2025
9
US Social Media Influence in Discovery and Purchase: 2025
2025-12-18T11:57:43+00:00
REP37C753C4_EEA0_43C5_A49E_F58ABD2DF8C3
3695
189773
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Report
en_GB
Social media has evolved from a discovery tool to a dynamic commerce engine where authenticity, immediacy and personalization drive consumer trust and purchase behavior. In 2025, platforms like TikTok and…
US
Health and Beauty Retail
Social Media
simple

US Social Media Influence in Discovery and Purchase: 2025

"Whether it’s impulse buys via DMs or loyalty built through tutorials, the future of beauty retail lives in the feed, and brands must meet users where they scroll."

Carson Kitzmiller, Senior Analyst, Beauty & Personal Care

Social media has evolved from a discovery tool to a dynamic commerce engine where authenticity, immediacy and personalization drive consumer trust and purchase behavior. In 2025, platforms like TikTok and Instagram are not just shaping beauty trends, they’re transforming how consumers shop, engage and decide. Gen Z and Millennials expect transparency, real-time interaction and content that feels native to their feeds. From AI-powered platforms to creator-led campaigns, the line between entertainment and transaction is blurring.

This Report explores how brands can turn passive scrolling into active conversion, build trust across generations and navigate the shifting expectations of digital-first consumers. Whether it’s impulse buys via DMs or loyalty built through tutorials and reviews, the future of beauty retail lives in the feed, and brands must meet consumers where they scroll.

This report looks at the following areas:

  • Prioritization of social media platforms for consumption of beauty and personal care content
  • The role of social media platforms in the discovery of beauty and personal care products
  • Types of content enjoyed on social media platforms
  • The role of social media platforms in the purchase of beauty and personal care products
  • Trust indicators for brands and influencers on social media marketing
  • Social media platform innovations and commerce strategies

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  1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

    • What you need to know: social media as a discovery tool
    • What you need to know: social media as a commerce tool
    • Market predictions
    • Key takeaways
    • Opportunities
  2. MARKET DYNAMICS

    • Market context
    • Real GDP bounced back in Q2, but momentum is expected to stall in the months ahead
    • Graph 1: quarterly real GDP growth, 2021-25
    • US Economic Snapshot
    • Inflation got hotter in August, as the effect of tariffs showed up in everyday essentials
    • Graph 2: headline CPI and core CPI, 2021-25
    • Consumer sentiment tumbled for the second consecutive month
    • Graph 3: consumer sentiment index, 2022-25
    • Despite higher prices, consumers’ financial stability remains resilient for now
    • Graph 4: change in financial situation over the past 12 months, 2023-25
    • Market drivers
    • Social media is dominating how we consume content
    • Graph 5: social media reliance attitudes (% agree), by generation, 2025
    • A social media presence is non-negotiable in 2025
    • Graph 6: “I am more likely to trust a brand that has an active social media presence” (% agree), by generation, 2025
    • Younger, multicultural consumers are key to driving social commerce growth
    • Graph 7: social commerce participation, by key demographics, 2025
    • Social media is a discovery playground for younger consumers
    • Graph 8: attitudes toward social commerce – discovery, by generation, 2025
    • Consumers recognize the advertising power of social media
    • Graph 9: social media is primarily an advertising platform used by brands to convince me to buy things (% agree), by generation, 2025
    • Scrolling while streaming unites nearly all generations
    • Graph 10: occasions for social media use, by generation, 2025
    • Heavy social media usage doesn’t always translate to active engagement
    • Saved posts are an opportunity, not a missed sale
    • Graph 11: actions taken in the past month (select), by financial situation, 2025
    • AI expectations vary by generation
    • Graph 12: expectations of brand’s AI use on social media, by generation, 2025
    • Undisclosed AI content leaves consumers feeling uneasy
    • Consumers’ need for data security rises
    • Graph 13: reasons to shop on social media, “I would…,” 2025
  3. CONSUMER INSIGHTS

    • Consumer fast facts: discovery
    • Social media use
    • Facebook and Instagram are the most prioritized platforms for BPC content
    • Graph 14: social media platforms most often used to find out about BPC products, ranked (up to 3), 2025
    • TikTok has appeal beyond younger generations
    • Graph 15: social media platforms most often used to find out about BPC, any rank (up to 3), by gender and age, 2025
    • Follow the creator, trust the tutorial, validate through reviews
    • Graph 16: ways consumers use social media to discover BPC products, by age, 2025
    • TikTok and YouTube users favor real content; Facebook and Instagram lean branded
    • Graph 17: ways consumers use social media to discover BPC products, by social media platform ranked 1st (up to 3) for finding out about BPC products, 2025
    • Depending on marketing goals, social platforms have different strengths
    • More niche areas to explore
    • Even #hashtags warrant strategic action for engagement
    • Graph 18: exploring hashtags or search filters to find trending products on social media, by gender and select age, 2025
    • The effectiveness of influencer marketing is not uniform across income levels
    • Graph 19: following beauty influencers and checking their recommendations, by select subcategory purchasing and household income, 2025
    • What does this mean?
    • Content enjoyed and denoting trust
    • Highlight product quality with real-world applications and engaging, informative content
    • Real life vs real facts
    • Graph 20: content enjoyed on social media, by age, 2025
    • The power of agility, organic narratives and emotional connection: e.l.f. Cosmetics
    • Pinterest for visuals, Snapchat for behind the scenes
    • Graph 21: types of social media content enjoyed, by social media platforms most often used (NET – any rank, up to 3), 2025
    • Pinterest: emotional and aesthetic themes driving discovery
    • Trust-building through visual and proof-based content
    • Graph 22: content enjoyed on social media, by select BPC subcategory purchasing, 2025
    • Trust means transparency and consistent engagement
    • TikTok users want it all
    • Graph 23: social media actions denoting trust among brands, by daily visitation to select social media platforms, 2025
    • Highlighting ingredient transparency and engagement in the comments: The Ordinary
    • Keep it direct for some, engage in support with others
    • Graph 24: social media actions denoting trust among brands, by subcategory purchasing (NET) and household income, 2025
    • Authenticity and value alignment are key differentiators of trust among under-45s
    • Graph 25: actions denoting trust among influencers, by gender and age, 2025
    • Same trust, different platforms: honesty, expertise and engagement
    • Graph 26: actions denoting trust among influencers, by social media platforms most often used to find out about BPC (NET – any rank up to 3), 2025
    • Tailored strategies for income-based demographics: leveraging expertise and engagement-focused influencers
    • Graph 27: actions denoting trust among influencers, by select BPC subcategory purchasing and household income,2025
    • Using social media to purchase
    • Younger consumers are learning, older consumers need reassurance
    • Graph 28: ways consumers use social media to purchase BPC, by age, 2025
    • Distinguish strategies based on trust versus value
    • Graph 29: using social media to purchase BPC, by select BPC subcategory purchased and household income, 2025
    • Under-55s, even those 35-54, apt to engage with social media in some capacity along their purchase journey
    • Graph 30: social media as commerce, by gender and age, 2025
    • Optimize the scroll for shoppable content
    • Graph 31: social media as commerce, by select social media platforms ranked 1st for using most often to find out about BPC products, 2025
    • Diversify purchase pathways for lower and higher HHI segments
    • Graph 32: social media as commerce, by household income, 2025
    • Explore conversational commerce in the DMs
    • Harness the power of beauty communities to drive social commerce
    • Graph 33: social media as commerce, by select ways of using social media for BPC purchasing, 2025
    • Rethink social positioning for high-income skincare users
  4. PLATFORM INNOVATIONS AND MARKETING STRATEGIES

    • TikTok Shop: livestreaming and creator-led commerce
    • Exclusive product drops: driving urgency and conversion
    • Exclusivity emerges as a key driver for social media shopping
    • Graph 34: motivations to shop on social media, 2025
    • Conversational Commerce: buying beauty products via direct messages
    • AI-Powered ‘agentic’ commerce: ChatGPT’s instant checkout
    • Pinterest is turning inspiration into action through AI-powered visual commerce
    • Owning the affiliate ecosystem: Sephora’s Creator Storefront
    • From store floor to social feed: Ulta’s internal ambassador program
    • Snapchat embraces “good, bad and messy”
    • Reddit: a goldmine for beauty consumer insights
  5. APPENDIX

    • Consumer bases by social media used for BPC information
    • Consumer bases by social media used for BPC information (cont)
    • Consumer research questions
    • Consumer research methodology
    • Generations
    • Abbreviations and terms

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