My favourite beauty websites

Makeup, skincare, and hair products, oh my!

A beauty lover’s online shopping cart is never empty. The pursuit for the perfect red lipstick, a face mask that will solve our skin issues, and a hairstyle that is both manageable and chic means we’re constantly scouring the internet for new product to try. Between trying new products, restocking our favourites, and researching promo codes like it’s our day job, every beauty lover has their own list of go-to beauty websites. 

Here are mine:

Influenster

I started using Influenster because I was searching for reviews on list of beauty products I wanted to try. After scrolling through the reviews on Sephora I went to Google and Influenster popped up. It’s an online beauty community that shares reviews on anything from makeup, skincare to food and fragrance. It’s a great place to get honest reviews from other beauty lovers.

On top of that, Influenster has it’s own beauty box program called VoxBox. I’ve gotten a couple and they’re always filled with some beauty minis to try. I actually posted a review about the first one I got. I find myself turning to Influenster when I’m looking for reviews on an obscure product that might not be on the Sephora website anymore. And, more often than not, I walk away with a better understanding on the product I’m searching for.

 

Shopper’s Drug Mart

Every girl remembers trying out beauty products in her local drug store. It’s like a rite of passage. There were two Shopper’s Drug Mart locations near my house and I often found myself at one or the other during my childhood and teenage years. Once I moved away to university and started wearing makeup for real, it was at Shopper’s Drug Mart where I found my first and favourite shade of lipstick: Revlon’s Super Lustrous Lipstick in Black Cherry.

Now, Shopper’s Drug Mart’s website has its own beauty section and it’s basically my kryptonite.

 

Glossier

Until Glossier moves to Toronto—very soon, please—I will be happily shopping online. The minimum for free shipping is $40, which is totally doable if you love their products as much as I do. The website, like the brand, is very minimalist and I love how easy it is to navigate. I also appreciate that the product pictures feature models of different skin tones so you can see what the product might look like on you. It’s awesome.

Not only do they have a fun range makeup and skincare products, they also have a few practical items like cotton pads (they’re really good), a pocket mirror (adorable), and an adorable grey sweatshirt with their name on it (I want one).

 

Sephora

Sephora wasn’t always my number one beauty store but in the last year or so I’ve fully committed to being a VIP member. So much so that I recently hit the Rouge level. I know this is partly because I’ve become more conscious of my skincare routine and Sephora has a great selection of products. In the last couple of years, so many amazing, cult-favourite brands have launched at Sephora: Fenty Beauty, Biossance, Herbivore Botanicals, Glow Recipe and the list goes on.

I’m always enticed to try something new when I shop either in store or online. I also love the fact that Sephora hosts several events throughout the year—from mini facial and makeup application days to full on celebrity appearances and workshops.

 

The Body Shop

The Body Shop was my entryway into the beauty world. My best friend got me a Coconut-scented gift set for my twelfth birthday and I’ve been shopping there ever since. Fast-forward a decade or so and it’s still one of my go-tos. From the award-winning body butter (Shea is my scent) to the collection of face masks, I’m constantly returning to these products—god bless tea tree oil!

What I love about The Body Shop is that I can learn more about the main ingredient and how they’ll work on my skin. I didn’t know anything about the power of Vitamin C until I started using and researching the line at the Body Shop. They’re always unveiling new products with these awesome ingredients.

 

What are your favourite beauty sites? Is there a site I should try? Tell me in the comment section!

 

*header image by: rawpixel.com.