As a self-proclaimed skincare junkie, I‘m always on the hunt for products that satisfy my obsession with ingredients while still being affordable. It‘s a constant battle. Fancy creams with all the antioxidants and peptides cost an arm and a leg. Great drugstore finds never quite match that clinical quality I crave.
Enter Beauty Pie…could this be a service finally aligning my desire for cosmetic luxury at accessible prices? That was the dream that inspired Marcia Kilgore to launch the brand in 2016. As Beauty Pie approaches its 5 year anniversary, I reflect on 2+ years as a loyal member trialing all kinds of serums, makeup and more!
What is Beauty Pie? Brand and Product Overview
Marcia Kilgore built her reputation on affordable luxury with beloved brands Soap & Glory and Bliss spas. She leveraged those decades in beauty to identify an industry issue: the tremendous markups by prestige brands.
Beauty Pie works directly with top labs globally to formulate quality products. Then they sell directly to consumers online, cutting out all the middlemen that drive up prices. It‘s a similar model to fashion brands like Everlane revealing clothing‘s true manufacturing costs.
Bypassing branding, marketing and retail markups allows Beauty Pie to offer products at up to 1/8th of the price of equivalent high end products.
Of course, a low price means nothing if the product inside disappoints. Keep reading for my thoughts after rigorously testing 20+ Beauty Pie skincare, haircare and makeup items as a member over 2+ years:
Beauty Pie Skincare Reviews
Out of all Beauty Pie offerings, I‘ve been most impressed by their skincare. The formulations utilize many of the same hero ingredients found in luxury brands costing 4X+ more.
1. Triple Hyaluronic Acid Serum
This water-based serum contains three sizes of hyaluronic molecules to hydrate skin at multiple levels. Smaller sizes absorb deeply while larger molecules plump the surface. The result? Instantly dewy, bouncy skin without any oiliness or greasy film.
I use it twice daily year-round for a dose of gentle hydration that preps my skin perfectly for richer creams. It never causes pilling or irritation, even when layered under other serums and moisturizers. I haven‘t experienced a single adverse reaction despite my sensitivity to many skincare acids.
It‘s impossible to find clinical HA serums at this quality for less than $75+. The Beauty Pie formula rivals my old $95 Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum at 1/9th of the price!
I‘ve re-purchased this serum 5x over 2 years. I‘d give it a perfect 5/5 rating as a true skincare essential.
2. Overnight Skin Perfector
This nourishing overnight treatment tackles multiple anti-aging concerns while you sleep. Potent retinol smooths fine lines and increases collagen production. Hydrating squalane and vitamin E condition dryness and prevent water loss. The rich formula transforms dull skin by morning, perfect for reapplying makeup.
I consider Sunday Riley‘s Luna Sleeping Oil the gold standard for high-end overnight masks at $105 for 1 oz. The Beauty Pie Skin Perfector provides even more dramatic results at a mere $14 for 1.35 oz as a member. I save over $90 compared to Luna!
It earns a 4.5/5 rating in my Beauty Pie review for the visible improvements to texture and glow after 6 weeks of use. I wake up to plump skin with a dewy finish ready for sunscreen and concealer.
3. Plantastic Micropeeling Super Drops
I like to incorporate gentle chemical exfoliation into my routine a few times a week. But many acid toners are too harsh for my sensitive skin, causing irritation, dry patches and inflammation. Enter these micropeeling super drops!
The formula includes fruit enzymes like pineapple and papaya that slough away dead cells. Meanwhile, centella, aloe and hyaluronic acid soothe and prevent over-drying.
I mix 3-5 drops into my moisturizer in the evenings when my skin needs brightening and renewal. It leaves a tingling sensation without actual redness or burning. By morning, my complexion appears fresh, smooth and glowy.
Similar exfoliating acid serums from natural brands like Farmacy cost nearly $60 for 1 oz. Beauty Pie members pay $12 for 1.35 oz. That‘s 5 times more product for 80% off! A total skincare steal.
After 18 months of regular use, I confidently rate the Plantastic Drops as 5/5 in my Beauty Pie review. This gentle exfoliant makes my routine complete. I‘ve already purchased my second bottle.
Beauty Pie Makeup Reviews
In addition to stellar skincare, Beauty Pie produces makeup with high performance at drugstore prices. When I want to elevate my look, these are my makeup must-haves:
Wondercolour Longwear Cream Eyeshadow Stick
These creamy shimmer sticks make eyelid makeup application a breeze! The ultra-pigmented formula is perfect for creating an eyeshadow base or quick smoky eye when I‘m rushed.
It sets after a minute so minimal creasing or transferring, even on my hooded lids that consume shadow. I wore the metallic copper shade penny molten out dancing all night and my eye makeup stayed vibrant despite the heat.
The accessible price point lets me experiment with trendy colors like olive gold and rose gold glossy vinyl outside my neutral comfort zone. If I don’t love it, I’m only out $5 as a member. Versus $30 for luxury brands like Tom Ford.
After 18 months testing different shades, these rank 5/5 in my Beauty Pie review for longwear ability and smooth texture alone. The eyeshadow sticks made me ditch all my powder palettes!
Plumping Collagen Lipsticks
This is my go-to lip product for a your-lips-but-better look with a skincare boost! The rosy nude shade Skinny Dip is the perfect neutral while the peptide-infused formula leaves my lips silky smooth.
The richly pigmented color wears comfortably for hours without fading or feathering. Much less drying than traditional mattes. My lips appear noticeably plumper and smoothed after a few uses too thanks to collagen-stimulation.
The angled magnetic closure resembling a futuristic spaceship exudes luxury. When I finish the lipstick, the next refill pops right into place with no mess or sharpening required.
Prestige brands like YSL and Dior charge $38 or more for their refillable lipsticks. As a Beauty Pie member each lipstick and refill ring up at just $12 – less than I‘d pay for drugstore L‘Oreal!
Between the skincare benefits and wearable shades, I rate the Plumping Lipsticks 5/5. I‘ll never pay department store prices again when I can get these for the cost of chapstick.
Beauty Pie Review: Thoughts on Packaging, Shipping and Usage
A product can have the most genius formula with goat milk and meteorite dust inside, but poor packaging will ruin the experience.
I appreciate Beauty Pie‘s minimalist, luxury aesthetic across their skincare and makeup. The black and rose gold color scheme feels elevated and gender neutral.
Nearly all the products feature functional yet stylish vessels: airless pumps, glass bottles with droppers, weighted magnetic compacts. It really elevates my dresser top alongside my other cosmetics!
I have no complaints on shipping times either. All of my Beauty Pie orders arrived 4-5 days after placing them from the UK to the Midwest United States. That‘s faster than many US-based retailers. Returns were similarly speedy and hassle-free when two foundation shades I tried ended up too dark.
The biggest challenge with using Beauty Pie? Keeping my routine streamlined when I want every intriguing serum and lip gloss they launch! Having to limit my cart to stay under the monthly member product allowance is tough. But that push towards mindful curation is arguably a positive…
Beauty Pie Review: Analyzing Memberships and Savings
Of course all the glowing Beauty Pie skincare and makeup reviews in this post mean nothing if the prices weren‘t so revolutionary. Let‘s break down exactly how much members save compared to equivalent products from prestige retailers:
| Product | Beauty Pie Member Price | Similar Product | Price | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Triple Hyaluronic Acid Serum | $10 for 1 oz | Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum | $95 for 0.5 oz | $85+ 90% off |
| Overnight Skin Perfector | $14 for 1.35 oz | Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil | $105 for 1 oz | $91+ 87% off |
| Plantastic Micropeeling Drops | $12 for 1.35 oz | Farmacy Honeymoon Glow AHA Resurfacing Night Serum with Hydrating Honey + Gentle Flower Acids | $58 for 1 oz | $46+ 79% off |
| Plumping Collagen Lipstick | $12 | YSL Tatouage Couture Refillable Matte Lip Stain | $38 | $26+ 68% off |
| Wondercolour Eyeshadow Stick | $5 | Tom Ford Cream Color for Eyes | $48 | $43+ 90% off |
As you can see, Beauty Pie members enjoy 60-90% savings compared to equivalent skincare and makeup from luxury brands like La Mer, Sisley, Tom Ford and more.
The Bieber family likely spends more on groceries each month than I spend on my entire skincare routine thanks to Beauty Pie pricing!
But how does Beauty Pie offer such steep discounts? Let‘s analyze the membership program and restrictions:
Beauty Pie Membership Fees
- 1 Month Membership – $10 per month. Gain access to member prices. $100 monthly product allowance
- 1 Year Membership: $59 one-time payment. Enjoy member prices plus unlimited product allowance all year. Plus exclusive early product access
The annual plan works out to $5 per month for VIP treatment – that‘s cheaper than my Netflix subscription! It‘s by far the best value if you order 2+ Beauty Pie products per month.
For those wanting to test the service first, the month-to-month plan makes sense. Just keep in mind you can only purchase $100 worth each month.
Overall the Beauty Pie membership tiers feel fair for unlocking up to 90% off prestige cosmetics. Even with paying the fee, I still save hundreds yearly over my previous brand name products.
Expert Tips for Getting the Most from Beauty Pie
After countless Beauty Pie orders across 2+ years, I‘ve determined some pro tips for maximizing the experience:
- Take the skin quiz. Beauty Pie will recommend products suited to your skin type
- Create a wish list so you‘re notified when popular products come back in stock
- Use the refer a friend program to earn $50 in additional member credit
- Choose the annual membership for the lowest pricing and no order limits
- Bundle skincare routines (daytime, nighttime, targeting a concern) to save
- Build a cohesive makeup look combining complexion, eyeshadow, lip colors
Following this advice lets you unlock the full savings as a Beauty Pie member. I estimate my total stash would cost $1000+ from department stores!
Beauty Pie Review: Verdict After 2+ Years of Orders
When I first learned of Beauty Pie‘s luxury quality cosmetics at clearance aisle pricing, I was skeptical. But after scrutinizing formulations, testing 20+ products myself, and tracking savings against similar brands—I‘m thoroughly convinced the deals are legit.
The affordable membership fee pays for itself in a single order. With it, you gain access to clinical skincare and high performance makeup that rivals what prestige brands charge $$$ for. Except Beauty Pie offers the exact same formulations made in top-notch European labs for 60-90% less.
If you‘re beauty-obsessed on a budget, I cannot recommend Beauty Pie enough. Join today to get your hands on skincare as good as what celebrities splurge on. You deserve gorgeous, glowing skin too even if you aren‘t paid millions to look pretty!
Have your own experiences with Beauty Pie? Ask me any questions in the comments!
