If you‘re a beauty enthusiast like me, you‘re always on the hunt for the best places to stock up on makeup, skincare, and other must-have products. One retailer that has been on my radar lately is Beauty Bay, a UK-based company that ships worldwide. They carry a huge selection of over 200 brands, including hard-to-find indie labels and their own in-house line.
But with so many options out there, is Beauty Bay really worth checking out? I decided to dive in and test the waters to give you my honest take. Keep reading for my full Beauty Bay review, including the pros and cons, product reviews, customer feedback, and how it stacks up to the competition.
What is Beauty Bay?
First, a little background. Beauty Bay is an online beauty retailer that was founded in 1999 by brothers Arron and David Gabbie. It originally launched under the name "Fragrance Bay" but quickly pivoted to makeup and skincare. Over the last 20+ years, Beauty Bay has grown into one of the leading online beauty destinations, especially in the UK and Europe.
Today, Beauty Bay offers over 7,000 products from more than 200 brands. While they stock many popular lines like NYX, Maybelline, and The Ordinary, they also specialize in mining the beauty landscape for unique, under-the-radar brands. The company also launched their own Beauty Bay line of makeup and skincare in 2018.
One thing I appreciate is Beauty Bay‘s strong social media game and devoted fan base. With 2.1M Instagram followers and 1.8M likes on Facebook, they‘ve cultivated a highly engaged beauty community. The brand has a colorful, trendy vibe that feels youthful and fresh.
Pros and Cons of Shopping at Beauty Bay
But popularity aside, is Beauty Bay a smart place to spend your hard-earned money? Here‘s a quick rundown of the biggest pros and cons I‘ve discovered:
Pros:
– Huge product selection with over 7,000 items from 200+ brands
– Mix of prestige and drugstore brands at different price points
– Discover new, hard-to-find indie beauty brands
– Beauty Bay‘s in-house line is high-quality and affordable
– Reasonable prices, plus regular sales and promotions
– Free tracked shipping on orders over $50
– Ships to most countries worldwide
– Excellent customer service
– Easy returns within 14 days
– Earn points with the Beauty Bay Tribe loyalty program
Cons:
– Some customer complaints about slow shipping times
– Have to spend $50 to get free shipping
– Small selection compared to beauty giants like Sephora or Ulta
– Don‘t carry all brands (like Fenty Beauty or Charlotte Tilbury)
– No in-store locations to test products in person
– UK-based, so shipping can take a while
All in all, I think the pros definitely outweigh the cons – especially if you live in the UK or Europe. Beauty Bay offers an impressive selection, reasonable prices, and great customer perks. The only real downsides are the lack of in-store options and that shipping can take longer since they‘re based overseas.
Beauty Bay Makeup Review
Of course, product selection is most important thing. And when it comes to makeup, Beauty Bay does not disappoint! Whether you‘re looking for the latest viral product or a classic staple, they have you covered. I tested quite a few of their bestselling makeup items – here are the standouts:
1. Beauty Bay Bright 42 Color Palette
This massive eyeshadow palette is a color lover‘s dream. You get 42 ultra-pigmented shades in a rainbow of hues, from vibrant jewel tones to pretty pastels. I was blown away by the high quality of these shadows, especially for the affordable $30 price tag. They have a smooth, creamy texture that blends out beautifully.
2. NYX Epic Ink Liner
If you‘re after the perfect liquid eyeliner, look no further. This cult-favorite liner from NYX is everything: super black, opaque, waterproof, and long-wearing. The precision brush tip makes it easy to achieve a sharp cat eye or defined line. No smudging or flaking! An absolute steal at under $10.
3. Beauty Bay Liquid Crystal Eyeshadow
For a one-and-done eye look, these liquid glitter eyeshadows can‘t be beat. They have a unique water-based formula that dries down to a streak-free, transfer-proof finish. I love that they give you the look of loose glitter without any of the messy fallout. Choose from 10 mesmerizing shades.
4. Jeffree Star Velour Liquid Lipstick
Despite the controversy around Jeffree Star, there‘s no denying that he makes an amazing liquid lipstick. These lippies pack full-coverage pigment into a comfortable, non-drying formula. With an extensive shade range and fun, cheeky color names, they‘re a top seller for a reason.
5. Mario Badescu Drying Lotion
While this one isn‘t makeup, I had to give a shoutout to this iconic blemish treatment. The Mario Badescu Drying Lotion is a fast-acting spot treatment that helps dry up pesky pimples overnight. With salicylic acid, calamine, and other soothing ingredients, it reduces redness and unclogs pores without irritating your skin.
Overall, I was very impressed with the quality and performance of the Beauty Bay makeup products I tried. They carry so many amazing brands at competitive price points – it‘s a great one-stop shop to stock your collection.
Beauty Bay Skincare Review
In addition to makeup, Beauty Bay has a well-curated skincare department with top brands like The Ordinary, Paula‘s Choice, Pixi and more. From cleansers to serums to SPF, they offer products for every step of your routine. Here are a few skincare stars that wowed me:
1. The Inkey List Oat Cleansing Balm
As a first cleanse to melt away makeup and SPF, this cleansing balm is a winner. The oat kernel oil and oat powder gently soothe and nourish the skin while providing light exfoliation. It has a luxurious texture that emulsifies into a milky cleanser, leaving skin soft and clean without any residue. The price is right too at under $15.
2. Beauty Bay SkinHit Soothing Serum
For sensitive, irritated skin, this calming serum from the Beauty Bay line is a must-have. It contains a cocktail of soothing ingredients like aloe, green tea, calendula, and ceramides to reduce redness, repair the skin barrier, and lock in hydration. It‘s also fragrance-free and non-comedogenic.
3. Glow Recipe Plum Plump Hyaluronic Serum
In the hydration department, this is my current obsession. The Glow Recipe serum has five weights of hyaluronic acid to deeply hydrate at different levels of the skin. The plum extract and vegan collagen give an instant plumping effect, while antioxidants work to fight signs of aging. It layers perfectly under other serums and moisturizers.
4. The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%
If you struggle with uneven skin tone, bumpy texture, or occasional breakouts, this booster from The Ordinary is great to have in your arsenal. Azelaic acid is a underrated multi-tasker that brightens, clears up blemishes, and smooths rough skin. At under $10, it‘s an incredible value compared to other azelaic acid products.
5. Versed Guards Up Daily Mineral Sunscreen SPF 35
We all know wearing SPF is super important to prevent sun damage and premature aging. The Versed mineral sunscreen is a great everyday option that works for face and body. It gives SPF 35 protection with non-nano zinc oxide, but doesn‘t leave a white cast. The formula is also clean, vegan, fragrance-free and reef-safe.
As you can see, Beauty Bay stocks some real gems when it comes to skincare. From affordable staples to worth-the-splurge treatments, they have products that can tackle any skin type or concern. I‘ll definitely be repurchasing the items that earned a permanent place in my routine.
Is Beauty Bay Legit? Here‘s What Customers Say
Product quality is one thing, but it‘s also important to consider the overall shopping experience. To gauge how legit Beauty Bay is, I combed through hundreds of customer reviews across different platforms. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive – here are the main takeaways:
Products:
Overall, customers report that Beauty Bay products are high-quality and perform well, especially for the price. Many reviews rave that the Beauty Bay makeup is just as good as prestige brands. The skincare products also get a lot of love for delivering noticeable results.
Customer Service:
Shoppers give top marks to Beauty Bay‘s customer service team. They are very responsive over email and quickly resolve any issues that come up. The only complaint was a few instances of slow response times, but this seems rare.
Shipping:
In general, customers say that Beauty Bay shipping is reliable and fast. Most UK orders arrive in a few days. International shipping times vary, but people report receiving their orders within 1-2 weeks. A few reviews did mention delays, especially during busy periods.
Returns:
Beauty Bay offers hassle-free returns within 14 days. Customers had positive experiences with the return process and receiving prompt refunds. Just note that you do have to pay for return shipping costs.
Website:
Shoppers find the Beauty Bay website easy to navigate with detailed product information and reviews. The only minor complaint was the site can run slow during big sales or launches.
Currently on Trustpilot, Beauty Bay has an excellent 4.4 out of 5 star rating with over 25,000 customer reviews. Needless to say, all signs point to Beauty Bay being a legit company that takes good care of its customers. It seems you can feel confident hitting that "add to cart" button.
How Does Beauty Bay Compare to Other Beauty Retailers?
Finally, I wanted to see how Beauty Bay measures up to other major beauty retailers. How do they compare to the Sephoras and Ultas of the world? Here‘s a quick rundown:
Selection:
Beauty Bay offers an extensive selection of makeup, skincare, haircare, and fragrance brands – over 7,000 products from 200+ lines. That‘s impressive, but still smaller than Sephora and Ulta, which stock 25,000 and 500 brands respectively. Where Beauty Bay stands out is with indie and international brands you won‘t find at other stores.
Pricing:
From my research, Beauty Bay‘s prices are very comparable to other retailers. You‘ll find a good mix of drugstore and prestige brands in every price range – they even carry affordable lines like The Ordinary, CeraVe and The Inkey List. Beauty Bay also runs frequent sales and offers a loyalty program to earn points on purchases.
Shipping:
Beauty Bay ships worldwide and offers free tracked shipping on orders over $50. Since they only have one warehouse in the UK, shipping can take a bit longer than competitors. Sephora and Ulta have the advantage of many US locations for faster fulfillment and in-store pick-up options.
Perks:
Like other retailers, Beauty Bay has a loyalty program called Tribe where you earn points to redeem for discounts. You can‘t earn as many points as Ulta‘s program. They run sales often, but don‘t give out as many samples, gifts with purchase, or in-store services as Sephora and Ulta do.
Overall, I think Beauty Bay is a great alternative to the big beauty stores – especially if you live abroad or want to discover new under-the-radar brands. The prices and shipping are on par, and you‘ll find products you can‘t get anywhere else. But if you want the most extensive selection or in-store extras, you may prefer Sephora or Ulta.
Final Thoughts on Beauty Bay
So, is Beauty Bay worth it? After testing dozens of products and scouring reviews, my answer is a resounding yes. While they may not be as much of a household name as Sephora or Ulta, Beauty Bay has seriously impressed me with their product quality, selection, and customer service.
What really won me over is the opportunity to discover amazing international brands that aren‘t sold in stores near me. I‘ve found so many new holy grail products by sampling Beauty Bay‘s unique offerings. The prices are also super reasonable and they run sales frequently.
Granted, international shipping times can be a bit longer. And if you‘re a sample junkie or want lots of gifts with purchase, Beauty Bay may not be the best choice. But if your priority is finding fun new products that perform well, Beauty Bay will be your new best friend.
The quality of their in-house makeup and skincare was another huge surprise. For budget-friendly prices, the Beauty Bay brand products really deliver. I‘m obsessed with their bright eyeshadow palettes and can see their skincare line becoming a new staple in my routine.
All in all, I think Beauty Bay has earned their stellar reputation in the beauty community. Whether you‘re a makeup artist, skincare aficionado, or simply a beauty lover who wants the best of the best, I highly recommend giving them a look. With free returns, there‘s no reason not to test the waters and see for yourself!
