Recently, a friend of mine sent me a picture of a candle with a fun saying on the label: “When it hasn’t been your day, your week, your month, or even your year #2020.” Did you just sing the “Friends” theme song in your head, too? As the biggest “Friends” fan, I of course had to have that candle immediately. Disclaimer: it’s sitting on my desk as I write this blog. Do I light it often? Not really. It smells divine, but it’s definitely the connection to my favorite sitcom that enticed me to buy it, and that alone makes me smile.

I know I’m not the only one who has purchased a product or two (or more) for how it makes me feel, rather than its functionality. As a beauty enthusiast, I see that this is especially true when it comes to makeup. In fact, our research tells us that a quarter of makeup consumers in the U.S. look for makeup brands with fun packaging or advertising.* Collaborations are having a similar effect on makeup sales, driving consumers to buy a product because of the individual tied to it. For 2020, which definitely hasn’t been makeup’s year, staying in more often and wearing protective
face masks when out has resulted in consumers using less color cosmetics. However, while the overall makeup market lost about one-third of its sales volume year-to-date through October, makeup collaborations declined at a much softer rate – in fact, their sales volume has actually been higher in 2020 as compared to two years ago.**

While brands might be cautious about which influencers to collaborate with, releasing collections around beloved shows and characters could draw positive engagement. In October, Ciaté
London collaborated with Disney’s The
Muppets and released a limited edition Miss Piggy Collection. The products come in pink packaging and smell like donuts. In September, Makeup
Revolution launched a “Friends”-inspired makeup line (and could the fans be any happier)? The line reportedly sold out of its palettes and lipsticks within five hours. While Makeup Revolution did not replenish that range, they launched a second line on November 4.

Yet another area of the market that is driven by something other than product functionality is advent calendars. That combination of fun and value is something that makes us all feel good. The volume brought in by makeup advent calendars released and sold in September and October of 2020 has roughly tripled compared to the same two months in 2019 – and growing faster than skincare and fragrance advent calendars.

Throughout the pandemic, makeup has been seen as a category in less demand compared to the rest of the beauty industry. However, while many makeup consumers are currently using less color cosmetics, 83% of those who use it less often due to the pandemic say that they will return to their regular routines once things get back to normal.* For some, makeup will be incorporated into their day-to-day life to help bring back a sense of “normalcy.” But ultimately, makeup is the beauty category consumers turn to for fun, which is something we all need to lift our spirits every now and then.

 

*Source:
The NPD Group/ U.S. Makeup Consumer Report 2020
**Source: The NPD Group U.S. Prestige Beauty Total Measured Market

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