Sephora Awards Prize to Substance of Light
The skincare brand secured top honors in a competition designed to support emerging European beauty businesses.
Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Beauty
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Sephora named UV-protective skincare brand Substance of Light the winner of its inaugural Sephora Prize in London. The brand, founded by Clara Nentille, beat out over 150 applicants to earn three years of professional guidance from the retailer.
Why it matters
The prize was created to celebrate entrepreneurship and provide emerging European beauty brands with the resources needed to scale. By offering multi-year mentorship, Sephora aims to bridge the gap for independent companies entering the competitive global market.
The competition saw 150 founders apply for the prize, with judges selecting a final group of 10 brands to compete. The winning company receives three years of Sephora guidance, while the two runners-up gain one year of mentoring and marketing support.
The players
Substance of Light
This is a UV-protective skincare brand founded in 2021 by Clara Nentille.
French Cowboy
Founded in 2025 by Ashley Santiago and Adrien Ollat, this brand placed second in the competition.
Omad's
This Belgian hair care brand was founded in 2021 by Zoé Jadot and Julien Dupont and took third place.
Sephora
The multinational beauty retailer hosted the competition to support emerging European beauty entrepreneurs.
The details
Substance of Light, established in 2021, took first place, while the skincare brands French Cowboy and Omad's claimed the second and third positions respectively. The final results were announced following an intensive selection process led by the Sephora team.
Timeline
June 2026: Sephora officially unveiled the Sephora Prize.
October 15, 2026: Winners were announced at the London Sephoria festival.
October 26, 2026: Submissions open for the 2027 prize cycle.
First quarter 2027: Winners of the 2027 prize will be announced.
Culture Shift
This award marks a direct expansion of the growing industry trend where major retailers act as incubators to secure early access to innovative independent brands. By fostering these relationships, Sephora is mirroring a broader shift toward vertical integration in the beauty sector.
Consumers can expect to see increased visibility and potential shelf availability for these niche European brands as they undergo Sephora's mentorship program. Shoppers interested in specialized UV-protective skincare or professional hair care may find these products integrated into the retailer's inventory soon.
The takeaway
The Sephora Prize highlights the increasing importance of mentorship and institutional backing for small brands looking to navigate the global market. Aspiring entrepreneurs should track retail-led competition calendars to identify similar opportunities for business acceleration.
What happens next
Submissions for the 2027 Sephora Prize are scheduled to open on October 26, 2026, with the subsequent winners slated to be revealed during the first quarter of 2027.
Further reading
For more on the latest trends in the cosmetics industry, explore our full Beauty section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WWD.
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