PR is often misunderstood by small businesses. Many assume it’s just about getting products into magazines or getting a celebrity to post a selfie with their serum. But true PR—the kind that builds community, trust, and recognition—is about shaping a brand’s story, controlling its narrative, and putting it in front of the right audiences in meaningful ways.
For small brands, good PR isn’t a luxury—it’s a lifeline. It builds credibility when no one’s heard of you. It differentiates you when you’re competing against legacy names. And unlike paid ads, well-placed PR offers third-party validation that can’t be bought.
But how can small brands pull off “big beauty energy” with limited resources?
Let’s explore the core strategies of beauty PR done well.
1. Find Your Story and Own It
The most powerful PR starts with a compelling origin story. And small brands often have the best ones—they just don’t know how to tell them.
Was your brand born out of frustration with existing products? Created in your kitchen? Rooted in a family tradition from your culture? These human, emotional stories are what beauty editors, influencers, and customers connect with.
Take Topicals, a Gen Z-favorite skincare brand. Co-founder Olamide Olowe didn’t just create another acne treatment. She told a story of underrepresentation, of growing up with chronic skin conditions and not seeing herself in beauty ads. This authentic narrative wasn’t a PR stunt—it was the soul of the brand, and it made editors and customers care.
Your story doesn’t need to be dramatic. It needs to be real, emotionally resonant, and consistent across your website, pitch decks, press releases, and social media. PR begins here.
2. Think Like a Beauty Editor
To get coverage, you have to understand what media professionals need.
Journalists and editors are busy. They’re inundated with pitches. A small brand trying to break through has to do more than just send samples—they have to make the editor’s job easier. That means crafting smart, timely pitches.
Here’s how small brands can do that well:
- Offer a new angle: Launching a moisturizer isn’t news. Launching the first moisturizer clinically proven to repair skin after chemo? That’s a story.
- Link to trends or moments: Tying your pitch to cultural or seasonal trends helps. “Our clean beauty balm is perfect for dry winter skin” is more appealing than “Introducing our balm.”
- Be visual and data-backed: High-res product photos, before-and-afters, and even early reviews help your pitch stand out. Editors want to visualize the story and see that it has legs.
Small brands that do this well often get picked up in “Best New Beauty” roundups or gift guides long before they spend a dollar on paid ads.
3. Micro-Influencers > Celebrity Gifting Sprees
Small beauty brands don’t have the budget to pay a Kardashian. But here’s the good news: they don’t need to.
Micro- and nano-influencers (1K–50K followers) often have far more engaged, loyal audiences. If they genuinely like your product, they’ll promote it with passion. And their audiences will trust them because the relationship feels authentic—not transactional.
One of the best things small brands can do is cultivate real relationships with these creators. That means:
- Personalized outreach: Know their content. Reference a recent post. Show that you care aboutthem, not just what they can do for your brand.
- Be generous, but strategic: Send full-size products in thoughtful packaging. Include a note. Don’t demand a post—ask for feedback first.
- Build long-term partnerships: The goal isn’t a one-off mention. It’s a creator who becomes a true brand advocate. That takes time, trust, and consistency.
An example of this done well is Kiramoon, a skincare brand that quietly sent cute PR boxes to influencers with handwritten notes and no strings attached. The surprise-and-delight strategy turned into loyal unpaid promotion—and they soon landed features in Glamour and Allure.
4. Use Founder Visibility as a PR Tool
Many small brands underestimate the value of their founder’s voice. In the beauty world—especially in wellness and skincare—founders can be powerful brand ambassadors.
Founders who position themselves as thought leaders attract both press and customer loyalty. Think about Emily Weiss of Glossier or Nyakio Grieco of Thirteen Lune—they didn’t just sell products, they sold a vision.
Small brand founders can:
- Speak on panels and podcasts
- Write guest op-eds (like this one)
- Share behind-the-scenes content on social media
- Be available to the press for quotes and expert insights
A founder’s face and voice can humanize the brand, especially when the product line is still small. Use your story as a PR asset.
5. Go Local Before Global
Many small brands dream of international press, but great PR often starts close to home.
Local media is easier to pitch and often hungry for positive, feel-good business stories. A regional magazine, podcast, or news channel can be a launchpad for broader attention.
For example, a handmade soap brand in Portland might get a feature in a local artisan market story—and that can lead to national eco-beauty coverage when framed correctly later.
Tips:
- Target local beauty bloggers and journalists
- Engage with regional events, panels, and trade shows
- Use geo-tagged PR to build hometown buzz
Remember: prestige doesn’t always mean big. Credibility can be built in concentric circles.
6. Measure Success Beyond Mentions
PR isn’t about immediate ROI. It’s about building long-term brand equity.
Small brands need to measure success in stages:
- Stage 1: Visibility – Are you getting mentioned in outlets that matter to your audience?
- Stage 2: Credibility – Are those mentions helping you close retail accounts or secure partnerships?
- Stage 3: Community – Is PR helping you build a loyal base that shares your story?
- Stage 4: Momentum – Are editors and influencers now coming toyou?
Too many small brands give up after one campaign. But PR is a snowball—it takes time to roll, and once it does, it grows fast.
7. The Power of Strategic PR Partners
While many small brands can handle early PR internally, investing in a boutique beauty PR agency—or even a solo PR consultant—can supercharge efforts.
What to look for:
- Specialization in beauty: Beauty PR has unique rhythms, calendars, and media players.
- Strong editorial relationships: They should know the right editors, not just send press releases.
- Willingness to co-create strategy: You want a partner who learns your brand inside-out.
Some agencies even offer startup packages or tiered pricing for emerging brands. Others will work for equity or commission if they believe in your product.
PR is one of the few investments that continues to pay off long after the campaign ends. Think of it as brand scaffolding—not short-term hype.
It doesn’t look like celebrity endorsements or TikTok virality on day one.
It looks like a thoughtful email pitch that lands your moisturizer in a “Best New Skincare” roundup. It looks like a micro-influencer sharing your serum with sincere excitement. It looks like a beauty editor DMing your founder to ask, “What’s your next launch?”
Great PR isn’t loud. It’s layered. It’s slow-burn. It feels like trust.
For small beauty brands, PR done well isn’t about pretending to be bigger than you are. It’s about knowing what makes you different—and making sure the right people see it.
