As a beauty junkie who‘s tried countless cosmetics e-tailers, I often get asked: Which site do you shop at most? Without hesitation, my answer is Beautylish – and here‘s why it wins my wallet over and over again.
Hi, I‘m Sandra – makeup obsessed skin care nerd, deal hunting extraordinaire. I‘ve tested thousands of products from dozens of brands during my 10+ years as a beauty editor. Lately I spend more time browsing Beautylish‘s expertly curated selection than my overflowing vanity drawer.
So what makes Beautylish stand out in the crowded online beauty space? Let me spill the tea…
Beautylish By the Numbers
Some fast facts on the Beautylish empire:
- Founded in 2010 by 3 Bay Area friends – cosmetics enthusiasts all
- Stock over 200 coveted skincare and makeup brands
- Ship to over 35 countries worldwide
- Serve 4+ million visitors monthly
- Offer installment payment plans up to 6 months
- Featured in Glamour, Allure, New York Times and more
With millions in annual sales and major media acclaim, it‘s safe to say Beautylish has captured loyal fans with their unique approach. Now let‘s get into what sets them apart.
Why I‘m Obsessed with Shopping Beautylish
Between the generous free shipping minimum, flexible pay options and hard-to-find brands, I choose Beautylish over Sephora or Ulta nearly every time.
The Cream of the Crop Collection
As a discerning beauty junkie, I love that Beautylish doesn‘t overwhelm with thousands of options. Instead their team hand selects around 200 standout and often exclusive brands across all categories:
- Makeup: Pat McGrath Labs, Vieve, Linda Hallberg and more
- Skincare: Agent Nateur, iS Clinical, Salt by Hendrix
- Bath & Body: Herbivore Botanicals, Sol de Janerio, Grown Alchemist
- Nail Polish: Zoya, Essie, OPI
- Brushes & Tools: Sonia G, Rae Morris, Rephr
- Fragrance: Le Labo, Boy Smells, Diptyque
With coveted brands like Westman Atelier and Victoria Beckham only available here, I can always find thrilling new beauty discoveries.
Last year for example, they were the only retailer carrying Victoria Beckham Beauty outside the UK. Of course I had to snatch up her sold-out Cell Rejuvenating Power Serum and instantly saw a glow boost.
Perks Galore for Beauty Insiders
While shopping for holy grail items, I also appreciate how Beautylish rewards loyal customers. Members of their free Beauty Insider program get:
- Exclusive monthly offers on brands like Olaplex, Sunday Riley
- First access to limited edition launches
- $5 back for every $100 spent to redeem on future purchases
- Entries for beauty gift card giveaways on social media
- Chance to win free shipping for life!
Compared to the basic perks from Sephora‘s Beauty Insider, I find Beautylish treats me better as a regular. And signing up is quick for instant perks.
Smoother Payment Options
Let‘s be real – no one likes surprise credit card bills after a passion-fueled shopping session. Thank goddess Beautylish offers flexible pay plans!
When my cart total exceeds $50, I can divide my payment over 2-6 months with no fees or interest. Talk about guilt-free spending on glow boosters.
This has allowed me to confidently invest in holy grail staples that normally lie out of reach, like the legendary La Mer Moisturizing Cream. Zero regrets thanks to $16 installments rather than a sudden $200+ charge.
Neither Ulta nor Sephora currently offer this level of flexibility, even with their store cards. Major win for Beautylish easing the hit to my budget.
Testing Beautylish‘s Bestselling Makeup
Over my years (OK, obsession) with cosmetics, I‘ve developed strong opinions on what works and what falls flat. To give you the real truth, I ordered over 10 best-rated Beautylish products to test out myself.
Here‘s the lowdown along with my personal ratings out of 5 stars:
★★★★✩ Good Molecules Instant Cleansing Balm
- Melts away stubborn makeup without stinging eyes
- Refreshing scent, not heavy or greasy residue
- Hydrates skin rather than leaving it dry
- Great eco-friendly packaging
- Very affordable at $15
★★★★★ Pat McGrath Labs MTHRSHP: Bronze Seduction Palette
- Insanely buttery, pigmented metallic and matte shades
- Glides on smoothly without fall out
- Stays put all day without creasing or fading
- Priming base boosts colour vibrancy
- Next level luxury yet worth the $65
★★★★☆ Westman Atelier Lip Suede
- Lightweight liquid lipstick formula
- Soft matte finish lasts for hours
- Peach scent smells good enough to eat
- Available in a range of flattering nudes
- Bit drying if you have flaky lips
★★★★★ Sonia G Mini Booster Brush
- Perfectly soft yet firm bristles
- Slims down typical blush brush for precision
- Flawlessly buffs colour onto cheeks and temples
- despite its portable size
- Rivals my other high end brushes at half the price
★★★★★ Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Joia Strengthening + Smoothing Shampoo
- Gentle daily formula won‘t strip hair
- Leaves strands impossibly soft, bouncy, glossy
- Fruity mango-coconut scent smells like a tropical vacation
- Keratin & acids strengthen against future damage
- Major upgrade from Pantene for just $24
★★★☆☆ Vieve Sunset Bronzer
- Gorgeous coral-toned, sunshine bronzing effect
- Glides smoothly onto skin
- Strong fragrance could be overwhelming
- Not as long lasting or blendable as my fave Hourglass powder
★★★★★ Virtue Flourish Density Enhancing Whip
- Light yet deeply moisturizing for all hair types
- Made my bleached locks feel 5 years younger
- Added insane volume even after air drying
- Smoothed flyaways and frizz
- My new holy grail styling product
After weeks of testing, I can confidently say the quality of Beautylish‘s top sellers is unmatched. Even unpredictable products like Westman Atelier‘s Lip Suede impressed me with their smooth finish.
I‘d rate my overall experience a perfect 5 stars. Almost everything blended and lasted seamlessly while treating my skin and hair to nourishing ingredients.
Comparing Beautylish to 5 Big Competitors
How does Beautylish stack up to other popular online cosmetics retailers? I compared them across five major competitors below:
| Brand | Price Range | Selection | Promotions | Shipping Policy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beautylish | Affordable to luxury from $5 – $100s | Around 200 curated brands | Sales section, value sets, surprise gifts with purchase | Free standard shipping on $35+ |
| Sephora | Huge price range from $7 – $900 | Thousands of brands | Tiered Beauty Insider rewards program | Free standard shipping at $50+ |
| Ulta | Very affordable basics all the way up to prestige brands | Over 500 brands | Ultamate Rewards membership perks | Free shipping at $35+ |
| Nordstrom | Mid-range to luxury, harder to find drugstore | High end and niche brands | Seasonal sales, price matching | Free standard shipping |
| Dermstore | Affordable to medical grade formulas | Professional skincare focus | Ebates cash back | Free shipping at $49+ |
| Cult Beauty | Prestige and eco-conscious brands | Clean luxury focus | New member gifts and seasonal sales | Free international shipping at $50+ |
The key difference I notice between Beautylish and other retailers comes down to smartly curated selection meeting top notch service.
None of the others combine such coveted exclusive brands with flexible payment and quality client care. For the personalized boutique experience with luxury store variety, Beautylish is my happy place.
Getting the Most Bang for Your Buck
For deals maximizing your beauty budget, keep these Beautylish savings tips in mind:
- Check Sales section – up to 50% off luxury brands
- Buy value sets combining full and travel sizes
- Use mobile app for extra discounts like $5 off first order
- Stack free samples and free shippingreshold
- Follow on Insta/Twitter for flash sales alerts
- Invest in quality tools that will last for years
- Pay over time to divvy up costs interest-free
With the right strategy, you can pamper yourself for less even when splurging at Beautylish.
The Bottom Line: Is Beautylish Worth It?
If stellar service, special finds and smoother payments sound worthwhile for restocking your arsenal – yes, absolutely.
After over a decade buying beauty online, I can firmly say Beautylish beats competitors across the board. Flexible financing options ease the splurge on wish list treats I’d otherwise admire from afar.
While the rewards program trails Sephora and Ulta perks, they more than make up for it by spoiling loyal shoppers year-round. Ultimately with its unique brand mix and customer care, no site makes my beauty obsession feel quite so fabulous.
