I’ll admit it; I didn’t used to enjoy buying cosmetics online. There’s nothing like browsing the high-end beauty counters, swatching new shades and inhaling the clouds of designer perfume. However, the coronavirus pandemic has changed shopping in a big way. Right now, you can’t try before you buy or enjoy a makeover. Without that luxurious experience, more and more consumers are opting for the convenience of online shopping. Whilst there are plenty of online stores for luxury cosmetics, they weren’t all created equal.

Before we begin, let me say that I’m a picky online consumer. If a site isn’t user-friendly, I won’t persevere, I’ll just go and look for one that’s easier to navigate. I really don’t trust websites that look outdated. If they use a comic sans font, that’s an instant “no” from me. So with that in mind, here’s my list of the best online stores for luxury cosmetics.

LookFantastic 

LookFantastic is easily one of the best online stores for luxury cosmetics with over 350 brands on offer. You can get everything you want in one easy haul, which I love. They also offer a subscription box which allows you to try all the latest and greatest luxury cosmetics at an affordable price. Best of all, delivery is free on orders over $30. 

BeautyBay 

BeautyBay stocks a great range of makeup, skin care and hair care brands, from drugstore to luxury. This site is one of the best for exciting indie brands that you can’t always find in store. However, it’s admittedly a bit disappointing for those who love very well-established luxury makeup brands like Mac, Dior and Estee Lauder. 

BeautyBay is a stylish yet straightforward site that’s popular due to its speedy delivery and seamless user experience. In fact, it has been so successful that they’ve even launched their own makeup line and released several collaborations with popular makeup artists, most notably YouTube sensation NikkieTutorials. 

SpaceNK

London-based SpaceNK is a high-end apothecary and that experience certainly translates to their online store. It’s a must for those who love to try out more niche luxury cosmetics brands like Kevyn Aucoin, By Terry and Sunday Riley. If you’d like to speak to an expert, you can book a free online consultation to help you find the perfect luxury products for your specific needs. 

Yesstyle 

Yesstyle is a one-stop-shop for all things K-beauty related, and they also sell clothing and food. All of my favorite Korean cosmetics brands, like Purito and Skinfood, are available on the site which is amazing as they’re pretty hard to come by in the US. I also feel as though Korean makeup and skin care products are a lot more cost-effective than their western alternatives. You get really high-quality ingredients and amazing formulas for a fraction of what you’d pay in America. I recently did a Yesstyle haul and I was so impressed by the value for money. 

Yesstyle is so much easier to use and understand than many Korean beauty sites out there. They also offer free express shipping over $59, which is amazing considering your goods are coming from the other side of the world! Another feature I love is the reviews section where users can upload their before and after photos.  

Dermstore 

Dermstore has a great selection of luxury, science-based skincare brands including EltaMD. The site also offers a subscription skin care box which is perfect for those who love trying new products every month.

What I love the most about this site is the refill subscription feature; if there’s a product you’re constantly reordering you can set up a refill cycle so it’ll turn up at your door once every 1-3 months. 

ASOS 

ASOS is primarily a fashion site but it actually carries a pretty great range of luxury cosmetics too. If you purchase their premier delivery option for $19/year you can ensure your favorite Charlotte Tilbury and Caudalie products are never more than two days away from your front door. The site is so easy to use and has fantastic customer support. 

Cult Beauty 

Cult Beauty is a UK-based site but the shipping is very affordable. In fact, it often works out cheaper to use this site than Sephora. It stocks some of the most coveted (and hard-to-come-by) brands out there including Milk, Sunday Riley and Hourglass. Seriously, what’s not to love?

Everything on this site is priced in pounds sterling, which means that you should stock up when the dollar is strong. Shipping is also affordable at £4.95 (between $6-7 depending on the exchange rate) for 5-10 day delivery.

For more on cosmetics, check out this article on the best foundations for every skin type or this guide to high-end makeup brushes.