The best beauty brands you can shop at Sephora UK

Courtesy of brands

From Sephora’s own brand to UK exclusives, Christmas has come early for us beauty lovers

Hannah Thompson

20 October 2022

Since Sephora confirmed it would be launching in the UK mere weeks ago, the beauty community has been abuzz with excitement.

From discussions over where the IRL store will be (my fingers are crossed for Westfields White City so I can make a quick dash from the office) to which brands will be stocked, it’s been a thrilling time to be a beauty fan.

Although we’re still waiting for the new store location to be announced, the Sephora UK website has now launched and is jam-packed with more beauty brands than we could ever have dreamed of.

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For those that don’t know what all the hype is about, you can read more about the Sephora launch here.

Basically, if beauty retailers were candy stores, Sephora would be the Chocolate Factory we’ve been waiting to get into for so long, and we’re ready to stuff our carts like a gluttonous beauty incarnation of Augustus Gloop.

Obviously, with so much choice, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and make the wrong decisions, so to prevent any post-purchase regrets, I’ve rounded up the very best beauty brands Sephora UK has to offer, from names we’ve not previously been able to shop to its eponymous own line.

Makeup By Mario

Makeup By Mario fans rejoice, because the brand is back once more! Yep, after being briefly stocked at Cult Beauty, and then disappearing from its site, the Kardashian’s makeup artist has returned to the UK with a mix of colour and complexion products.

Standouts from the brand include the Master Metals and Master Metallics Palettes, which pack some irresistibly pigmented shadows.

Sephora Collection

While Sephora is famous for boasting an incredible roster of beauty names, its own brand has become equally sought after. Its range comprises everything from skincare to makeup and haircare, all of which sit at the more affordable end of the price scale.

When on holiday in Europe, I’d always take the chance to dive into the nearest Sephora and stock up on my favourites such as its foot masks and body scrubs, so the fact I can now purchase these without having to use any air miles is music to my ears (and feet).

Make Up Forever

Make Up Forever has been trickling back into the UK since 2021 after it suddenly disappeared a few years ago, so I was thrilled to see it stocked in Sephora. This brand is a makeup artist favourite due to its high-performing formulations.

If there’s one thing you need to try from the brand, it’s the lip pencils. Hailey Bieber is a fan and has shared that she uses the Artist Colour Pencil in Anywhere Caffeine.

ILIA

I’m a huge fan of skin-centric makeup brands, so when I heard ILIA was going to be launching exclusively in the UK with Sephora, my heart fluttered a little.

The brand centers itself around clean beauty, if that’s your jam, but regardless, its formulations are thoughtful and created with your best skin in mind (think skincare actives and protection against environmental stressors), which is a win in my book.

Tarte

If you were around in the YouTube beauty community era, then you’ll know Tarte. Its Face Tape Ultra Creamy Concealer was loved by seemingly every American beauty blogger in existence, much to the woe of us watching in the UK, where Tarte’s highly coveted range was unavailable.

Now not only can we get our hands on Tarte’s products, but we can collect Sephora points while we shop. As well as the concealer, the Tartelette in Bloom Eyeshadow Palette features a warm shade range, which is perfect for both day and night looks.

One/Size Beauty

Makeup artist and influencer Patrick Starr is the mastermind behind One/Size, a creative-first cosmetics brand that champions individuality and expression through makeup. Longevity and performance are also key for the brand, so you can rely on these products to make an impression and stick around.

If you thought the metallic pink and red packaging was eye-catching, you won’t be disappointed by the products inside. The brand excels at base products that give natural-looking high coverage to last all day.

Vegamour

Another brand that’s made its way over to the UK exclusively with Sephora is Vegamour, a vegan haircare range that focuses on improving hair health and thickness.

Its formulations contain Karmatin, a plant-based alternative to Keratin that improves hydration and shine. Unlike Keratin, Karmatin bonds to your hair follicle, meaning your money won’t be washing down the drain.

If, like me, you’ve noticed your hair is looking sparser than it used to be, Vegamour has your whole hair routine sorted with a range targeted towards the reversal of hair thinning, from shampoo and conditioners to serums and foams.

Skinfix

With the skincare industry full to the brim with brands old and new, it can be difficult to get excited when a new name comes along. When I heard about Skinfix, however, I was intrigued. The brand situates itself in a relatively new skincare space, combining ‘clean’ skincare with clinically led research involving dermatologist and chemists.

This is a great brand to have on your radar if your focus is repairing and maintaining a healthy skin barrier, as many of its products are packed with ceramides and fatty acids that work to replenish skin lipids.