By now, we’re all aware that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a transformational impact on ecommerce.

According to eMarketer, ecommerce sales have surged at a completely unprecedented rate – not just where I’m based in the UK, but globally everywhere.

If anything, these figures may downplay the overall impact. According to the US Census Bureau, for example, the first three quarters of 2020 saw a 32% increase in sales compared with the same period in 2019.

Regardless, those numbers are in line with what we saw across our own customer base at PowerReviews. At the start of the pandemic, between February and May 2020, purchase volumes among our customer set increased 3x.

Even though purchase volumes have now stabilized, they’re still consistently 40% to 70% higher than they were pre-pandemic.

But the pandemic’s impact on ecommerce isn’t limited to sales growth. COVID-19 has radically changed people’s reliance on ecommerce, what ecommerce looks like, and how they make purchasing decisions online.

Anecdotally, we have heard from a number of the brands we work with how COVID-19 has accelerated their ecommerce strategy at an unprecedented rate. We hear time and time again how they have done work previously planned to take five years in a matter of months.

At PowerReviews, we have been exploring the effect of COVID-19 on reviews monthly in our snapshot series (check out our Insights section for our back catalog). Almost a year in, we wanted to pause to summarize our findings.

Do ratings and reviews matter more or less in a global pandemic? Do they have a stronger impact on conversions than before? Here’s what we found.

Review interaction up 50% from pre-pandemic levels

Review interaction includes actions like searching, filtering, and clicking to expand and read an entire review.

Based on our data, people are engaging with reviews more than ever before. In the early months of the pandemic, review interaction was up 89% compared with pre-pandemic levels:

Once people settled into their “new normal,” these numbers lowered somewhat. Still, the appetite for reviews remained healthy, with review interaction eventually stabilizing at a level 50% higher than pre-pandemic times.

Reviews build confidence in uncertain times

The pandemic upended several industries. Product categories like food and home decor have soared, while travel and hospitality have suffered.

But, as the eCommerce data tells us, it’s not that consumers stopped shopping. Rather, they just shifted their spend.

For example, in our 2021 survey of over 10,000 beauty shoppers, we’ve found 54% of beauty shoppers wear less makeup now, but just as many have shifted their focus to skincare.

The pandemic also strained supply chains, leaving many items out of stock. As a result, especially at the beginning of the pandemic, many shoppers found themselves forced to try new brands. 

With so many shoppers shifting their spend (both online and to new sectors), many of them are purchasing products for the first time. They could be trying something completely new, or buying something they previously would have purchased in store (like apparel or cosmetics).

Reviews are critical to building their confidence during this decision. It’s no surprise, then, that 41% of beauty shoppers say they rely on ratings now more than they did before the start of the global health crisis. 

When in-store shopping is either unavailable or feels unsafe, shoppers need alternatives for validating that a product looks and functions as a brand claims it does.

Reviews describe functionality, but nothing beats a photo when it comes to appearance. It’s essential to collect visual content from your shoppers, and all the more so in a pandemic.

Over a third of beauty shoppers say they are now more reliant on user-submitted visual content than they were prior to COVID-19. 

Juvia’s Place displays product photos next to user-submitted content. Shoppers can see how various shades of eyeshadow look on other customers who look like them.

Reviews have 25% more influence on conversions

Clearly, people are finding reviews more helpful than before. But is all that review consumption translating to more sales? Good news: the data suggests yes. A year ago, around 4.25% of shoppers who interacted with review content would go on to purchase an item.

In the first months of the pandemic, that percentage surged to rates between 6.45% to 6.86% — more than 2 percentage points above typical conversion rates.

As people settled into the new normal, that number stabilized to 5.3%. Still, that’s a full percentage point higher than it was in 2019. In other words, people who interact with reviews are 25% more likely to convert today than they were pre-pandemic.  

That jump in conversion rates is significant. But what about impact during the Holidays?

Our research shows that reviews are even more influential historically during this period.

The conversion rate actually peaked at about the same level year-on-year. During the 2020 Holiday season, the influence of reviews jumped to a massive 7.41%:

The bottom line? Not only have shopping volumes increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, so has the proportion of those purchases being impacted by UGC. Imagine what that can do for your conversion rates. 

Reviews may be impacted by BOPIS/Click and Collect

There’s no doubt that ecommerce growth has skyrocketed thanks to COVID-19, but what we think of as ecommerce has also grown. 

For some retailers, as many as 50% of their online orders were picked up via Buy Online, Pickup In Store (BOPIS) at a local store. With BOPIS and curbside pickup, shoppers have a different set of expectations than they do with a traditional online order. They expect that:

  • It will be easy and intuitive for them to complete their purchase.
  • The retailer will provide clear communication about when their order is ready and where they can pick it up.
  • The actual pickup process will be smooth, and was worth picking up in person vs. having delivered to their home.

That’s a lot — both for brands to live up to, and for shoppers to keep in mind when they review their purchase.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, shoppers may have focused solely on the product they received, and whether it arrived on time. Now, they’re thinking about your product, their personal safety when they shop in-store, and any inconveniences they encountered when they arrived for their curbside pickup. These new in-store experiences present another opportunity for brands to either delight or disappoint them. 

Do what you can to ensure the comments shoppers leave in their review reflect a positive experience, and any in-store photos they upload look clean. Download the Guide: Reinventing the Store Experience.

Reviews are up to 20% shorter

Here’s one data point that surprised us. In the first few months of the pandemic, review length plummeted by 24%. It eventually stabilized, but reviews are still about 15% to 20% shorter than they were pre-pandemic.

We measure review length by character count, so a 20% drop only equates to a handful of words. Shorter reviews still hold a ton of value, as our conversion data highlights.

However, our data also tells us that longer reviews tend to be voted “more helpful” by other shoppers. Reviews that are 80-100 characters long receive 2.5 helpful votes on average, while a review of 500+ characters receives more than double that number, or 5.3 helpful votes. 

Considering that reviews exist to help consumers make purchase decisions, the more helpful a review is, the more likely it is to drive someone to convert. 

As for why reviews are shorter, we can only speculate. Perhaps, with all the online shopping they’re doing, people may simply have less time to dedicate to each of their reviews. Or maybe they just don’t know what to write. 

Regardless, this presents an opportunity for brands to find ways to encourage customers to leave longer reviews. The best way to do that? Make it easier for them. 

Take Action: 5 Ways to Make the Most of UGC In a Pandemic

With more shoppers turning to eCommerce, reviews have become even more important. Here’s what you can do to generate more reviews and purchases this year.

1. Revamp your review form so it’s easy to complete and generates the most helpful information for shoppers.

Provide a series of prompts for customers to quickly answer before they get to the open-ended commentary. Let them select pros and cons, suggest best uses for a product, and provide demographic information that helps other shoppers identify with them. Not only do these questions help shoppers provide more info, but it also primes them to leave more helpful information when it comes time for them to write the actual review. 

Here’s an example from Room & Board:

2. Encourage people to leave longer, more helpful reviews with a progress bar. 

At PowerReviews, we call this the review meter. As shoppers type their review, a little green bar grows at the bottom, with explainer text that gently reminds them to keep writing their review. Once they hit a minimum character count, it lights up and tells them to “Keep it up,” reinforcing positive behavior.

3. Make it easier for shoppers to consume your review content.

Display ratings and review content both online and in-store. Online, feature reviews prominently on your product pages, and share positive customer feedback on social media. In-store, display QR codes or print them on your product packaging with links that take users directly to your online reviews.

4. Complement reviews with visual content from verified purchasers. 

Visual content builds trust. It helps customers visualize using your product, and imagine the size, scale and basically enables them to envisage how they would use it. They’re especially important for personal products like health and beauty. So, display images from real customers on your in-store displays, social media, and product pages.

5. Ask for reviews. 

Seriously. Often, all you have to do to get a review is just ask. 70% of people are willing to write a review if asked. On average, sales double when a product goes from having 0 reviews to just 1 review. Frame feedback as easy and quick (people are strapped for time), but hugely valuable to you. Here’s an example from Vistaprint:

Reviews have always mattered, but they matter even more in the age of COVID-19. Don’t wait to seize the moment. Check out our Complete Guide to Ratings and Reviews for 2021, and develop a growth-busting UGC strategy for this year.

Virginia Muller

Virginia Muller is a Senior Client Success Manager at PowerReviews, where she has been helping her clients reach their UGC goals for the last 5 years. She's enjoying living in the UK to support our EMEA market and she is very much looking forward to the pubs opening back up (soon please!)

Almost 9 in 10 shoppers say they spend more or the same on beauty products online than before pandemic; 2 in 5 more likely to buy beauty products for the first time than pre-Covid; ratings and reviews critical to buying decisions

FEBRUARY 17, 2021—CHICAGO—An overwhelming majority of US beauty consumers say they are now spending more online than before the pandemic. And they are also far more open to buying products they have not used before than pre-Covid.

This is just two of the key insights from the latest consumer survey from PowerReviews, a leading provider of ratings and reviews and User-Generated Content solutions. 

User-generated content has inevitably therefore become more critical to buying decisions: 99% say they always or sometimes read ratings and reviews when shopping online.

But social and political concerns are also having significant influence, with 76% focusing on buying products that are sustainably made and 50% actively seeking out products made by Black-owned beauty brands.

The PowerReviews Changing Face of the Beauty Shopper Study draws on survey responses from more than 10,000 active beauty consumers across the country, surveyed in January 2021. Key findings include:

  • Covid has significantly impacted shopping habits
    • 41% say they spend less overall on beauty products than before Covid; 21% say they spend more and 38% say they spend the same
    • Likelihood to spend more on beauty products increases in line with household income (24% of those with a household income of more than $100k claim they spend more than pre-Covid)
    • 54% say they wear less makeup than before Covid; 56% say they focus more on skincare
    • 40% say they are more likely to buy products they haven’t tried before than pre-pandemic
  • Beauty spending has shifted online
    • 87% say they spend more or the same online than before Covid; again highest income bracket more likely to spend online
    • 49% say they now spend more than $50 online on beauty products; compared to 16% than when we asked this same question in 2019
    • 57% of shoppers say that they had never tried more of a quarter of the beauty products they bought online in 2020 (i.e. they were first time purchases)
    • However, in-store beauty spending at this level has also increased: 41% say they now spend more than $50 in-store, compared to 21% in 2019; 55% also say they use curbside pick-up more than before the pandemic
  • User-Generated Content (i.e. Ratings & Reviews) is CRITICAL regardless of the shopping channel and has increased in importance
    • 99% always or sometimes read ratings and reviews when shopping for beauty products online, the same figure for in-store shoppers is 85%
    • 79% focus on average star rating, 58% care about the overall volume of reviews, and 49% say they look for recent review content.
    • 41% say they rely on reviews more than they did pre-Covid. This is most prominently the case among younger generations, with 58% of Gen Zers claiming this to be the case.
    • User-generated imagery and video is also key, with 38% saying it’s more important than before the pandemic (again this figure is highest among Gen Zers at 53%)
  • Social and political issues are also now significantly impacting shopping behaviors:
    • 76% are focusing on buying products that are sustainably made
    • 50% actively seek out products made by Black-owned beauty brands.

Andrew Smith – VP, Marketing at PowerReviews, says:

“We all know how much consumer shopping behaviors have shifted online as a result of Covid but these results really bear it out. The fact that the proportion of consumers who spend more than $50 on beauty products online is now 3x what it was in 2019 shows the acceleration in this transition.

“It’s no surprise that shoppers are relying more on validation from existing shoppers when making buying decisions now they are shopping more online. User-generated content in the form of ratings and reviews, customer imagery/video and questions and answers is key to providing the buyer confidence necessary for consumers to hit the purchase button.

Social and political issues have been at the forefront of our collective consciousness in recent times. Brands need to be aware that consumers are increasingly influenced by their opinions in this respect so need to adjust accordingly.”

Read the full survey results on the PowerReviews website. 

Research Methodology

The PowerReviews Holiday Consumer Survey draws on responses from 10,646 active shoppers across the United States who have opted in to offers and discounts from retailers. The survey took place in January 2021.

ABOUT POWERREVIEWS

PowerReviews (PowerReviews.com) helps leading retailers and brands generate customer product ratings and reviews in larger volumes to significantly increase sales and then analyze and benchmark all this data to improve product quality and customer experience.

PowerReviews is headquartered in Chicago, IL, USA.

Media Contact
Andrew Smith 
VP, Marketing – PowerReviews
marketing@powerreviews.com

How today’s consumers are shopping for beauty products in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to responses of 10,000+ shoppers.

Survey at a Glance:

The PowerReviews Changing Face of the Beauty Shopper Study draws on survey responses from 10,646 active beauty consumers across the country. Key findings include:

Beauty spending has shifted online
  • 87% say they spend more or the same online than before Covid

  • 49% say they now spend more than $50 online on beauty products; compared to 16% than when we asked this same question in 2019

  • 57% of shoppers say that they had never tried more of a quarter of the beauty products they bought online in 2020 (i.e. they were first time purchases)

  • However, in-store beauty spending at this level has also increased: 41% say they now spend more than $50 in store, compared to 21% in 2019; 55% also say they use curbside pick-up more than before the pandemic

User Generated Content (i.e. Ratings & Reviews) is CRITICAL regardless of shopping channel and has increased in importance
  • 99% always or sometimes read ratings and reviews when shopping for beauty products online, same figure for in-store shoppers is 85%

  • 79% focus on average star rating, 58% care about overall volume of reviews and 49% say they look for recent review content.

  • 41% say they rely on reviews more than they did pre-Covid. This is most prominently the case among younger generations, with 58% of Gen Zers claiming this to be the case.

  • User-generated imagery and video is also key, with 38% saying it’s more important than before the pandemic (again this figure is highest among Gen Zers at 53%)

Social and political issues are also now significantly impacting shopping behaviors:
  • 76% focusing on buying products that are sustainably made

  • 50% actively seek out products made by Black-owned beauty brands.

Introduction

Beauty Shopping is at an Inflection Point

In the past, when a shopper was in the market for a beauty product such as lipstick, mascara or moisturizer, they’d drive to their neighborhood drug store or pay a visit to a beauty counter at a local department store. And when they did, they’d find shelves dominated by products manufactured by a relatively small number of legacy brands.  

But that’s no longer the case. The way consumers shop for beauty products is constantly evolving — a process supercharged by the Covid pandemic.

A growing number of consumers now purchase beauty products online. This has inevitably led to an increased dependence on user-generated content as shoppers seek validation for their purchases.

What’s more, new beauty brands and products seem to emerge daily. And the criteria shoppers use to make purchase decisions is evolving; increasingly, shoppers seek out brands and products that align with their values. 

The Covid Pandemic Has Impacted Beauty Shopping Habits -- Perhaps for Good

Just when it seemed businesses finally had a handle on the shopping habits and preferences of beauty shoppers, Covid hit. The global health crisis has had a huge (and lasting) impact on just about every facet of life — including the way we shop.

There’s Plenty of Opportunity for Customer-Centric Beauty Businesses

Beauty brands and retailers must adapt their plans and strategies to effectively reach and convert today’s shoppers. And there’s plenty of opportunity for those that do. According to a report from Fior Markets, the global beauty and personal care products market was $493 billion in 2018. By 2026, it’s expected to reach $756 billion.

By 2026, the global beauty and personal care products market is expected to reach $756 billion.

In order to develop effective strategies, though, brands and retailers must first understand how consumers are shopping for beauty products — and how the global health crisis has shaped these habits.

Adjust Your Strategy to Attract and Convert More Beauty Shoppers

Recently, PowerReviews surveyed 10,646 consumers to shed light on the shopping habits and preferences of those purchasing beauty products — specifically makeup and skincare items. We also aimed to understand how beauty shopping habits have changed since 2019, when we fielded a similar survey

This report will share the key findings of our research — as well as practical, impactful actions beauty brands and retailers can take to meet (and exceed) the expectations of today’s beauty shoppers…and boost their bottom line. 

For the purposes of this report, “beauty” is defined as products in the makeup and skincare categories.
Who We Surveyed

Generations

Gen Z
(1997-present)
3%
Millennials
(1981-1996)
49%
Gen X
(1965-1980)
36%
Baby Boomers
(1946-1964)
12%

Type of Beauty Shopper

Beauty Novice
Just getting into the beauty space and curious what’s out there.
15%
Brand Loyalist
Mostly sticks to the products and brands that are tried and true.
19%
Beauty Enthusiast
Always searching for the next best beauty products and brands.
66%

Shopper Type by Generation

Gen Z
Millennials
Gen X
Boomers
Gen Z is the generation most likely to identify as beauty enthusiasts.

Household Income

Impact of Covid on Consumers’ Beauty Habits

The pandemic has turned peoples’ lives upside down. Many people are working from home — while simultaneously supervising their childrens’ eLearning. And the vast majority of vacations and events have been cancelled — at least for the time being.

Beauty Habits Have Evolved

These lifestyle changes have led to changes in beauty habits, too. For example, many consumers are cutting back on makeup use, likely because they’re not leaving the house as much.

In fact, our survey found that more than half (54%) of consumers indicate they wear less makeup now than pre-COVID.

On the other hand, it seems many consumers are making skincare a priority. More than half (56%) indicate they’re more focused on skincare now than they were before the pandemic. 

People are spending more time at home, which means they may have more time to devote to more thoroughly caring for their skin.

Consumers are Focusing Less on Makeup, and More on Skincare

Beauty Spending Has Changed

The pandemic has had a negative financial impact for many consumers. According to the Department of Labor, the U.S. unemployment rate was 6.7% in December 2020.

With so many unemployed (and underemployed) people, it’s not surprising that 41% of consumers say they spend less money on beauty products now than before COVID. Over a third (38%) indicate their beauty spending hasn’t been impacted by COVID, and the remaining 21% say their beauty spending has actually increased.

The Effect of COVID on Beauty Spending

Beauty enthusiasts are the least likely to have decreased their beauty in the midst of COVID (and most likely to have increased spending), when compared to beauty brand loyalists and beauty novices.

The Impact on Spending Habits for Different Types of Beauty Shoppers
Beauty Novice
Beauty Brand Loyalist
Beauty Enthusiast

Income also seems to impact whether shoppers have decreased their beauty spending — but perhaps not as much as expected. Those making higher incomes are just slightly less likely to have cut beauty spending post-COVID than those with smaller incomes.

The Impact of Income on Post-COVID Beauty Spending
  I spend less money on beauty products now than before COVID I spend more money on beauty products now than before COVID The amount of money I spend on beauty products has not changed
$0 – $25,000 44% 18% 38%
$26,000 – $50,000 42% 20% 38%
$51,000 – $75,000 39% 21% 40%
$76,000 – $100,000 38% 23% 39%

$100,000+

38% 24% 38%
Prefer not to say 43% 16% 41%
Where Consumers Shop for Beauty Products

Online Beauty Shopping is Growing

There’s been a well-reported uptick in eCommerce shopping since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. So it’s probably no surprise that a growing number of shoppers are purchasing beauty products online, too.

More than half of shoppers (53%) buy more beauty products online now, compared to pre-COVID. This number is even higher among younger consumers. 66% of Gen Z shoppers and 58% of Millennials say they spend more online on beauty products now than they did before the pandemic.

Also of note, 60% beauty enthusiasts are spending more online now, compared to 39% of beauty brand loyalists. What’s more, those with incomes of $100,000 or higher are more likely to have increased online beauty spending than their lower-income counterparts.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Online Beauty Spending
Change in Online Spending by Beauty Shopper Type
Beauty Novice
Beauty Brand Loyalist
Beauty Enthusiast
Change in Online Beauty Spending by Income
  I buy less beauty products online now compared to before COVID I buy more beauty products online now compared to before COVID My beauty purchasing habits have not changed
$0 – $25,000 18% 43% 39%
$26,000 – $50,000 13% 50% 37%
$51,000 – $75,000 11% 56% 33%
$76,000 – $100,000 11% 49% 40%

$100,000+

11% 62% 27%
Prefer not to say 14% 47% 39%

We also asked consumers to indicate how much they spend each month on online beauty purchases. And as it turns out, they’re spending significantly more each month compared to just a few years ago when we asked consumers the same question. For example, in 2019, just 2% of respondents indicated they spent more than $101 per month on online beauty purchases. In 2021, that number has grown to 23%!

Monthly Spending on Beauty Products Purchased Online
Roughly how much money did you spend per month on online beauty purchases?
2019
2021

Amazon is Actually Declining in Importance

When it comes to online shopping, there are nearly endless options. So where do online shoppers most often start the purchase journey for beauty products?

The starting point of nearly half (44%) of shoppers is a beauty retailer’s website — think Ulta.com or Sephora.com. Amazon is a distant second, with 22% of shoppers indicating its where they start the online purchase journey for beauty products.

It’s worth noting that when we asked this same question just two years ago, 47% of shoppers indicated they typically start shopping on Amazon. This suggests that Amazon has become less of a threat to beauty retailers.

And by providing great online shopping experiences, it’s very much possible for beauty businesses to compete (and win) against the eCommerce giant.

Beauty Retailer Websites Reign
Where beauty shoppers most often start shopping online

In-Store Beauty Shopping Continues to Thrive

Make no mistake: the rise in beauty eCommerce doesn’t mean stores are dead.

In fact, our data tells us that the amount consumers spend on beauty products in stores each month has actually increased from 2019.

For example, in 2019, during any given month, just 3% of consumers spent more than $101 in a store on beauty products. In 2021, that number grew to 18%.

Monthly Spending on Beauty Products Purchased in a Brick-and-Mortar Store

A key finding of this research is that stores remain a popular place to buy tried-and-true products — and discover new ones. We’ll explore this in more detail later in this report.

Stores Serve as Fulfillment Centers

Curbside pickup — also known as Buy Online Pick up in Store (BOPIS) offers shoppers the best of both worlds. They can browse online and minimize in-person contact — but still enjoy the (nearly) instant gratification of in-store shopping.

The popularity of BOPIS has grown significantly among beauty shoppers. In fact, 55% say they use curbside pickup for beauty products more now than they did pre-pandemic.

Younger generations are taking advantage of curbside pickup even more. 60% of Millennials and 58% of Gen Z shoppers say they’ve ramped up their use of BOPIS services for beauty products.

BOPIS is Growing for Beauty Shoppers
Do you use curbside pickup more now than pre-pandemic?
The Role of UGC in Beauty Shopping

User-generated content — including reviews, Q&A, photos, and videos — has a big impact on purchase decisions. That’s not exactly news.

But thanks to this survey, we can now clearly see that for beauty shoppers, this content has never been more important.

Reviews Fuel Smart Beauty Purchase Decisions Online and In Store

Our research found that all shoppers (99%) read reviews at least sometimes when shopping online for beauty products, with 54% saying they always do so.

Reviews matter for in store shoppers, too. 85% say they read reviews at least sometimes when shopping for beauty products within the four walls of a brick and mortar store.

How do they want to access reviews when shopping in a store? Nearly half (45%) prefer to find reviews by visiting the brand or retailer’s website on their phones.

The message here? Ensure your reviews are easy for shoppers to find and consume — regardless of device.

Online and In Store Shoppers Read Reviews
Where In-Store Shoppers Want to Find Reviews

What elements of reviews do beauty shoppers value when making purchase decisions?

79% say the average star rating is important. More than half (58%) care about the overall number of reviews for a product. And 49% say the number of recent reviews is important. Note: respondents could select all that applied.

Review Elements that Matter to Beauty Shoppers

This highlights the importance of consistently generating a steady stream of great reviews.

Helpful Hint: Recency, quantity and quality of reviews all matter to beauty shoppers! So make it a priority to collect plenty of great reviews on an ongoing basis.

During the Pandemic, Dependence on Reviews Has Increased

It seems shopper dependence on reviews has only grown in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. 41% of beauty shoppers indicate they’re more reliant on ratings and reviews now than they were before the start of the global health crisis. This number is even higher — 58% — among Gen Z shoppers.

41% of beauty shoppers are more reliant on ratings and reviews now than pre-pandemic. This number increases to 58% for Gen Z shoppers.
Increased Dependence on Reviews by Generation
Are you more reliant on reviews now than before COVID?

Beauty Shoppers Rely on User-Generated Visual Content

Beauty products are highly personal purchases. While a children’s toy will look the same regardless of who buys it, a makeup item will look different on every person.

Customer-submitted photos and videos help shoppers understand what a beauty product will look like on someone like them. During Covid, user-submitted visual content has become even more important.

Just over a third (38%) of those we surveyed say they are more reliant on user-submitted visual content now, compared to pre-Covid. This number soars to 53% among Gen Z shoppers. Clearly, these younger consumers have an appetite for user-submitted photos and videos.

38% of beauty shoppers are now more reliant on user-submitted visual content than they were pre-COVID. This number increases to 53% among Gen Z shoppers.
Increased Dependence on User-Submitted Visual Content by Generation
Are you more reliant on user-submitted photos and videos now than before COVID?
Helpful Hint: User-generated photos and videos help beauty shoppers get realistic expectations of products -- especially when they can’t try them out in person first! Be sure to collect plenty of photos and videos from your shoppers.

For Online Beauty Shoppers, Q&A Replaces the In-Store Associate

When a consumer is shopping in a brick-and-mortar store and has a question about a beauty product, they can ask an in-store associate. But when they’re shopping online, they often turn to the product’s Q&A (and as we mentioned earlier, consumers are shopping online a whole lot more these days).

So it’s probably not surprising that over a third (36%) of beauty shoppers say they’re more reliant on Q&A now than pre-COVID. Gen Z is the generation with the largest increase in dependence on Q&A. Nearly half (46%) say they depend on this content more now than they did before COVID.

36% of beauty shoppers are now more reliant on Q&A than they were pre-COVID. At 46%, this number is significantly higher for Gen Z shoppers.
Increased Dependence on Q&A by Generation
Are you more reliant on Q&A now than before COVID?
How Shoppers Restock on Tried-and-True Beauty Products

There are beauty products that a given consumer will turn to time and time again. Perhaps it’s a foundation that perfectly matches a shopper’s skin tone — or maybe it’s an eye cream that instantly makes them look like they got a solid eight hours of sleep.

Let’s take a closer look at how consumers shop for these tried-and-true beauty products.

Beauty Brands and Retailers are Gaining Traction

Consumers have countless shopping options. But when it comes to shopping for beauty products they’ve tried before, a few of those options rise to the top.

Nearly a quarter (22%) will buy on a specialty beauty retailer’s website, and 21% will opt for a mass retailer’s store — such as Walmart or Target. Another 18% will purchase at a specialty beauty retailer’s store and 17% will buy on Amazon.

Other less popular spots for stocking up on tried-and-true beauty products include mass retailers’ websites (12%) and brands’ websites (10%).

Interestingly, the popularity of speciality beauty retailer stores and websites — as well as brand websites — has soared since the last time we surveyed beauty shoppers.

On the other hand, the popularity of Amazon and mass retailers seems to have waned — at least when it comes to beauty products. Cleary, it’s very much possible for beauty brands and retailers to compete and win.

Where Consumers Shop for Tried-and-True Beauty Products

When stocking up on tried-and-true products, what makes a shopper choose one store or website over another? Some of the top reasons include convenience, low prices, free shipping, fast delivery and loyalty points.

A Variety of Factors Attract Beauty Shoppers Stocking up on Habitual Products
Why do you choose one store or website over another?

Consumers Purchase Habitual and New Beauty Products at the Same Time

When consumers are stocking up on their go-to beauty products, they don’t just grab what they need and head for the checkout.

Instead, 94% of consumers say that when they’re purchasing a habitual product, they’re at least somewhat likely to also buy a new product during the same transaction. This is up from 82% when we asked the same question just a couple years ago.

It seems today’s beauty shoppers are more willing to try something new than they were just a few years ago — which we’ll explore more in the next section.

Shoppers More Likely to Try Something New
When purchasing a habitual product, how likely are you to also buy a new product during the same transaction?
How Consumers Discover New Beauty Products

Today, consumers are spending more time at home. Many are using this as an opportunity to do things they didn’t have the time for before — like trying out new beauty products.

In fact, two in five (40%) of those we surveyed said they’re more likely to try new-to-them beauty products now than pre-Covid. This number is even higher for Millennials (46%) and Gen Z (53%). What’s more, beauty enthusiasts are more likely to try new beauty products (45%) than those who identify as beauty brand loyalists (26%) and beauty novices (36%).

Beauty Enthusiasts are Trying New Products Post-COVID
Are you more likely to try new-to-you beauty products now than pre-Covid?

Where are they shopping for these products? And what information do they depend on to make confident purchase decisions? Let’s take a closer look.

Shoppers Purchase New Beauty Products From a Variety of Sources

Whether they’re shopping online or in-store, beauty shoppers are spending a good chunk of their budget on products they’ve never tried before.

Of note, online shoppers are slightly more likely to spend 51-100% of their budget on new products than those shopping in-store.

What Percentage of Your 2020 Beauty Purchases Were For Products You’d Never Tried Before?
Online vs In Store

Where are consumers shopping for these new-to-them beauty products? The top five destinations for purchasing new beauty products are a specialty beauty retailer’s website (24%), Amazon (18%), a speciality beauty retailer’s store (17%), a mass retailer’s store (15%) and a brand website (11%).

Consistent with other findings in this survey, brand and specialty beauty retailer stores and websites are gaining traction when compared to our results from 2019 — with Amazon losing favor.

Where Do Consumers Shop for New-to-Them Beauty Products?
2019 vs 2021

Reviews Motivate Beauty Shoppers to Try New Products

There’s a certain level of risk associated with purchasing a product you’ve never bought before. So how do shoppers gain the confidence they need to purchase new-to-them beauty products?

Three-quarters (74%) say ratings and reviews motivate them to try new beauty products. This number jumps to 79% for both Millennial and Gen Z beauty shoppers.

In fact, for all age groups, it seems this content is significantly more impactful than recommendations from family and friends (47%) and price (37%)!

Top 5 Motivators for Trying New Beauty Products
The Impact of Influencers on Shopping Behavior

Our survey found that nearly half (45%) of shoppers are motivated by social media to try new beauty products. This number is even higher for Millennials (52%) and Gen Z (63%).

So it makes sense that a growing number of brands are investing in influencer marketing. MediaKix predicts that brands will spend up to $15 billion on influencer marketing by 2022.

But how exactly are beauty shoppers swayed by influencers? Let’s explore.

Shoppers of all Ages are Swayed by Beauty Influencers

Over half (56%) of consumers say they are swayed by the influencers they follow to purchase beauty products. And younger shoppers are even more likely to be influenced.

Three-quarters (74%) of Gen Z shoppers and 66% of Millennials say they are swayed to purchase beauty products by influencers they follow.

Influencers Sway Beauty Shoppers of All Generations
Are you swayed by influencers to buy beauty products?

What’s more, beauty enthusiasts are much more likely to be swayed by influencers than other types of beauty shoppers. This makes sense, as those who identify as beauty enthusiasts are always on the lookout for the next big thing.

Power of Influencers by Shopper Type
Are you swayed by influencers to buy beauty products?

Beauty Shoppers are Loyal to Their Trusted Influencers

Does the number of followers an influencer has impact how much beauty shoppers trust them? For many, it doesn’t.

Over half (52%) of consumers say they trust the influencers they’re loyal to no matter their follow count.

A third (32%) say they’re more willing to trust beauty suggestions from influencers they personally know, and 11% indicate they’re more likely to trust micro-influencers with less than 100,000 followers.

Just 5% of beauty shoppers say they most trust macro-influencers with more than 100,000 followers.

Beauty Shoppers Trust Influencers of all Kinds
Which type of influencer are you most willing to trust when they recommend products?
The Changing Priorities of Today’s Beauty Shoppers

In the past, shoppers weighed factors like price, brand and quality when choosing beauty products. Of course, these factors still matter. But increasingly, beauty shoppers also seek out products and brands that align with their values.

The Majority of Shoppers Plan to Purchase Eco-Friendly Products

For many, the state of the environment is a growing concern. As such, an increasing number of shoppers are seeking out eco-friendly products and brands.

Beauty shoppers are no exception. More than three-quarters (76%) of shoppers plan to buy beauty products in the future that are made sustainably.

Gen Z shoppers (86%) and Millennials (80%) are even more likely to purchase sustainable beauty products.

Beauty Shoppers Across All Generations will Seek Out Sustainable Products

Half of Shoppers Plan to Support Black-Owned Beauty Brands

In 2020, a growing number of consumers took action in the fight for racial justice. One way consumers chose to support this cause was by seeking out and buying from Black-owned businesses.

According to Yelp, from May 25 to July 10, 2020 there were more than 2,500,000 searches for Black-owned businesses — up 7,043% from the same period in 2019.

So it may come as no surprise that half (50%) of consumers say they plan to actively seek out beauty products made by Black-owned beauty brands. This number is even higher among Gen Z (75%) and Millennials (58%).

Younger Consumers Plan to Seek Out Black-Owned Beauty Brands

In addition, beauty enthusiasts are much more likely to seek out Black-owned beauty brands (55%) than beauty brand loyalists (38%) and novices (45%). That makes sense, as these shoppers are typically more open to trying out new products.

Beauty Enthusiasts Most Likely to Seek Out Black-Owned Beauty Brands
6 Recommendations for Beauty Brands and Retailers

The way consumers shop for beauty products is evolving. And the COVID-19 pandemic has only sped up this evolution. Brands and retailers must adapt to meet and exceed the expectations of beauty shoppers — or risk losing them for good.

Read on for six practical, impactful actions to take, based on the key findings of this report.

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Provide great shopping experiences across channels.

A growing number of consumers are shopping for beauty products online, especially in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. But at the same time, brick-and-mortar retail is still very much alive and well. Be sure you’re providing great, seamless shopping experiences across channels. Remember: your shoppers should be able to find all of the information they need to make smart purchase decisions — regardless of whether they’re shopping online or in-store.

Collect and display ratings and reviews.

Shoppers depend on reviews to make informed purchase decisions both online and in-store. And 41% of beauty shoppers rely on this content even more now than pre-COVID. This number is even higher among younger shoppers. Recency, quantity and star rating all matter — so be sure to collect a steady stream of reviews on an ongoing basis. Finally, remember that reviews motivate three-quarters of shoppers to try new beauty products. So if you’re launching new products in the coming year, consider sending out free samples in exchange for honest reviews.

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Showcase visual content from your shoppers.

Beauty products are highly personal. As such, shoppers want to see how a product works (or doesn’t) for someone with similar characteristics. User-submitted photos and videos allow them to do that. And over a third of beauty shoppers are more reliant on user-submitted visual content now than they were pre-COVID. This number is even higher for younger shoppers. So be sure to collect and display photos and videos of your shoppers using your products “in real life.” Collect this content both natively and where it already lives: on social media.

Empower online shoppers to ask questions.

A third of shoppers (and an even greater number of younger shoppers) rely on Q&A more now than they did pre-COVID. If you don’t have Q&A software on your product pages, now’s the time to add it. It’ll help shoppers make smarter purchase decisions — which will lead to happier customers and fewer returns. Also, consider allowing previous customers to answer shopper questions. After all, consumers trust the opinions of others like them!

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Leverage everyday influencers.

Influencers have the power to sway beauty shoppers. But over half of beauty shoppers consider the number of followers an influencer has to be irrelevant. So think about ways to leverage the micro-influencers who love your brand and products. For example, send samples to these everyday influencers, and in exchange, ask them to write an honest review. Or, ask them to post a photo of your product in action on their Instagram account — and then repurpose that content on your website.

Showcase your key differentiators.

Factors like price and packaging are still important. But today, a growing number of beauty shoppers also want to purchase products that align with their values. Specifically, we found that many shoppers are actively seeking out products that are sustainably made and created by Black-owned businesses.

If there’s something unique about your brand or products, be sure to showcase it. Or if you’re a beauty retailer, make it easy for shoppers to find products that align to the things that matter most to them. For example, Ulta features sections on their website that make it easy for shoppers to find products from Black-owned brands — and those that are eco-friendly.

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