Top 9 Online Beauty Stores You Need to Check Out

As a beauty enthusiast, I’ve spent countless hours scrolling through online stores, hunting for the perfect products to enhance my skincare routine and makeup collection. Trust me, I know the thrill of discovering a new holy grail item or snagging an amazing deal on a luxury brand. But let’s face it – with so many online beauty retailers out there, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. That’s why I’ve done the legwork for you, curating a list of the 9 best online beauty stores that consistently deliver when it comes to product selection, value, and customer experience. 

Whether you’re a seasoned beauty pro or just dipping your toes into the world of online beauty shopping, this guide will help you navigate the digital beauty landscape with confidence. 

1. Credo Beauty

Credo Beauty is a leading online retailer specializing in clean beauty products. Founded with the mission to provide safe, sustainable, and ethically-produced beauty products, Credo Beauty offers a wide range of skincare, makeup, haircare, and wellness items. The store is known for its stringent ingredient standards, ensuring that all products are free from harmful chemicals and toxins. Credo Beauty also emphasizes transparency, providing detailed ingredient lists and sourcing information for each product.

Pros:

• High Standards for Ingredients: Credo Beauty adheres to strict guidelines for clean beauty, ensuring that all products are free from harmful chemicals and toxins.
• Transparency: The store provides detailed information about product ingredients and sourcing, helping consumers make informed choices.
• Wide Range of Products: Credo Beauty offers a diverse selection of skincare, makeup, haircare, and wellness products, catering to various beauty needs.
• Sustainability: The company emphasizes sustainable practices, including eco-friendly packaging and ethical sourcing.
• Educational Resources: Credo Beauty offers educational content to help customers understand the importance of clean beauty and how to choose the right products.

Cons:

• Higher Price Point: Due to the emphasis on quality and sustainable practices, products at Credo Beauty can be more expensive compared to conventional beauty stores.
• Limited Availability: Some popular products may frequently go out of stock due to high demand and limited production runs.

2. Eternal Beauty Outlet

Eternal Beauty Outlet is an online beauty store that specializes in offering a wide range of beauty products at discounted prices. Founded with the mission to make high-quality beauty products accessible to everyone, the company focuses on providing both popular and niche brands. Their product lineup includes skincare, makeup, haircare, and fragrance items, catering to diverse beauty needs and preferences.

The company prides itself on its commitment to customer satisfaction, offering a user-friendly shopping experience and responsive customer service. Eternal Beauty Outlet sources its products directly from authorized distributors and manufacturers, ensuring the authenticity and quality of the items they sell.

Pros:

• Competitive Pricing: Eternal Beauty Outlet offers significant discounts on many beauty products, making high-end brands more accessible to budget-conscious consumers.
• Wide Product Range: The store carries a diverse selection of beauty items, from skincare to fragrances, catering to various beauty needs.
• Product Authenticity: By sourcing directly from authorized distributors and manufacturers, the company ensures the authenticity of its products.
• User-Friendly Website: The online store is designed for easy navigation, making the shopping experience smooth and efficient.
• Regular Promotions: Eternal Beauty Outlet frequently offers sales and special deals, providing additional value to customers.

Cons:

• Limited Brand Recognition: As a relatively newer player in the online beauty retail space, Eternal Beauty Outlet may not have the same level of brand recognition as some larger, more established competitors.
• Potential for Out-of-Stock Items: Due to the discounted nature of their offerings, popular products may sell out quickly, potentially leading to disappointment for some customers.
• Shipping Limitations: While the company does offer shipping, it may not be as extensive or rapid as some larger online retailers, which could be a drawback for customers seeking quick delivery.
• Less Extensive Customer Reviews: Compared to larger beauty retailers, Eternal Beauty Outlet may have fewer customer reviews for some products, which could make decision-making more challenging for some shoppers.

3. Beautylish

Beautylish is an online beauty retailer known for its curated selection of high-end and niche beauty products. The platform offers a variety of makeup, skincare, haircare, and fragrance items from both well-known and emerging brands. Beautylish is also recognized for its strong community engagement, featuring makeup tutorials, product reviews, and beauty tips from experts and enthusiasts. The store aims to provide a personalized shopping experience with exceptional customer service.

Pros:

• Curated Selection: Beautylish offers a carefully curated selection of high-quality beauty products, including exclusive and hard-to-find items.
• Community Engagement: The platform fosters a strong community with makeup tutorials, product reviews, and beauty tips, enhancing the shopping experience.
• Personalized Service: Beautylish is known for its excellent customer service, including personalized recommendations and fast shipping.
• Exclusive Products: The store frequently collaborates with brands to offer exclusive products and limited-edition collections.

Cons:

• Higher Price Range: Beautylish primarily features high-end and luxury beauty products, which can be expensive for some consumers.
• Limited Discounts: The store offers fewer sales and discounts compared to other beauty retailers, making it less accessible for budget-conscious shoppers.
• Niche Focus: While the curated selection is a strength, it may also limit options for those looking for more mainstream or budget-friendly products.

4. Ulta Beauty

Ulta Beauty is a prominent beauty retailer in the United States, offering a comprehensive shopping experience both online and in physical stores. The company provides over 25,000 products from more than 600 established and emerging brands, including their private label, the Ulta Beauty Collection. Besides selling beauty products, Ulta Beauty also operates salons in every store, offering a variety of beauty services such as haircuts, coloring, and skincare treatments.

Pros:

• Wide Product Range: Ulta Beauty offers a vast selection of products, catering to various beauty needs and preferences.
• In-Store Services: The inclusion of salons in their stores provides customers with a one-stop-shop for both purchasing products and receiving beauty treatments.
• Employee Discounts and Training: Employees benefit from discounts and regular training opportunities, which help them stay updated on the latest beauty trends and products.
• Positive Work Environment: Many employees report a supportive and inclusive work environment, with opportunities to build strong connections with colleagues and customers.

Cons:

• Pressure to Meet Sales Quotas: Employees often face significant pressure to meet sales targets and sign up customers for loyalty programs and credit cards.
• Variable Pay: There are complaints about low and inconsistent pay, with some employees feeling undercompensated for their work.
• Demanding Customers: Staff frequently deal with demanding and sometimes rude customers, which can add stress to the job.
• Dress Code and Early Shifts: Some employees find the dress code restrictive and dislike the early morning shifts required for restocking and other tasks.

5. Glossier

Glossier is a beauty brand that emphasizes simplicity and user-centric design. Founded with the philosophy of “Skin First. Makeup Second™,” Glossier prioritizes skincare as the foundation of beauty. The brand emerged from the beauty blog Into The Gloss, which focuses on sharing real information about beauty products with a community-driven approach. Glossier aims to make beauty accessible and uncomplicated, offering products that enhance natural beauty and allow individuality to shine through.

Pros:

• User-Centric Philosophy: Glossier’s approach to beauty is built around the needs and preferences of its users, prioritizing healthy skin and natural beauty.
• Community-Driven: The brand fosters a strong community, encouraging users to share their experiences and feedback, which helps shape product development.
• Simple and Effective Products: Glossier’s product line is designed to be straightforward and effective, making it easy for users to incorporate into their daily routines.
• Innovative Marketing: The brand is known for its innovative and engaging marketing strategies, which resonate well with its target audience.

Cons:

• Limited Product Range: Compared to larger beauty retailers, Glossier offers a more limited range of products, which might not cater to all beauty needs.
• Price Point: Some customers find Glossier’s products to be on the pricier side, which may not be accessible to everyone.
• Online-Only Shopping: While convenient for many, the lack of physical stores can be a drawback for customers who prefer to try products before purchasing.

6. Lookfantastic

Lookfantastic is a leading online beauty retailer based in the UK, known for its extensive range of beauty products, including skincare, makeup, haircare, and fragrances. It offers over 22,000 products from more than 660 premium brands such as M·A·C, NARS, Estee Lauder, and Clinique. Lookfantastic also provides exclusive beauty offers, flash sales, and delivery promotions through its website and mobile app. The platform is designed to cater to beauty enthusiasts by offering the latest product launches, makeup tutorials, and beauty trends.

Pros:

• Wide Range of Products: Lookfantastic offers a vast selection of beauty products from numerous well-known brands, making it a one-stop shop for beauty needs.
• Exclusive Offers: Customers can benefit from exclusive discounts, flash sales, and special promotions, which are frequently updated.
• User-Friendly App: The Lookfantastic app enhances the shopping experience by providing notifications on sales, coupons, and special offers, and allows users to create wishlists for future purchases.
• Fast Shipping: Many customers have praised Lookfantastic for its quick delivery times, often faster than other major retailers.
• Customer Service: The company is known for its responsive customer service, addressing issues like missing items or damaged products effectively.

Cons:

• Inconsistent Order Fulfillment: Some customers have reported issues with missing items or orders not arriving, which can be frustrating.
• Customer Service Delays: While generally responsive, there have been instances where customer service took longer to resolve issues, particularly with international orders.
• Duty Charges: Customers outside the UK or USA may incur additional duty and tax charges, which are not always clearly communicated at checkout.
• App Glitches: The mobile app, while generally well-received, has had some technical issues, such as problems with the shopping cart and applying discount codes.

7. The Detox Market

The Detox Market is a premium online retailer specializing in clean, green, and organic beauty products. Founded in 2010, it began as a pop-up shop in Venice, California, and has since expanded to multiple locations, including Toronto, New York, and Los Angeles. The Detox Market curates a wide range of eco-friendly, non-toxic, and cruelty-free brands, offering products that promote overall wellness. The store is known for its meticulous vetting process, ensuring that every product meets high standards of safety and efficacy.

Pros:

• Clean Beauty Focus: The Detox Market is dedicated to offering clean and green beauty products, making it a reliable choice for those looking to avoid harmful chemicals and toxins.
• Curated Selection: The store’s rigorous vetting process ensures that only the best and safest products are available, giving customers peace of mind.
• Subscription Box: The Detox Market Box offers a monthly subscription service that delivers full-sized clean beauty products, providing excellent value for money and introducing customers to new brands and products.
• Customer Service: The Detox Market is praised for its knowledgeable and helpful staff, both online and in physical stores, who provide personalized recommendations and assistance.
• Sustainability Initiatives: The company is committed to sustainability, including efforts to be plastic neutral and prioritize ingredient transparency.

Cons:

• Higher Price Point: Given the focus on premium, clean beauty products, prices at The Detox Market can be higher compared to conventional beauty stores.
• Limited International Availability: Some services, such as the Detox Market Box, are only available in the US, which can be a drawback for international customers.
• Product Availability: While the curated selection ensures quality, it may also mean a more limited range of products compared to larger beauty retailers.
• Shipping Costs: Although the subscription box includes shipping, other purchases may incur shipping fees, which can add to the overall cost.

8. YesStyle

YesStyle is a prominent online retailer specializing in Asian fashion, beauty, and lifestyle products. Founded in 2006 as an extension of YesAsia.com, YesStyle aims to provide a diverse range of products from countries like Korea, Japan, and China. The company is headquartered in Hong Kong and has grown to employ over 400 people across multiple locations, serving millions of customers worldwide. YesStyle is known for offering a vast selection of items, including trendy fashion pieces, skincare, makeup, and other beauty products. The platform is particularly popular for its extensive collection of K-beauty and J-beauty products, which are often difficult to find in Western markets.

Pros:

• Wide Selection: YesStyle offers an extensive range of products, including over 300 beauty brands and countless fashion items, catering to various styles and preferences.
• Global Reach: The platform provides free worldwide shipping on orders over a certain amount, making it accessible to customers globally.
• Exclusive Brands: YesStyle features many niche and exclusive brands, along with popular international names, ensuring a unique shopping experience.
• Customer Engagement: The company has a strong presence on social media and offers special discounts and benefits to students and influencers.
• Positive Reviews: YesStyle has received numerous positive reviews for its product quality and customer service, with an average rating of 4.3 out of 5 on Trustpilot.

Cons:

• Shipping Delays: Some customers have reported long shipping times, which can be frustrating, especially for international orders.
• Customer Service Issues: There have been complaints about slow response times and difficulties in resolving issues with customer service.
• Price Fluctuations: Prices can sometimes change unexpectedly, and there have been instances of products being out of stock after purchase.
• Mixed Reviews: While many customers are satisfied, there are also reports of dissatisfaction, particularly regarding order fulfillment and product authenticity.

9. Dermstore

Dermstore is a US-based online retailer specializing in skincare, hair care, and beauty products. Founded in 1999 by dermatologist Craig Kraffert, Dermstore aims to provide professional-grade skincare solutions directly to consumers. The platform offers a wide range of products, including those from dermatologist-recommended brands, spa care lines, and niche beauty brands. 

In 2021, Dermstore was acquired by THG plc from Target Corporation and integrated into THG’s Ingenuity e-commerce platform. The company is known for its comprehensive product selection and expert skincare advice, making it a go-to destination for beauty enthusiasts.

Pros:

• Professional-Grade Products: Dermstore offers a variety of dermatologist-recommended and professional-strength skincare products, often not available in regular retail stores.
• Expert Advice: The platform provides expert skincare advice and regimens, helping customers make informed decisions about their skincare routines.
• Wide Range of Brands: Dermstore carries over 700 brands, including hard-to-find niche brands and popular names like SkinCeuticals, Obagi, and EltaMD.
• Customer Loyalty Programs: The site offers a rewards program where customers can earn points on purchases, which can be redeemed for discounts on future orders.
• Positive Customer Feedback: Many long-term customers have reported positive experiences with product quality and customer service.

Cons:

• Customer Service Complaints: There have been numerous complaints about poor customer service, including difficulties in reaching representatives and resolving issues.
• Expired Products: Some customers have reported receiving expired or nearly expired products, which has led to dissatisfaction and mistrust.
• High Prices: Dermstore’s prices are generally higher compared to other retailers, which can be a disadvantage for budget-conscious shoppers.
• Mixed Reviews: While many customers are satisfied, there are also significant negative reviews, particularly concerning order fulfillment and customer service.