Consumer and media discussions of TikTok Shop have surged significantly since late 2025, according to new data from Meltwater Explore+. Despite being a relative newcomer in the ecommerce platform landscape, TikTok Shop is now a genuine force to be reckoned with, generating about a fifth of all social commerce sales in the US in 2025. 

That revenue growth has helped attract bigger brands, with Samsung, Philips, Glossier, Crocs, and more all setting up their own storefronts on the platform over the past couple of years. More recently, Ulta made headlines when it became the first major beauty retailer to set up a TikTok Shop, followed by Mac Cosmetics soon after, signaling a new era in the platform’s commercial legitimacy. 

Our Meltwater Consumer Intelligence & Trend Detection analysis revealed just how much the buzz around TikTok Shop has really grown, along with what this increased popularity means for marketers and brands. The findings point to a platform largely shaped by creators and audience behavior, not to mention the algorithm, rather than traditional brand marketing alone.

Mentions of TikTok Shop increased by 110% in just six months

Why unbranded content dominates TikTok Shop discussion and demonstrable products win

Which platforms have the most meaningful TikTok Shop discussions?

How Meltwater Consumer Intelligence and Influencer Marketing helps brands win with TikTok Shop

FAQ: Brand Visibility and Perception with TikTok Shop

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      <td style="padding:12px; border:1px solid #ccc; font-weight:bold; width:30%;">Capability</td>
      <td style="padding:12px; border:1px solid #ccc;">Explore+</td>
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    <tr>
      <td style="padding:12px; border:1px solid #ccc; font-weight:bold;">Analysis window</td>
      <td style="padding:12px; border:1px solid #ccc;">November 1, 2025 – April 30, 2026</td>
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      <td style="padding:12px; border:1px solid #ccc; font-weight:bold;">Data sources</td>
      <td style="padding:12px; border:1px solid #ccc;">
        30 sources, including broadcast television and radio, online and print news, blogs, comments, reviews, forums, podcasts, TikTok, Instagram, Reddit, Facebook, Pinterest, X, Douyin, Red, YouTube, and more.
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      <td style="padding:12px; border:1px solid #ccc; font-weight:bold;">Brands / entities tracked</td>
      <td style="padding:12px; border:1px solid #ccc;">TikTok Shop</td>
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      <td style="padding:12px; border:1px solid #ccc; font-weight:bold; vertical-align:top;">Key term definitions</td>
      <td style="padding:12px; border:1px solid #ccc;">
        <p><strong>Engagement</strong>: the number of shares, comments, likes, retweets, replies, direct messages, etc.</p>
        <p><strong>Mentions</strong>: the number of instances when key words and phrases appeared within a piece or collection of content</p>
        <p><strong>Share of Voice (SOV)</strong>: the percentage, or share, of total mentions attributed to a particular brand, market, or entity</p>
        <p><strong>Estimated Media Value (EMV)</strong>: a metric quantifying the ROI of influencer marketing by showing what it would cost to achieve the same reach and engagement through paid media</p>
        <p><strong>Subreddit</strong>: a user-created community on Reddit dedicated to a particular interest or topic</p>
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Mentions of TikTok Shop increased by 110% in just six months 

Discussions of TikTok Shop more than doubled across traditional, digital, and social media sources between November 2025 and April 2026, compared to the six months prior. During the same time period, however, overall engagement actions fell by nearly a third, even despite a 24% surge in January 2026.

Still, the global conversation around TikTok Shop has grown dramatically in recent months, suggesting three factors:

increased popularity, with more buyers trusting the platform for shopping

higher saturation, with more sellers competing for attention 

more scrutiny, with wider audiences evaluating the platform’s ecommerce experience

Why this matters: For brands, the opportunities to be found in TikTok Shop are growing more numerous and competitive. Standing out will rest on creative differentiation, particularly the visual demonstrability of featured products, along with strong influencer partnerships that lead with creativity.

1.83 million — TikTok Shop mentions from November 1, 2025 to April 30, 2026

+36.7% — Mentions increase in March 2026, higher than any other month

149 million — Engagement actions at their peak in January 2026

Only 7.5% of the top 160 TikTok Shop posts mentioned a specific brand. Instead, the overwhelming majority of the top performing posts are completely brandless. About 24% mentioned a general product type, but nearly 70% had no commercial specificity whatsoever. Instead, they featured unrelated content, like dance and humor videos, using the hashtag #tiktokshop solely for algorithmic reach.

However, those leading posts that did feature specific brands drew engagement with clearly, quickly demonstrable items with some kind of wow factor. One standout example comes from family content creator @familytalesdiary. Her post using SheGlam’s hair curler to do her daughter’s hair generated over 2.04 million engagement actions. 

The post worked through a combination of authentic, unfiltered presentation and clearly conveyed efficacy. No glam squad or curated set, just a real mom doing her daughter’s hair in the bathroom and getting great results. As a result, the post generated over $5 million in EMV for the Shein-owned cosmetics brand.

Why it matters: TikTok Shop audiences reward product-led moments, not brand presence. Creator posts succeed when products are instantly, visually demonstrable; extra points for an element of surprise or emotional resonance. In this ecosystem, brand presence may lend posts some element of trust, but only after attention is already won.  

TikTok Shop brand and product category stats:

68.8% — of the top 160 posts mentioning TikTok Shop didn’t feature a product or brand 

32% — of the 25 highest-performing posts featured toys and novelties

20% — of the 25 highest-performing posts featured beauty and hair products

16% — of the 25 highest-performing posts featured gadgets

Mainland China saw the most dramatic surge in TikTok Shop mentions, with its share of the global conversation increasing by 77% from November 2025 to April 2026. That rise outpaced other strong increases, like Germany’s 55% growth and Brazil’s 48%. So while the United States is still by far the leading market for TikTok Shop mentions by volume, the conversation has grown more dispersed. 

Notably, in Mainland China, where the ecommerce platform doesn’t even operate (its regional equivalent being Douyin Shop), the conversation focus is on supply chains, cross-border order fulfillment, and other seller and exporter concerns. 

The strong growth of TikTok Shop mentions in Brazil is particularly striking given otherwise low representation in South and Latin America. As a result, the nation stands to be one of the most promising for brands and creators looking to claim early mover advantage in the region. Across the Atlantic and the Equator, Germany emerged as the standout market, contrasting with France, whose SOV sank by 27%. Overall, Europe remains early-stage with uneven adoption across the region. 

Why it matters: TikTok Shop visibility and awareness is dispersing rapidly beyond its anchor audience in the US, with Brazil and Germany being the standout markets to watch. Brands that establish creator relationships and localized strategies early will be better positioned as adoption keeps accelerating around the world.

TikTok is the leading platform for consumer discussions about TikTok Shop, accounting for about half of all mentions from November 2025 to April 2026. However, that dominance is a recent phenomenon. In November, TikTok represented 33% of all TikTok Shop mentions. By April, it represented 67%.

As TikTok’s share of Shop conversations grew, every other platform’s declined, with X going from 20% SOV in November to only about 5% in April. To be clear, it’s not that X’s audience stopped talking about TikTok Shop. It’s that the discussion on TikTok itself has grown so much that it has dwarfed conversations happening everywhere else. 

Still, X’s audience of early tech adopters, journalists, and media-adjacent commentators are worth paying attention to for their role in shaping brand perception. More than other platforms, it is a hub of enthusiasm for TikTok Shop, with 76% positive sentiment. 

By the same token, Reddit is also a platform to keep an eye on despite its relatively low SOV of about 4%.  Unlike X’s optimism, Reddit discussion had one of the highest negative sentiment rates at 16%. Its active communities of TikTok Shop buyers and sellers concentrated in focused subreddits aren’t breathless cheerleaders of the ecommerce platform. Instead, each one offers brands important insight into the TikTok experience “on the ground”: 

r/TikTokShop (~15% of Reddit mentions) is the core buyer/seller community. Its mix of product wins with complaints about counterfeits, delivery issues, and misleading listings offers brands the clearest view of real user experience.

r/tiktokshopreferrals (~6%) focuses on affiliate links and referral codes, highlighting how central creator incentives have become to TikTok Shop’s ecosystem.

r/DigitalIncomePath (~5%) features discussion of TikTok Shop from the perspective of creators interested in the monetization opportunity, surfacing practical concerns around commissions, collaborations, and product reliability. 

r/TiktokHelpers (3.5%) and r/TikTokMonetizing (1.4%) surface ongoing technical challenges of monetization, from setting up shops and managing fulfillment to mastering the algorithm. 

Why it matters: The most meaningful TikTok Shop conversations aren’t happening just on TikTok. Brands need cross-platform intelligence strategies to understand sentiment, behavior, and motivations of sellers and buyers alike, along with emerging trends and risks.

Use Case 1: Identifying emerging TikTok Shop audiences and markets

Jump on emerging opportunities before your competitors do.

Identify rising regional conversations and breakout growth markets

Detect emerging product trends and audience behaviors before they peak

Analyze platform-specific sentiment and creator activity across global markets

The result: Faster, smarter market expansion strategies informed by real consumer and creator behavior.

Use Case 2: Understanding what content resonates, and what doesn’t

Analyze which messaging and content wins over audiences.

Explore+ delivers actionable insights with:

Real-time monitoring across social, news, forums, reviews, and creator content

AI-powered sentiment and narrative detection to surface emerging risks and opportunities

Competitive benchmarking to track share of voice, engagement, and audience perception

The result: Always-on intelligence that helps you stay ahead of market trends and consumer preferences.

Use Case 3: Finding the best TikTok creators to work with

Build partnerships with influencers that can deliver on your goals.

Meltwater influencer marketing streamlines campaigns with:

AI-powered creator discovery based on audience fit, engagement, and brand alignment

Performance tracking across EMV, engagement, and conversion metrics

Relationship management tools for scaling creator partnerships efficiently

The result: More powerful creator collaborations that drive visibility and trust alongside sales.

Want to understand how your brand is showing up in TikTok Shop conversations? Explore how Meltwater Consumer Intelligence and Influencer Marketing can help you track trends, identify creators, and stay ahead of shifting consumer behavior.

With global conversation rising and growing more dynamic, TikTok Shop has become a legitimate ecommerce powerhouse. Success on the platform goes hand in hand with social media virality, making it a critical venue for brands courting cultural relevance as much as sales.

As established, global brands continue to join TikTok Shop over the next year, its popularity and consumer trust will only continue to grow. Brands that develop their marketing and creator partnership strategies now will be best positioned to adapt to consumer shopping behavior evolutions later, both on TikTok and beyond.

What does TikTok Shop’s growth mean for brands?

TikTok Shop is becoming a major ecommerce discovery engine for brands. According to Meltwater Explore+ analysis, mentions of TikTok Shop increased by 110% between November 2025 and April 2026, signaling rapidly growing consumer awareness, competition, and creator activity across the platform.

Which product categories perform best on TikTok Shop?

Visually demonstrable products dominate TikTok Shop engagement. Meltwater Explore+ data shows that toys, novelties, beauty products, hair tools, and gadgets consistently drove the highest-performing creator content because their value could be understood instantly on video.

Why does unbranded TikTok Shop content outperform branded posts?

Audiences engage more with creator-first storytelling than overt brand promotion. According to Meltwater Explore+ analysis, nearly 69% of top TikTok Shop posts featured no specific brand or product at all, relying instead on entertainment to capture attention.

Which platforms have the most meaningful TikTok Shop conversations?

TikTok drives the largest share of TikTok Shop discussion volume, but Reddit and X provide additional context around the consumer and seller experience. Meltwater Explore+ data shows that Reddit communities surface buyer frustrations, creator monetization concerns, and fulfillment challenges, while X hosts highly positive conversations among tech-forward audiences.

What markets are emerging fastest for TikTok Shop?

Brazil and Germany are two of the fast-growing TikTok Shop conversation markets outside the US. Meltwater Explore+ analysis found TikTok Shop mention growth increased by 48% in Brazil and 55% in Germany during the six-month analysis window.

How does creator content affect TikTok Shop success?

Creator partnerships strongly influence TikTok Shop visibility and purchase behavior. Meltwater influencer marketing analysis shows that authentic, emotionally resonant creator videos can generate significantly higher engagement and Estimated Media Value than polished branded campaigns.

Why does Meltwater Explore+ matter for TikTok Shop strategy?

Meltwater Explore+ helps brands identify emerging TikTok Shop trends before competitors do. By combining social listening, consumer intelligence, sentiment analysis, and creator monitoring across platforms, brands can better understand audience behavior and adapt their ecommerce strategy in real time.

How should brands prepare for the future of TikTok Shop?

Brands should invest early in creator partnerships, social commerce intelligence, and localized strategies. Meltwater Explore+ data suggests TikTok Shop is evolving into a mainstream retail ecosystem where cultural relevance and audience trust will increasingly determine ecommerce success.

Discover what the rise of TikTok Shop, key trends, and user behavior mean for consumer brands. 

How Popular Is TikTok Shop? Data Insights & Trends 2026

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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      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">10.3M</div>
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      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">1.4M</div>
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      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">116K</div>
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      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">52.7K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Saves</div>
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      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">52.9%</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Eng. Rate</div>
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      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">$24.9M</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">EMV</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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      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">1.2M</div>
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      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">3K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Comments</div>
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      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">15.2K</div>
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      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">37.9K</div>
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      <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="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">$14M</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="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">698</div>
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      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">69.31%</div>
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      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">$7.9M</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="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">578.5K</div>
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      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">2.3K</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;">5.5K</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;">17K</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;">10.05%</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Eng. Rate</div>
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      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">$6.7M</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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  <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;">
    @kayla.ryann for Kopari Beauty
  </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;">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>
    </div>

  </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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  <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;">
    @priscyescoto for Huda Beauty
  </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;">285.9K</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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  <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;">
    @tarayummy for JSX
  </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;">2.1M</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>
    </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="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;">
    @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>

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</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>

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  <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.

This data-driven analysis reveals which influencer posts from Coachella 2026 drove the most value for brands. 

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.

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

<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;">Facial Sunscreen Performance Overview</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;">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.

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