For the first time, an Australian beauty company has won one of the world's most prestigious cosmetic awards at a global industry ceremony in New York.
Queensland-based Roccoco Botanicals won a Cosmetics & Toiletries (C&T) Allē Award (previously known as the R&D awards) for its unique 7 in 1 Ruby Crystal Cleanser.
The Ruby Crystal Cleanser, which reduces inflammation, is anti-inflammatory and collagen producing, was among 7 finalists from around the world in the Indie category. Previous winners include global beauty powerhouse brands Yves Saint Laurent Beauté, L'Oréal and Shiseido.
"It's incredible news. I'm pinching myself," says Jacine Greenwood, the founding Chief Cosmetic Chemist and CEO of Roccoco Botanicals from New York where she was presented with the award.
"We've come a long way since launching from my kitchen bench in Queensland in 2013. Roccoco Botanicals is Australia's fastest growing beauty brand – and now we've been named an international Allē award winner. I am a very proud to be bringing this award home to Australia."
"It's especially gratifying and humbling to be named the winner by a judging panel which includes scientists from industry royalty like Chanel and Estee Lauder," adds Jacine. "We won the award because they judged Ruby Crystal as the most innovative product of its class, and they loved the sustainability of it."
The Ruby Crystal Cleanser contains active ingredients specifically selected by Jacine Greenwood such as Ethyl Linoleate, Jojoba Oil, Rose Absolute and Passionfruit Seed Oil.
"Skin is my passion," says Jacine. "I've spent my life finding ways to heal, nurture and maintain acne-prone and sensitive skin so to be named as a global winner is an acknowledgment of my life's mission and work."
"I had cystic acne as a teenager all over my back and face. After getting told a different story from every skin specialist that I went to, I decided to start studying skin myself. For 17 years I didn't watch TV; I didn't read books; I just read journal studies. I questioned, researched and studied skin and what ingredients, botanicals and actives would work best with acne-prone and sensitive skins."
The announcement in New York cements Roccoco Botanicals' status as Australia's fastest growing beauty company.
"At Roccoco Botanicals, our mission is to support and repair the skin barrier particularly for the more than 50% of women who suffer from acne and others who contend with skin conditions such as pigmentation, rosacea, eczema, psoriasis, molluscum contagiosum and atopic dermatitis," says Jacine. "There's an epidemic of women suffering from skin problems, and we exist to help them."
While the Roccoco Botanicals team in Queensland is celebrating the Ruby Crystal Cleanser's win on the international stage, its founder hopes to use the spotlight to help women everywhere.
"We are especially delighted to know more women who suffer from acne-prone and sensitive skin might now hear about our range of products with active ingredients that are designed to help them and have proven results," says Jacine.
The Allē award adds to Roccoco Botanicals' list of accolades. It was named among the 100 fastest growing companies by the Australian Financial Review (2021); recipient of Financial Times Asia Pacific High Growth company award (2022) and Dayspa's Professionals Choice Award (2020).
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