Beauty / news
Substance of Light Wins Inaugural Sephora Prize for Emerging European Beauty Brands
Sephora has named Substance of Light, a UV protective skin care label founded in 2021 by French entrepreneur Clara Nentille, as the winner of its first prize for emerging European beauty brands. The award was revealed in London ahead of the Sephoria festival.
The retailer announced the result on the eve of Sephoria, its consumer festival in London where brands stage product showcases, demonstrations and master classes. The prize forms part of a broader Sephora effort to incubate young labels and give them the tools to compete in a crowded market.
Second place went to French Cowboy, a fragrance house founded in 2025 by Ashley Santiago and Adrien Ollat that works with different creatives on its scents. Belgian hair care brand Omad's, founded in 2021 by Zoé Jadot and Julien Dupont, placed third. Its formulas, based on an old family recipe, are designed to enhance and naturally brighten blond hair.
The competition is open to brands across the region, including continental Europe, the U.K., Turkey, Switzerland and Monaco. Catherine Spindler, Sephora Europe and Middle East president, said the initiative reflects the retailer's DNA of finding new brands and trends while celebrating European entrepreneurship.
"I think newcomers need help in understanding how to scale properly, and at the right pace, and we want to support them," Spindler said. She added that the aim of the prize is to highlight and support European talent.