The inability to try products in person has long been a barrier to buying beauty online, but with stores closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, people have become increasingly reliant on e-commerce. How are brands innovating their e-tail offerings to both enhance discovery and assuage concerns?

The prospect of a global recession due to COVID-19 is leading many people to curtail their spending – but there's still an appetite for small indulgences. Instead of making big-ticket purchases, shoppers are treating themselves to cheap thrills, a phenomenon known as ‘the lipstick effect.’

Australians continue to face long wait times when they order from abroad, contrasting the immediacy that services like Amazon have conditioned shoppers to expect. By enlisting ordinary citizens to deliver packages as they go about their day, Passel hopes to help ease the pain points of e-commerce.

Interactive classes, think pieces, quizzes, and meditative podcasts – all under the umbrella of Dazed Beauty. An online haven created for wellness junkies, the Dazed Digital Spa is offering users curated content and an accessible, virtual space for relaxation and rejuvenation.