Empire Beauty Students Pick the Industry's Best

December 07, 2011 by Makeup Artist

When you spend countless hours navigating the beauty minefield of products, treatments and tools, you get a good feel for what works and what doesn't pretty quickly

Maybelline Great Lash Mascara was voted "Best Drugstore Must-Have." Courtesy Photo

Just ask the nearly 1,500 Empire Beauty students in training, who this year voted on their top picks for the beauty school's annual Future Pros Style Awards.

Nick Arrojo was voted best hair pro, while the makeup title went to celebrity skin perfecter Laura Mercier.

Beauty on a budget is a must when you're a student, and the group voted Maybelline's Great Lash Mascara as the best drugstore must-have, with the super multi-functional Q-Tips coming in as runner-up.

The students also passed up top retailers like Sephora and the drugstore in favor of their local beauty supply store, where deals are served up daily.

You also won't find these hair students without their CHI tools, and Goldwell beat out close runner-up Redken for best shampoo and conditioner brand.

Not surpsingly, the makeup artist-loved brand M.A.C. stole best overall cosmetics brand, but Maybelline captured best mascara brand and Olay topped the students' skincare list.

OPI triumphed in a close call with CND for best nail care line, though we won't be surprised if the recent Shellac craze drives CND to the top spot next year.

Below is the full list of winners, as selected by Empire Beauty students.

Future Pros Style Awards

Best Hair Pro: Nick Arrojo
Runner Up: Oscar Blandi

Best Makeup Pro: Laura Mercier
Runner Up: Carmindy

Best Curl Brand: LaCoupe
Runner Up: Alterna

Best Drugstore Makeup Must-Have: Maybelline Great Lash Mascara
Runner Up: Q-Tips

Best Hair Tool Brand: CHI
Runner Up: Conair

Best Shampoo & Conditioner Brand: Goldwell
Runner Up: Redken

Best Place to Shop for Beauty Products: Local Beauty Supply Store
Runner Up: Sephora

Best Nail Care Line: OPI
Runner Up: CND (Creative Nail Design)

Best Straightening Brand (non-chemical): John Frieda
Runner Up: Fekkai

Best Concealer Brand: M.A.C. Cosmetics
Runner Up: Physicians Formula

Best Styling Brand: Goldwell
Runner Up: Redken

Best Skincare Company: Olay
Runner Up: Repêchage

Best Mascara Brand: Maybelline
Runner Up: M.A.C.

Best Overall Cosmetics Brand: M.A.C.
Runner Up: Maybelline

Best Overall Hair Care Line: Goldwell
Runner Up: Redken

Best Beauty Device: Neutrogena Wave Power Cleanser
Runner Up: Zeno Acne Clearing Device