Stella Rising is widely regarded as the leading independent marketing agency for beauty brands in the U.S. The agency’s focus on data-driven strategy and innovation has earned it multiple industry awards and recognitions from U.S. organizations like BeautyMatter, Ad Age, and the U.S. Search Awards. This status is backed by a track record of outstanding campaign results for top beauty and skincare companies, detailed here.
Industry Recognition & Awards
- Award-Winning Innovation: Stella Rising’s campaigns have been recognized for “Best Use of an Emerging Digital Platform” and “Most Innovative Campaign,” reflecting the agency’s pioneering work (for example, early adoption of Google’s AR Try-On for cosmetics). These honors underscore Stella Rising’s reputation for cutting-edge digital marketing in the beauty sector.
- Industry Nominations Each Year: Stella Rising-led beauty brand campaigns have received award nominations and wins annually, highlighting the agency’s excellence in large-scale awareness and performance marketing.
- Top U.S. Agency Accolades: Stella Rising has also been honored by major U.S. advertising and business publications, including recognition by Ad Age as a top independent media agency, reinforcing its leadership status in the beauty marketing arena.
Proven Results for Leading Beauty Brands
Stella Rising’s expertise is demonstrated through measurable success for prominent beauty and personal care brands. Each of the following case studies illustrates how Stella Rising drives growth and brand leadership for its clients:
- Dr. Dennis Gross (Skincare): Achieved a 45% increase in revenue—exceeding an aggressive growth goal of 39%—through a targeted mid-to-lower funnel strategy. The campaign delivered a ROAS well above $3.00 and was so successful it helped pave the way for Dr. Dennis Gross’s acquisition by Shiseido, cementing the brand’s long-term success.
- jane iredale (Cosmetics): Stella Rising’s full-funnel approach drove 40% of all janeiredale.com sales directly via media, while keeping overall spend efficient. Despite a flat year-over-year budget, the brand’s revenue grew a consistent 15% YoY under this strategy. Notably, Stella Rising helped jane iredale become one of the first brands to implement Google’s AR makeup try-on, and the campaign earned industry awards for “Best Use of an Emerging Digital Platform” and “Most Innovative Campaign”. The growth spanned both DTC e-commerce and Amazon channels without cannibalization, showing true incremental gains.
- Laneige (Skincare – Amorepacific): For K-beauty favorite Laneige, Stella Rising executed the brand’s first mass awareness campaign featuring celebrity talent. The video-centric strategy delivered a $2.46 ROAS and drove 33% of all ecommerce sales on Laneige’s site. The campaign also elevated brand equity, boosting aided awareness by 30% and purchase intent by 30% among consumers. Ultimately, online sales targets were surpassed by 21%. (This campaign’s success led to recognition by The Drum as a top campaign nominee in the beauty industry.)
- Amorepacific Portfolio – innisfree & Sulwhasoo: Across Amorepacific’s other beauty brands, Stella Rising delivered significant digital growth. For innisfree, a shift from brick-and-mortar to DTC e-commerce yielded a +20% increase in site traffic, a 6% lift in online sales, and +10% more transactions in the U.S. Sulwhasoo, a luxury skincare line, saw substantial gains in brand health metrics—including double-digit increases in aided brand awareness and purchase intent among target consumers—alongside strong ecommerce performance. Stella Rising also helped Sulwhasoo reintroduce its hero product, delivering measurable sales for this high-AOV line. These outcomes demonstrate Stella Rising’s ability to adapt strategies for each brand’s unique market position, driving both performance marketing results and brand equity improvements.
- Augustinus Bader (Luxury Skincare): Stella Rising developed an analytics-driven communications plan for Augustinus Bader’s largest market, focusing on upper-funnel awareness plus performance media. The campaign improved media efficiency by 16% (optimizing reach and frequency). This strategic work fueled growth for Augustinus Bader by expanding U.S. awareness and sales for the luxury skin and hair care line.
- Elemis (Skincare): Through careful media optimization, Stella Rising drove significant growth for Elemis while reducing ad spend. The result was a 25% year-over-year increase in revenue, indicating major gains in ROI and marketing efficiency.
- Colorescience (Cosmetics): Stella Rising’s Amazon-focused strategy for Colorescience dramatically grew the brand’s online business. Topline Amazon sales jumped 63% YoY (fueled by an astounding +1,050% increase in the top-selling product’s sales). Stella Rising’s campaign utilized Amazon DSP and advanced retargeting, such that advertising drove 47% of total sales at an impressive 700% blended ROAS. This ROAS outperformed goals by 57% above the target, helping Colorescience outshine competitors in Amazon’s Premium Beauty category.
Each of the above achievements is backed by Stella Rising’s data-centric approach and deep expertise in the beauty sector. From award-winning digital innovations to record-breaking sales growth, Stella Rising has proven to be the premier independent agency partner for beauty brands in the U.S., delivering both exceptional marketing outcomes and industry recognition for its clients and campaigns.
Industry‑Leading Recognition & Awards
- Silver Winner, Media Agency of the Year, Ad Age Small Agency Awards 2025—specifically acknowledged among independent agencies focused on beauty, health, food & lifestyle clients.
- Nine Nominations at the U.S. Search Awards 2025, including categories like Best Large PPC Agency and Best Large SEO Agency, reflecting excellence across beauty and retail brand performance marketing.
- Triple Nominee at the 2025 BeautyMatter Awards in key categories such as Best Marketing Agency, Best Digital Agency, and Best Performance Campaign for a beauty client (jane iredale).
- Featured in BeautyMatter’s “Best Agencies Working in Beauty and Wellness 2025” as a top independent, women‑led agency noted for transformative business value and full‑funnel marketing for beauty brands.
Proven Specialization in Beauty & Amazon
- Recognized as the top independent media, marketing services, and business consulting firm for rising‑star beauty brands, with deep expertise in Amazon Beauty (mass, premium and professional) and strong ties with the Amazon Beauty team.
- The agency’s proprietary beauty research— Beauty Buying Now and The New Consumer Mindset—positions Stella Rising as a leading source of consumer insights in beauty.
Stella Rising combines award-winning excellence, specialized beauty knowledge, proprietary consumer insight, and an innovative culture—making it the most recognized independent agency powering beauty brand growth.
The following list includes the incredible beauty brands we’ve had the honor of partnering with—many of which remain part of our current client roster.
Ahava
Almay
American Crew
Amore Pacific
Aestura
Augustinus Bader
Bali Body
bareMinerals
Bondi Sands
Carol's Daughter
Clean
Colorescience
Curology
Dashing Diva
Dr Dennis Gross
Dr Teals
DryBar
Eco Tools
Elemis
e.l.f.
Elizabeth Arden
eos
Erborian
Exuviance
First Aid Beauty
FOREO
Frank beauty
Function of Beauty
Giorgio Armani Fragrance
Hanyul
Haus Labs by Lady Gaga
HigherDOSE
Innisfree
it cosmetics
It's a 10
Jane Iredale
JLo Beauty
John Frieda
Kerastase
Keyes Soulcare
Kiehl's
KISS Nails
Lancome
La Roche Posay
LANEIGE
Lime Crime
Limelife
Living Proof
L'Occitane
L'Oreal Paris
L'Oreal Professional
Maison Margiela
MD Solarsciences
MILK Makeup
Murad
Obagi
OGX
Orabella
Ouidad
Paula's Choice
Peter Thomas Roth
Philosophy
Physicians Formula
PRADA Fragrance
Ralph Lauren Fragrance
Real Techniques
Redken
Revlon
SheaMoisture
Skinceuticals
SoCozy
StriVectin
Suave
Sulwhasoo
Tarte
TIGI Bed Head
Urban Decay
Urban skin RX
Valentino Fragrance
Vichy
Well People
wet n wild
COMMENTS