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After living in the UK for years and being a makeup artist for so long, you’d think I know all about the best makeup stores in London, and you would be right.
A lot of people usually head on over to Superdrug or Boots to get their fix of Revolution makeup or to Morphe in Westfield.
Well, beyond mainstream brands, I like finding all the high-end and drugstore makeup brands related to one country.
And there are many more makeup shops in London than you’d initially think.
Aside from the famous John Lewis and Selfridges, Boots, and Superdrug, I want to tell you all about the best makeup stores in London.
You’ll find in this guide the best spots to get Fenty Beauty, Kylie Cosmetics, Barry M, and even the latest Juvia’s Place eyeshadow palettes.
Later on, I’ll probably write a post about the best cheap makeup in London, with brick-and-mortar shops to get the cheapest makeup brands.
But for now, we’re going to be focusing on all the best makeup stores in London that offer anything from £1 lipsticks to expensive eyeshadow palettes over £100.
19 Best Makeup Stores in London From Morphe to Superdrug
Needless to say, as a foreigner, Superdrug is one of my favorite makeup stores in London.
You can just find there all the types of drugstore mascara, eyeshadow palettes, and super cheap lipsticks you just wouldn’t find in France, where I was born and raised.
London cosmetics are different.
They’re cheaper and of higher quality when it comes to drugstores while in France, you’d usually only find brands like Rimmel, L’Oréal, and Maybelline in supermarkets.
So let’s get to it, and discover here all the best makeup stores in London for affordable and high-end makeup brands!
Best Makeup Stores in London: Morphe
There are two Morphe makeup stores in London; one is in Westfield Stratford, and the other one is in Selfridges on Oxford Street.
I don’t think Morphe needs that much of an introduction, everyone knows it’s one of the best makeup brands in London and the whole world.
If you’re looking for affordable, large eyeshadow palettes, I have never owned a Morphe palette that has let me down.
All the Morphe makeup products are great, from their contouring palettes to their lipglosses, and of course, their stunning eyeshadow palettes.
If you’re around East London, I’d definitely recommend passing by the Morphe in Westfield Stratford, as it’s one of the best makeup stores in London.
Read: The Best Halal Brunch in London
Best Makeup Stores in London: Superdrug
If you’re looking for the most classic makeup stores in London, you really can’t miss out on Superdrug.
I would recommend visiting the Superdrug in Westfield Stratford as well, Superdrug on The Strand close to my favorite study cafes in Covent Garden, or Superdrug Marble Arch.
Superdrug Marble Arch is a stone’s throw away from the Marylebone area, which is cute and posh.
All three of these stores are some of the biggest Superdrug in London, and they have plenty of affordable makeup brands.
If you’re ever looking for Juvia’s Place eyeshadow palettes in the UK, Superdrug is where you’ll find them.
In addition, there is plenty of Revolution Makeup at Superdrug, along with Barry M, B. Makeup, Collection, and even the Missguided makeup range.
Indeed, if you pay the chain a visit, get some Barry M lip liners – they’re MAC dupes, and you don’t want to miss that.
Depending on the Superdrug you visit, you’ll find a few more brands like Rude Cosmetics and B. Perfect that I have come across in some of the Superdrug makeup stores in London around Central London.
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Best Makeup Stores in London: Boots
I like Boots – just a bit less than I like Superdrug, though.
Boots is one of the most famous makeup shops in London, and it is at the crossroads between high-end makeup and drugstore makeup products, and even has its own collection, 17.
I have actually bought a few of the 17 makeup products at Boots – including the 17. Red Berry lip liner which seems to be….
A perfect MAC Beet lip liner dupe.
At Boots, you’ll find lots of the same makeup brands as Superdrug, such as NYX Makeup, Revolution makeup, Collection, Barry M, and Max Factor.
On the plus side, there are often great deals on makeup at Boots.
They allow you to get high-end makeup brands for cheaper, like Fenty Beauty, Smashbox, Estee Lauder, Urban Decay, and more.
It’s just kind of a Sephora with more drugstore makeup, but the Boots card really allows you to get great discounts on makeup.
Read: The best things to do on solo travel to Rome
Best Makeup Shops in London: Beauty Base
Another one of my absolute favorite makeup shops in London is Beauty Base, that I actually only discovered last year.
It’s a chain of cosmetics stores of varying sizes, and my favorite is in Westfield White City, where you’ll also find a couple of good study cafes.
Beauty Base is currently one of the only makeup stores in London that offers drugstore American makeup brands as well as some British brands.
It reminds me a little bit of the TK Maxx makeup, but actually not that much as all the cosmetics here are protected and clean.
Among the brands you’ll find at Beauty Base, there is Technic, LA Girl, LA Colors, W7 – that kind of cool 2000s makeup brand.
Read: The Best Makeup Shops in Rome
Best Makeup Stores in London: MAC Cosmetics
I worked for MAC Cosmetics for over a year, and this is one of the makeup brands that will always have an anchor in my heart.
There are lots of MAC makeup stores in London, but my favorites would be the one on Carnaby Street and the one in Covent Garden, where I worked when I first moved to London.
What I like about MAC Cosmetics are the lipsticks, lip liners, and blushes, mainly.
There are many more makeup MAC products that made the brand famous, but I have to say that I’ve never been that big on foundation or concealer.
If you are, just know that the skin products signed by MAC Cosmetics are stunning and perform exquisitely well.
I would recommend passing by MAC Cosmetics for one of their signature matte lipsticks, like my all-time favorite, Viva Glam I, or Spice Lip Glass.
This is undoubtedly one of the best makeup stores in London, and in the entire world.
Great colors, plus, everyone serving you at MAC Cosmetics is a makeup artist so you’re sure to be served well.
Read: The Best Italian Cafes in London
Best Makeup Shops in London: Kryolan
I first discovered Kryolan when I used to work and live in Paris.
It’s actually one of the coolest makeup stores in Paris, too, and being able to find the Kryolan products in London is just incredible.
If you’re looking for a professional makeup store in London, Kryolan just off Long Acre near Covent Garden is perfect for you.
I only ever owned a few Kryolan makeup products, such as their gel eyeliners, and I could not believe how amazing they were.
Kryolan is probably one of the most underrated makeup stores in London, it is best-known among makeup artists, more specifically SFX makeup artists.
Even though I was a fashion and beauty makeup artist, I still tried a few of the Kryolan makeup products and I really liked them.
Their duochrome eyeshadows, in particular, are made in shades you will never see anywhere else, and that’s one of the best makeup shops in London if you’re looking for professional makeup.
Read: The Best Breakfast in Notting Hill
Best Makeup Stores in London: Charlotte Tilbury
I was hired by Charlotte Tilbury before I actually started working for MAC Cosmetics in London, and I felt that the makeup products were really beautiful.
Charlotte Tilbury makeup has this way of wowing you, even just in the pan and this is one of the most amazing makeup brands in London.
This is the perfect makeup store for you if you’re after high-end makeup products.
In particular, the Matte Revolution lipsticks are something to check out.
The Pillow Talk lipstick is one of the most famous Charlotte Tilbury products, and it’s well-worth the hype.
The face powder, lipsticks, and luxury quad eyeshadow palettes are all more beautiful than the previous one and perform stunningly well.
Charlotte Tilbury is famous for being an international makeup artist and obviously, the quality of the makeup brand follows…
The price tag as well.
Still, if you have the budget, you should definitely get yourself some Charlotte Tilbury makeup products as it is one of the best makeup shops in London that is truly, really, British.
Read: The Best Secondhand Bookshops in London
Best Makeup Stores in London: Selfridges
I love hanging out at Selfridges because a) I am a makeup addict, b) I am a candle addict, and c) I am a perfume addict.
It’s all I like in just one huge shop.
Selfridges boasts a few levels right in the middle of Oxford Street, where you’ll find some of the most famous makeup shops in the world along with lingerie, street food, and high-street fashion brands.
I think Selfridges is one of the best makeup stores in London for whoever doesn’t mind spending.
That’s the makeup where you’ll find some of the latest Pat McGrath eyeshadow palettes along with Hermes makeup, Gucci lipsticks, and even Morphe and Benefit makeup.
It’s just a hub for any makeup lover, but if you’re more on the budget side, there’s nothing wrong with treating yourself to a new MAC lipstick every now and again.
Read: The Best Pink Cafes in London
Best Makeup Stores in London: John Lewis
I don’t go to John Lewis as much as I visit Selfridges, just because I don’t really like the vibe there – even posher and less creative than Selfridges, where I feel perfectly at home.
However, John Lewis is one of the best makeup stores in London if you’re looking for premium, high-end makeup brands.
That’s where you’ll find brands like Charlotte Tilbury, Bobbi Brown, MAC Cosmetics, and more.
And while you can find these at Selfridges, I feel like John Lewis is much more local and best known to Londoners.
On the other hand, Selfridges, in my opinion, is really an international department store, if that makes sense.
Still, John Lewis is a great makeup shop if you have the budget or would like to find specific high-end makeup products.
Read: The Best Cafes To Study in Chelsea
Best Makeup Shops in London: Primark
Yep – one of the best makeup stores in London for anyone who wants to try affordable makeup is Primark.
Once upon a time, I would buy mounds of Primark makeup, which I think is really good to start with.
I personally don’t like the smell of Primark lipsticks, but I cannot deny that they are really well-pigmented and long-lasting.
At this moment in time, where I prefer medium-priced drugstore makeup or even brands like Barry M or Delanci, I don’t buy Primark makeup that often anymore.
However, I would still recommend the Primark lip liners, lip glosses, as well as their nail polishes which I think are all really good considering the price point.
That’s definitely one of the best makeup stores in London for beginners, or if you’re looking for seasonal makeup products around Halloween or Christmas time.
Read: The Best Charity Shops in Chelsea London
Best Makeup Stores in London: TK Maxx
There’s no more introducing TK Maxx on The Working Line, is there?
I am crazy about the TK Maxx candles, and I have written quite a few articles about the candle brands available at TK Maxx:
- the best DW Home candles for fall
- the best DW Home candles for Christmas
- the best Sand and Fog candles at TK Maxx
But did you know that TK Maxx is also one of the best makeup stores in London?
great thing is, you never know what you’re going to find in the TK Maxx makeup aisles.
From Technic and Profusion eyeshadow palettes to Zoeva brush sets and countless Essie nail polishes, there’s everything you might wish for in terms of cheap drugstore makeup products at TK Maxx.
Lately, I’ve gotten a few Essie nail polish colors at TK Maxx, and I have found quite a few Fenty Beauty lipsticks and Illamasqua products as well.
If you’re looking for the cheapest makeup shops in London, you need to pay a visit to TK Maxx, namely the ones in Long Acre near Covent Garden, Oxford Street, and Westfield Stratford.
Read: The Biggest TK Maxx in London
Best Makeup Stores in London: The Ordinary
The Ordinary is one of the best makeup stores in London if you’re looking for really affordable foundation and skincare.
During my very active years as a makeup artist, I would only use the RCMA foundation palettes.
A couple of The Ordinary foundations, too, which are available for every skin type and every skin color.
Roughly priced at £6, The Ordinary foundation colors are unmatched and that’s a great example of clean makeup.
If you’re looking for cheap makeup stores in London, then you really have to pay a visit to The Ordinary, the child company of Deciem, which also owns a few other brands.
My two favorite The Ordinary shops are located in Old Spitalfields Market and Covent Garden, near some of the best restaurants in Central London.
Read: The Most Instagrammable Cafes in London
Best Makeup Stores in London: Inglot Cosmetics
I have been feeling like writing all about the best Polish makeup brands, and I’ll probably do so pretty soon.
I have been addicted to Polish makeup since I was 18 (I’m almost 28), and Inglot Cosmetics is definitely a great representation of how incredible this makeup scene is.
If you’ve been to Inglot Cosmetics before, you’ll know why I think this is one of the best makeup stores in London.
For instance, there are a good couple of matte Inglot lipstick shades that are almost exact dupes for MAC Whirl and MAC Soar lipsticks.
The Inglot gel eyeliners are stunning, as are their customizable eyeshadow palettes and lip pans.
I think Inglot Cosmetics really rose to fame with their duochrome eyeshadows, and this is to this date one of the most interesting makeup brands in London.
One you can find on Oxford Street and in the Westfield Shopping Centre in Stratford like Superdrug, Boots, and Morphe.
I do think the Inglot nail polishes are overpriced, even though they are breathable.
However, a lot of the Inglot Cosmetics makeup products are otherworldly, as I’ve shown you in my review of the Inglot gel eyeliners.
You can see a bit better why I’m raving about Inglot Cosmetics so much.
One of the best makeup shops in London for colorful makeup and products that are pigmented and last all day.
Read: The Best Nontouristy Things to Do in London
Best Makeup Stores in London: H&M Makeup
It’s true that over the past few years, the H&M makeup range has been drastically reduced.
Such a shame, because I consider H&M to be one of the ultimate best makeup stores in London.
In what other high-street fashion shop can you really get duochrome liquid eyeshadows and matte lipsticks under £10 that are super pigmented and long-lasting?
I’ve only ever owned a few of the H&M makeup products, including the H&M nail polish, and I found them to be exquisite.
The pigmentation, the price, everything is there and makes H&M probably one of the most underrated makeup shops in London.
What I would recommend are the matte lipsticks and nail polishes, along with the H&M eyeshadows which are really excellent considering the price.
Read: The Best Mauve Eyeshadow Palettes
Best Makeup Shops in London: Liberty of London
Liberty of London is one of the most famous department stores in London, and of course, you’ll find there countless high-end makeup products.
That is not a cosmetics shop where you’ll come across Barry M, Juvia’s Place, and NYX Makeup.
Rather, along the lines of Selfridges and John Lewis, Liberty of London offers some really premium makeup brands such as Uoma Beauty, Suqqu, Byredo, or Westman Atelier.
Liberty of London isn’t only one of the best makeup stores in London; if you want to find stunning stationery brands, that’s also a shop you should pay a visit to.
The thing is, Liberty of London is located at the end of Carnaby Street, one of the most colorful streets in London.
You’ve got everything nearby from halal burgers to cafes to study in Soho, and even one of the most underrated charity shops in London, Pop 38.
Read: The Most Colorful Streets in Camden
Best Makeup Stores in London: Space NK
Space NK is one of the most famous makeup shops in London, especially among people who don’t mind splurging on high-end makeup and skincare.
You’ll find lots of brands in Space NK, and I’d recommend paying a visit to their shop near Old Spitalfields Market, as I feel like it’s one of the biggest Space NK in London.
Not one of the makeup shops I really visit on a weekly basis, since I’m more of a person who oscillates between Superdrug and Selfridges.
However, Space NK is the shop where you’ll find high-end makeup products from brands such as By Terry, Erborian, Chantecaille, Sisley, Tom Ford, or Anastasia Beverly Hills.
In my opinion, Space NK is what we have closest to a Sephora in London, with all types of either organic or premium makeup and skincare brands (or both).
One of the best makeup stores in London for high-end, and they also carry the Malin + Goetz candles which I love and is one of the reasons enough to pay a visit to Space NK.
Read: The Best Yankee Candle Scents for Autumn
Best Korean Makeup Shops in London: P2Bus
I’ve talked about some of my favorite shops in Chinatown quite a few times here, including Chinese Tapas House, Good Friend Chicken, and the incredible Chinatown Bakery.
Well, on Newport Court, just two steps away from Chinatown Bakery, you’ll find one of the best Korean makeup stores in London; P2Bus.
Beyond Korean makeup brands, P2Bus carries an extensive range of Japanese makeup and cosmetics as well.
You’ll find there brands like Mamonde, Cle de Peau, 3CE palettes, Dasique, and more.
P2Bus also sells its cosmetics online, so if you don’t find something in the store, you can always check their website for new arrivals as well.
Clearly, one of the best makeup stores in London if you’re looking for a good, wide array of makeup and cosmetics.
Read: The Most Colorful Streets in Notting Hill
Best Korean Makeup in London: PureSeoul
PureSeoul is located on Charing Cross Road, very close to Foyles Cafe, one of the best bookshop cafes in London.
And if you’re looking for Korean makeup in London, then you really can’t miss this makeup shop that is so pastel you could almost walk past without seeing it.
If you’re a makeup lover, you probably know how much of a blast Korean cosmetics are.
Well, PureSeoul is one of the best makeup shops in London to get all kinds of Korean makeup brands.
Amongst the PureSeoul ranges, you’ll find Etude House, Missha, A’Pieu, SkinFood, PeriPera, Holika Holika, TonyMoly, The Saem, and much more.
Of course, since these are imported Korean Cosmetics, they will be more expensive at PureSeoul than online.
Yet, if you’re looking for something urgently or just want to discover Korean makeup, the Charing Cross Road shop is one of the best makeup stores in London.
Read: The Most Colorful Places in London
Best Makeup Stores in London: Lush
Lush is probably one of the most underrated makeup stores in London, especially when you understand how good this organic makeup brand is.
Of course, everyone knows Lush for their stunning, aesthetic bath bombs.
But if you’re looking for a great vegan makeup brand, then that’s one of the London makeup shops you should pay a visit to.
Over the years, Lush has drastically stopped a lot of their makeup product ranges, which is quite sad.
Still, they have kept some of the very best makeup products that really, only Lush makes that way.
Their eyeliners in the shades Motivation and Courage are some of the most beautiful eyeliners you’ll ever see, and perfect if you’re looking for green or blue eyeliner.
The Feeling Younger skin tint is also incredible if you have fair to medium skin, and are looking for a subtle, everyday rose gold highlighter.
I’ll probably write a post about the best Lush makeup products, but in the meantime, for vegan makeup, that’s one of the best makeup stores in London.
Read: Best DW Home candles for autumn
Bonus: Best Makeup Stores in London: Sephora in London
The makeup stores in London that I have mentioned so far are my favorite when I want to find affordable makeup products and drugstore cosmetics.
However, as of Spring 2023, London will finally see its first Sephora store open – and Londoners are excited about that.
Having lived in both Paris and Rome, I have been raised with Sephora makeup stores all around me, and I don’t really see the craze about this shop.
There are lots of exclusive brands at Sephora, like Tarte or Makeup by Mario, which will only be available in the Sephora makeup stores in London.
However, this is not a makeup shop I really support.
Especially in times when all the makeup shops I know offer great discounted makeup on their brands, and Sephora tries to keep the brand standing and almost never offers discounts on products that people actually want.
However, if you’re already excited about getting some Sephora makeup products (which are really good, that’s true), the online Sephora shop is already open in the UK.
Read: The Best botanical candles brands with pressed flowers
19 Best Makeup Stores in London From Morphe to Superdrug
There you have them, all the best makeup stores in London, with high-end makeup products and some of the best drugstore makeup you could wish for.
Hopefully, you’ll have found in this guide lots of great makeup shops to do your Christmas shopping or discover new makeup brands in London that allows you to play with color!
Until next time!
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The Working Line
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Sam is a certified fashion makeup artist, a freelance writer, a blogger and a digital nomad. Since 2019, she roams around the world, from London to Rome and shares her knowledge about makeup, scented candles, travel, blogging and the digital nomad lifestyle.
