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The Shape of Beauty Awards: the very best good-for-you products on the market, chosen by Shape readers and beauty experts. Products were judged on overall performance and the science behind the ingredients, as well as each product's smell, feel, look and effect. Overall, 22 brands participated with 170 products in 20 categories.

Every year, countless new beauty products hit the market. Some are destined to become classics; others will fade quickly into oblivion. It can be tough to sort through what's worthwhile and what's not even worth trying. So again this year, for the 3rd time, Shape joined forces with their readers to pick the best of the bunch.

To select their winners, 130 readers voted via mailed surveys. Then, Shape's own editors, chief editor of Latvia's largest women's magazine SANTA selected their favorites and, finally, our beauty advisory Agnese Zeltina (a celebrity - nationwide known actress) weighed in.

Products were assessed in three groups: selective cosmetics, mass-market cosmetics , organic cosmetics.

In all, 203 companies and organisations from 22 countries registered to compete for the DME award, marking this as a European-wide event. This was the second award ceremony, and the applicants competed in 7 categories: best management of design in a large company, a medium-sized company, a small company, a micro company, a public or non-profit organisation; best management of a first-time design project, and best implementation of a design strategy for sustainability.

Amidst the candidates chosen by the jury were world-famous brands such as Virgin Atlantic, TNT post, KTM power Sports, Roca, Eva Danmark, Senz Umbrellas, EDF, Madara Cosmetics, Gemeente Amsterdam, RATP, and SoBor.

The University of Wales Institute Cardiff held the DME award ceremony on October 13th, 2008.

"This award is an international recognition of the Latvian manufacturers' ability to create and sell strong and competitive goods world-wide, which are remarkable in both the fields of technological solutions and design. Receiving the award has motivated us to keep striving to come up with new design, marketing, and technological ideas, while continuing to provide consumers with cosmetics products that have a deeper design and style value," says Lotte Tisenkopfa, director of MÁDARA Cosmetics Ltd.

Ms. Marija Popovic, representative of the Unit Innovation Policy Development at the European Commission, stated: "We fully support the aim of the award in raising awareness and rewarding the value of design management for the European economy. It links design and creativity with business and innovation strategies. Implementing design management at a strategic level can be a key driver for business success and guarantee a stronger competitive position for Europe in the future."