Survey: How the Pandemic Changed Beauty Routines

Respondents reached for mascara, eyeshadow, lip gloss, foundation and concealer on a daily basis.
Respondents reached for mascara, eyeshadow, lip gloss, foundation and concealer on a daily basis.

Beautyque NYC has unveiled its consumer survey results in "Beauty Consumer Trends: Has the Pandemic Changed Beauty Routines?" Respondents include 231 consumers ages 18 and older, who provided insight to how and if their beauty routine has changed during the pandemic.

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Pre-Pandemic

Before the pandemic, respondents said they bought beauty products in retailers such as:

  • Sephora/Ulta and drug stores (71.3%)

  • Amazon (43.9%)

  • Directly from the brand’s website (45.2%)

Categories used daily included skin care, body care, hair care and makeup. Nail care and fragrances were often used while tools and devices were reported to be used sometimes.

During the Pandemic

Nearly 75% of respondents indicated they have changed their beauty routines since the pandemic started.

Their place of preference for making the purchase has shifted to, in descending order of preference: Amazon, Sephora/Ulta, and directly on the brand’s website.

Now, skin care and body care products are used daily and hair care is used often. Nail care, fragrance, tools and devices are all used sometimes. 

On average, 59% of respondents claimed to use makeup less often since the pandemic. In relation to skin care, 50% of survey respondents use the same amount as before and just over 40% use skin care more often now.

The most-used makeup products used on a daily basis as reported by survey respondents include mascara, eyeshadow, lip gloss, foundation and concealer.

The most used skin care products used on a daily basis were reported to be cleanser/face wash, moisturizer, eye cream and serum.

When purchasing a product, respondents reported the following criteria was important in the decision process:

  • If the products are made of clean ingredients

  • If product has received good reviews

  • Product price point

Beautyque NYC founder and owner Sonia Khemiri says: “For most of us, many aspects of our lives have changed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic as of March 2020. As a result, we've had to adapt our routines, habits, and lifestyles to fit the new normal. Interested in seeing how consumers' beauty habits have changed nowadays, Beautyque NYC developed a survey for consumers. We wanted to know, are they wearing more or less makeup than before? Do they purchase skin care more or less often? What are they looking for in the brands they support?”

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