care line is almost pure enough to drink. The product contains many ingredients sourced directly from Rechelbacher’s 600 acre farm in Wisconsin.  Intelligent Nutrients is available at ABC Carpet & Home, Studio at Fred Segal, Barney’s New York and Pure Beauty.

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