These authentic marketing innovations range from progressive Boomer magazines to influencer-hosted travel shows -- exploring everything from traveling on a budget to vacationing with young kids in tow.
Whether targeting Millennials or the socially conscious Generation Z, marketers are constantly rethinking their messaging to appear more honest, raw and authentic. In addition to replacing traditional models with social media influencers or real people -- offering a more realistic version of attainable beauty -- fashion, and makeup brands along with major retailers are realizing that being relatable is key when appealing to modern consumers. A standout, Nordstrom achieves this with its 'You First' campaign. The campaign features local Toronto-based celebrities and drives home a message of customer appreciation.
Additional examples to take note of include Cadbury's bubble wrap brand activation which invites visitors young and old to unwind in a sensory way. Furthermore, MTV's recent Snapchat-based Sex Ed program is accessible to social media users and aims to promote open communication among teens.
54 Authentic Marketing Examples

52
Empowering Cosmetics Campaigns
The Bold is Beautiful Project Empowers Women to Dream Big

51
Male Makeup Brand Ambassadors
Influencer James Charles Will Be Covergirl's Newest Ambassador
50
Snapchat Sex Ed Shows
MTV's First Snapchat Show is a Sex Ed Series Called 'Pants Off'
49
Broccoli Sampling Booths
Tenderstem's #GetTenderTonight Campaign Shares a Taste of Vegetables
48
Comedic Mother's Day Ads
The Agency 'Mother New York' Put a Creative Spin on Mother's Day
47
Female Friendship Events
Diet Coke's Girl's Night Launched the Get the Gang Back Together Campaign
46
Influencer-Modeled Campaigns
Mighty Healthy Released Its 'New Breed' Lookbook for the Fall
45
Profanity-Laced Mother's Ads
Kraft's 'Swear Like a Mother' Ad Uses Humor to Celebrate Mother's Day
44
Progressive Female Representation Campaigns
Dove and Mindshare Joined to Redefine Beauty Standards
43
Sensorial Bubble Wrap Parties
This Multi-Sensory Brand Activation Was Hosted by Cadbury Dairy Milk
42
Emotional Experience Soup Packaging
The Campbell's Soup 'Cans of Positivity' Campaign is Friendly
41
Progressive Boomer Magazines
Refigural Gives Readers a Fearless Perspective on Aging
40
Messy Mother's Day Ads
Brawny Gave Children Snapchat Spectacles for Its New Mother's Day Ad
39
Refugee-Integrating Accelerators
Lola Lik is an Ideas Hub Bringing Locals and Refugees Together
38
Customer-Oriented Retail Campaigns
Nordstrom's 'You First' Ads Put the Emphasis on the Customer
37
Millennial Hotel Series
Marriott International's 'Six Days, Seven Nights' Was Revealed on Snapchat
36
Identity-Celebrating Ads
This Clairol Hair Color Ad Stars Transgender Model Tracey Norman
35
Empowering Body Painting Initiatives
The Human Canvas Project Helps to Combat Negative Body Image
34
Personified Food Pop-Ups
This Human Fast Food Vending Machine Surprises People at a Laundromat
33
Friendship-Forming Bench Stunts
Nescafe's 'Hello Bench' Helps Strangers Break the Ice
32
Feminist Virtual Reality Apps
'The Whole Story Project' Immortalizes Famous Historical Women
31
Graffiti Brand Activations
Street Artists are Painting the Town for a Heineken Party
30
Hispanic Beauty Campaigns
Unilever's #100PorCientoTu Personal Care Marketing Celebrates Expression
29
Poverty-Exposing Holiday Ads
This Salvation Army Campaign Highlights the Importance of Giving
28
Social Media Star Burgers
Umami Burger Has Teamed Up with Cameron Dallas to Create a New Burger
27
360-Degree Coffee Campaigns
Nescafé's 'Good Morning World' Campaign Celebrates Global Connections
26
Pub-Promoting Publicity Stunts
This No-Effort Ad by Dave Blackhirst Targets Millennial Audiences
25
Empowering Paper Towel Packaging
These Limited-Edition Brawny Paper Towels Have a New Lumberjack
24
Branded Food Documentaries
'Unbroken Ground' Highlights Patagonia's New Food Business
23
Mature Drinking Ads
This Budweiser Super Bowl Commercial Features Helen Mirren
22
Celebrity-Endorsed Donut Promotions
Krispy Kreme's Shaq-or-Treat Promotion Celebrates Halloween
21
Thanksgiving Friendship Kits
IKEA and Uber Helped People Celebrate Thanksgiving with Friends
20
Diversity-Promoting Beauty Ads
The 'All Worth It' L’Oréal Paris Campaign Promotes Inclusivity
19
Storytelling Diaper Ads
This Ad is Designed to Appeal to Moms Buying Eco-Friendly Baby Products
18
Literacy-Promoting Shopping Events
This International Literacy Day Event Supports a Good Cause
17
Artistic Teen Campaigns
Autumn de Forest Stars in this Empowering Nordstrom Kids Commercial
16
Commuter-Focused Coffee Giveaways
Löfbergs Brought People Together by Combining Their Interactions
15
Mature Makeup Muses
Urban Decay's Newest 'Monthly Muse' is the Iconic Baddie Winkle
14
Donation-Encouraging Cab Campaigns
This Initiative Advertises the Need for Organ Transplants
13
Comparative Sofa Ads
This Pottery Barn Commercial Dissects a Couch to Show Off Its Features
12
Modest Luxury E-Retailers
The Modist Aims to Empower a Diverse Consumer Demographic
11
Cultural First Job Ads
The McDonald's 'First Customer' Fast Food Commercial is Hispanic-Focused
10
Sporty Feminine Hygiene Ads
This Always Ad Shows Young Girls That Nothing Can Hold Them Back
9
Shoe Employee Documentary Series
This Reebok Ad is Part of a Promotional Short Documentary Series
8
Olympian-Endorsed Yogurts
This Charitable Yogurt is Endorsed by Alistair and Jonny Brownlee
7
Rapper-Endorsed Hostel Campaigns
50 Cent Shows Millennials the Draws of Booking a Hostel
6
Empowering Muslim Campaigns
Hijup.com Shows How Women Wearing Hijabs are Fighting Controversy
5
Motherhood-Celebrating Apparel Ads
Gap's 'Mama Said' Ad Stars a Lesbian Couple and Their Children
4
Superhero Streaming Ads
This Netflix Ad Enlists Vine Star 'BatDad' to Promote the Site
3
Family Travel Tutorials
This Video Provides Parents with Tips on Traveling Abroad with Kids
2
Feminist Youth Conferences
Seattle's FemCon Endorses Female Empowerment Among Young Attendees
1
Women's March Campaigns
The '#WhyIMarch' Campaign Shows Women Speaking Up
Related Ideas
Aggressive Athlete Ads
Nike Launches the Winning Isn’t for Everyone Campaign
Humorous Brand Campaigns
The Ikea Rewards Program Embraces Its Late Arrival with Humor
Gen-Z-Targeted Retail Concepts
Urban Outfitters Debuts 'On Rotation' with Nike
Positive Social Media Campaigns
The New Tumblr Campaign Champions Community Over Controversy
Authenticity-Centric Beauty Series
Sephora Adds to Its 'We Belong to Something Beautiful' Campaign
Modern Newsstand Skincare Pop-Ups
Neutrogena x AIRE Health Hosted a Thematic Event
Star-Studded Brand Campaigns
'Play With Icons' is Redefining Lacoste’s Global Identity
Gen Z Advertising Initiatives
Tubi Targets Younger Viewers with Ad Innovations at IAB NewFronts
Truth-Forward Beauty Campaigns
The Ordinary X Uncommon Unveil the Beauty Industry’s Biggest Myths
GenAI Flip Phone Campaigns
Motorola's Styled with Moto Features AI-Generated Virtual Models
Exclusive Brand Ambassador Programs
Better for All Seeks to Promote More Eco-Friendly Practices
Unique AI-Generated Ads
Skinny Mobile Introduces Its New AI-Powered Brand Ambassador
90's Archival Footwear Pop-Ups
Dr. Martens Hosted a 'Buzz Bus' in NYC
AR-Powered Vending Machines
Snapchat and L’Oréal Made a Gamified Lens to Share Refillable Haircare
Heartwarming Bank Campaigns
Chase's Next Thing You Know Campaign Captures a Full Life
Hug-Inspired Olympics Campaigns
Coca-Cola's Summer Olympics Campaign was Inspired by True Events
Viral Social Shopping Apps
The Claim App Helps Gen Z and Brands Authentically Discover One Another
Beauty Hack-Inspired Campaigns
Vaseline Launched 'Vaseline World' Based on Social Media Content
Naturalistic Taco Stand Campaigns
Coca-Cola Launched a Street Photography Campaign in Norway
AI-Driven Product Photoshoots
Unilever Shared Its Use of AI and Digital Twins at NVIDIA GTC 2025
Authentic Mother's Day Commercials
Amazon Boxes Take Center Stage in a Heartfelt Campaign
Purposeful Consumer-Focused Campaigns
IKEA's Sleepfluencers Campaign is a Clever Way to Give Back
Brand Heritage-Appreciation Campaigns
Timberlands Racy 'ICONIC' Campaign Honours Its Legacy
Airline Highlight Advertisements
Spirit Airlines 'More Fly' Campaign is A Fresh Take on Travel
Individuality-Focused Brand Campaigns
Adidas Originals' New Campaign Champions Timeless Classics
Luxury Mother's Day Campaigns
Gucci's 2025 Mother's Day Campaign is Emotionally Resonant
Star-Studded Tech Campaigns
Jewellery Pros and Music Talent Promote the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds
Iconic Character-Inspired Campaigns
Etsy's Christmas Ad Celebrates Personalized Gifting
Movement-Inspired Fashion Campaigns
The Bottega Veneta's Going Places Features Going Places
Multichannel Retail Campaigns
Urban Outfitters' 'Happy Lolidays' Campaign is Engaging
Global Handbag Campaigns
Coach's New 'Unlock Your Courage' Campaign Promotes Personal Expression
Modern Motherhood Campaigns
Nara Smith Stars in Marc Jacobs' Mother's Day Campaign
Unretouched Photography Books
Dove Reimagine Beauty Celebrates Authentic Representation
Nature-Reconnecting Outdoor Campaigns
Mammut Encouraged People to Reconnect with Nature
Offbeat Fashion Campaigns
ASOS 'Inspired By' Delivers Non-Traditional Inspiration to Style-Seekers
Dynamic Basketball-Informed Marketing Campaigns
March Madness' New Campaign Features NCAA Athletes
Young Travellers-Targeting Campaigns
Progressive Insurance Has Introduced a New Campaign
Cheeky Coffee Ads
Starbucks' New Ads Celebrate Personal Connections Through a Modern Twist
Mindful Athletic Brand Initiatives
Nike's 'Wellness Collective' Promotes 5 Key Wellness Pillars
All-Asian Beauty Campaigns
Maybelline Face the Difference Features 40 Asian Pacific Trailblazers
Marketer-Targeted Cereal Ads
Surreal's Out-of-Home Campaign Speaks to Marketers, Not Consumers
Revealing Skincare Pop-Ups
The Secret Ingredient by The Ordinary Challenges Celeb Endorsements
Next-Generation Fashion Campaigns
REVOLVE Partners with Jeon Somi for a Gen Z Campaign
Social Media App Campaigns
Snapchat Promotes Creators in a Bold Campaign Amid TikTok Uncertainty
Authentication Awareness Pop-Ups
The RealReal Pop-Up Showcases Handbags at Dupe Store Installation
Therapeutic Nature-Inspired Campaigns
Craghoppers Introduces Its Autumn/winter 2024 Campaign
Live Shopping Flagships
Outlandish's Santa Monica Location Supports Live Social Media Shopping
Elevated In-Store Experiences
Bath & Body Works Adapts its Store Designs to Appeal to Gen Z
Aspirational Mother's Day Campaigns
Tiffany & Co. Boasts 'Strong Like Mom' Mother's Day Campaign
Gen Z-Influenced Marketing Campaigns
Kraft Heinz is Studying Gen Z's Preferences with New Launches
Active Lifestyle-Supporting Campaigns
Kellogg's® Vector® Launches the Become Your Player Campaign
Stylish Footwear Campaigns
Under Armour Targets Gen Z in its New 'Flex As You Go' Campaign
Customer-Starring Billboards
Bobbie's Campaign Spotlights Moms as "the OG Influencers"
Elder Millennial Skincare Kits
Bliss' New Campaign Connects with Older Millennials and Gen X
Experiential Marketing Campaigns
MIKE AND IKE, HOT TAMALES, and Marvel Team Up for Campus Tour
Gamified Back-to-Campus Campaigns
Urban Outfitters' UO Haul Supports Gen Z Through Transition
Hands-Free Driving Campaigns
Ford UK's Social Campaign Shares Merch for the "Passenger Princess"
Interactive Cosmetics Retail Stores
Watsons Upgrades its Stores for Gen Z and Gen Alpha Consumers
Generation-Blending Skateboarding Campaigns
Vans' Always Out There Campaigns Nods to Y2K Styles
Traveling Fashion Showcases
The Guess Bus in Sydney is an Example of Experimental Marketing
Inclusive Makeup Brand Campaigns
LIVE TINTED Launches the 'It Feels Good to Be Seen'
Edgy Cruelty-Free Cosmetics
Barry M Beauty's Rebrand Embraces Its Rebellious Roots
Anthropomorphic Store Campaigns
IKEA's Short Social Films Promote Its Click-and-Collect Service
Mindful-Shopping Campaigns
The Ordinary’s 'Slovember' Campaign Promotes Intentional Shopping
Visual Beer Brand Identities
Grolsch Has Unveiled a New Visual Brand Identity in Canada
Influencer-Curated Second-Hand Pop-Up
Evergreen Goodwill Partners with Seattle-Based Influencers
Luxury Travel-Ready Summer Programming
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts Debuts New Offerings
Inventive Retail Strategies
H&M is Working to Localize Its Shopping Experience
Empowering Fashion Campaigns
Coach's Spring 2025 Campaign Celebrates Personal Time Management
People-Powered Intelligence Campaigns
Del Real Foods' Abuela Intelligence Honors Real, Warm Wisdom
Approachable Retailer Branding Updates
The Latest Walmart Brand Refresh Reflects its Legacy
Heritage Brand Boot Ads
Blundstone Launches Global Campaign Celebrating Personal Boot Stories
Authentic Skincare Campaigns
We are Social France Spotlights Avène’s New Anti-Blemish Cream
Football-Focused Sofa Campaigns
Pepsi Presents the Refresh the Game Campaign with Icons
Gen Z Breakfast Campaigns
'Start the Day the Totino’s Way' Targets Teens Who Skip Morning Meals
Virtual Sneaker Authentication Services
Real Authentication Has Expanded to the Sneaker Market
Cheerful Healthy Snack Campaigns
Garden Veggie Snacks' YUMbelievably Delicious is Innovative
Confidence-Celebrating Fashion Campaigns
Lulus Fashion Lounge Debuts the 'We are Lulus' Campaign
Empowering Female Athlete Campaigns
Dove and Sports Illustrated Partnered to Celebrate Athletes
International Experiential Tours
The EF Ultimate Break Tours Target Gen Z and Millennials
Family-Honoring Festive Campaigns
JD Celebrates all Forms of Family in 2024 Xmas Family Campaign
Teen Skincare Hubs
Indu 101 Educates, Empowers and Inspires Young Beauty Consumers
GenAI Makeup Marketing
MAC Cosmetics is Tapping into the Power of Adobe Firefly Services
Character-Driven Fashion Newsletters
The RealReal Creates The RealGirl Luxury Consignment Series
Body-Positive Brand Campaigns
Dove's Super Bowl Ad Challenges Toxic Body Talk in Sports
Collaborative Digital Coffee Campaigns
illy Launches its Digital Content Series 'Coffee Break'
Caveman-Centric Running Campaigns
Craft Sportswear's Brand Film Channels the Primal Joy of Running
Confident Fashion Rebranding Campaigns
Boohoo Launches the People Will Talk... Campaign
Social Responsibility-Aligned Corporate Marketing
GoodBrand Impact is a Newly Launched Agency
Skincare Tailgate Tours
The Bubble Skincare Tailgate Tour Brings Premium Formulas to Gen Z
Cost-Conscious Clothing Campaigns
The Primark 'Never Basic' Campaign Focuses on Value
Human Connection-Centric Campaigns
Etsy's New Ad Campaign Wants to Keep Commerce Human
High-Concept Brand Campaigns
The ‘Legitimate You’ Campaign Proves Every Brand Can Look Pro
Carbon-Mitigating Travel Tours
EF Ultimate Break's Andiamo Campaign Targets Gen Z and Millennials
Peeling Cheese Packaging Billboards
This Babybel Billboard is Inspired by the Product's Packaging
Social Soda Mixer Campaigns
Level Up With 7UP Inspires Gen Z and Millennial Consumers
Social-First Car Campaigns
Škoda's Reddit Car Share Amplified the Voices of Passionate Fans
Social Shopping Networks
Stage TEN Empowers Creators to Build Their Own Live Shopping Channel
Excellence-Focused Bourbon Campaigns
Maker’s Mark Launches the Perfectly Unreasonable Campaign
Anniversary-Celebrating Storytelling Ads
The Walt Disney Company Mark Marvel's 85th Anniversary
Reimagined Story-Driven Campaigns
Visa Presented its 'Typewriter' Campaign at the 2025 Oscars
Transformative Luxury Voyage Campaigns
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection Debuts Unlike the Rest
Social Video Beauty Brands
Time Inc. Unveils 'The Pretty' Social Video-Based Beauty Brand
Customer-Exclusive Brand Trips
Cocokind is Hosting a Customer Brand Trip to Napa Valley in 2025
Multi-Generation Footwear Campaigns
Red Wing Heritage's Will Your Wings Stitches Wills Into Boots
Omnichannel Automotive Services
Automotive Mastermind has Adapted to Modern Consumer Patterns
Next-Generation Mall Campaigns
Simon's Meet Me @themall Targets Gen Z Shoppers
Retailer Mental Health Initiatives
L.L. Bean's 'Be An Outsider' Challenge Encouraged Time Outdoors
Travel Lifestyle Brand Ads
Away’s 'Travel Changed Me' Film Captures the Power of Exploration
Posh Mother-Celebrating Campaigns
The Michael Kors 2025 Mother’s Day Campaign Was Chic and Luxe
Cultural Newsletter Subscriptions
American Eagle Launches Gen Z-Focused 'Off The Cuff' Publication
Global Storytelling Initatives
Vans Announces its Narrative-Centric Always Pushing Campaign
Celebrative BIPOC Campaigns
Toyota Launches its 'You Can't Stop My Drive' Campaign
AI Creator-Centric Campaigns
The Spirit of London Campaign by Beefeater Embraces the City's Energy
Marketing Social Advocacy Tools
Nut Tree Helps Smaller Brands Boost Their Presence
Influencer-Starring Car Commercials
Toyota's New Short Film Seeks to Resonate with Gen Z Customers
Athlete-Centric Bingo Campaigns
The 'Share Your Bingo Moment' Campaign Spotlights Olympic Legends
Back-to-Campus Concert Series
UO LIVE On Campus Features Gen Z-Favorite Artists & Creators
Personalized Retail Media Networks
Thrive Market Collaborates with Instacart on a New Network
Frozen Pizza-Centered Campaigns
Dr. Oetker Debuts the Frozen Pizza Publicist Campaign
Women's Wellness Campaigns
NOW Foods Launches Be You, NOW Campaign to Empower Women's Wellness
Inclusive Romance-Inspired Activations
Generation Love Presented the Giving Love Campaign
Skateboarding-Inspired Ads
Vans Launched the ‘Always Pushing’ Ad Highlighting Skating Culture
Purpose-Driven Brand Storytelling Platforms
Hellonation Has Debuted Its Edvertising Model
Ethical Tea Commercial Campaigns
Clipper Teas Showcases its New Marketing Tactics for 2025
Meaningful Relationship-Encouraging Campaigns
Iceberg Vodka Debuts 'Foraging Deeper Connections'
Athlete-Inspired AI Brand Campaigns
AngelAi Taps a Groups of Athletes to Promote Its Ethos
No-Nonsense Haircare Campaigns
The No Gimmicks Campaign by LolaVie Focuses on Proven Products
Iconic Commercial Reboots
Oscar Mayer Brings Back Its Iconic Jingle for a New Generation
Localized Destination Campaigns
Rosewood Hotels & Resort Debuts 'Discovered at Rosewood'
Customer Gifting Suites
Grey Bandit's Gifting Suite Gave Customers the Influencer Treatment
Retro Snack Rebrands
Back to Nature Unveils California-Inspired Nostalgic Packaging Design
Woman-Focused Travel Companies
Girls' Guide to the World Serves a Niche Market
Ad Inspiration Archives
Nobody Reads Ads Showcases Print and Outdoor Ads With Notable Success
Streetstyle Flavor Campaigns
Old El Paso's Turn It Up Entices Gen Z to Try Its Street Vibes Range
Reflection-Encouraging Edible Oil Campaigns
Simply Fresh Marks the New Year with a New Campaign
Classic Ad Campaign Revivals
Seagram's 7 Crown is Reviving Old Ads for Its New Campaign
Consumer Values-Based Audiences
Givsly Debuts Values-Based Audiences to Streamline Marketing
Traveler Marketing Platforms
Koflluence Introduces the Rare Travel Platform for Travel Influencers
Empowering Trader-Focused Campaigns
Vantage Markets Debuts New Phase of Reborn a Trader