There’s no denying that your local Boots and Superdrug are harbouring a smorgasbord of amazing beauty products, but I’m here to let you in on a little secret: for some unexpected beauty bargains, you might just want to pop down to your favourite high street fashion store.
From Zara’s extensive range of high-end perfume dupes to affordable alternatives for luxury candles, high street fashion brands have been stepping up their game when it comes to beauty offerings.
This week, I’m delving into the best of beauty from & Other Stories. This Scandi brand’s beauty aisles have been a favourite of mine for a while, with their minimalist and coquette packaging and luxurious-smelling body care. Most of the brand’s makeup and body care products are under £20, with its eau de toilettes coming in at just under £30.
The thing is, there’s so much good beauty swag to choose from, it’s difficult to know which direction to go in first. Whether you’re a first timer to the brand or want to see what’s new, I’ve picked six of the best & Other Stories beauty products from across makeup, body and fragrance to get you started.
& Other Stories Frozen Light Eye Colour Creme, £17
If it’s not 00s nostalgia taking over my TikTok feed, it’s mermaidcore and balletcore makeup looks. These creme eyeshadows from & Other Stories come in a variety of nostalgic, metallic candy shades, but my favourite has to be Frozen Light, a shimmering lavender that leaves an ethereal, pearly sheen on your lids.
& Other Stories Fauves Nine Large Eye Shadow Palette, £27
In my opinion, cool-toned eyeshadow palettes don’t get enough airtime. Like is there anything that looks more badass than a silver gunmetal eye? I think not. This buttery, pigmented palette contains one of the prettiest and most unique colour combinations I’ve seen in an affordable eyeshadow palette, with a mix of silver, lilac and mauve. The glitter shadows give a seriously impressive colour payoff too – I recommend applying the metallic and glitter shades with your finger for the most intense finish.
& Other Stories Déjà Vu Mood Eau de Toilette, £28
& Other Stories fragrances are some of the best value on the high street. Not only are the bottles adorable, they’ve got an impressive longevity considering they’re an eau de toilette and not an eau de parfum. One that you’ll definitely want to try (especially if you’re a Baccarat Rouge 540 fan) is Déjà Vu Mood, which is a pretty close dupe of Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s cult perfume. With notes of raspberry, jasmine sambac, saffron, ambroxan and cotton candy, it’s a little bit sweeter but ultimately captures that same delicious scent.
& Other Stories Burnt Cinnamon Cheek & Lip Tint, £17
Lip and cheek tints are fast becoming a staple in my morning routine. I love being able to swipe across my eyes, cheeks and lips in a matter of seconds for a put together, Parisian makeup vibe. The shade Burnt Cinnamon is one of my favourites as it looks universally flattering on all skin tones and gives a beautiful merlot-tinted flush.
& Other Stories Sicilian Sunrise Body Scrub, £13
For your “everything shower” day, you can’t go wrong with & Other Stories’ uplifting range of body scrubs. I love using Sicilian Sunrise in the summer months; the zesty fresh notes of lemon makes you feel like you’ve just finished lounging in the Italian sun, White Lotus-style. The thickly-packed sugar granules give your skin a good scrub, while meadowfoam seed oil moisturises, leaving your limbs soft and smooth.
& Other Stories Humlegården Cotton Hand Wash, £8
I can’t go into an & Other Stories store without at least one or two hand washes falling into my basket: they’re super affordable with a high-end design that will make any bathroom sink look immediately chicer. The Humlegården Cotton Hand Wash comes housed in a new forest green bottle and contains ingredients of 89% natural origin. The best part though is undoubtedly the scent: bergamot, freesia, waterlily, silk musk and white linen take your hand wash experience from everyday to extra.
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