Set against a stunning backdrop of the Sandton skyline, the 2016 Pharmaceutical & Cosmetic Review/Symrise New Product Competition (NPC) awards was a night to remember. This was particularly true for the winning brand, Placecol, which took the top prize for its Illuminé skin care range.
This platinum skin care range targeted at consumers aged 40 and over was named the overall winner in this year’s competition. This means a representative from Placecol will be jetting off to London next year to attend in-cosmetics Global. This is the leading trade event for the personal care and cosmetics industry. In-cosmetics Global 2017 will be taking place at ExCeL, London from 4 to 6 April.
This year’s top brands
The 2016 NPC awards took place on 13 October at The Venue Green Park in Sandton, Johannesburg. The results of the competition were as follows:
Overall winners
Overall winner: Placecol Illuminé
First runner up: Intense Retinol Serum by Optiphi
Second runner up: Elizabeth Arden Superstart Skin Renewal Booster
Individual Awards
Overall winner: Intense Retinol Serum by Optiphi
First runner up: Elizabeth Arden Superstart Skin Renewal Booster
Second runner up: Elizabeth Arden Grand Entrance Mascara
Range Awards
Overall winner: Placecol Illuminé
First runner up: dr.dermal skin care range
Second runner up: Esse Plus by Esse Organic Skincare
Packaging Award
Woolworths African Ingredients
Editor’s Choice Award
dr.dermal skin care range
The Sponsor
The competition is sponsored by Symrise, a global supplier of fragrances and flavourings (F&F), cosmetic active ingredients and raw materials as well as functional ingredients. With a market share of 12 percent in 2015, Symrise is one of the world’s top three suppliers in the F&F market. Approximately 30 000 of its products are primarily produced from natural raw materials including vanilla, citrus, blossoms or plant materials. Its flavours, substances and perfume oils usually form the central functional components of the end products produced by its customers.
The company has two divisions: Flavour & Nutrition and Scent & Care. Scent & Care is subdivided into three divisions: fragrances, cosmetic ingredients and aroma molecules. The departments produce and sell fragrances, cosmetic ingredients, aroma molecules and mint aromas. These are used in the manufacture of perfumes, personal care and cosmetic products, cleaning products and detergents, home fragrances and oral care products.
The competition
Now in its ninth year, the NPC aims to give local and international brands that are supplied on the South African market, an opportunity to showcase their innovative new products.
The judging panel for the 2016 competition included formulation experts John Knowlton and Wayne van Wyk; technical and regulatory specialist, Jill Gardiner; L’Oréal South Africa’s scientific and regulatory affairs advisor for sub-Saharan Africa, Percy Sibanda; packaging gurus Clive Glover and Bill Marshall, and Gita Forbes, who is a marketing specialist and industry consultant.
The Pharmaceutical & Cosmetic Review team is thankful for the input of all of the judges. Together they are dedicated to maintaining the esteemed standards of the New Product Competition.
