Have you ever found a beauty brand that you're so obsessed with, and you don't know why? You love those products because they have a real story behind them. It’s authenticity in beauty brand identities that drives their customer loyalty.

Authenticity in Beauty Brand Identities : Death To AI Slop in 2026

With AI’s growing presence, it has continued to make its way into marketing, and more brands are accepting it. That doesn’t mean that people are, too. As AI has made its way, there has been a shift in brands, creating an “identity crisis” within the industry. While brands have begun to accept AI as a creative, customers are more skeptical and view AI as a tool. A means to an end. 

Many are dealing with AI fatigue. At least many of you are. It's becoming clear that there's a decline in interactions with AI-generated marketing content. Customers are losing trust in brands, causing brands to lose credibility. 

Humans should be making content. Marketing content should be intentional and impactful. It’s AI vs reality now.

Customers would much rather interact with real content. Many are saying that 2026 could be the year that AI marketing takes a step back, and lets real original content take the stage. No one wants any of that “AI slop”; they want Authenticity! 

This is why beauty brands are going back to basics and keeping authenticity at their brand's forefront, not AI. Real experiences bring real people who want to connect with the brand. 

People First : UGC & IRL Events FTW

Featuring UGC creators in marketing campaigns attracts a larger audience. Incorporating UGC content into the marketing funnel creates more room for human-made content. 

Brands like Rhode and Rare Beauty are at the forefront of UGC content, creating deeper connections with their consumers. The ultimate flex is the authenticity in beauty brand identities, when digital communities come to life offline.

IRL events are now the standard for creating authenticity. Consumers and creators alike want something tangible, something that they can look forward to. Creating meaningful moments with the brand. 

In an era of digital saturation, finding brands that create authentic content is like finding a diamond in the rough. When a brand shows real content,  nine times out of ten, people will choose them over AI content. Showing that a brand is run by real people helps everyone see the brand's true identity.

Rhode’s Success : Sensory Aesthetic and Experiential Marketing

Rhode has made its brand identity through experiential marketing. Something that AI can't replicate. Their sensory branding is at the top of the game. 

Rhode skin has been successful in combining sensory aesthetics and immersive experiences. Part of their sensory marketing is using food-related visuals to make products more relatable, making their consumers create deeper emotional connections with the products. 

Rhode’s brand identity is minimalist, clean, and recognizable. They partner with UGC creators to create a buzz. Rhode’s content collaborations with real users showcase their brand identity from the people who love their brand, creating authenticity. It gives real people behind the brand.

Rhode does really well with experiential marketing. From their most current Sephora launch in London.

Rhode has proven their cultural relevance by becoming experiential. Rhode focused on experiential marketing through limited edition pop-ups,  interactive elements, and exclusive items. Authenticity in Beauty brand identities looks like Rhode. From their UGC content, sensory marketing, and pop-up events. 

Rhode knows who they are, and they keep pushing for authentic, real experiences.

The Stats  

Brands that empower their community in creation outperform their competitors. A prime example is Rhode. Using their platform to create a spotlight for UGC content.

The numbers don't lie. The engagement on each of these platforms and posts is telling of just how valuable human-made content is. Authenticity in beauty brand identities will continue to rise.

Around 76% of consumers like AI, but don’t fully trust it for brand storytelling. By these numbers, you can assume that AI-generated content won’t do well. AI can serve as a tool but not as a creator. 

If you don’t get the ick every time an AI-generated ad comes across your page, maybe you should reevaluate. What could be better than IRL events and creators telling a story? 

Rhode’s latest skincare launch prioritizes, raw UGC content, instead of AI generated content. Their strategy of seeding unreleased skincare samples is a masterclass in letting authenticity drive their launch. Empowering the community to build the brand narrative.

In response to AI fatigue, many brands have pledged anti AI use in their marketing content. This is why so many consumers are demanding authenticity in beauty brands. It’s what the girlies want!

Rare Beauty Realness

Rare Beauty is an inclusive brand, so it isn't hard for them to have a big following and a loyal customer base. Rare Beauty is all about embracing your flaws and being true to yourself. Their main mission is to be unapologetically yourself. Finding rare beauty in the ordinary. 

They use their mission to drive community events that bring a diverse crowd. Rare Beauty’s founder, Selena Gomez, shares her unfiltered content using her own products. She’s built credibility and made an effort to be honest about her mental and physical health. Because of her authenticity, Rare Beauty has created events that support the mental health community. 

Rare Beauty has hosted events supporting mental health by putting connections first. Making them a brand that people can trust. Their authentic beauty brand identity has become something that customers look for. Rare Beauty’s identity is centered around kindness towards yourself and others. 

The focus on their brand identity came first before profit. The success of building their community and connections has grown their brand. As of this year, Rare Beauty will be available at Ulta Beauty, with more than 1,500 Ulta stores. 

Engaging with consumers is authentic. Bridging connections with their community and creating real experiences has solidified their brand identity. 

The Take Away?

Brands need to lock in on their brand identities and what they know. Which are to show faces and be honest. When Brands stay true to themselves and create authentic content, they are built to last. 

Utilizing AI can be beneficial in assisting with ideas, but it should not be used to create content. What users are looking for is authenticity and realness; people want to connect. 

You want authenticity in beauty brand identities!

🪽 Written by Leiny Martinez