Coachella has long been a proving ground for brands looking to drive visibility via influencer marketing, but in 2026, the festival’s content creator presence and performance seemed to reach new heights. Between superstar performances, we saw elaborate brand activations and countless influencer partnerships, giving far-flung audiences a lot to chew on throughout the two-weekend event. However, not every influencer post managed to break through the noise. Some drove major value for brands and audiences alike. Others cycled through the algorithm without making a mark. 

We used Meltwater’s AI-powered influencer marketing solution to see which content from 1,000 influential creators achieved the highest ROIs for their brand partners, including estimated media value (EMV). 

Note: EMV is a metric that quantifies the ROI of influencer marketing, showing what it would cost to achieve the same reach and engagement through paid media. It combines two components: 1) Benchmarks that show what each engagement action would cost in paid media across social channels, and 2) An earned multiplier that reflects the higher trust and impact of influencer content compared to traditional ads.

The social media posts that stood out most were native to each creator’s style and engaged viewers with giveaways, tutorials, heartwarming moments, and more. As a whole, the resulting top 10 list offers a clear takeaway for marketers: With the right creator and the right moment to share, brands across sectors can derive meaningful value and impact from influencer partnerships pegged to major cultural events. 

Read on for inspiration, tips, and takeaways that marketers can use as they plan for summer festival season, the World Cup, and beyond.

Methodology: The below list is based on Meltwater data analyzing Coachella posts from the top 1,000 content creators related to the festival across Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, X, Twitch, and Pinterest from April 1 to April 20, 2026. 

The Top Branded Influencer Posts of Coachella 2026

9. Tabitha Swatosh for The Kacey Welch Method

Honorable Mention: Matt Newman for Cécred and Arachne

Key Takeaways: Influencer Partnerships for High-Profile Events

FAQ: Influencer Marketing for High-Profile Events

All 10 of the top-performing Coachella posts from influencers partnering with brands came from TikTok. This proportion contrasts with the makeup of overall posts from 1000 of some of the most influential content creators at the festival, of which 42% came from Instagram and 41% from TikTok. Here are the branded influencer posts that stood apart from the rest and what marketers can learn from each of them.

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    Post Details
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    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">10.3M</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Reach</div>
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    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">1.4M</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Likes</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">18.4K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Comments</div>
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    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">116K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Shares</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">52.7K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Saves</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">52.9%</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Eng. Rate</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">$24.9M</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">EMV</div>
    </div>

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Influencer Nicole Sahebi filmed her visit to fashion retailer Revolve’s gifting suite at Coachella, where she grabbed a slew of products, including cosmetics, apparel, and even some Diesel sunglasses. At the end of the TikTok video, she asks viewers to enter a giveaway for the free items by naming their favorite Coachella artist in the comments. That invitation to participate helped the above post collect more than 18,400 comments. Those, along with hundreds of thousands of shares and saves, helped this post generate nearly $25 million in EMV for Revolve. 

Steal this tactic: Using comments as entries gives followers a low-barrier way to participate in contests while drumming up engagement. Brands can empower influencers to create these opportunities by using platforms like Meltwater to coordinate logistics and cover details like choosing winners and mailing out prizes.

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    @more.dejankat for Revice
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  <div style="display:flex;gap:6px;width:100%;">
    
    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">8.7M</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Reach</div>
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    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">1.2M</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Likes</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">3K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Comments</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">15.2K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Shares</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">37.9K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Saves</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">20.93%</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Eng. Rate</div>
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    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">$14M</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">EMV</div>
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Teen fashion and lifestyle influencer Deja Clark created a simple but effective transformation video featuring Revice Denim for the second day of Coachella. It was a hit with her 16 million followers on the platform, 41% of whom are between the ages of 18 and 24, according to Meltwater’s Influencer Discovery tool. The above post (one of two on this list) generated an impressive $14 million in EMV for the Los Angeles-based apparel brand.

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    @kayla.ryann for Rhode
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  <div style="display:flex;gap:6px;width:100%;">
    
    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">4.1M</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Reach</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">730.7K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Likes</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">698</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Comments</div>
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    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">6.2K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Shares</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">24.8K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Saves</div>
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    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">69.31%</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Eng. Rate</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">$7.9M</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">EMV</div>
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Justin wasn’t the only Bieber winning fans at Coachella 2026. Hailey Bieber’s cosmetics brand Rhode hosted a pop-up at the festival, which fans got to experience vicariously through beauty and lifestyle influencer Kayla Ryan’s video for Day Two of the festival. In the video, Kayla captures all the activation has to offer, including a look at specific Rhode products and even a special appearance from Mrs. Bieber herself. It may have been that celebrity appearance that helped this post punch above its weight with a nearly 70% engagement rate, the highest of any post in our top 10.

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    @more.dejankat for Revice
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  <div style="display:flex;gap:6px;width:100%;">
    
    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">4.2M</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Reach</div>
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    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">578.5K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Likes</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">2.3K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Comments</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">5.5K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Shares</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">17K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Saves</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">10.05%</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Eng. Rate</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">$6.7M</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">EMV</div>
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Deja Clark scored another top 10 hit TikTok for Revice Denim with a Day Three post that generated about $6.7 million in EMV. Like the previous post of hers, this one is a short and simple take on her signature get-ready-with-me (GRWM) posts showing off Revice items in a festival-ready outfit. Plus, this example also featured a celebrity appearance, though this one was digital. Deja’s TikTok uses the hashtag #laufey and audio from the song “Lover Girl” by Coachella performer Laufey, who then left a comment on the video that garnered over 83,100 likes of its own.

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    @kayla.ryann for Kopari Beauty
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  <div style="display:flex;gap:6px;width:100%;">
    
    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">3.1M</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Reach</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">490.8K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Likes</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">865</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Comments</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">4.2K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Shares</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">11.9K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Saves</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">42.31%</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Eng. Rate</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">$5.4M</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">EMV</div>
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Another influencer with two posts on our top 10 list, Kayla Ryan took her 1.2 million TikTok followers through the process of creating her outfit for the first day of Coachella. She waits until the end of her GRWM video to highlight the brand tagged, using Kopari Beauty’s mineral SPF powder as the finishing touch on her look. As a result, the post avoids the kind of hard sell that social media users have grown tired of from content creators. It’s that kind of authenticity that helps Kayla’s sponsored posts resonate with her audience. In this one, Kayla’s soft sell approach drove about $5.4 million in EMV for the cosmetics brand.

Steal this tactic: Sponsored influencer content resonates most when it is integrated seamlessly into a creator’s established style and digital language. Instead of providing word-for-word scripts or insisting on front-loading brand mentions, give content creators license to do what they do best: introducing your brand to an audience that already trusts them. Enlist influencers as creative partners, and watch that approach pay off in high ROI. 

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    @priscyescoto for Huda Beauty
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  <div style="display:flex;gap:6px;width:100%;">
    
    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">2.6M</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Reach</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">285.9K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Likes</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">929</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Comments</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">2.9K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Shares</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">12.6K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Saves</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">7.37%</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Eng. Rate</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">$3.4M</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">EMV</div>
    </div>

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Huda Beauty hooked fashion and lifestyle influencer Priscila Escoto up with an entire branded house for her stay at Coachella, complete with beauty blender-shaped pillows and even a portrait of the influencer on the wall. Hosting Priscila allowed the beauty brand to organically be part of high-engagement moments like the above GRWM TikTok, which tags Huda Beauty but only visibly features the brand through the creator’s makeup look. As a result, the brand shares in the Day One post’s 286,000 likes and about $3.4 million in EMV. 

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    @tarayummy for JSX
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  <div style="display:flex;gap:6px;width:100%;">
    
    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">2.1M</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Reach</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">296.5K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Likes</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">421</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Comments</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">649</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Shares</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">4.5K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Saves</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">3.05%</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Eng. Rate</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">$3.2M</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">EMV</div>
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The above video by Tarayummy stands out for being one of the few posts in our top 10 featuring a brand outside of the beauty and fashion sector. Instead, the nightlife influencer partnered with JSX, a charter jet service, for a vlog-style TikTok that drew back the curtain on the premium flight experience. The novelty of the video, which takes viewers through the terminal lounge, boarding process, and jet cabin, likely helped it generate about 297,000 likes and about $3.2 million in EMV. 

Steal this tactic: Cultural events aren’t just for beauty, fashion, food, and beverage brands. Companies in tangential sectors like transportation, hospitality, outdoor gear, pet-sitting, and beyond can partner with influencers to make unexpected, engaging content. Use tools like AI Discovery to pinpoint potential partnerships based on your brand identity, campaign goals, and even creative briefs.  

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  <div style="font-size:18px;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:10px;">
    @natalientheaguilars for Barbie
  </div>

  <div style="display:flex;gap:6px;width:100%;">
    
    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">2.3M</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Reach</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">292K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Likes</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">233</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Comments</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">857</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Shares</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">6.2K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Saves</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">4.04%</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Eng. Rate</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">$3.2M</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">EMV</div>
    </div>

  </div>
</div>

Family-focused vlogger Natalie Aguilar shared a heart-warming moment with her sister Angela at Coachella thanks to Barbie. For the above TikTok, the Aguilars visited the toy brand’s festival pop-up, which featured their and other select influencers’ portraits on the walls. That personal touch from Barbie translated into a moment of authentic appreciation for the partnerships it has forged with content creators. The 230+ comments left on the post featured many well-wishes and positive encouragement from fans sharing in the sisters’ excitement. Overall, the feel-good video resonated with the Aguilar family’s audience and paid off in over $3.2 million in EMV for the Barbie brand.

Lifestyle and homesteading content creator Tabitha Swatosh created a wow moment for hair extensions brand The Kacey Welch Method. The lip-sync/transformation video features two reveals, one for the outfit and one for the hair, which gets its full moment in the spotlight when Tabitha turns away from the camera. Though the video is simple, its creativity resonated with audiences to the tune of 285,500 likes and about $3.4 million in EMV.

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  <div style="height:3px;background:#28bbbb;margin:-12px -12px 10px -12px;border-top-left-radius:10px;border-top-right-radius:10px;"></div>

  <div style="font-size:18px;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:10px;">
    @tabithaswatosh for The Kacey Welch Method
  </div>

  <div style="display:flex;gap:6px;width:100%;">
    
    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">2.6M</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Reach</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">285.5K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Likes</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">306</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Comments</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">2.6K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Shares</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">3.2K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Saves</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">1.91%</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Eng. Rate</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">$3.4M</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">EMV</div>
    </div>

  </div>
</div>

<div style="width:100%;max-width:100%;background:#ffffff;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;color:#555555;border:1px solid #f0f0f0;border-radius:10px;padding:12px;box-sizing:border-box;">

  <div style="height:3px;background:#28bbbb;margin:-12px -12px 10px -12px;border-top-left-radius:10px;border-top-right-radius:10px;"></div>

  <div style="font-size:18px;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:10px;">
    @samanthacostantini for NYX
  </div>

  <div style="display:flex;gap:6px;width:100%;">
    
    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">1.8M</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Reach</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">220.1K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Likes</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">231</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Comments</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">775K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Shares</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">6.1K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Saves</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">16.23%</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Eng. Rate</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">$2.4M</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">EMV</div>
    </div>

  </div>
</div>

Seeing a makeup look is one thing, but knowing how to recreate it is a whole other challenge for everyday makeup consumers. Beauty and lifestyle influencer Samantha Costantini demystified the process behind her Day Three makeup look using a full face of NYX products. The step-by-step video is over four minutes long, giving viewers a detailed explanation of how to incorporate 17 — yes, 17 — different NYX products into a single makeup routine. Featuring educational content that cosmetics enthusiasts will want to go back to, the post punched above its weight in saves, with over 6,100 users bookmarking it for later, and an engagement rate of over 16%.

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  <div style="height:3px;background:#28bbbb;margin:-12px -12px 10px -12px;border-top-left-radius:10px;border-top-right-radius:10px;"></div>

  <div style="font-size:18px;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:10px;">
    @mattloveshair for Cecred & Arachne
  </div>

  <div style="display:flex;gap:6px;width:100%;">
    
    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">12M</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Reach</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">1.2M</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Likes</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">3.2K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Comments</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">66.1K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Shares</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">475K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Saves</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">54.51%</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Eng. Rate</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">$18.6M</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">EMV</div>
    </div>

  </div>
</div>

Though it wasn’t sponsored, the above post by hairstylist Matt Newman drove major value for two tagged brands, Cécred and Arachne, while outpacing all of the above posts. Using a scarf from the former brand and hair clips from the latter, he shows off a “hack” for festival-goers that resonated widely. The short video generated more than 1.2 million likes, over 478,800 saves, and about $18.6 million in EMV, outperforming. 

Of the many factors that converged to make this post a viral hit, one was the educational value. Matt taught his 3.2 million followers how to finally keep their fashionable bandannas from falling off their heads and created a high-performing video in the process. The lesson here: Content that offers tangible value, like technique explainers or DIY solutions to common problems, lends itself well to driving engagement actions like comments and saves.  

Steal this tactic: Like Cécred and Arachne, your brand also has champions highlighting you on social media. Track your organic mentions across platforms like Instagram and TikTok to find them, and you may just discover your next influencer partnership. 

Our analysis of the top-performing influencer posts featuring brands from Coachella 2026 revealed these key takeaways and trends:

TikTok is the #1 platform for influencer posts at live events like Coachella. All of the 10 best-performing influencer posts tagging brands came from the video platform, highlighting its strength for engaging audiences in near-real time and its necessity for creator partnerships for events.

Earlier content drives the most value. Another commonality of the top 10: Every post came from the first weekend in the festival, with most coming from the first couple of days. This seems to suggest that the earlier content appears, the better-poised it is to capture the initial excitement of multi-week events while not getting overshadowed by their grand finales.

Giving creators experiences to document makes for engaging content. From gifting suites and pop-ups to accommodations and transportation, activations that allow audiences to share in creator experiences drive standout results for brands.

The entertainment field is wide open for non-beauty/fashion (but still relevant) brands. Seven out of the ten high-performing brands we highlighted were in the beauty or fashion sectors. Brands outside of those realms with engaging, relevant experiences to offer can stand out with new twists on well-worn formats like GRWMs or something completely new.

The most successful sponsored content feels natural to the influencer. Every post in the top 10 was authentic to the creator’s style and subject niche, making them resonate easily with their audiences. For brands, this highlights just how important influencer creative freedom and authenticity are to driving ROI.

Giving audiences tangible value makes for content that sticks. Tutorials, styling inspiration, and practical hacks are engagement boosters. High numbers of saves signal that audiences found your post especially useful, so much so that they want to revisit them again and again.

Build your own influencer program that gets top 10-list results. See how you can identify the right creators, streamline campaign execution, and measure real impact with Meltwater Influencer Marketing. Use the form below to request a demo and see first-hand how to drive measurable growth for your brand.

What makes influencer marketing effective at high-profile events like Coachella?

Meltwater’s analysis of Coachella 2026 shows that effectiveness comes down to authenticity and audience value. The top-performing posts were native to each creator’s style and offered something engaging, such as giveaways, tutorials, or behind-the-scenes experiences. This combination consistently drove high engagement and strong EMV (Estimated Media Value).

Which social media platforms perform best for influencer campaigns during live events?

While platform mix matters, Meltwater’s Coachella 2026 data highlights TikTok as the clear performance leader for live events. Even though Instagram accounted for a similar share of total influencer content, every top-performing branded post by engagement came from TikTok, demonstrating the platform’s strength for leveraging live events.

How should brands measure influencer marketing success at large-scale events?

According to Meltwater, success should be measured using a combination of engagement metrics and EMV. By analyzing likes, comments, shares, and saves alongside estimated media value, brands can better understand which influencer partnerships are delivering meaningful ROI during tentpole events.

What types of influencer content work best during cultural moments?

Meltwater’s Coachella 2026 insights show that content offering tangible value—like GRWM videos, tutorials, and practical hacks—drives high engagement, especially saves and shares. Interactive content such as giveaways can also significantly boost performance.

When is the best time to activate influencer campaigns around major events?

Meltwater data reveals that the highest-performing Coachella 2026 posts were published during the first weekend, particularly in the first two of the three days. Launching content early allows brands to capture peak audience attention before saturation sets in.

How important is creative freedom for influencers in brand partnerships?

Meltwater’s analysis underscores that creative freedom is essential. The most successful Coachella posts seamlessly integrated brand messaging into the influencer’s existing content style. 

How can brands choose the right influencers for high-profile events?

Using tools like Meltwater Influencer Discovery, brands can evaluate creators based on audience demographics, engagement rates, and brand alignment. The Coachella 2026 data shows that campaigns perform best when there’s a strong match between the influencer’s audience and the brand’s target market. 

How can brands create successful influencer marketing campaigns at other major events (e.g., festivals, sports, global moments)?

Meltwater’s Coachella 2026 analysis provides a repeatable framework: prioritize TikTok-first strategies, activate early, focus on authentic creator partnerships, and deliver audience value. Brands can apply these insights to events like the World Cup, fashion weeks, and beyond to drive measurable influencer marketing success.

Thanks to decades of clinical research and public education initiatives, people all around the world know just how important sun protection is to skin health. But when it comes to sunscreen, which brands deserve your trust and which ones don’t? For an increasing number of consumers, answering that question begins with an LLM prompt. The resulting shortlist of brands can then become their guide on the buyer journey to a more confident purchase. 

According to our GenAI Lens analysis of LLM recommendations for the best facial SPF:

Dermatologist-backed brands dominate the category.

Beauty editors, review platforms, and medical sources dominate the leading sources.

Brand-owned content didn’t move the needle.

Here’s what brands in sun protection and beyond need to know about where and how they appear in LLM recommendations.

Methodology: This analysis is based on GenAI Lens data on LLM responses to the prompt Best SPF for your face generated from March 14 to April 14, 2026, across seven LLM modes: Claude, Deepseek, ChatGPT, Llama, Google AI Mode, Google AI Overviews, and Perplexity. Request a demo to see how an AI visibility analysis can surface actionable insights tailored to your industry and brand.

Meltwater AI Intelligence Sunscreen.pdf

Download a one-page summary of key findings and takeaways from this GenAI Lens analysis.

AI Visibility Tiers: Which Sunscreen Brands Did LLMs Surface Most?

Which AI Models Surface Which Sunscreen Brands?

Key Takeaways: What Our Sunscreen Analysis Means for All Brands

FAQ: LLM Recommendations and Sunscreen Brand Visibility

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  <div style="padding:16px 20px;">
    <div style="font-size:18px;font-weight:600;color:#000;">Facial Sunscreen Performance Overview</div>
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  <div style="padding:0 16px 16px 16px;">
    <table style="width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;table-layout:fixed;font-size:14px;color:#4c4d4f;text-align:center;">

      
      <tr>
        <th style="padding:12px;">Visibility Ranking</th>
        <th style="padding:12px;">Brand</th>
        <th style="padding:12px;">Visibility Score</th>
        <th style="padding:12px;background:#eef3f7;">Total Mentions</th>
        <th style="padding:12px;">Mention Rate</th>
      </tr>

      

      
      <tr style="border-top:1px solid #eaeaea;height:64px;">
        <td>1</td>
        <td style="font-weight:600;color:#28bbbb;">EltaMD</td>
        <td>
          <svg width="44" height="44" viewBox="0 0 36 36">
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#eaeaea" stroke-width="4" fill="none"/>
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#28bbbb" stroke-width="4" fill="none" stroke-dasharray="60 100" stroke-linecap="round" transform="rotate(-90 18 18)"/>
            <text x="18" y="21" text-anchor="middle" font-size="10" fill="#000">60%</text>
          </svg>
        </td>
        <td style="background:#eef3f7;">198 </td>
        <td>
          <svg width="44" height="44" viewBox="0 0 36 36">
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#eaeaea" stroke-width="4" fill="none"/>
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#ff6221" stroke-width="4" fill="none" stroke-dasharray="51 100" stroke-linecap="round" transform="rotate(-90 18 18)"/>
            <text x="18" y="21" text-anchor="middle" font-size="10" fill="#000">51%</text>
          </svg>
        </td>
      </tr>

      
      <tr style="border-top:1px solid #eaeaea;height:64px;">
        <td>2</td>
        <td style="font-weight:600;color:#28bbbb;">La Roche-Posay</td>
        <td>
          <svg width="44" height="44" viewBox="0 0 36 36">
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#eaeaea" stroke-width="4" fill="none"/>
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#28bbbb" stroke-width="4" fill="none" stroke-dasharray="60 100" stroke-linecap="round" transform="rotate(-90 18 18)"/>
            <text x="18" y="21" text-anchor="middle" font-size="10" fill="#000">60%</text>
          </svg>
        </td>
        <td style="background:#eef3f7;">195 </td>
        <td>
          <svg width="44" height="44" viewBox="0 0 36 36">
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#eaeaea" stroke-width="4" fill="none"/>
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#ff6221" stroke-width="4" fill="none" stroke-dasharray="55 100" stroke-linecap="round" transform="rotate(-90 18 18)"/>
            <text x="18" y="21" text-anchor="middle" font-size="10" fill="#000">55%</text>
          </svg>
        </td>
      </tr>

      
      <tr style="border-top:1px solid #eaeaea;height:64px;">
        <td>3</td>
        <td style="font-weight:600;color:#28bbbb;">Supergoop</td>
        <td>
          <svg width="44" height="44" viewBox="0 0 36 36">
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#eaeaea" stroke-width="4" fill="none"/>
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#ff6221" stroke-width="4" fill="none" stroke-dasharray="48 100" stroke-linecap="round" transform="rotate(-90 18 18)"/>
            <text x="18" y="21" text-anchor="middle" font-size="10" fill="#000">48%</text>
          </svg>

        </td>
        <td style="background:#eef3f7;">144 </td>
        <td>
          <svg width="44" height="44" viewBox="0 0 36 36">
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#eaeaea" stroke-width="4" fill="none"/>
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#ff6221" stroke-width="4" fill="none" stroke-dasharray="46 100" stroke-linecap="round" transform="rotate(-90 18 18)"/>
            <text x="18" y="21" text-anchor="middle" font-size="10" fill="#000">46%</text>
          </svg>
        </td>
      </tr>

      
      <tr style="border-top:1px solid #eaeaea;height:64px;">
        <td>4</td>
        <td style="font-weight:600;color:#28bbbb;">CeraVe</td>
        <td>
          <svg width="44" height="44" viewBox="0 0 36 36">
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#eaeaea" stroke-width="4" fill="none"/>
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#ff6221" stroke-width="4" fill="none" stroke-dasharray="33 100" stroke-linecap="round" transform="rotate(-90 18 18)"/>
            <text x="18" y="21" text-anchor="middle" font-size="10" fill="#000">33%</text>
          </svg>
        </td>
        <td style="background:#eef3f7;">88 </td>
        <td>
          <svg width="44" height="44" viewBox="0 0 36 36">
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#eaeaea" stroke-width="4" fill="none"/>
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#ff6221" stroke-width="4" fill="none" stroke-dasharray="33 100" stroke-linecap="round" transform="rotate(-90 18 18)"/>
            <text x="18" y="21" text-anchor="middle" font-size="10" fill="#000">33%</text>
          </svg>
        </td>
      </tr>

      
      <tr style="border-top:1px solid #eaeaea;height:64px;">
        <td>5</td>
        <td style="font-weight:600;color:#28bbbb;">Neutrogena</td>
        <td>
          <svg width="44" height="44" viewBox="0 0 36 36">
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#eaeaea" stroke-width="4" fill="none"/>
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#ff6221" stroke-width="4" fill="none" stroke-dasharray="30 100" stroke-linecap="round" transform="rotate(-90 18 18)"/>
            <text x="18" y="21" text-anchor="middle" font-size="10" fill="#000">30%</text>
          </svg>
        </td>
        <td style="background:#eef3f7;">87 </td>
        <td>
          <svg width="44" height="44" viewBox="0 0 36 36">
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#eaeaea" stroke-width="4" fill="none"/>
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#ff6221" stroke-width="4" fill="none" stroke-dasharray="26 100" stroke-linecap="round" transform="rotate(-90 18 18)"/>
            <text x="18" y="21" text-anchor="middle" font-size="10" fill="#000">26%</text>
          </svg>
        </td>
      </tr>

      
      <tr style="border-top:1px solid #eaeaea;height:64px;">
        <td>6</td>
        <td style="font-weight:600;color:#28bbbb;">COOLA</td>
        <td>
          <svg width="44" height="44" viewBox="0 0 36 36">
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#eaeaea" stroke-width="4" fill="none"/>
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#ff6221" stroke-width="4" fill="none" stroke-dasharray="23 100" stroke-linecap="round" transform="rotate(-90 18 18)"/>
            <text x="18" y="21" text-anchor="middle" font-size="10" fill="#000">23%</text>
          </svg>
        </td>
        <td style="background:#eef3f7;">50 </td>
        <td>
          <svg width="44" height="44" viewBox="0 0 36 36">
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#eaeaea" stroke-width="4" fill="none"/>
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#ff6221" stroke-width="4" fill="none" stroke-dasharray="15 100" stroke-linecap="round" transform="rotate(-90 18 18)"/>
            <text x="18" y="21" text-anchor="middle" font-size="10" fill="#000">15%</text>
          </svg>
        </td>
      </tr>

      
      <tr style="border-top:1px solid #eaeaea;height:64px;">
        <td>7</td>
        <td style="font-weight:600;color:#28bbbb;">Colorescience</td>
        <td>
          <svg width="44" height="44" viewBox="0 0 36 36">
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#eaeaea" stroke-width="4" fill="none"/>
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#ff6221" stroke-width="4" fill="none" stroke-dasharray="25 100" stroke-linecap="round" transform="rotate(-90 18 18)"/>
            <text x="16" y="21" text-anchor="middle" font-size="10" fill="#000">16%</text>
          </svg>
        </td>
        <td style="background:#eef3f7;">36 </td>
        <td>
          <svg width="44" height="44" viewBox="0 0 36 36">
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#eaeaea" stroke-width="4" fill="none"/>
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#ff6221" stroke-width="4" fill="none" stroke-dasharray="14 100" stroke-linecap="round" transform="rotate(-90 18 18)"/>
            <text x="18" y="21" text-anchor="middle" font-size="10" fill="#000">14%</text>
          </svg>
        </td>
      </tr>

      
      <tr style="border-top:1px solid #eaeaea;height:64px;">
        <td>8</td>
        <td style="font-weight:600;color:#28bbbb;">Black Girl Sunscreen</td>
        <td>
          <svg width="44" height="44" viewBox="0 0 36 36">
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#eaeaea" stroke-width="4" fill="none"/>
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#ff6221" stroke-width="4" fill="none" stroke-dasharray="9 100" stroke-linecap="round" transform="rotate(-90 18 18)"/>
            <text x="18" y="21" text-anchor="middle" font-size="10" fill="#000">9%</text>
          </svg>
        </td>
        <td style="background:#eef3f7;">15 </td>
        <td>
          <svg width="44" height="44" viewBox="0 0 36 36">
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#eaeaea" stroke-width="4" fill="none"/>
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#ff6221" stroke-width="4" fill="none" stroke-dasharray="7 100" stroke-linecap="round" transform="rotate(-90 18 18)"/>
            <text x="18" y="21" text-anchor="middle" font-size="10" fill="#000">7%</text>
          </svg>
        </td>
      </tr>

      
      <tr style="border-top:1px solid #eaeaea;height:64px;">
        <td>9</td>
        <td style="font-weight:600;color:#28bbbb;">Shiseido</td>
        <td>
          <svg width="44" height="44" viewBox="0 0 36 36">
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#eaeaea" stroke-width="4" fill="none"/>
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#ff6221" stroke-width="4" fill="none" stroke-dasharray="10 100" stroke-linecap="round" transform="rotate(-90 18 18)"/>
            <text x="18" y="21" text-anchor="middle" font-size="10" fill="#000">10%</text>
          </svg>
        </td>
        <td style="background:#eef3f7;">11 </td>
        <td>
          <svg width="44" height="44" viewBox="0 0 36 36">
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#eaeaea" stroke-width="4" fill="none"/>
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#ff6221" stroke-width="4" fill="none" stroke-dasharray="5 100" stroke-linecap="round" transform="rotate(-90 18 18)"/>
            <text x="18" y="21" text-anchor="middle" font-size="10" fill="#000">5%</text>
          </svg>
        </td>
      </tr>

      
      <tr style="border-top:1px solid #eaeaea;height:64px;">
        <td>10</td>
        <td style="font-weight:600;color:#28bbbb;">Sephora</td>
        <td>
          <svg width="44" height="44" viewBox="0 0 36 36">
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#eaeaea" stroke-width="4" fill="none"/>
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#ff6221" stroke-width="4" fill="none" stroke-dasharray="11 100" stroke-linecap="round" transform="rotate(-90 18 18)"/>
            <text x="18" y="21" text-anchor="middle" font-size="10" fill="#000">11%</text>
          </svg>
        </td>
        <td style="background:#eef3f7;">8 </td>
        <td>
          <svg width="44" height="44" viewBox="0 0 36 36">
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#eaeaea" stroke-width="4" fill="none"/>
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#ff6221" stroke-width="4" fill="none" stroke-dasharray="4 100" stroke-linecap="round" transform="rotate(-90 18 18)"/>
            <text x="18" y="21" text-anchor="middle" font-size="10" fill="#000">4%</text>
          </svg>
        </td>
      </tr>

    </table>
  </div>
</div>

Evaluating across all metrics — including visibility, total mentions, and mention rate — the facial sunscreen category separates into three distinct tiers of visibility, led by names whose clinically proven effectiveness factor heavily in their branding.

Tier 1: The default answers (60% visibility)

EltaMD (60% visibility, 198 mentions) and La Roche-Posay (60%, 195 mentions) are effectively the default sunscreen answer in AI, appearing in six out of ten responses. Their lead is thanks to their strong presence in high-authority editorial and clinical sources (more on that below), which are heavily represented in AI citations.

Tier 2: High-potential challengers (33–48% visibility)

Supergoop (48%, 144 mentions), CeraVe (33%, 88 mentions), and Neutrogena (30%, 87 mentions) form a second tier of AI visibility that highlights a fundamental challenge: Widespread name recognition and availability don’t necessarily translate into frequent, prominent LLM recommendations. For this tier, mentions in third-party content tend to skew toward general skincare rather than best-in-class sunscreen recommendations.

Tier 3: Low visibility with niche ownership (9–23%)

COOLA (23%, 50 mentions), Colorescience (16%, 36 mentions), Black Girl Sunscreen (9%, 15 mentions), Shiseido (10%, 11 mentions), and Sephora (11%, 8 mentions) achieved limited visibility in response to our prompt. However, AI did recognize specific differentiators, such as COOLA’s and Colorescience’s mineral/reef-safe positioning. 

Implications for brands: Across visibility tiers, brands benefit from third-party validation and differentiation through specific sub-categories and use cases. However, as we’ll expand on next, which brands break through ultimately depends on the LLM generating the response. 

<div style="max-width:1100px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;background:#ffffff;border-radius:12px;box-shadow:0 4px 12px rgba(0,0,0,0.08);border:1px solid #eaeaea;overflow:hidden;">

  
  <div style="height:6px;background:linear-gradient(90deg,#28bbbb,#b627a1);"></div>

  
  <div style="padding:16px 20px 8px 20px;">
    <div style="font-size:18px;font-weight:600;color:#000;">Brands performance by model</div>
  </div>

  
  <div style="padding:8px 16px 8px 16px;">
    <table style="width:100%;table-layout:fixed;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:6px;font-size:10px;color:#4c4d4f;text-align:center;">

      
      <tr>
        <th style="text-align:left;"> </th>
        <th>Claude</th>
        <th>DeepSeek</th>
        <th>ChatGPT</th>
        <th>Llama</th>
        <th>Google AI Mode</th>
        <th>Google AI Overview</th>
        <th>Perplexity</th>
      </tr>

      
      <tr style="height:52px;">
        <td style="text-align:left;font-weight:600;color:#28bbbb;">La Roche-Posay</td>
        <td style="background:#4a82c6;border-radius:6px;color:#fff;">67</td>
        <td style="background:#1e4fa0;border-radius:6px;color:#fff;">97</td>
        <td style="background:#8aa6cc;border-radius:6px;color:#fff;">35</td>
        <td style="background:#8aa6cc;border-radius:6px;color:#fff;">41</td>
        <td style="background:#4a82c6;border-radius:6px;color:#fff;">68</td>
        <td style="background:#d5dde7;border-radius:6px;color:#4c4d4f;">13</td>
        <td style="background:#4a82c6;border-radius:6px;color:#fff;">80</td>
      </tr>

      
      <tr style="height:52px;">
        <td style="text-align:left;font-weight:600;color:#28bbbb;">EltaMD</td>
        <td style="background:#4a82c6;color:#fff;border-radius:6px;">73</td>
        <td style="background:#1e4fa0;color:#fff;border-radius:6px;">97</td>
        <td style="background:#8aa6cc;color:#fff;border-radius:6px;">39</td>
        <td style="background:#8aa6cc;color:#fff;border-radius:6px;">42</td>
        <td style="background:#4a82c6;color:#fff;border-radius:6px;">71</td>
        <td style="background:#c7d2de;color:#4c4d4f;border-radius:6px;">17</td>
        <td style="background:#8aa6cc;color:#fff;border-radius:6px;">41</td>
      </tr>

      
      <tr style="height:52px;">
        <td style="text-align:left;font-weight:600;color:#28bbbb;">Supergoop</td>
        <td style="background:#5f8fc9;color:#fff;border-radius:6px;">45</td>
        <td style="background:#1e4fa0;color:#fff;border-radius:6px;">95</td>
        <td style="background:#aabbd0;color:#fff;border-radius:6px;">25</td>
        <td style="background:#eaeaea;color:#4c4d4f;border-radius:6px;">0</td>
        <td style="background:#4a82c6;color:#fff;border-radius:6px;">71</td>
        <td style="background:#c7d2de;color:#4c4d4f;border-radius:6px;">17</td>
        <td style="background:#5f8fc9;color:#fff;border-radius:6px;">56</td>
      </tr>

      
      <tr style="height:52px;">
        <td style="text-align:left;font-weight:600;color:#28bbbb;">CeraVe</td>
        <td style="background:#5f8fc9;color:#fff;border-radius:6px;">45</td>
        <td style="background:#3f78c2;color:#fff;border-radius:6px;">82</td>
        <td style="background:#aabbd0;color:#fff;border-radius:6px;">28</td>
        <td style="background:#eaeaea;color:#4c4d4f;border-radius:6px;">0</td>
        <td style="background:#8aa6cc;color:#fff;border-radius:6px;">42</td>
        <td style="background:#d5dde7;color:#4c4d4f;border-radius:6px;">13</td>
        <td style="background:#c7d2de;color:#4c4d4f;border-radius:6px;">17</td>
      </tr>

      
      <tr style="height:52px;">
        <td style="text-align:left;font-weight:600;color:#28bbbb;">Neutrogena</td>
        <td style="background:#b7c5d6;color:#4c4d4f;border-radius:6px;">19</td>
        <td style="background:#1e4fa0;color:#fff;border-radius:6px;">93</td>
        <td style="background:#d5dde7;color:#4c4d4f;border-radius:6px;">13</td>
        <td style="background:#8aa6cc;color:#fff;border-radius:6px;">37</td>
        <td style="background:#eaeaea;color:#4c4d4f;border-radius:6px;">0</td>
        <td style="background:#eaeaea;color:#4c4d4f;border-radius:6px;">0</td>
        <td style="background:#aabbd0;color:#fff;border-radius:6px;">28</td>
      </tr>

      
      <tr style="height:52px;">
        <td style="text-align:left;font-weight:600;color:#28bbbb;">COOLA</td>
        <td style="background:#4a82c6;color:#fff;border-radius:6px;">80</td>
        <td style="background:#eaeaea;color:#4c4d4f;border-radius:6px;">0</td>
        <td style="background:#eaeaea;color:#4c4d4f;border-radius:6px;">0</td>
        <td style="background:#eaeaea;color:#4c4d4f;border-radius:6px;">0</td>
        <td style="background:#aabbd0;color:#fff;border-radius:6px;">25</td>
        <td style="background:#eaeaea;color:#4c4d4f;border-radius:6px;">0</td>
        <td style="background:#b7c5d6;color:#4c4d4f;border-radius:6px;">22</td>
      </tr>

      
      <tr style="height:52px;">
        <td style="text-align:left;font-weight:600;color:#28bbbb;">Colorescience</td>
        <td style="background:#eaeaea;color:#4c4d4f;border-radius:6px;">0</td>
        <td style="background:#b7c5d6;color:#4c4d4f;border-radius:6px;">23</td>
        <td style="background:#b7c5d6;color:#4c4d4f;border-radius:6px;">23</td>
        <td style="background:#eaeaea;color:#4c4d4f;border-radius:6px;">0</td>
        <td style="background:#8aa6cc;color:#fff;border-radius:6px;">37</td>
        <td style="background:#d5dde7;color:#4c4d4f;border-radius:6px;">12</td>
        <td style="background:#d5dde7;color:#4c4d4f;border-radius:6px;">8</td>
      </tr>

      
      <tr style="height:52px;">
        <td style="text-align:left;font-weight:600;color:#28bbbb;">Black Girl Sunscreen</td>
        <td style="background:#eaeaea;color:#4c4d4f;border-radius:6px;">0</td>
        <td style="background:#aabbd0;color:#fff;border-radius:6px;">30</td>
        <td style="background:#eaeaea;color:#4c4d4f;border-radius:6px;">0</td>
        <td style="background:#eaeaea;color:#4c4d4f;border-radius:6px;">0</td>
        <td style="background:#d5dde7;color:#4c4d4f;border-radius:6px;">11</td>
        <td style="background:#d5dde7;color:#4c4d4f;border-radius:6px;">12</td>
        <td style="background:#eaeaea;color:#4c4d4f;border-radius:6px;">5</td>
      </tr>

      
      <tr style="height:52px;">
        <td style="text-align:left;font-weight:600;color:#28bbbb;">Shiseido</td>
        <td style="background:#eaeaea;color:#4c4d4f;border-radius:6px;">0</td>
        <td style="background:#eaeaea;color:#4c4d4f;border-radius:6px;">6</td>
        <td style="background:#eaeaea;color:#4c4d4f;border-radius:6px;">0</td>
        <td style="background:#eaeaea;color:#4c4d4f;border-radius:6px;">0</td>
        <td style="background:#b7c5d6;color:#4c4d4f;border-radius:6px;">23</td>
        <td style="background:#d5dde7;color:#4c4d4f;border-radius:6px;">11</td>
        <td style="background:#d5dde7;color:#4c4d4f;border-radius:6px;">8</td>
      </tr>

      
      <tr style="height:52px;">
        <td style="text-align:left;font-weight:600;color:#28bbbb;">Sephora</td>
        <td style="background:#eaeaea;color:#4c4d4f;border-radius:6px;">0</td>
        <td style="background:#eaeaea;color:#4c4d4f;border-radius:6px;">0</td>
        <td style="background:#eaeaea;color:#4c4d4f;border-radius:6px;">0</td>
        <td style="background:#eaeaea;color:#4c4d4f;border-radius:6px;">0</td>
        <td style="background:#c7d2de;color:#4c4d4f;border-radius:6px;">18</td>
        <td style="background:#eaeaea;color:#4c4d4f;border-radius:6px;">0</td>
        <td style="background:#c7d2de;color:#4c4d4f;border-radius:6px;">18</td>
      </tr>

    </table>
  </div>

  
  <div style="padding:12px 20px 16px 20px;">
    <div style="height:10px;border-radius:6px;background:linear-gradient(90deg,#eaeaea,#9fb4cc,#5f8fc9,#2f6fbf,#1e4fa0);margin-bottom:6px;"></div>
    <div style="display:flex;justify-content:space-between;font-size:11px;color:#4c4d4f;">
      <span>0–11</span>
      <span>11–19</span>
      <span>19–33</span>
      <span>33–51</span>
      <span>51–81</span>
      <span>81–99</span>
    </div>
  </div>

</div>

Consumers see dramatically different recommendations depending on which LLM platform they search on. As the heatmap above shows, sunscreen brands can have high visibility on one model and be invisible on others. 

DeepSeek was the most brand-inclusive model.

DeepSeek consistently surfaces the broadest set of brands, with La Roche-Posay (97%), EltaMD (97%), Supergoop (95%), and Neutrogena (93%) all registering near-maximum scores. This suggests that DeepSeek drew on the widest range of sources of all the models.

The only LLM platform that COOLA scored high visibility on was Claude, which also scored it higher than any other brand at 80%. This may point to Claude’s reliance on expert-led, third-party content like this “Best Face Sunscreens of 2026” blog (more on that below), which declared COOLA’s Classic Face Sunscreen SPF 50 its top pick overall.

Google AI Mode and Google AI Overviews recommendations were not the same. 

La Roche-Posay (68%), EltaMD (71%), and Supergoop (71%) achieved high visibility scores in Google AI Mode, an opt-in LLM experience. However, on Google AI Overviews, which reaches a larger audience by virtue of being opt-out, no brand scored higher than 17%. This gap shows how the tighter, summary-style format of AI Overviews leaves room for fewer brands compared to more expansive, chat-based experiences like AI Mode.

Meta Llama and ChatGPT: Inconsistent mid-tier

ChatGPT and Meta Llama surfaced first-tier brands reliably but show significant dropoff for everyone else. And even so, no brand achieved higher than 42% visibility, suggesting that these models prioritize widely validated brands over exploration for more niche or specialized products. 

Takeaway: With LLM models varying so drastically, brands should focus on building consistent authority across high-quality third-party sources rather than optimizing for any single platform.

<div style="max-width:1000px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;background:#ffffff;border-radius:12px;box-shadow:0 4px 12px rgba(0,0,0,0.08);border:1px solid #eaeaea;overflow:hidden;">

  
  <div style="height:6px;background:linear-gradient(90deg,#28bbbb,#b627a1);"></div>

  
  <div style="padding:16px 20px;">
    <div style="font-size:18px;font-weight:600;color:#000;">Top Keywords</div>
  </div>

  
  <div style="padding:0 16px 16px 16px;">
    <table style="width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;table-layout:fixed;font-size:14px;color:#4c4d4f;text-align:center;">

      
      <tr>
        <th style="padding:12px;"</th>
        <th style="padding:12px;">Keyword</th>
        <th style="padding:12px;">Visibility Score</th>
        <th style="padding:12px;background:#eef3f7;">Total Mentions</th>
        <th style="padding:12px;">Mention Rate</th>
      </tr>

      

      
      <tr style="border-top:1px solid #eaeaea;height:64px;">
        <td>1</td>
        <td style="font-weight:600;color:#28bbbb;">face</td>
        <td>
          <svg width="44" height="44" viewBox="0 0 36 36">
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#eaeaea" stroke-width="4" fill="none"/>
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#28bbbb" stroke-width="4" fill="none" stroke-dasharray="82 100" stroke-linecap="round" transform="rotate(-90 18 18)"/>
            <text x="18" y="21" text-anchor="middle" font-size="10" fill="#000">82%</text>
          </svg>
        </td>
        <td style="background:#eef3f7;">410 </td>
        <td>
          <svg width="44" height="44" viewBox="0 0 36 36">
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#eaeaea" stroke-width="4" fill="none"/>
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#28bbbb" stroke-width="4" fill="none" stroke-dasharray="61 100" stroke-linecap="round" transform="rotate(-90 18 18)"/>
            <text x="18" y="21" text-anchor="middle" font-size="10" fill="#000">61%</text>
          </svg>
        </td>
      </tr>

      
      <tr style="border-top:1px solid #eaeaea;height:64px;">
        <td>2</td>
        <td style="font-weight:600;color:#28bbbb;">sunscreen</td>
        <td>
          <svg width="44" height="44" viewBox="0 0 36 36">
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#eaeaea" stroke-width="4" fill="none"/>
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#28bbbb" stroke-width="4" fill="none" stroke-dasharray="63 100" stroke-linecap="round" transform="rotate(-90 18 18)"/>
            <text x="18" y="21" text-anchor="middle" font-size="10" fill="#000">63%</text>
          </svg>
        </td>
        <td style="background:#eef3f7;">298 </td>
        <td>
          <svg width="44" height="44" viewBox="0 0 36 36">
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#eaeaea" stroke-width="4" fill="none"/>
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#ff6221" stroke-width="4" fill="none" stroke-dasharray="21 100" stroke-linecap="round" transform="rotate(-90 18 18)"/>
            <text x="18" y="21" text-anchor="middle" font-size="10" fill="#000">21%</text>
          </svg>
        </td>
      </tr>

      
      <tr style="border-top:1px solid #eaeaea;height:64px;">
        <td>3</td>
        <td style="font-weight:600;color:#28bbbb;">skin</td>
        <td>
          <svg width="44" height="44" viewBox="0 0 36 36">
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#eaeaea" stroke-width="4" fill="none"/>
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#ff6221" stroke-width="4" fill="none" stroke-dasharray="56 100" stroke-linecap="round" transform="rotate(-90 18 18)"/>
            <text x="18" y="21" text-anchor="middle" font-size="10" fill="#000">56%</text>
          </svg>

        </td>
        <td style="background:#eef3f7;">264 </td>
        <td>
          <svg width="44" height="44" viewBox="0 0 36 36">
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#eaeaea" stroke-width="4" fill="none"/>
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#ff6221" stroke-width="4" fill="none" stroke-dasharray="16 100" stroke-linecap="round" transform="rotate(-90 18 18)"/>
            <text x="18" y="21" text-anchor="middle" font-size="10" fill="#000">16%</text>
          </svg>
        </td>
      </tr>

      
      <tr style="border-top:1px solid #eaeaea;height:64px;">
        <td>4</td>
        <td style="font-weight:600;color:#28bbbb;">makeup</td>
        <td>
          <svg width="44" height="44" viewBox="0 0 36 36">
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#eaeaea" stroke-width="4" fill="none"/>
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#ff6221" stroke-width="4" fill="none" stroke-dasharray="47 100" stroke-linecap="round" transform="rotate(-90 18 18)"/>
            <text x="18" y="21" text-anchor="middle" font-size="10" fill="#000">47%</text>
          </svg>
        </td>
        <td style="background:#eef3f7;">184 </td>
        <td>
          <svg width="44" height="44" viewBox="0 0 36 36">
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#eaeaea" stroke-width="4" fill="none"/>
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#ff6221" stroke-width="4" fill="none" stroke-dasharray="27 100" stroke-linecap="round" transform="rotate(-90 18 18)"/>
            <text x="18" y="21" text-anchor="middle" font-size="10" fill="#000">27%</text>
          </svg>
        </td>
      </tr>

      
      <tr style="border-top:1px solid #eaeaea;height:64px;">
        <td>5</td>
        <td style="font-weight:600;color:#28bbbb;">protection</td>
        <td>
          <svg width="44" height="44" viewBox="0 0 36 36">
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#eaeaea" stroke-width="4" fill="none"/>
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#ff6221" stroke-width="4" fill="none" stroke-dasharray="42 100" stroke-linecap="round" transform="rotate(-90 18 18)"/>
            <text x="18" y="21" text-anchor="middle" font-size="10" fill="#000">42%</text>
          </svg>
        </td>
        <td style="background:#eef3f7;">168 </td>
        <td>
          <svg width="44" height="44" viewBox="0 0 36 36">
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#eaeaea" stroke-width="4" fill="none"/>
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#ff6221" stroke-width="4" fill="none" stroke-dasharray="16 100" stroke-linecap="round" transform="rotate(-90 18 18)"/>
            <text x="18" y="21" text-anchor="middle" font-size="10" fill="#000">16%</text>
          </svg>
        </td>
      </tr>

      
      <tr style="border-top:1px solid #eaeaea;height:64px;">
        <td>6</td>
        <td style="font-weight:600;color:#28bbbb;">skin type</td>
        <td>
          <svg width="44" height="44" viewBox="0 0 36 36">
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#eaeaea" stroke-width="4" fill="none"/>
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#ff6221" stroke-width="4" fill="none" stroke-dasharray="48 100" stroke-linecap="round" transform="rotate(-90 18 18)"/>
            <text x="18" y="21" text-anchor="middle" font-size="10" fill="#000">48%</text>
          </svg>
        </td>
        <td style="background:#eef3f7;">155 </td>
        <td>
          <svg width="44" height="44" viewBox="0 0 36 36">
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#eaeaea" stroke-width="4" fill="none"/>
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#ff6221" stroke-width="4" fill="none" stroke-dasharray="38 100" stroke-linecap="round" transform="rotate(-90 18 18)"/>
            <text x="18" y="21" text-anchor="middle" font-size="10" fill="#000">38%</text>
          </svg>
        </td>
      </tr>

      
      <tr style="border-top:1px solid #eaeaea;height:64px;">
        <td>7</td>
        <td style="font-weight:600;color:#28bbbb;">mineral</td>
        <td>
          <svg width="44" height="44" viewBox="0 0 36 36">
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#eaeaea" stroke-width="4" fill="none"/>
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#ff6221" stroke-width="4" fill="none" stroke-dasharray="40 100" stroke-linecap="round" transform="rotate(-90 18 18)"/>
            <text x="16" y="21" text-anchor="middle" font-size="10" fill="#000">40%</text>
          </svg>
        </td>
        <td style="background:#eef3f7;">148 </td>
        <td>
          <svg width="44" height="44" viewBox="0 0 36 36">
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#eaeaea" stroke-width="4" fill="none"/>
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#ff6221" stroke-width="4" fill="none" stroke-dasharray="22 100" stroke-linecap="round" transform="rotate(-90 18 18)"/>
            <text x="18" y="21" text-anchor="middle" font-size="10" fill="#000">22%</text>
          </svg>
        </td>
      </tr>

      
      <tr style="border-top:1px solid #eaeaea;height:64px;">
        <td>8</td>
        <td style="font-weight:600;color:#28bbbb;">sensitive skin</td>
        <td>
          <svg width="44" height="44" viewBox="0 0 36 36">
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#eaeaea" stroke-width="4" fill="none"/>
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#ff6221" stroke-width="4" fill="none" stroke-dasharray="41 100" stroke-linecap="round" transform="rotate(-90 18 18)"/>
            <text x="18" y="21" text-anchor="middle" font-size="10" fill="#000">41%</text>
          </svg>
        </td>
        <td style="background:#eef3f7;">135 </td>
        <td>
          <svg width="44" height="44" viewBox="0 0 36 36">
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#eaeaea" stroke-width="4" fill="none"/>
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#ff6221" stroke-width="4" fill="none" stroke-dasharray="7 100" stroke-linecap="round" transform="rotate(-90 18 18)"/>
            <text x="18" y="21" text-anchor="middle" font-size="10" fill="#000">29%</text>
          </svg>
        </td>
      </tr>

      
      <tr style="border-top:1px solid #eaeaea;height:64px;">
        <td>9</td>
        <td style="font-weight:600;color:#28bbbb;">acne</td>
        <td>
          <svg width="44" height="44" viewBox="0 0 36 36">
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#eaeaea" stroke-width="4" fill="none"/>
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#ff6221" stroke-width="4" fill="none" stroke-dasharray="39 100" stroke-linecap="round" transform="rotate(-90 18 18)"/>
            <text x="18" y="21" text-anchor="middle" font-size="10" fill="#000">39%</text>
          </svg>
        </td>
        <td style="background:#eef3f7;">115 </td>
        <td>
          <svg width="44" height="44" viewBox="0 0 36 36">
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#eaeaea" stroke-width="4" fill="none"/>
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#ff6221" stroke-width="4" fill="none" stroke-dasharray="31 100" stroke-linecap="round" transform="rotate(-90 18 18)"/>
            <text x="18" y="21" text-anchor="middle" font-size="10" fill="#000">31%</text>
          </svg>
        </td>
      </tr>

      
      <tr style="border-top:1px solid #eaeaea;height:64px;">
        <td>10</td>
        <td style="font-weight:600;color:#28bbbb;">best SPF</td>
        <td>
          <svg width="44" height="44" viewBox="0 0 36 36">
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#eaeaea" stroke-width="4" fill="none"/>
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#ff6221" stroke-width="4" fill="none" stroke-dasharray="37 100" stroke-linecap="round" transform="rotate(-90 18 18)"/>
            <text x="18" y="21" text-anchor="middle" font-size="10" fill="#000">37%</text>
          </svg>
        </td>
        <td style="background:#eef3f7;">95 </td>
        <td>
          <svg width="44" height="44" viewBox="0 0 36 36">
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#eaeaea" stroke-width="4" fill="none"/>
            <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="16" stroke="#ff6221" stroke-width="4" fill="none" stroke-dasharray="27 100" stroke-linecap="round" transform="rotate(-90 18 18)"/>
            <text x="18" y="21" text-anchor="middle" font-size="10" fill="#000">27%</text>
          </svg>
        </td>
      </tr>

    </table>
  </div>
</div>

The keywords most frequently mentioned in AI-generated facial sunscreen recommendations reveal how LLMs frame what “best” means in this category. Terms related to sun protection are a given, but others like “makeup”, “skin type”, “sensitive skin”, and “acne” show how AI-generated answers frame “best” through potential, personalized use cases. 

Tip: For LLM analyses tailored to your brand, GenAI Lens’ keyword widget shows you where to dig deeper. For this sunscreen example, next steps include analyzing prompts related to specific consumer use cases, such as layering with makeup or preventing breakouts. See how it works in real time — request a demo to explore the prompts, keywords, and sources shaping AI recommendations in your category.

Expert-led publications and blogs, as well as beauty retail websites, comprised the top 10 sources cited in LLM answers to our sunscreen prompt. Brand-owned websites were completely absent. As we’ve seen in previous analyses, these results highlight just how much LLMs pull from niche subject matter experts to shape their recommendations to users.

Elements like thorough methodologies, clear structuring, and a comparison table helped this Treeline Review blog stand out to LLM models on the hunt for unbiased, reliable information.

For example, the American Academy of Dermatology website was the third-most influential source with 37 citations of practical resources like this “Sunscreen FAQ” that don’t explicitly mention brands. Fashion website Who What Wear came in second place with 38 citations, thanks to content, like this rigorously researched and tested list of the best facial SPFs. This publication is also home to two of the most cited journalists for this prompt, Eleanor Vousden of Who What Wear UK (28 citations) and Claire Sullivan of Footwear News/WWD (23 citations). However, it was Treeline Review, an outdoor gear review website that generated the most AI citations, with all 45 coming from a single blog called “Best Face Sunscreens of 2026”. 

Niche editorial and industry expert sources influence AI more than messaging on brand websites when it comes to evaluating the “best” options. No matter the sector, brand AI visibility strategies should begin with asking, 'Which of the top 100 sources citing in our category are we absent from?' and working backward from there.

For brands operating in sunscreen and beyond, winning in AI search means probing how models interpret prompts and building authority where they look for information. Keep in mind:

LLM recommendations are shaped by a mixture of sources. In the case of sunscreen,  earned media and expert content drove visibility more than paid and owned channels.

As LLMs seek to meet users’ unique needs, its framing of what is “best” trends toward personalization and specific use cases.

AI models’ tailoring responses to more personalized queries gives lower-visibility brands the opportunity to still break through by owning distinct sub-categories.

In today’s AI landscape, brands that will win the race for visibility will need a bird’s eye-view. Use tools like GenAI Lens to understand where your brand is underrepresented and why, and use those insights to shape your strategy accordingly.

Which sunscreen brands do LLMs recommend most?

According to Meltwater’s GenAI Lens analysis of sunscreen brands, EltaMD and La Roche-Posay are the most frequently recommended, appearing in roughly 60% of LLM responses and acting as default answers across multiple AI platforms.

Why do LLMs favor certain sunscreen brands over others?

Based on Meltwater’s GenAI Lens analysis of sunscreen brands, LLMs prioritize brands that are consistently featured in high-authority third-party sources such as dermatology organizations, expert reviews, and editorial beauty publications.

Do brand websites influence LLM sunscreen recommendations?

No. Meltwater’s GenAI Lens analysis of sunscreen brands found that brand-owned websites had little to no impact on LLM recommendations, with AI models relying instead on independent, expert-led content.

How do different LLMs vary in sunscreen brand recommendations?

Different LLM platforms produce significantly different brand recommendations, with some models surfacing a wider range of brands and others focusing on a smaller, more consistent set, according to Meltwater’s GenAI Lens analysis of sunscreen brands.

What factors do LLMs consider when recommending facial sunscreen?

Meltwater’s GenAI Lens analysis of sunscreen brands shows that LLMs evaluate sunscreen based on use-case factors such as skin type as well as reliable information from independent, expert-led content.

Why do some sunscreen brands have low visibility in LLM results?

Based on Meltwater’s GenAI Lens analysis of sunscreen brands, brands with lower visibility tend to lack strong representation in high-authority third-party content or are only associated with niche use cases rather than broad “best” recommendations.

How can sunscreen brands improve their visibility in LLM recommendations?

Meltwater’s GenAI Lens analysis of sunscreen brands suggests that improving visibility requires increasing presence in expert-led publications, securing high-quality third-party reviews, and owning specific product niches or use cases.

How LLMs Recommend Sunscreen Brands: An Analysis of AI Search Visibility in SPF

Reddit has grown from a niche forum site to a digital powerhouse, nearly doubling its user base from 2022 to 2025. And while netizens have long trusted it for uncompromised answers to highly specific questions, now LLMs do too. Models like ChatGPT and Google Gemini use it to inform their outputs and consumer recommendations, making Reddit conversations increasingly consequential for brands looking for high-value, organic sources of consumer intelligence. 

For the beauty sector in particular, Reddit can’t be ignored. Some of the most popular communities on the platform, known as subreddits, are dedicated to cosmetics, with tens of thousands of strong opinions, preferences, concerns, and praises flooding them each week. Brands don’t have to guess what consumers want, they are making their needs known, unprompted, giving brands valuable insight into how they choose, evaluate, and perceive products. 

To learn more about beauty Reddit and demonstrate how brands can turn unfiltered consumer conversations into action, we used Explore+ to dive into the biggest trends from the past six months, focusing specifically on three cosmetic items: lipstick, blush, and mascara. What emerged were clear snapshots of consumer expectations and frustrations, community building, and golden opportunities for brands ready to listen. With that, here are seven of the biggest trends that defined beauty Reddit in early 2026 and what they mean for brands.

Methodology: This analysis is based on social listening data collected from 18 Reddit beauty communities (including r/MakeupAddiction, r/makeuptips, r/Makeup, r/beauty, and specialist forums such as r/OliveMUA and r/AsianBeauty) over a six-month period from October 2025 to March 2026. A structured Boolean query was used to capture relevant makeup conversations across three categories: lipstick, blush, and mascara. The analysis focuses on monthly volume and engagement trends to identify shifts in demand and conversation depth, using sentiment classification to track changes in consumer perception over time and topic clustering to surface recurring themes, emerging narratives, and brand-specific signals. Click here to learn more about how to get an analysis like this tailored to the needs and goals of your brand. 

The Seven Trends Defining Beauty Reddit Right Now:

r/MakeupAddiction: The Beauty Subreddit to Watch

The APAC Redditors Shaping Global Beauty Conversations

MAC: Dominating Lipstick and Delivering on Shade Inclusivity

Long-Lasting, But Easy to Remove: The Holy Grail for Mascara and Lipstick Users

Drugstore Brands and Low Expectations for Mascaras

Bold Blush: Here to Stay, But Where Do You Put It?

More Blush Anxieties: The Product That Takes Too Long to Use Up

r/MakeupAddiction is known as Reddit’s biggest beauty community and the conversational data proves it — about 43% of all beauty conversation occurred in the popular subreddit. That dominance continued on the product category level, with r/MakeupAddiction driving:

With over a third of product-level beauty conversation occurring in this one subreddit alone, it’s a key one for marketers and analysts interested in keeping tabs on the latest consumer-driven trends.

The Asia-Pacific consumer and brand presence shines through in the beauty community, as shown in the ring chart in the previous section. r/AsianBeauty (3.1% SOV), a subreddit focused on Asian brands, r/beautytalkph (3.2% SOV), catering to Redditors in the Philippines, and r/AustralianMakeup (2.4%), focused on Australia and New Zealand, have conversation volumes that rival popular ones without geographic specification like r/beauty and r/MakeupEducation (2.9% SOV each). 

This chart from the Digital 2026 report shows that, on average, 12.1% of internet users go on Reddit each month, with APAC countries like New Zealand, the Philippines, Australia, and Singapore having much higher usage rates. 

Geographically, this highlights how closely Reddit’s beauty community reflects the platform’s wider user base. Though Reddit usage is commonly thought to be concentrated on North America, New Zealand, the Philippines, and Australia only slightly trail the U.S. and Canada as the platform’s leading markets. According to the Digital 2026: Global Overview Report, about 32% of adult internet users in each country visit the site at least once a month.  

While Reddit still has plenty of room for growth in Asia, especially in Japan, the platform’s influence in the region is growing, even as many marketers let it go unnoticed.  

APAC beauty brands that establish Reddit strategies now have a competitive advantage that will only grow as usage increases and geographically focused subreddits gain members.

Using Mira, Meltwater’s in-platform AI teammate, we identified the four brands leading discussions of lipstick and other lip cosmetics on Reddit: MAC, NYX, Maybelline, and Sephora. Together, they show how both drugstore and mid-range brands are of interest to this specialized community, not just one as shown in other products like mascara. 

MAC generated about 42% of tracked lip product brand mentions.

MAC came out on top by overall mentions, with users actively seeking dupes, archiving formulas, and commiserating over product discontinuations or changes. The brand was also a big name in discussions about color choices, specifically shades suited for consumers with olive and cool undertones. 

This post from r/OliveMUA suggests multiple, purple shades of MAC blushes that maintain their coloring when applied on skin with olive undertones. 

25% of MAC’s mentions related to blush came from r/OliveMUA, a subreddit with 89,000 weekly visitors whose description highlights that “Olive undertones are often misunderstood and underrepresented in the beauty industry.”

MAC’s dominance in the lipstick corner of beauty Reddit is an example of how a brand’s relevance can flourish when its products meet nuanced, underserved needs. The demand for inclusive shades isn’t going anywhere; only brands that show up with solutions that work can win over these large segments of frustrated consumers.

Tip: Shorten your time to insights with the help of Mira, Meltwater’s in-platform AI assistant.

The trade-off consumers face between product longevity and easy removal was a common theme across our mascara and lipstick analyses, with Maybelline products emerging as the lightning rods in each.

Maybelline’s Super Stay lipstick collection was one that users continuously discussed by name and praised for its affordability and availability. However, its category-leading longevity divides consumers. 

This post about removing Maybelline Super Stay generated thousands of upvotes (i.e. Reddit likes) and more than 500 comments in six months within the r/MakeupEducation subreddit. 

While some posts highlight Super Stay’s endurance through daily activities, others, like the one shown above, spark discussion around effective removal. The top comment recommending wiping it away with oil was upvoted over 700 times, showing just how common an issue this is among Super Stay users, along with a seemingly effective, user-generated hack. 

Super Stay is an understatement.  — Reddit user

Similarly, Maybelline’s Sky High mascara emerged as a popular, love-it-or-hate-it product. It helped Maybelline achieve the highest SOV among the mascara brands we analyzed at 36.3%, as well as the highest engagement rate at 30.3%. However, safe, effective removal was again a much-discussed pain point.

As the fervor around both products show, Redditors are still on the hunt for lipstick and mascara that can strike the right balance between longevity and easy removal. 

Brands that nail that seemingly contradictory capability, as well as the messaging around it, have the chance to lead the next wave of performance-focused, health-minded beauty.

This post asking for mascara recommendations specifically calls out drugstore brands.

Redditors discuss mascara less than blush or lip products. A makeup staple, it appears frequently alongside other brands in posts about routines, but rarely as the focal point. And when consumers do focus on mascaras, drugstore brands take center stage. That may be because users are consistently on the hunt for mascaras that don’t clump up, smudge, or flake, with no standout options at any price tier. 

Unlike with lip and blush products, where premium prices suggest better performance, consumers don’t want to splurge on a product they aren’t confident can meet their basic needs. As a result, Maybelline, L'Oréal, e.l.f., and NYX are highly visible while premium options are largely absent. 

Maybelline had the highest SOV of tracked mascara brand mentions at 36.3%.

Overall, consumers have clear needs but don’t expect much from their mascaras. More so than with lipstick and blush, there is ample room for a high-performance product or alternative to shake up the category and take consumers by surprise.

Tip: Get insights like these tailored to your brand with queries targeting relevant communities and topics. Schedule a demo to see how it works in real time. 

February was a quiet month for discussions around lipsticks, blushes, and mascaras. All three saw a post-holiday season hush before rising again in March. There was, however, one exception: Blush engagement increased by 11% in February 2026 despite declining mentions, driven in part by users posting their bold, blush-heavy looks. 

One of the most popular posts proclaiming “Bring back colourful full beats 2026” and featuring Rare Beauty’s Soft Pinch Liquid Blush and Buttermelt Pressed Powder Blush blushes won more than 1500 upvotes. 

28% of blush discussion happened in r/makeuptips. 

However, that increased blush usage calls attention to the persistent questions of how to apply it and exactly where to put it on the face, a challenge that is largely nonexistent for mascaras and most lip products. That may be why r/makeuptips, a subreddit dedicated to trading product education and advice, made up more than a quarter of all blush mentions, the highest SOV of the product categories we analyzed. 

As bold, expressive looks take the place of the minimalist “clean girl” trend, brands that can demystify placement with tutorials, formats, applicators, and more, have ample opportunity to win over legions of makeup newbies.

Learn how global brands like Shiseido use Meltwater to evaluate customer perceptions and marketing impact worldwide.

Even with bold blush taking over, the trend is still not enough to solve consumers’ persistent complaint that using up a single unit of blush takes way too long. As a result, investing in blush can feel wasteful and expensive. This is especially a factor when it comes to liquid and cream blushes, which expire much sooner than powder ones. 

This post discussing which makeup products have the highest cost per use generated high engagement, with nearly 9,000 upvotes and over 2,000 comments.

In fact, the problem has its own dedicated subreddit. In r/ProjectPan, 39,000 weekly visitors post 1,500 times weekly about their efforts to use cosmetics all the way through, also known as “panning”, with blushes being a frequent topic. 

Does this call for smaller unit sizes? More education around proper storage? Something else? Whatever the solution, brands that can combat common anxieties about wasting blush (as well as the money spent on them) have a receptive audience among cost-conscious consumers.

Reddit Beauty Report Overview.pdf

The above is just a sampling of the many insights we uncovered about where beauty Reddit stands and where it is headed. Click here to get a closer look at what our Explore+ analysis revealed. 

Our analysis of beauty Reddit revealed just how high cosmetics consumers’ expectations are for the products they spend their money on. Aspirational brand names aren’t enough. Instead, performance is king with wide open opportunities for brands to lead the way in filling persistent gaps like shade inclusivity and education around product usage. Redditors are being loud and clear about what they want from brands, but how many marketers, researchers, and product developers are really listening?

Take this analysis as a starting point, and gain a real competitive edge by going deeper. With Meltwater Explore+, brands can move beyond surface-level data to uncover tailored insights that drive smarter product development and more effective marketing strategies. Learn how — request a demo of Meltwater Explore+ to see how you can uncover the Reddit insights that matter most to your brand.   

Why is Reddit important for beauty brands in 2026?

Reddit provides unfiltered, high-intent consumer feedback at scale, and as Meltwater’s Explore+ analysis shows, these conversations directly reflect how consumers evaluate products across performance, shade range, and usability.

What are some of the biggest beauty topics and trends according to Reddit?

According to Meltwater’s Explore+ analysis, key trends include demand for shade inclusivity, frustration with long-lasting products that are hard to remove, rising interest in bold blush looks, and low expectations for mascara performance, among others.

Which beauty brands are most talked about on Reddit?

Meltwater’s Explore+ analysis found that MAC leads lipstick discussions with 43.3% of mentions, while Maybelline dominates mascara conversations, particularly with its Sky High products.

What do Reddit users want from lipstick products?

According to Meltwater’s Explore+ analysis, users prioritize longevity and affordability but are frustrated by difficult removal, creating demand for products that balance durability with ease of use.

Meltwater’s Explore+ analysis found that blush engagement increased in February 2026, even when mentions declined. This growth was driven by experimentation with bold makeup looks, alongside ongoing confusion about application techniques.

What challenges do consumers face with blush products?

Meltwater’s Explore+ analysis of Reddit conversations from October 2025 to March 2026, consumers struggle with both application (where and how to apply) and product waste, as blush is perceived to take too long to use up.

Why are drugstore mascaras more popular than premium ones?

Meltwater’s Explore+ analysis of Reddit conversations from October 2025 to March 2026 highlights that consumers have low expectations for mascara performance and prefer affordable options, as no brand has clearly solved issues like clumping, smudging, and flaking.

What role do niche subreddits play in beauty trends?

Meltwater’s Explore+ analysis highlights how niche communities like r/OliveMUA surface underserved needs—such as undertone-specific shades—which are key opportunities for brands to differentiate.

How can brands use Reddit insights effectively?

Brands need deep, tailored Reddit analysis—using tools like Meltwater Explore+—to uncover insights specific to their products, markets, and audiences.

Platform Deep Dive: 7 Trends Defining Beauty Reddit Right Now

Discussions of AI in luxury advertising increased 26% quarter-over-quarter at the beginning of the year, begging the question, do luxury consumers want AI in their advertising? Consumer attitudes toward the technology have been increasingly consequential to the luxury fashion sector as it has become ubiquitous and increasingly thorny. In that time, some of the world’s biggest luxury brands have experimented with using AI-generated imagery, but audience reception has often been less than glowing.

As many commentators have pointed out, AI-generated creative bumps up against luxury’s core pillars of artistry and exclusivity. It’s no surprise that audiences that value handcrafted goods might be less receptive to AI imagery than more tech-centered ones. 

And yet, as creatives continue to push the limits of what can be created with the technology, luxury brands seeking to distinguish themselves are along for the ride. 2026 may very well be the biggest year yet for AI in luxury advertising, so we used Explore+ to get to the bottom of how consumers at large really feel about it. Here’s what marketers need to know about the digital conversation, along with data-driven guidelines for campaigns. 

Methodology: Our Explore+ analysis examines English-language conversations about AI usage and luxury brands in the US and Canada from February 1, 2025, to February 28, 2026, across major social platforms, including Instagram, TikTok, X, and Reddit, as well as blogs, forums, and online comments.

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