Sephora is launching “Sephora Prize,” its first beauty incubation award in Europe. The initiative aims to highlight new and emerging creators in the beauty industry.
Sephora positions itself as a catalyst for new beauty brands. Aimed at European beauty industry players, the global leader is launching a competition designed to identify and support new brands and emerging creators in their development.
“With our European SEPHORA Prize, we are taking our commitment a step further by supporting the regional beauty ecosystem—unique in its diversity and innovation—and by mentoring a new generation of founders to help them bring their vision to life through SEPHORA’s expertise, platform, and community,” said Catherine Spindler, President of SEPHORA Europe and the Middle East.
Sephora Prize, a springboard to fame
There are a few requirements to apply: being a European brand covering all product categories is a prerequisite. Beyond specializing in beauty, the brand or creator must embody the future of innovation with a distinctive perspective, an authentic story, and a strong capacity for innovation—all assets that will ultimately help the brand resonate with the Sephora community.
The winner will receive three years of support to accelerate the brand’s development, including assistance with research and development, mentoring sessions with industry experts, and extensive visibility across all touchpoints. The winner will also benefit from an exclusive launch across Europe through Sephora’s “The Next Big Thing” campaign: a 360° exposure including social media and in-store activations.
For second and third place, Sephora is considering, depending on the quality of the entries, a special one-year prize including high visibility on digital platforms, mentorship focused on market access, and strategic support.
A bet on the future of European beauty
With the Sephora Prize, the retailer is no longer content to simply sell beauty products: it now aims to help them emerge. By transforming itself into an incubator, Sephora is playing a long-term game: identifying trends before they hit the shelves and linking its image to the brands of tomorrow.
It remains to be seen whether the numerous and diverse European candidates will be able to seize this opportunity. Applications have been open since June 9: the beauty ecosystem now has its say.
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