The 2009 beauty products (and people) you have to know

(All Rights Reserved.)

Women's Wear Daily celebrated "2009's most inventive products and cutting-edge marketing techniques" at its annual Beauty Biz Awards in December.

Beauty buyer Wendy Liebmann, who inaugurated the event, warned in her speech that, even though the crisis seemed to be nearing its end, 80 percent of women say they would still only buy beauty products that they really need next year.

However, despite (or maybe thanks to) the recession in 2009, the past year yielded a broad range of innovative products, including YouTube beauty blogger Lauren Luke's first range for Sephora.

Breakthrough Product of the Year, Prestige
fragrance: Maison Francis Kurkdjian
hair: No Frizz by Living Proof
skin: Perricone MD Cold Plasma
color cosmetics: Clinique Even Better Makeup SPF 15

Breakthrough Product of the Year, Mass
fragrance: Coty Beauty for Faith Hill and Tim McGraw
hair: Nexxus Salon Hair Care Dualiste
skin: Olay Professional Pro-X
color cosmetics: Cover Girl & Olay Simply Ageless

Newcomer of the Year
person: Lauren Luke
brand: Bakel

Most Innovative Ad Campaign
prestige: Bare Escentuals Matte
mass: Axe The Fixers

Most Innovative Marketer of the Year, Prestige
person: Francois Nars of Nars Cosmetics
company: Parlux Fragrances Inc.

Most Innovative Marketer of the Year, Mass
person: Petra Strand of Pixi
company: Maybelline New York

Retailer of the Year
department: Bloomingdale's
mass: Duane Reade
specialty: Sephora

Best Executed Launch Strategy, Prestige
fragrance: Coty Prestige for Lola by Marc Jacobs
hair: Bumble and bumble Styling Bar at Bloomingdale's
skin: Lancôme Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate
color cosmetics: MAC Hello Kitty Collection

Best Executed Launch Strategy, Mass
fragrance: Demeter Fragrance Library
hair: Aveeno Nourish+ Hair Care
skin: Garnier Nutritioniste
color cosmetics: Hard Candy