As a singer constantly in the spotlight, I know firsthand how crucial it is to have access to top-notch beauty products that can withstand long performances, camera flashes, and the rigors of touring. Whether I’m belting out notes on stage or meeting fans after a show, I always want to look and feel my best. That’s why I’ve become somewhat of an expert in navigating the vast world of online beauty shopping.
Over the years, I’ve discovered that the right beauty products can be a performer’s best friend, boosting confidence and enhancing natural features under even the harshest stage lights. But with so many options out there, finding the perfect products can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. That’s where online beauty stores come in – they’ve been my secret weapon for discovering new brands, restocking my favorites, and experimenting with the latest trends, all from the comfort of my tour bus or hotel room.
In this article, I’m excited to share with you my top 10 picks for the best online beauty stores. These are the go-to destinations that have consistently delivered when it comes to quality, variety, and customer service.
1. Beautylish
Beautylish has established itself as a premier destination for beauty enthusiasts seeking high-quality cosmetics and skincare products. Founded in 2010, this San Francisco-based company offers a curated selection of both well-known and niche beauty brands, catering to a discerning clientele. What sets Beautylish apart is its commitment to customer education, providing detailed product information, tutorials, and reviews to help shoppers make informed decisions.
The website’s user-friendly interface and visually appealing design make browsing and purchasing a pleasure. Beautylish is particularly known for its excellent customer service, fast shipping, and generous return policy. The company also offers a unique “Lucky Bag” promotion, where customers can purchase a mystery assortment of products at a significant discount, adding an element of excitement to the shopping experience.
2. Eternal Beauty Outlet
Eternal Beauty Outlet is an emerging online beauty store that has quickly gained recognition for its comprehensive range of beauty and skincare products. Founded in 2020 by Olivia Grace, this e-commerce platform aims to revolutionize the beauty industry by offering a curated selection of
beauty products that cater to diverse needs and preferences.
At the heart of Eternal Beauty Outlet’s mission is a commitment to celebrating the power of beauty and redefining beauty standards. The company strives to become the most beloved global beauty store for customers and the most admired retailer for associates, communities, partners, and investors. This vision is reflected in their extensive product range, which includes skincare, makeup, nails, body care, hair care, and beauty tools.
One of the standout features of Eternal Beauty Outlet is its dedication to ethical and sustainable practices. The company prioritizes safety, cruelty-free products, and eco-friendliness when choosing brand partnerships. This commitment extends to their fight against overpackaging in the cosmetic industry, with many of their products designed to be solid and sold without excessive packaging.
Eternal Beauty Outlet prides itself on offering high-quality products at competitive prices. They guarantee the lowest prices and free shipping, making luxury beauty more accessible to a wider audience. The company’s customer-centric approach is evident in their promise of 100% secure online ordering and their commitment to putting customers first.
The website’s user-friendly interface allows customers to easily browse products by category, including body care, hair care, makeup & nails, skincare, and tools & brushes. This intuitive design, coupled with detailed product information and customer reviews, helps shoppers make informed decisions about their purchases.
3. Milk Makeup
Milk Makeup, launched in 2016, has quickly become a cult favorite among millennials and Gen Z consumers. This New York City-based brand is known for its innovative, multi-use products that cater to a fast-paced, on-the-go lifestyle. Despite its name, Milk Makeup is 100% vegan, appealing to environmentally conscious consumers.
The brand’s online store offers a seamless shopping experience, showcasing its range of easy-to-use, minimalist-designed products. Milk Makeup has gained popularity for its unique formulations, such as the cannabis oil-infused KUSH Mascara and the viral Hydro Grip Primer. The company’s commitment to inclusivity is evident in its diverse shade ranges and use of atypical models in its marketing campaigns.
4. The Detox Market
The Detox Market has been at the forefront of the clean beauty movement since its inception in 2010. This online retailer specializes in curating the best green beauty products, carefully vetting thousands of items to ensure they meet strict safety and efficacy standards. The company’s mission is to make clean beauty accessible and enjoyable for all consumers.
The Detox Market’s website offers an extensive range of skincare, makeup, and wellness products from both established and emerging brands. What sets this retailer apart is its commitment to education and transparency. The site provides detailed information about ingredients and product benefits, helping customers make informed choices about their beauty purchases. The Detox Market also offers personalized skincare consultations and a rewards program, enhancing the overall shopping experience for clean beauty enthusiasts.
5. Nordstrom
Nordstrom has recently expanded its beauty offerings to cater to younger millennial and Gen Z consumers. The department store has introduced a new beauty and lifestyle assortment featuring both established and emerging brands. This curated selection includes makeup, skincare, and nail products from brands such as Kiramoon, The Ordinary, Le Mini Macaron, Blume, and First Aid Beauty.
The new assortment is currently available in six physical stores across the United States and has a dedicated “Young Adult Beauty” section on Nordstrom’s website. This online section comprises over 800 products, ranging from serums and cleansers to lip oils and hair treatments. Nordstrom’s move demonstrates its commitment to staying relevant in the ever-evolving beauty market and attracting younger customers.
In addition to this new initiative, Nordstrom has been consistently refreshing its beauty department by launching several new brands both in-store and online over the past year. The retailer has also expanded its in-store experiences, such as the Facial Sculpting Studio featuring NuFace devices.
6. Violet Grey
Violet Grey is a luxury beauty retailer that has gained a reputation for its highly curated selection of products. The platform offers a range of high-end makeup, skincare, haircare, and wellness items that have been rigorously tested and approved by industry experts. This meticulous curation process, known as the “Violet Code,” ensures that only the most effective and innovative products make it onto their shelves.
One of Violet Grey’s unique selling points is its connection to Hollywood’s elite. Many of the products available on the site are endorsed by celebrities and used by professional makeup artists, adding to the brand’s credibility and appeal. The platform also provides educational content and product recommendations, helping customers make informed purchase decisions.
Violet Grey’s online marketplace, powered by Spree Commerce, offers a seamless shopping experience with features like color filters, product tutorials, and multiple payment options. The site’s aesthetic reflects its Hollywood roots, combining glamour with modern fashion sensibility.
7. Drunk Elephant
Drunk Elephant is a skincare brand that has gained a cult following since its launch in 2012. While not a traditional online beauty store, Drunk Elephant’s e-commerce platform has become a go-to destination for clean beauty enthusiasts. The brand was founded by Tiffany Masterson with a mission to provide consumers with clean, compatible skincare products.
What sets Drunk Elephant apart is its commitment to avoiding what it calls the “suspicious six” ingredients: essential oils, drying alcohols, silicones, chemical sunscreens, fragrance/dye, and SLS. Instead, the brand focuses on using a combination of cutting-edge synthetic and natural ingredients that directly benefit the skin.
Drunk Elephant’s product range includes skincare, body care, and haircare items. The brand’s philosophy of “less is more” and its focus on ingredient compatibility have resonated with consumers, leading to numerous awards and a dedicated following. Popular products include the C-Firma Day Serum and TLC Sukari Babyfacial.
Drunk Elephant’s online store offers a user-friendly interface where customers can easily browse and purchase products. The brand is also available through other retailers like Sephora, expanding its reach to a wider audience.
8. Skinstore
Skinstore, founded in 1997, has established itself as a leading online destination for premium beauty and skincare products. Based in Gold River, California, this e-commerce platform offers a wide range of high-quality items typically found in luxury spas, fine stores, and doctors’ offices. With over 25 years of experience, Skinstore has become a trusted source for beauty enthusiasts seeking both well-known and niche brands.
The website’s extensive catalog includes skincare, makeup, haircare, and body care products from over 350 top brands worldwide. Skinstore is particularly known for its focus on scientifically-backed skincare solutions, offering a curated selection of clinically-tested products. The platform also provides detailed product information, expert advice, and customer reviews to help shoppers make informed decisions.
Skinstore’s user-friendly interface allows customers to easily browse products by category, concern, or brand. The company offers frequent promotions, a rewards program, and free shipping on orders over a certain amount, enhancing the overall shopping experience for its customers.
9. Beauty Bay
Beauty Bay, launched in 1999 as FragranceBay.com, has evolved into one of the largest independent online beauty retailers in Europe. Based in Manchester, UK, the company has grown from its initial focus on luxury fragrances to offer a comprehensive range of skincare, makeup, and haircare products.
What sets Beauty Bay apart is its commitment to offering both established and emerging brands, with a current catalog of over 10,000 products. The company is known for its ability to quickly adapt to beauty trends and customer demands, continuously introducing new and innovative brands to its lineup.
Beauty Bay’s e-commerce platform is designed for a seamless shopping experience, with features that allow customers to easily discover new products and find items that suit their specific needs. The company also places a strong emphasis on its technological infrastructure, recognizing that robust connectivity is crucial for its purely online business model.
10. Glossier
Glossier, founded by Emily Weiss in 2014, has quickly become a cult favorite in the beauty industry. The brand started as an online-only company, building on the popularity of Weiss’s beauty blog “Into the Gloss”. Glossier’s approach to beauty is centered around enhancing natural features rather than covering them up, embodying a “skin first, makeup second” philosophy.
The brand’s product line spans skincare, makeup, bodycare, and fragrance, with a focus on easy-to-use, multifunctional products. Glossier is known for its minimalist packaging, inclusive marketing campaigns, and direct-to-consumer business model that allows for close interaction with its customer base.
Glossier’s online store offers a curated selection of products, emphasizing simplicity and efficacy. The brand has gained a loyal following, particularly among millennials and Gen Z consumers, for its approachable take on beauty and its engagement with customers through social media and its blog.
While Glossier started as an online-only brand, it has since expanded to include physical retail locations and partnerships with major beauty retailers like Sephora, allowing customers to experience the products in person while maintaining a strong online presence.
