Sephora Just Launched in the UK—Here's What I'm Adding to Basket
In case you missed it, Sephora has officially landed in the UK online. It's quite possibly the biggest beauty news of the year, and we could not be more excited for it. Before now, we UK-based beauty aficionados would have to head to the U.S. or make a trip across the channel to access the famed beauty store. Not only is it a beauty emporium filled with brands from Tom Ford to Glow Recipe, but it has so many brand exclusives that you can only get at Sephora, including Sephora's own line, Sephora Collection.
Sephora UK (which was formerly Feel Unique) is online only for now, but Sephora has confirmed that we can expect to see a store opening in London next year, so watch this space. For now, Sephora UK has a number of exclusive brands, including Tarte Cosmetics, Ilia, Makeup by Mario, One/Size by Patrick Starrr, GXVE by Gwen Stefani, Skinfix, Vegamour, and Sephora's own Sephora Collection. Amongst this mix, you can also expect to see affordable French pharmacy brands like La Roche-Posay and premium brands such as Pat McGrath Labs, Fenty Beauty, Gisou and Rose Inc to name but a few.
The other thing I love about Sephora is that you can pick up some exclusive gift sets, bundles and discovery sets that allow you to try lots of different makeup, skincare, fragrance and hair heroes. Plus, Sephora also offers a customisable beauty box, as well as a "Pick & Mix" sample service, in which you can choose five samples and just pay for delivery. I'm extremely anticipating the store opening as every time I've visited a Sephora abroad, I've always loved the interactive elements in-store and being able to shop so many great brands under one roof—it's really unlike any other beauty store. Is it beauty heaven? Quite possibly.
In the mood to shop? Below, I've documented the contents of my basket to share some of the best beauty products at Sephora UK right now.
The Best Sephora Beauty Products
If you only buy one thing from Sephora's own collection, I'd advise you choose its makeup brushes, which are really excellent quality and more affordable than most brands. These vegan brushes are ideal if you're building a makeup-brush collection from scratch as the set has all of the essentials that you need to see you through multiple makeup looks. It includes three eye-shadow brushes and three face brushes, and it comes in a handy storage box and pouch, which is perfect for traveling and keeping your brushes clean and organised.
I naturally added this cult classic to my basket after seeing its resurgence on TikTok as the ultimate moisturiser to prep for makeup. I see pro makeup artists use this time and time again at Fashion Week to prep models' skin, and it works for all skin types.
Some beauty advent calendars can set you back more than £200, but Sephora's is high quality and affordable considering the brands that are included. Augustinus Bader, Neom and Nars are just some of the premium brands that are included, and of the 34 surprises, 17 are full-sized products. I've never added something so quickly to my basket. I reckon this will sell out fast.
One/Size is a brand that I've really wanted to try, and thankfully, my prayers have been answered. It's now available at Sephora. This makeup setting spray has a mattifying effect and helps to keep oily skin shine-free while keeping makeup in place all day.
I've been raving to just about everyone who will listen to me about Rose Inc's Cheek & Lip Color compacts. It's the perfect cream blusher, which also doubles up as a low-maintenance creamy lip colour. I've been using the shade Heliotrope for a healthy flush of colour, and the compact also comes with a mirror, so it's ideal to carry in your bag. I've been using mine religiously, so I'm topping up in my Sephora shop.
If you've ever visited a Sephora store, you'll know that it's great for giving out samples. While we'll need to wait until next year for a store opening, I'm pleased to see that you can choose up to five samples online and just pay for postage. It's a great way to try out a few products that you have your eye on before committing to a full-size product.
Another aspect of Sephora I love is that it offers so many fragrances in travel sizes, which are great for throwing in your bag or just taking a fragrance for a test-drive before buying a full bottle. I'm intrigued by Rosie Jane's James scent, which has notes of amber, fig and gardenia.
This is hands down one of the best mascaras that I've tried. It lifts, defines, lengthens and volumises without crumbling throughout the day, and it leaves lashes really conditioned and nourished.
Now that the weather is turning colder, I've been on the hunt for a nourishing lip mask to wear as I head out the door, and this one from Tarte fits the bill. This brand is also exclusive to Sephora UK, so I'm intrigued to try it.
There are a lot of beauty boxes out there at the moment, and most of the time you might be left with a few samples that you have no use for. Sephora's beauty box, however, let's you choose from so many deluxe-sized samples, and you can choose to buy a box as a one-off purchase or choose to subscribe.
This might be one of the best hair products that I've ever tried. My hair is prone to frizz, but this blow-dry spray helps to seal the hair cuticle to reduce frizz and leave hair shiny and silky. Dream Coat also comes in a formula for curly hair.
I've just finished a bottle of this, and it's one of the best aromatherapy oils that actually makes a difference in my mood. Relax Deep is my favourite blend. You apply it onto your skin before showering or bathing, and it leaves you feeling so relaxed, so I love it as a Sunday evening ritual.
There are so many great home-fragrance options on Sephora, including Jo Malone London. Pomegranate Noir is one of the best fragrances for this time of year. It's sweet yet moody and comforting—ideal to burn when the weather is gloomy.
You know those shampoos that make your hair feel really clean and more manageable? This one does just that. It helps remove product build-up and oil to leave your hair really cleansed. I'd 100% buy this if you're someone who uses a lot of styling products and wants to reset their hair with a deep cleanse.
I've got a weekend trip planned in November, and I'm taking carry-on luggage, so I'm needing to streamline my makeup bag. I've got my eyes on this starter kit from Milk Makeup, which has all its hero products including Hydro-Grip primer and setting spray and a mascara and bronzer in handy travel sizes.
Okay, I'll admit that £50 is a lot to spend on a makeup primer, but if you have a special occasion where you're having pictures taken, then I'd recommend trying this Hourglass primer. The Veil Mineral Primer leaves my skin looking airbrushed and improves the lasting power of my makeup so well. It also comes in miniature sizes, so you can try it out first without forking out for a full size.
Up Next: I'm A Beauty Editor–These Are My Favourite Online Beauty Stores I Actually Shop
Eleanor Vousden is the beauty editor for Who What Wear UK. She was previously deputy editor at Hairdressers Journal, health writer at Woman & Home and junior beauty editor at beauty website Powder. She has also contributed to Wallpaper and Elle Collections with written and styling work.Working as a beauty journalist since 2015 after graduating in fashion journalism at the London College of Fashion, she has been highly commended at the BSME Talent Awards for her work on Powder and also contributed to the title winning Website of the Year at the PPA Awards.Eleanor’s journalistic focus is to provide readers with honest and helpful beauty content. Through words, video and live broadcast, she has interviewed several celebrity makeup artists, hairstylists and top dermatologists throughout her career, as well as celebrities such as Sarah Jessica Parker and Scarlett Johansson. She has a particular interest in finding solutions for acne and eczema, which she has experienced firsthand. She has also amassed a large collection of fragrances and can never say no to a new candle.When she’s not writing or testing the latest beauty product or treatments, she’s on the seafront in her hometown of Brighton and Hove, where she lives with her partner and her miniature dachshund.
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