The end of the earnings season is always a good time to take a step back and see who shined (and who not so much). Let’s take a look at how personal care stocks fared in Q3, starting with Nature's Sunshine (NASDAQ: NATR).

While personal care products products may seem more discretionary than food, consumers tend to maintain or even boost their spending on the category during tough times. This phenomenon is known as "the lipstick effect" by economists, which states that consumers still want some semblance of affordable luxuries like beauty and wellness when the economy is sputtering. Consumer tastes are constantly changing, and personal care companies are currently responding to the public’s increased desire for ethically produced goods by featuring natural ingredients in their products.

The 12 personal care stocks we track reported a strong Q3. As a group, revenues were in line with analysts’ consensus estimates while next quarter’s revenue guidance was 1.2% above.

In light of this news, share prices of the companies have held steady as they are up 4.2% on average since the latest earnings results.

Best Q3: Nature's Sunshine (NASDAQ: NATR)

Started on a kitchen table in Utah, Nature’s Sunshine (NASDAQ: NATR) manufactures and sells nutritional and personal care products.

Nature's Sunshine reported revenues of $128.3 million, up 12% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 6.7%. Overall, it was a stunning quarter for the company with a beat of analysts’ EPS and EBITDA estimates.

“The momentum in our business continued to accelerate in the third quarter, with record net sales of $128 million and adjusted EBITDA of $15 million, representing year-over-year growth of 12% and 42%, respectively,” said Shane Jones, CFO of Nature’s Sunshine.

Nature's Sunshine scored the biggest analyst estimates beat of the whole group. The stock is up 57.5% since reporting and currently trades at $21.58.

Is now the time to buy Nature's Sunshine? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free for active Edge members.

BeautyHealth (NASDAQ: SKIN)

Operating in the emerging beauty health category, the appropriately named BeautyHealth (NASDAQ: SKIN) is a skincare company best known for its Hydrafacial product that cleanses and hydrates skin.

BeautyHealth reported revenues of $70.66 million, down 10.3% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 2.5%. The business had an exceptional quarter with a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

BeautyHealth pulled off the highest full-year guidance raise among its peers. The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 7.8% since reporting. It currently trades at $1.39.

Is now the time to buy BeautyHealth? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free for active Edge members.

Weakest Q3: Edgewell Personal Care (NYSE: EPC)

Boasting brands such as Banana Boat, Schick, and Skintimate, Edgewell Personal Care (NYSE: EPC) sells personal care products in the skin and sun care, shave, and feminine care categories.

Edgewell Personal Care reported revenues of $537.2 million, up 3.8% year on year, exceeding analysts’ expectations by 0.6%. Still, it was a softer quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates and a significant miss of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

As expected, the stock is down 9.8% since the results and currently trades at $17.05.

Read our full analysis of Edgewell Personal Care’s results here.

Inter Parfums (NASDAQ: IPAR)

With licenses to produce colognes and perfumes under brands such as Kate Spade, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Abercrombie & Fitch, Inter Parfums (NASDAQ: IPAR) manufactures and distributes fragrances worldwide.

Inter Parfums reported revenues of $429.6 million, up 1.2% year on year. This number was in line with analysts’ expectations. Taking a step back, it was a mixed quarter as it also recorded a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates but a significant miss of analysts’ gross margin estimates.

The stock is down 5.8% since reporting and currently trades at $85.99.

Read our full, actionable report on Inter Parfums here, it’s free for active Edge members.

Olaplex (NASDAQ: OLPX)

Rising to fame on TikTok because of its “bond building" hair products, Olaplex (NASDAQ: OLPX) offers products and treatments that repair the damage caused by traditional heat and chemical-based styling goods.

Olaplex reported revenues of $114.6 million, down 3.8% year on year. This print topped analysts’ expectations by 4.2%. It was an exceptional quarter as it also recorded a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

The stock is up 27.4% since reporting and currently trades at $1.35.

Read our full, actionable report on Olaplex here, it’s free for active Edge members.

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