Sephora Prize Names UV Skin Care Brand Winner
The competition honors emerging European beauty brands, providing the winner with three years of institutional guidance.
Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Beauty
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Sephora has awarded its inaugural Sephora Prize to Substance of Light, a UV-protective skin care brand. The competition, which highlighted emerging European beauty innovators, selected the winner from 150 total applicants.
Why it matters
The prize aims to foster growth within the European beauty market by providing long-term institutional support to startups. This initiative offers winners a structured pathway for scale and market exposure that many early-stage entrepreneurs otherwise lack.
The prize selection process involved narrowing 150 applicants down to 10 finalists, evaluated by a team from Sephora. The final outcome remains subject to future market performance, as specific judging metrics for the skin care finalists were not disclosed.
The players
Sephora
A global beauty retailer that provides a platform for cosmetics and skin care brands.
Substance of Light
A UV-protective skin care brand founded in 2021 that won the inaugural Sephora Prize.
Clara Nentille
The founder of the skin care brand Substance of Light.
French Cowboy
A beauty brand founded in 2025 by Ashley Santiago and Adrien Ollat that placed second in the competition.
Omad's
A Belgian hair care brand founded in 2021 by Zoé Jadot and Julien Dupont that placed third in the competition.
The details
The winning brand, Substance of Light, specializes in UV protection and was founded in 2021 by Clara Nentille. Sephora provides the top winner with three years of professional guidance, while runners-up French Cowboy and Omad's receive one year of mentoring and marketing assistance. The competition is designed to bolster entrepreneurship across the European beauty landscape.
Timeline
The Sephora Prize was initially unveiled in June 2026.
Winners were officially announced on October 15, 2026, in London.
Submissions for the 2027 prize open on October 26, 2026.
The 2027 prize winners will be revealed in the first quarter of 2027.
Health Landscape
The Sephora Prize represents a growing trend of major retailers formalizing mentorship for independent skin and hair care brands. This program adds a new institutional layer to the existing European beauty startup ecosystem.
As new UV-protective skin care brands receive increased support, look for more evidence-based sunscreen options reaching the market. When considering new products for skin protection, always consult your dermatologist regarding your specific UV sensitivity.
The takeaway
The Sephora Prize highlights a push for deeper institutional support for independent beauty and skin care brands. As these startups grow, keep an eye on new ingredient innovations in UV protection, and always verify that any new product is suited to your specific skin needs.
What happens next
Submissions for the 2027 prize cycle will open on October 26, 2026, with the subsequent winners announced in the first quarter of 2027.
Further reading
Explore more trends in skin health and product innovation on our Beauty page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WWD.
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