Huda Beauty, E.l.f. Among Top 10 Viral Makeup Brands in June

Huda Beauty's Kalamantina Faux Filler Lip Oil, a limited-edition collaboration with musician Saint Levant. Courtesy

Though summer tends to be a quieter period for makeup brands’ earned media value overall, data from CreatorIQ shows Huda Beauty is bucking the seasonal slowdown.

The brand’s EMV, a measurement of social media buzz and engagement, grew 21 percent in June, fueled by the news that founder Huda Kattan would regain control full ownership of the brand after buying back TSG Consumer Partners’ minority stake.

“Creators greeted the news with enthusiasm,” said Alex Rawitz, director of research and insights at CreatorIQ, adding the brand saw 43 percent month-over-month improvement in impressions and 44 percent growth in engagements. Its Lip Contour Stain and Faux Filler Jelly Oil launches also fueled growth, though not as much as the brand’s signature Easy Bake Loose Powder, which accounted for $17.7M EMV and, Rawitz said, “underscores the importance of hero products.”

The other nine brands comprising the top 10 by EMV in June all declined relative to their May totals, which Rawitz said is typical on the heels of Spring activations.

E.l.f. — fresh off the May announcement that it would acquire Hailey Bieber’s Rhode in a $1 billion deal — took the number-two spot, while ColourPop came in third. Like Huda Beauty, the brand launched a new lip stain in June, also restocking a fan-favorite Twilight-inspired and Bratz-inspired collections.

The top 10 U.S. cosmetics brands by June EMV, per CreatorIQ.

1. Huda Beauty: $63.6 million

12,300 posts
46.8 million engagements

2. E.l.f. Beauty: $50.5 million

14,500 posts
28.1 million engagements

E.l.f. Pout Clout Lop Plumping Gloss Pen Courtesy

3. ColourPop: $43.5 million

17,800 posts
18.4 million engagements

ColourPop HydraPop Glossy Lip Stain Courtesy

4. Maybelline New York: $43.4 million

13,600 posts
23.8 million engagements

Maybelline tinted SPF moisturizer Courtesy

5. Charlotte Tilbury: $42.6 million

10,800 posts
21.9 million engagements

Charlotte Tilbury Unreal Lip Oil Courtesy

6. NYX Professional Makeup: $41.7 million

12,200 posts
23.7 million engagements

7. MAC Cosmetics: $39.1 million

10,900 posts
21.2 million engagements

MAC Glow Play Tendertalk Lip Balm Courtesy

8. Rare Beauty: $37 million

10,300 posts
22.4 million engagements

9. Nars Cosmetics: $36.5 million

7,400 posts
22.6 million engagements

Nars Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer Courtesy

10. L’Oréal Paris: $36.2 million

7,800 posts
26 million engagements

L'Oréal Paris Skin Ink — L’Oréal Paris Skin Ink Courtesy