Best Beauty Deals of Hauliday: Cosmo x Klarna’s 2020 Event

Every year, shoppers eagerly await seasonal savings events, looking to refresh their beauty routines and wardrobes. In August 2020, Cosmopolitan joined forces with Klarna to host the inaugural Hauliday—a 48-hour virtual shopping festival tailored for Gen Z and millennial consumers. This unique collaboration brought together exclusive beauty deals, innovative payment solutions, and curated editor picks to create a shopping experience unlike any other. Whether you’re a seasoned beauty lover or just looking for a great deal, Hauliday was designed to help you shop smarter, spend responsibly, and snag the products editors love most.

What Is Hauliday?

Hauliday is a virtual shopping event developed by Cosmopolitan and Klarna, offering limited-time sales and promotions on coveted beauty, fashion, apparel, and footwear brands. The event was launched in response to the surge of online shopping during the COVID-19 pandemic and the growing popularity of digital shopping festivals among younger consumers. Hauliday’s goal is twofold: to offer exclusive deals on award-winning products and to provide shoppers with the flexibility to pay in interest-free installments via Klarna’s platform.

  • Held over 48 hours in early August 2020.
  • Featured major retailers including Sephora, Adidas, H&M, ModCloth, rue21, and Rhone.
  • Targeted primarily at Gen Z and millennial shoppers.
  • Included curated product recommendations from Cosmopolitan editors.
  • Integrated Klarna’s buy-now-pay-later service for greater financial flexibility.

Why Cosmo and Klarna Collaborated for Hauliday

The partnership between Cosmopolitan and Klarna was a strategic move to leverage both brands’ reach among young, fashion-forward audiences. Cosmopolitan, with its massive U.S. readership of 72 million monthly users, brought editorial expertise and consumer trust. Klarna’s platform, known for its ease of use and flexible payment options, allowed shoppers to tap into exclusive deals without the financial stress of traditional credit.

By joining forces, the two brands sought to provide not just products, but a fully curated and convenient shopping experience—emphasizing responsible spending and informed consumer choices.

How Hauliday Differs From Other Shopping Events

  • Focus on Beauty: While other shopping holidays like Prime Day or Singles Day feature a broad range of products, Hauliday centers distinctly on beauty, fashion, and footwear.
  • Editorial Curation: Cosmopolitan’s team selected and highlighted award-winning products, giving shoppers expert insights and trending recommendations.
  • Flexible Payments: Klarna’s installment system lets consumers purchase products in four interest-free payments, alleviating upfront cost concerns.
  • Community Engagement: Live shopping features, wish list creation, and real-time price-drop notifications foster an interactive experience.

The highlight of Hauliday was a curated list of beauty award winners, specially selected for their quality, innovation, and editor acclaim. Below you’ll find a breakdown of some of the best products you could snag during the event, each chosen for its performance and popularity in 2020.

Product Brand Category Award Deal
Custom Mega Palette NYX Professional Makeup Makeup Best Eyeshadow 30% Off
Hydra Vizor Invisible Moisturizer Fenty Skin Skincare Best SPF Moisturizer 25% Off
Silk Pillowcase Sunday Citizen Hair/Bed Best Beauty Sleep 20% Off
Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer Fenty Beauty Makeup Best Lip Gloss 25% Off
Advanced Repair Hand Cream Eucerin Body Care Best Hand Cream 15% Off
Regenerist Retinol24 Night Serum Olay Skin Care Best Retinol 20% Off
Mighty Patch Hero Cosmetics Acne Care Best Spot Treatment 25% Off
Original Dry Shampoo Batiste Hair Care Best Dry Shampoo 30% Off
Good Genes All-In-One Lactic Acid Treatment Sunday Riley Skincare Best Exfoliator 20% Off
Invisible Setting Powder Laura Mercier Makeup Best Setting Powder 20% Off
Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask Glow Recipe Skincare Best Overnight Mask 25% Off
Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant Paula’s Choice Skincare Best Chemical Exfoliant 25% Off
Thermal Protection Spray TRESemmé Hair Care Best Heat Protectant 30% Off
Renewing Argan Oil of Morocco Shampoo OGX Hair Care Best Hydrating Shampoo 20% Off
Brow Wiz Pencil Anastasia Beverly Hills Makeup Best Brow Product 20% Off

Editor Picks: Standout Products from Hauliday

The Cosmopolitan editorial team sifted through hundreds of beauty brands to identify a dozen must-haves that delivered exceptional results and value. Here’s a look at their top picks for Hauliday 2020, each combining innovation, affordability, and cult-favorite status:

  • Sunday Citizen Silk Pillowcase: For ultimate beauty sleep and hair protection.
  • Adidas Ultraboost Sneakers: Blending style and function, ideal for on-the-go beauty.
  • Sephora Collection Eye Masks: Revitalizing tired eyes with instant hydration.
  • NudeStix Tinted Blur Foundation: Lightweight coverage for everyday wear.
  • Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patch: Effective acne spot treatment for all skin types.
  • Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Mask: Overnight glow for radiant skin.
  • Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb: Universally flattering, moisturizing lip color.

These products were chosen for their proven benefits, rave reviews, and special Hauliday pricing—making them not just editor favorites but also top picks among consumers.

Shopping Smarter: Klarna’s Flexible Payment Solutions

One of Hauliday’s biggest draws was Klarna’s buy-now-pay-later feature. By breaking purchases into four interest-free installments, Klarna helped make beauty shopping more accessible and budget-friendly, especially for younger consumers wary of traditional credit options.

Klarna also integrated:

  • Wish List Creation: Users could save favorite products and monitor price drops.
  • Price Drop Notifications: Instant alerts ensured shoppers never missed a deal.
  • Budgeting Tools: Klarna presented itself as a responsible alternative to credit cards, with clear payment terms and reminders to avoid unnecessary impulse purchases.

Responsible Shopping and Consumer Protection

Amid criticism about encouraging over-spending among younger shoppers, Klarna emphasized responsible use of installment payments. Their platform included reminders and budgeting advice to ensure financial well-being even as consumers took advantage of steep discounts:

  • Ad campaigns warning against impulse purchasing
  • Flexible tools to track spending and upcoming payments
  • User education about managing finances during seasonal shopping events

Hauliday’s Impact and Community Engagement

The Hauliday by Cosmo x Klarna event marked a shift in how consumers interact with brands during online sales. By combining livestream shopping, influencer involvement, and editorial product curation, Hauliday fostered a community atmosphere that encouraged sharing, learning, and responsible shopping.

Live shopping events and real-time social engagement were highlights, letting shoppers ask questions about products, view demonstrations, and connect with both brand reps and beauty editors during the festival.

The Future of Hauliday and Virtual Shopping Festivals

Following its initial success, the organizers teased plans to make Hauliday an annual occurrence, offering even more deals and interactive features in future editions. Virtual shopping events are expected to grow, leveraging technology to create immersive, social, and enjoyable buying experiences for digital-native audiences.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is Hauliday?

Hauliday is a 48-hour virtual shopping festival created by Cosmopolitan and Klarna, featuring exclusive deals on beauty, fashion, and footwear products. It aims to offer consumers curated product selections and payment flexibility via Klarna’s installment system.

Which brands participated in Hauliday 2020?

Major brands included Sephora, Adidas, H&M, ModCloth, rue21, Rhone, Sunday Citizen, and many others. The event featured more than 4,200 participating U.S. retail brands.

What payment options are available?

Klarna allows shoppers to pay for purchases in four equal, interest-free installments, making beauty shopping more accessible and budget-friendly.

How were products selected for Hauliday?

Cosmopolitan’s editorial team curated a list of beauty award winners and editor picks, highlighting products that demonstrated proven performance, innovative features, and broad appeal.

Is Hauliday going to be an annual event?

Organizers indicated strong interest in making Hauliday an annual event due to its resounding success and high engagement among Gen Z and millennial shoppers.

Does Klarna promote responsible spending?

Yes, Klarna emphasizes budgeting tools, spending reminders, and educational campaigns to help consumers shop responsibly and avoid overspending.

Conclusion: Why Hauliday Matters

Hauliday by Cosmo x Klarna represents the evolution of online shopping: blending trusted editorial curation, accessible payment options, top beauty deals, and community engagement into a vibrant, interactive festival. By spotlighting award-winning products and providing tools for smarter, more responsible shopping, Hauliday empowers consumers to look their best, spend wisely, and enjoy the process. With plans for future events underway, shoppers can expect even more curated deals and digital innovations in the years to come.