Today at CEW, we reveal the standout shopping trends from this year’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday — most notably the shift from “treat mindset” to “beauty steals” among consumers. Money-saving, no-fuss gifting options reigned supreme, according to the data. “It’s the season of savvy, deal-hunting shoppers ready to embrace beauty without the frills,” writes CEW reporter Faye Brookman, who breaks down the takeaways in our special report.

Speaking of consumer spending habits, CEW spotlights the overall sales trends of 2024, according to Circana data, and four brand executives share their insights and predictions for 2025. “According to Circana, U.S. prestige beauty sales grew by 8% to $15.3 billion in the first half of 2024 — with mass sales remaining flat,” reports Paige Herman-Axel, who talked to Alec Batis, CEO & Chemist Co-Founder of Sweet Chemistry; Kathleen O’Brien CEO, North America, at Weleda; Jeff Lee, CEO and Co-Founder of DIBS Beauty, and Dimitra Davidson, President and COO of Indeed Labs.

Also at CEW, we go behind the scenes at the Sephora Holiday Party, which celebrated the founders behind the beauty industry’s most beloved indie brands, and we sit down with Joy Atkinson, CEO of Presperse, who is redefining leadership with her sharp focus on trust, sustainability, and team building.

In market news, WWD reports that Puig stock “recovered lots of ground” yesterday, since falling last Friday after a batch of Charlotte Tilbury makeup spray was withdrawn, due to a quality issue. Meanwhile, Ulta Beauty has reported a net sales increase of 1.7% to $2.53 billion for Q3 2024, compared to $2.49 billion in Q3, 2023. And in investments, Mumbai-based D2C beauty brand SugarCosmetics has secured a $4.5 million funding round.

Having revealed its Color of the Year 2025 — Pantone 17-1230 Mocha Mousse — Pantone has announced it has partnered with Pura and Ipsy, creating beauty and wellness products including two special edition Pura scents, Mocha Moments and Mocha Suede, and a matching Pura 4 diffuser. And in executive updates, Estée Lauder Companies’ board member Richard Parsons has announced his retirement, effective immediately, due to health reasons.

Catch up on these and other stories at the links below.

How Beauty Steals Outshone The Treat Mindset Over Black Friday And Cyber Monday. CEW reports on consumers’ hunger for beauty deals and no-fuss gifting options. (CEW)

Four Beauty Execs On 2024’s Key Trends And What’s Next For 2025. CEW asked Circana to share the key takeaways of its 2024 beauty industry sales, and then sat down with four, milestone-making brand executives to get their insights. (CEW)

Five Minutes With Presperse’s Joy Atkinson. We talk to the trailblazing CEO of Presperse, who is redefining leadership with a sharp focus on trust, sustainability, and team building. (CEW)

Behind The Scenes At Sephora’s Holiday Party. CEW’s Andrea Nagel reports on the event which celebrated founders and beauty innovation. (CEW)

Puig Stock Recovers. The Spanish beauty and fashion group has seen signs of improvement in stocks since its withdrawal of a batch of Charlotte Tilbury makeup last week. (WWD)

Ulta Beauty Reports Positive Q3 2024. The company’s net sales increased 1.7% to $2.53 billion compared to $2.49 billion in Q3, 2023. (BEAUTY PACKAGING)

SugarCosmetics Secures Funding. The D2C beauty brand based is raising INR 38 Cr (US$4.5M) from existing investors, including Anicut Equity Continuum Fund, Elevation Capital, Malabar Investments, and L Catterton, reports Global Cosmetics News. (GLOBAL COSMETICS NEWS)

Pantone’s Mocha-Colored Beauty Collabs. Pantone has partnered with Pura & Ipsy to celebrate its Color of the Year 2025, 17-1230 Mocha Mousse. (HAPPI)

Estée Lauder Companies’ board member Richard Parsons retires. Parsons is leaving the company due to health reasons. (COSMETICS BUSINESS)

L’Oréal’s Presents Augmented Notre-Dame de Paris Exhibition In Hong Kong.  Augmented reality enabled the company to share the cathedral’s 860-year history. (BEAUTY PACKAGING) 

Vacance Drops Nail Care. New brand Vacance, founded by Josephine Ung, offers three cuticle oils, based on Asian ingredients. (BEAUTY INDEPENDENT)