I'm about to let you in on a little secret: Topshop is low-key one of my favorite places to find affordable beauty products. I rarely hear people in the beauty-editor community buzz about the British brand's makeup and skincare offerings, but last fall, it relaunched its beauty section, and from foundations and highlighters to K-beauty skincare, the brand's selection is legitimately fire—and almost everything costs less than $20. The makeup is Leaping Bunny–certified, meaning cruelty-free, which is fab. The retailer also has major sales (one is happening right now!), so if getting high-quality lipsticks and foundations at $8 and $12 price points interests you, Topshop should probably be on your radar.
What isn't such a secret is that Topshop is one of our favorite retailers for trend-forward fashion pieces. (These are the spring/summer Topshop pieces we're loving most right now, by the way.) Who knew its eye pencils and face palettes were just as good as its jumpsuits and sandals? So next time you load up your Topshop cart with clothing, make sure to add a few of the following—my favorite selects from Topshop's clandestinely lit beauty section.
A lightweight, super-blendable liquid concealer that you can apply lightly or build up for full coverage and leaves a soft matte finish? Yep, we'll take all eight shades. Especially the product is on sale right now for only nine bucks.
Topshop offers a number of different lipstick formulations, but I recommend going for the cream version, which has a demi-satin finish, applies smoothly, and doesn't feel at all drying on the lips. There are 25 shades, some of which are a little sheerer, and others more opaque. My faves are Macaron, a super-pretty coral; and Mink, a warm, darker nude.
Sparkly powder highlighters are not the vibe for 2019, but slick, dewy face glosses and jellies totally are. I love Topshop's take for the cheekbones and eyelids. It's smooth, but not sticky, and leaves the perfect glazed-skin look.
A pet peeve of mine with brow gels is that the applicators are too big, which causes messy application. I love Topshop's skinny tip, and the pigmented formula (which comes in four shades) offers just the right amount of hold.
We love us a shimmery body mist for summer, and this elixir, which leaves a luminous (but not sparkly) finish, does just the trick. Doesn't hurt that it smells like florally vanilla goodness. Spray this on your limbs and décolleté whenever you go poolside for that Instagram-worthy body glow.
Highlighter pots are very *now,* and Topshop's version is nice if you want to add a creamy dewiness to your face without looking too greasy or slick. The product, which comes in two shades, blends easily and sets on the skin so it's dry to the touch.
I'm really into a fluffy, doe-eyed lash look these days (nothing spidery or heavy), and that's just what Topshop's mascara achieves. It also comes in a waterproof formula, which is great for summertime.
Matte foundations with thicker textures aren't usually my go-to, but for those who have oilier skin types and enjoy a shine-free finish, definitely give this easy-to-blend formula a try. It comes in only 12 shades, but they do cover a wide spectrum of skin tones, which a plus.
Good goddess I love a chubby eye crayon. These 10 matte and shimmery shades are muted enough for simple, everyday wear. They dry down after 60 seconds and last all day. You need to sharpen them (they're not twist-ups), but for $8? Worth it.
If you like a softer lip look (I know I do this time of year), opt for Topshop's Blush Lipstick. It comes in six fun shades, from mauve-y pink to '90s brown. My fave is the salmon hue, Elated. What can I say? I love corals. The superfruit-infused formula is super lightweight and hydrating. A no-makeup makeup must-have for only $8.
I'm really picky about mattifying powders. If the formula is too cakey, I want nothing to do with it. I love how silky this pressed formulation is. A light dusting works for me, but you could definitely build it up for more coverage. It comes in six shades and a very sleek metal compact with a convenient mirror included.
Everything I dig about Topshop's pressed powder I like even better in its bronzer. It's silky, blendable, and pigmented (but not too pigmented). I wish it came in more shades; only one is in stock currently, an almond-colored matte hue. But still overall a very solid product.
Silky smooth? Check. Blendable? Check. Offers a natural (but still visible) lit-from-within flush? Check. Color me a fan of Topshop's powder blush, which currently comes in four bright shades.
Topshop's makeup brush selection is also impressive. Out of all its offerings, I'll probably get the most use out of this big fluffy brush: Use it to apply setting powder, or bronzer and blush if you like a lighter finish. It's $8, but the quality measures up to brushes twice the price.
If you had told me two years ago that I'd soon be obsessed with lip gloss, I would have told you to STFU. But here we are, in summer 2019, and gloss is kind of all I want to wear on my lips. Topshop's four shades are fun because they're sheer and infused with micro glitter, so you can layer them on top of another color (or just wear them on their own) for a whimsical '90s vibe. Despite the sparkle, the texture thankfully doesn't feel grainy on the lips.
For a very reasonable $28, this chic gold box serves you nine sparkly eye shadows, three highlighters, and a flamingo-pink blush. I'm obsessed with the eye makeup trend of applying a single bold color to the whole lid, and this palette offers endless iterations of that. It's perfect for travel (useful for wedding season, y'all!), and also makes a great gift.
One more highlighter: It's hard to believe these drops are on sale for only $11. So chic! Dot the luminous liquid on the high points of your face for a subtle glow that dries down to be super long-lasting.
Onto skincare: Topshop doesn't have its own line, but it does carry a number of cute, curated products from other brands, like K-beauty line Oh K!. If you love the Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask ($48), you'll vibe with this super-hydrating sheet mask version, too. Plumping, revitalizing ingredients like ceramides and antioxidants give the skin a quick pick-me-up.
If you're already a member of the Baby Foot cult (or new to deeply exfoliating your feet), check out Oh K!'s affordable peel, which uses fruit-derived acids to slough dead skin off your tired tootsies.
I own one of Tangle Teezer's adorable travel-size detangling brushes, and if I ever lost it, a small part of me would die (until I bought another one from Topshop, at least). No tiny compact brush does a better job of making my hair shiny and knot-free.
And while you're filling your Topshop cart with beauty products, you might as well throw in a tube of this classic lip balm (which Topshop carries in yummy flavors like Peach & Mango Burst). I never leave the house without one of these intensely moisturizing little guys.
Next: The $20-and-Under Eye Creams That Will Make Your Skin Look Like a Million Bucks
