Beauty: Teens Want Sephora, Jean Paul Gaultier and CeraVe
- InsightTrendsWorld
- 8 hours ago
- 9 min read
Why it is the topic trending:
Insights into Teen Consumer Spending: The Piper Sandler survey provides valuable data on the preferences and spending habits of teenagers in the beauty category, a significant consumer demographic.
Growth in Beauty Spend: The article highlights the substantial increase in beauty spending among both teen girls and boys, indicating a dynamic market.
Top Brands and Retailers: The survey identifies the favorite beauty brands and shopping destinations for teenagers, offering key information for companies in the beauty industry.
Shifting Preferences: The report reveals changes in brand popularity compared to previous surveys, indicating evolving trends among young consumers.
Emergence of Male Beauty Spending: The significant growth in beauty spending among teen boys is a notable trend highlighted in the article.
Overview: The article discusses the findings of Piper Sandler's biannual "Taking Stock With Teens" survey focusing on beauty spending in the spring of 2025. The survey reveals a significant increase in beauty expenditure among both teen girls and boys, with fragrance being the fastest-growing category. Sephora remains the top beauty destination for teens overall, while Amazon leads for teen boys. The report also identifies the favorite beauty brands in fragrance, skincare, and makeup among this demographic.
Detailed findings:
Female teen beauty spend increased by 10% year-over-year.
Fragrance spend saw the most significant growth, up 22% for girls and 44% for boys.
53% of teen boys and 78% of teen girls reported wearing fragrance daily.
Average annual fragrance spend for boys is $127 (up from $88), and for girls is $107 (up from $87).
Top fragrance brands for teen girls include Bath & Body Works, Sol de Janeiro, and Victoria’s Secret.
Top fragrance brands for teen boys include Jean Paul Gaultier, Versace, and Dior.
Sephora is the number-one beauty retailer for teens overall (38% share), gaining share since the fall of 2023.
Amazon is the top beauty retailer for teen boys (29% share).
CeraVe is the top skincare brand for teens overall and for teen boys specifically (32% and 52% share, respectively).
E.l.f. Cosmetics is the top makeup brand (35% share).
Amika is the top haircare brand among teen girls (9% share), while Native is number one among teen boys (12% share).
The survey included 6,455 teens across 43 U.S. states, with an average age of 16.2 years.
General Factors Influencing Teen Brand Choices:
Social Media Influence: Platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube play a huge role in showcasing products and creating trends, driving teens to brands they see online.
Celebrity and Influencer Endorsements: When celebrities and popular social media influencers use or recommend brands, it significantly impacts teen interest.
Peer Influence: What their friends are using and talking about can heavily influence a teen's brand choices.
Accessibility and Price Point: Many of the listed brands, particularly in skincare and makeup (like CeraVe, The Ordinary, and E.l.f.), are affordable and easily accessible in drugstores or online, making them attractive to teens with limited budgets.
Trendiness and "Buzz": Brands that are currently popular and generating buzz online or among their peers are more likely to be desired by teens who want to stay current.
Brand Reputation and Values: Some teens are drawn to brands that align with their values, such as those that are cruelty-free, sustainable, or have a positive image.
Product Effectiveness and Reviews: While trends are important, teens also look for products that work and have positive reviews from other users.
Packaging and Aesthetics: Visually appealing and "Instagrammable" packaging can be a big draw for this demographic.
Specific Reasons for Popular Brands:
Sephora: As the top beauty destination, Sephora offers a wide variety of brands, including exclusive and trendy ones, and provides an experiential shopping environment that appeals to teens.
Jean Paul Gaultier (Fragrance): Known for its distinctive and often bold scents and unique packaging, making it stand out.
CeraVe (Skincare): Highly recommended by dermatologists and influencers for its effective, affordable, and gentle formulas, particularly for sensitive skin and acne, common concerns for teens.
Bath & Body Works (Fragrance): Offers a vast range of affordable and trendy scents, often with seasonal releases that create excitement.
Sol de Janeiro (Fragrance): Gained immense popularity through social media, particularly TikTok, for its unique and appealing tropical-scented products.
The Ordinary (Skincare): Known for its budget-friendly, science-backed formulations with a focus on single active ingredients, appealing to teens interested in skincare efficacy without breaking the bank.
E.l.f. Cosmetics (Makeup): Very affordable and widely accessible, with a strong presence on TikTok, offering trendy makeup products that resonate with teens.
Essentially, teens want brands that help them express themselves, feel confident, fit in with their peers, and align with current trends, all while often being mindful of their budget. The brands listed in the survey seem to effectively tap into these motivations.
Key takeaway: Teen beauty spending is on the rise, with fragrance leading the growth, and Sephora maintaining its dominance as the preferred retailer for teen girls, while Amazon leads for boys. CeraVe is the top skincare brand, and the survey highlights specific brand preferences among both male and female teenagers.
Main trend: The Continued Expansion and Diversification of the Teen Beauty Market
Description of the trend (please name it): Generation Beauty Up. This trend describes the ongoing growth and increasing diversity within the teen beauty market. It's characterized by higher spending across categories, particularly fragrance, a significant rise in male engagement and spending, and a dynamic landscape of preferred brands and retailers, indicating a more engaged and nuanced approach to beauty among teenagers.
What is consumer motivation: Teenagers are motivated by a desire for self-expression, social connection, and personal grooming. Fragrance allows for individuality, while skincare and makeup can be used to enhance appearance and build confidence. The influence of social media, peers, and celebrities likely plays a significant role in shaping their preferences and driving spending.
What is driving trend:
Increased Disposable Income (potentially): Teens with part-time jobs may have more money to spend on discretionary items like beauty products.
Growing Interest in Self-Care: There is an increasing focus on self-care and personal grooming among young people.
Influence of Social Media: Platforms like TikTok and Instagram heavily influence beauty trends and product recommendations among teenagers.
Expansion of Beauty Options: The beauty market offers a wide array of products and brands catering to different needs and preferences.
Shifting Gender Norms: The increased interest and spending on beauty products by teen boys reflects a broader shift in societal views on masculinity and grooming.
What is motivation beyond the trend: Beyond immediate needs for self-expression or following trends, teenagers may be motivated by a desire to fit in with their peers, experiment with different looks, and develop their personal identity through beauty products.
Description of consumers article is referring to (what is their age?, what is their gender? What is their income? What is their lifestyle): The article specifically refers to teenagers with an average age of 16.2 years. The survey included 54% female, 45% male, and 1% nonbinary participants. 37% of them were employed part-time, suggesting they have some disposable income. Their lifestyle is likely heavily influenced by school, social activities, and engagement with social media, where beauty trends are often amplified.
Conclusions: The teen beauty market is experiencing significant growth, with notable trends including the surge in fragrance popularity and the increasing engagement of teen boys. Sephora remains a key retailer for teen girls, while Amazon is preferred by boys. The survey also highlights the favored brands in skincare, makeup, and haircare among this demographic, indicating a dynamic and evolving market.
Implications for brands:
Beauty Brands: Should pay close attention to the preferences of teen consumers, particularly in the fragrance category, and recognize the growing importance of the male teen market. Brands favored by teens on social media, like CeraVe and Anua, are seeing success.
Retailers: Sephora's continued dominance among teen girls highlights the importance of creating an appealing shopping experience for this demographic. The differing preferences of teen boys suggest a need for retailers to tailor their offerings and marketing strategies accordingly.
Implication for society: The increased interest in beauty among teenagers, including boys, may reflect evolving social norms around personal grooming and self-expression.
Implications for consumers: Teenagers have a wide range of beauty products and brands to choose from, with increasing options catering to different interests and needs. The rise of male beauty spending indicates a more inclusive market.
Implication for Future: The teen beauty market is likely to continue growing and evolving, driven by social media trends and shifting consumer preferences. Brands and retailers will need to remain agile and responsive to the changing tastes of this influential demographic.
Consumer Trend (name, detailed description): The Gen Z Beauty Powerhouse: This trend describes the significant and growing influence of Generation Z on the beauty market. This demographic is characterized by its high engagement with social media, its focus on authenticity, and its willingness to experiment with different beauty products and trends, making them a crucial consumer segment for beauty brands.
Consumer Sub Trend (name, detailed description): The Boy Beauty Bloom: The increasing interest and spending on beauty and grooming products by teenage boys, indicating a significant shift in traditional gender norms within the beauty industry.
Big Social Trend (name, detailed description): The Democratization of Beauty: Social media and online platforms have democratized access to beauty information and trends, empowering consumers of all ages and genders to explore and engage with beauty in more personalized ways.
Worldwide Social Trend (name, detailed description): The trends of increasing beauty spending among youth and the blurring of gender lines in beauty are observed in many parts of the world.
Social Drive (name, detailed description): The Desire for Self-Expression, Confidence, and Social Connection: Teenagers use beauty products as tools for self-expression, to boost their confidence, and to connect with peers through shared trends and interests.
Learnings for brands to use in 2025 (bullets, detailed description):
Focus on Fragrance: Recognize the strong growth and engagement in the fragrance category among teens.
Engage with Teen Boys: Acknowledge and cater to the rapidly growing male teen beauty market.
Understand Retail Preferences: Note the dominance of Sephora for teen girls and the importance of Amazon for teen boys.
Stay Updated on Social Media Trends: Monitor platforms like TikTok to understand which brands and products are resonating with teens.
Strategy Recommendations for brands to follow in 2025 (bullets, detail description):
Develop targeted fragrance offerings that appeal to the preferences of both teen girls and boys.
Create inclusive marketing campaigns that acknowledge and cater to the beauty interests of male teenagers.
Strengthen partnerships with key retailers like Sephora and leverage the online presence of platforms like Amazon.
Engage with teen beauty influencers on social media to build brand awareness and drive product interest.
Final sentence (key concept) describing main trend from article: Piper Sandler's survey highlights the "Generation Beauty Up" trend, showcasing the increasing spend and evolving preferences of teenagers in the beauty market, with significant growth in fragrance and the male teen segment.
What brands & companies should do in 2025 to benefit from trend and how to do it: In 2025, beauty brands and retailers should capitalize on the "Generation Beauty Up" trend by:
Developing product lines and marketing strategies specifically tailored to the preferences of teenagers, with a particular focus on the booming fragrance category and the growing male teen market.
Strengthening their presence and engagement on key retail platforms favored by teens, such as Sephora and Amazon, while also paying attention to emerging trends on social media.
Investing in understanding the specific brand preferences and evolving needs of this influential demographic to foster long-term loyalty.
Final note:
Core Trend: Generation Beauty Up: Continued expansion and diversification of the teen beauty market.
Core Strategy: Focus on Fragrance, Engage with Teen Boys, and Understand Key Retail Channels: Catering to the specific preferences of this demographic.
Core Industry Trend: The Growing Influence of Teen Consumers on Beauty: Recognizing the significant spending power and trend-setting abilities of teenagers.
Core Consumer Motivation: Self-Expression, Social Connection, and Personal Grooming: Key drivers behind teen engagement with beauty products.
Final Conclusion: The Piper Sandler survey clearly indicates that the teen beauty market is a vibrant and evolving space in 2025, with increasing spending and diverse preferences across genders and categories, making it crucial for beauty brands and retailers to deeply understand and cater to this dynamic demographic.
Core Trend Detailed: The Continued Expansion and Diversification of the Teen Beauty Market
Description: The Continued Expansion and Diversification of the Teen Beauty Market trend describes the ongoing growth and increasing diversity within the teen beauty market. It's characterized by higher spending across categories, particularly fragrance, a significant rise in male engagement and spending, and a dynamic landscape of preferred brands and retailers, indicating a more engaged and nuanced approach to beauty among teenagers.
Key Characteristics of the Trend (summary): This trend involves increased spending on beauty products by both teen girls and boys, with fragrance being a key growth area and diverse brand preferences emerging.
Market and Cultural Signals Supporting the Trend (summary): The Piper Sandler survey data showing double-digit growth in female teen beauty spending, a significant rise in male teen spending, especially on fragrance, and the identification of specific favorite brands and retailers for both genders signal this trend.
How the Trend Is Changing Consumer Behavior (summary): Teenagers are becoming more engaged with beauty, with boys increasingly participating in the market, and preferences are evolving across different product categories and retail destinations, influenced by social media and peer trends.
Implications Across the Ecosystem (For Brands and CPGs, For Retailers, For Consumers, summary):
For Brands and CPGs: Beauty brands should focus on catering to the specific preferences of teen consumers, including the growing male segment and the popularity of fragrance.
For Retailers: Retailers need to tailor their offerings and shopping experiences to attract both teen girls (Sephora) and boys (Amazon), recognizing their differing preferences.
For Consumers: Teenagers have an expanding array of beauty products and brands to choose from, with increased options for self-expression and grooming across genders.
Strategic Forecast: The teen beauty market is likely to continue growing and evolving, driven by social media trends and shifting consumer preferences. Brands and retailers will need to remain agile and responsive to the changing tastes of this influential demographic.
Final Thought: Piper Sandler's survey highlights the "Generation Beauty Up" trend, showcasing the increasing spend and evolving preferences of teenagers in the beauty market, with significant growth in fragrance and the male teen segment.
Comments