It's a wrap. The 19th edition of Cosmoprof North America welcomed 32,000 attendees from around the globe to connect with over 1,100 exhibiting brands and suppliers at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
One of the highlights of this year's show was the GlossPitch competition, a collaboration between GlossWire and Cosmoprof North America. More than 70 companies pitched to a panel of beauty industry leaders and celebrity judges. Brands shared the inspiration that led to the launch of their companies, stories about the challenges and successes they have faced, how these unprecedented times have impacted their businesses, and how they would use the money.
The winner of $5,000 in grant funding was halal beauty brand 786 Cosmetics, founded by Ibrahim Ali and his wife Iqra Isphahani for women of Muslim communities. The halal cosmetics market is projected to reach $80 million by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 13.8% from 2022 to 2028. 786 Cosmetics fills a gap in the industry, providing a range of halal, or Islamically permissible, beauty products, including vegan, cruelty-free, and breathable nail polish. The globally recognized brand is sold in 10+ countries, reaching customers worldwide.
"The consumer is craving a continued push toward solutions in clean beauty, and they want vegan and cruelty-free nail care, so it is a category we are heavily watching and supporting," stated Kimberly Carney, GlossWire founder and CEO. "We have seen a serious uptick in search for highly effective products without animal-derived ingredients. 786 Cosmetics halal nail polishes are certified by PETA and come in a range of colors and sets that our GlossWire consumer desires."
The second-place winner, earning a $2,000 grant, was Joy of Beauty, a bodycare brand created to serve the needs of diabetics and those in health-sensitive communities. Third place was a tie between Lebanese artisanal soap brand Le Joyau d'Olive and Bea's Bayou Skincare, a collection of products designed for people with highly sensitive scalps. Each third-place company will receive $1,000 in grant money. Honorable mentions in the pitch competition were Freedom Deodorant and Power Twist.
GlossWire is a two-sided discovery and shopping marketplace providing its portfolio of 200+ brands the ability to engage in new and innovative ways by fusing data analytics with discoverability on a global platform. For the consumer, GlossWire improves product discovery and awareness by leveraging technology to personalize the customer experience through social tools, such as swiping, likes, and sharing, to engage the consumer and build community.
