Beauty Blooms in Manhattan: The 2026 Gurus Beauty Awards Celebrate Excellence, Innovation, and Influence

The beauty industry’s brightest stars gathered in spectacular fashion for the second annual Gurus Beauty Awards, held at the stunning Docks Off Fifth in Manhattan. Co-hosted by wellness expert Hilaria Baldwin and Gurus Magazine Publisher, Founder, and Editor-in-Chief Derek Warburton, the evening was a glamorous celebration of innovation, artistry, and achievement across the beauty industry.

From the moment guests arrived, they were transported into an enchanting botanical garden. A breathtaking wall-to-wall floral installation cascaded along the grand staircase entrance, setting the tone for an evening where beauty flourished in every detail. Inside, towering lifelike floral trees stretched toward the ceiling, transforming the venue into a whimsical garden oasis in the heart of Manhattan.

Guests were immediately drawn to the signature Gurus floral wall and vibrant orange and fuchsia step-and-repeat, where attendees gathered for photographs, interviews, and social moments throughout the evening. The immersive garden-inspired aesthetic continued seamlessly throughout the venue. Tables were elegantly adorned with rose-shaped floral napkins, while gentlemen received custom Gurus logo pocket squares as a stylish nod to the evening’s theme. A dedicated garden room provided the perfect backdrop for award recipients to commemorate their achievements with professional photographs following the ceremony.

The culinary experience proved equally memorable. Guests were welcomed with beautifully presented appetizers waiting at their tables, including shrimp tempura, salmon sliders, sushi, and a refreshing watermelon, feta, and arugula salad. The celebration continued with a family-style dinner featuring chicken parmesan over linguini, tender racks of lamb, and glazed salmon served alongside rice and asparagus. To conclude the evening on a sweet note, an extravagant assortment of desserts was presented atop a dazzling golden carousel, delighting guests with both its presentation and indulgent offerings.

The evening honored an exceptional group of beauty innovators, visionary brands, and industry leaders whose work continues to shape the future of beauty and wellness.

As part of the evening’s awards presentation, the following honors were celebrated:

Hilaria Baldwin and Derek Warburton welcomed guests to the 2026 Gurus Beauty Awards, opening the evening with a celebration of excellence in beauty, wellness, innovation, and influence.

Kara Francis (Relationship Expert) and Lauren Falcione (Founder, The Blonde Italian) presented the Best in Skin award to Sunrider International for Oi-Lin® Deep Moisture Lotion, with Michele Hojsack, Senior Manager of Training & Development, accepting on behalf of the brand.

Nicole Miller (Fashion Designer) presented Best Beauty Accessories to Blissy, with Vjosa Pacuku, Celebrity Makeup Artist and Beauty Influencer, accepting on behalf of the brand.

Candace Bushnell (Author and Creator of Sex and the City) presented Celebrity Hairstylist of the Year toEliut Rivera, founder of ELIUT Salon, who accepted the award.

Sutton Stracke (The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills) presented Legacy Beauty Brand to FACE STOCKHOLM, with Martina Arfwidson, CEO & Co-Founder, accepting on behalf of the company.

Margaret Josephs (The Real Housewives of New Jersey) presented Best in Hair Care to British M Matcha Shampoo, with Robyn Newmark, Hollywood Beauty Guru and Editor-in-Chief of Beauty Guru Magazine, accepting on behalf of British M.

The star-studded guest list reflected the event’s growing influence across beauty, entertainment, fashion, and wellness. Among those in attendance were renowned fertility specialist Dr. David Smotrich of La Jolla IVF and his wife, socialite Miriam Smotrich; Sutton Stracke of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills; celebrated fashion designer Nicole Miller; internationally acclaimed designer Yigal Azrouël; author and cultural icon Candace Bushnell; Margaret Josephs of The Real Housewives of New Jersey; renowned hair stylist Eliut Rivera of ELIUT Salon; fashion expert and television personality Nolé Marin; ZTA Entertainment’s Stephanie Winston Wolkoff and David Wolkoff; Carmen Baldwin, daughter of host Hilaria Baldwin; and the cast of The Trouble with Billy, including William McNamara, Claudia Charriez, and Randall Batinkoff, who attended with his wife, Hilary Batinkoff. Additional guests included actor Nick Barrotta, Lauren Falcione of The Blonde Italian, Bill Wiedemann of Lumara Systems, relationship expert Kara Francis, and Vanessa Coppes, CEO of Bella Media.

As the evening came to a close, one thing was abundantly clear: the Gurus Beauty Awards has quickly become one of the most anticipated celebrations of beauty, innovation, and influence. More than an awards ceremony, the event serves as a gathering of visionaries, creators, entrepreneurs, and tastemakers who continue to shape the future of beauty and wellness.

A special thank you to Anna Rothschild PR and IE Group co-founder Jeff Krauss for their partnership in bringing the Gurus Beauty Awards to life. Additional thanks to William Safkow of William NYC Flowers for the breathtaking floral installations that transformed the venue into a lush botanical garden, and to the dedicated team at Docks Off Fifth for their outstanding hospitality and impeccable service throughout the evening.

The celebration would not have been possible without the incredible Gurus Media team, including Robyn Newmark, Ashley Foster-Kane, Marisa Hebert, Laura Pucker, Jennie Salmorin, and Faye Molina, whose collective creativity, dedication, and tireless work helped bring every detail of the evening to life.

The 2026 Gurus Beauty Awards proved that when beauty, creativity, and passion come together, something truly extraordinary blossoms.