Recent data released by Facebook IQ and a study conducted by Poshly for digital makeup app editor Perfect365 and for the Bay Area Beauty Association provide a closer look at beauty habits of Millennials compared to Gen Xers.
Considering that what Millennials are doing now is what everyone will be doing soon, it is key to have a better understanding of their behaviours.
“For beauty brands, digital beauty is the next major wave that will create a dramatic shift in the beauty industry and how consumers interface with their products. Many brands are still trying to navigate how to embrace and adjust to this new generation of beauty buyers,” said Sinead Norenius-Raniere, Board Member of the Bay Area Beauty Association.
According to Facebook data, nearly 1 in 2 surveyed Millennial and Gen X beauty buyers in the US are still looking for the beauty style and products that work best on them. Where are they looking? Not just magazines, stores and TV anymore.
Digital is now a main channel for beauty purchasers, with mobile leading the way. Indeed, beauty accounts on Instagram attract over 20 million unique followers in the US. “Women now have a vibrant array of content creators to gather advice on the latest beauty products and techniques from ease of their mobile phone. Whether it’s a friend who shares their same skin concern or a blogger with a great smoky eye, women are relating to other women who they feel have less to personally gain from sharing their beauty know-how,” explains Facebook IQ (a Facebook division focused on research, data, and trends)
While Facebook finds 56% Young Millennial Beauty Buyers (18-24) agree that when it comes to make-up, they are adventurous and enjoy experimenting with their look. The Poshly survey reveals that 78% would be more inclined to purchase makeup from a brand if they could see what it looks likes virtually on their face before purchasing it.
When it comes to age segmentation,Facebook IQ shows there are significant variations on how the different age classes consider beauty. While Younger Millennials (18-24) are more open to experimenting with beauty products they are also more likely to embrace not wearing make-up in content they post on Instagram, using the #nomakeup.
Older Millennials (25-34) are more comfortable in their own skin but start to think about remedies against aging, including battling wrinkles, covering dark circles and creating the appearance of dewy skin. They aren’t as up to date on the latest beauty tips and tricks as they were just a few years ago.
Eventually, for Gen Xers (35-44) beauty is part of a holistic approach to overall wellness. Their resources and priorities are different from their younger counterparts, too. Many still consult magazines, and they’re more focused on their “me time.” Gen X women also post more about their lives, with hashtags like #kids, #fitmom, #yoga and #lovemyjob being unique to this group on Instagram.
