Rarely in the office do I return from lunch without a H&M bag in my hand. The fact there’s a H&M store (one of the best in London, IMO) right next to our building is probably why I have to eat instant noodles towards the end of the month. But at least I’m always eating them in a new, cute outfit…
The brand’s clothing is second to none in terms of style and affordability and has become my favourite high street destination to shop from, but it’s not just clothes where H&M is turning heads. Its home collection got a complete renovation, producing some of the most sought-after affordable interior pieces, and now it’s doing the same with its beauty line.
I’ve dipped in and out of H&M over the years, but it was never high on my list of high street brands that I’d go to if I needed a new beauty product. In recent months however, H&M has seriously stepped up its game. It recently launched bodycare brand OHH! exclusively, which beauty editor Rebecca reviewed and identified some worthy dupes within, and the main product range and packaging also seems to be getting a makeover.
Just like its clothing line, H&M’s beauty line is extensive so to save you a few hours of scrolling, I’ve condensed it down into the six best products in terms of quality and price. These are the items you should be adding to your basket right now…
H&M Nail Polish, £5.99
I’ve always been a strong believer that high street nail polishes do just as good of a job as expensive ones ever since my pre-teen Barry M obsession. H&M has strengthened my argument even more with these newly packaged and reformulated polishes, which are vegan and made with natural ingredients.
But the most fun part is of course the colours, which come in a range of luxury-looking, chic hues, from creamy pistachio shades to sophisticated reds.
H&M Liquid Eyeliner, £5.99
I was so impressed by these liquid eyeliners, firstly because it’s pretty difficult to find a highly pigmented colourful eyeliner in general, but not only does H&M knock the quality out of the park, it also does it at a super affordable price point (no watery formulas here). The pastel colours are so gorgeous for spring and summer and make the ideal addition to any festival makeup look.
These are also a pretty great dupe, formula and colour-wise for Lime Crime’s Venus Liquid Liner, saving you over £10.
H&M Lip Liner, £4.99
The lip liners in my life come and go as quickly as the people I date, disappearing without a trace in a matter of days/weeks. If, like me, you also get ghosted by your lip liners, never to be seen or heard from again, it’s a sensible decision not to spend a lot of money on them. But equally, you still want a lip liner that’s going to deliver on what you need in that short, honeymoon time frame.
H&M’s liners fit this bill perfectly. For less than £5 they’re ultra creamy, glide on smoothly, come in a range of nude, pink and red shades (although I would like more deeper nudes and browns) and honestly have outlasted more dates than I’d like to admit.
H&M Jade Gua Sha, £12.99
Gua sha tools can be seriously spenny, and if you’re not too bothered about the product being made from the highest-quality rose quartz or jade, then I think the cheaper options do the job just as well.
I really like the shape of this one from H&M, which has a properly deep groove, allowing you to really get under the jawline to sculpt and drain. If you’re wondering how to use your gua sha on your face, beauty editor Rebecca made a super helpful video recently, showing each step.
H&M Do-It-All-Stick, £8.99
Multi-use sticks are quickly becoming a favourite makeup product of mine, and this one from H&M is worth your attention. Swipe the creamy formula onto lips, cheeks and eyes for a pulled-together look in a matter of seconds; the stick design allows for easy application on the go, so it’s a good go-to when taking makeup from office-to-evening.
It has a lightweight, soft matte finish which reminds me of the Nudestix Nudies Matte All Over Blush Colour (the shade matches are pretty close too), so definitely look to the Do-It-All-Stick as an alternative if you can’t afford the latter.
H&M Rain Eau De Toilette £4.99
Although perfume is where I’ll be happy to part with a hefty amount of cash to be able to douse myself in my favourite scent, I also bloody love a high street brand perfume. I don’t know why it’s high street fashion retailers specifically that do affordable fragrances SO well, but Zara, & Other Stories, and H&M all house some of my favourite scents.
Rain is one of those clean, aquatic scents that’s super-wearable for every day. It’s not the longest lasting fragrance but for the price it does well, not to mention it’s the perfect size to chuck in your bag for when you want a refreshing spritz throughout the day.
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