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The Best Beauty Stores

What Are the Best Online Beauty Stores?

If you stop and think about how many products you use to get ready in the morning, it might blow your mind. Say you wake up, take a shower with some shower gel, shave your legs, and wash your hair, you've already used at least 6 products (shower gel, razor, shaving cream, shampoo, conditioner, loofah).

From there you'll probably apply lotion, perfume, makeup, brush your hair, use a styling tool, and brush your teeth to top it off. That could easily be another 10-15 products you're using before you head out of the door for the day. Beauty stores are the perfect place to keep all your important daily routine items stocked up.

Sunday, October 6th

2024 Beauty Store Reviews

Ulta Review Top Consumer Reviews Best-In-Class Blue Ribbon Award 5 Star Rating

Ulta

5 Star Rating Top Consumer Reviews Best-In-Class Blue Ribbon Award

Ulta operates over 1,000 stores and can be found in all 50 states. Their online store has both low-end and high-end personal care brands, so there is something for everyone here. Ulta has competitive prices, offers same-day pickup, and free shipping for orders over $35. Their 60-day return policy allows for customers to return both new and gently used products to ensure that people are happy with their purchases. Ulta has an appealing website and a huge selection, so we know this could be your one and only destination for all beauty supplies. Ulta is a great store and has earned our top rating.

Sephora Review 4.5 Star Rating

Sephora

4.5 Star Rating

Sephora is an upscale beauty product retailer based out of France. They have locations all throughout the United States and an online store with hundreds of top beauty brands. You'll pay higher prices at Sephora because of the products they carry and the posh brands they come from. There is an auto-renewal option to save 5% on purchases if you are a frequent shopper. All orders ship for free and you can return new and gently-used products to the store within 30 days for a full refund. Sephora has thousands of reviews and Q&As on almost all their products, and an "A-” rating from the Better Business Bureau, so it's a fantastic choice for beauty products. Sephora is one of our favorite online stores.

Dermstore Review 4.5 Star Rating

Dermstore

4.5 Star Rating

Dermstore is a great place to find high quality, clean beauty brands without sky high prices. Their website is easy to navigate and their inventory is impressive. Dermstore has a rewards program where people can earn points on all their purchases that save them money on future orders. If you have a favorite product here, you could opt for auto-shipments and save 20% each time. Shipping is free on orders over $50 and customers can make returns within 60 days of delivery. Dermstore has high customer satisfaction and we are happy with everything we see here. This company has earned one of our top spots among beauty stores.

Safe and Chic Review 4.5 Star Rating

Safe and Chic

4.5 Star Rating

Safe & Chic was born from the idea that customers need better access to high-quality, non-toxic, natural beauty products. They have a long list of brands that have removed problem ingredients from their formulas, making them a safer choice for consumers. Safe & Chic has an appealing website, a comprehensive inventory of beautiful products, and periodically offers great sales to help customers save money. The company allows for full refunds on unused products and store credit for items that have been opened and tested. They don't have a good rating from the Better Business Bureau, but we are willing to overlook it due to their good product reviews and the praises that customers sing about the company. Safe & Chic is a great choice for buying clean beauty products.

Nordstrom Review 4 Star Rating

Nordstrom

4 Star Rating

Nordstrom is a well-known shopping destination for people looking for classy, trend-forward items. Although clothes are what they are most recognized for, their selection of beauty products won't disappoint. There are thousands of items in each category that have been rated by hundreds or even thousands of customers. Nordstrom offers free shipping, free and easy returns, rewards points for members, and a good shopping experience. If you want a big selection of beauty products, give Nordstrom a try.

Luminess Review 4 Star Rating

Luminess

4 Star Rating

Luminess specializes in small airbrushing systems for makeup application, self-tanning, and microneedling. With spray-on makeup and skin care products, you'll get a taste of professional makeup application through a smooth, easy-on process. You can try Luminess' devices free for 30 days to see if you like how they operate and find your perfect foundation. Luminess offers free shipping on orders over $55, a price match guarantee, and all air brush systems have a 1-year warranty. Customers are really happy with Luminess and their amazing customer service. Although this isn't your typical beauty store, they are a fun and unique place to check out, so they've earned a recommendation from us.

Macy's Review 3.5 Star Rating

Macy's

3.5 Star Rating

Macy's is a well-known company that is home to hundreds of clothing brands, home decor products, and beauty items. They have thousands of options for makeup, hair care, skincare, and perfume. It's not unusual to snag a product on sale at Macy's since they frequently offer discount codes to help you save some money. They have a good mix of normal, reasonably-priced beauty products as well as some of the fancier, high-end brands that you'll pay more for. Macy's has a 30-day return policy, thousands of reviews on individual products, and an "A+” rating from the Better Business Bureau, so they're a good choice for beauty products.

Strawberry Net Review 3 Star Rating

Strawberry Net

3 Star Rating

Strawberrynet has an impressive selection of products from over 800 brands. They operate worldwide and have garnered a wide customer base of people who are loyal to the company and appreciate their always low prices. However, some people theorize that Strawberrynet is able to offer all their products at discounted rates since they are usually close to expiring. They have great processes and people report smooth buying experiences here. Strawberrynet offers a 30-day return policy and free shipping on orders over $50. This is not our first choice for beauty products, but it's a good place to check for discounts before shopping elsewhere.

Planet Beauty Review 3 Star Rating

Planet Beauty

3 Star Rating

Planet Beauty is a major beauty supplier throughout California. They have a decent selection of makeup products, but plenty of options for skincare and hair items. Planet Beauty has a standard 30-day return policy, offers free shipping on orders over $59, and also runs sitewide sales to help people save money on name-brand beauty products. The company has an "F” rating from the Better Business Bureau, but luckily customers mostly have great things to say about shopping online here. This isn't our first choice for beauty products, so Planet Beauty has earned an average rating from us.

Sally Beauty Review 3 Star Rating

Sally Beauty

3 Star Rating

Sally Beauty has years of experience in the personal care world. Their inventory focuses heavily on hair care and nail accessories, but they have a variety of cosmetics, accessories, and skincare products as well. At Sally, you're likely to be able to score a great price on something you're looking for since they often run good sales. They have a 60-day return policy and even some same-day shipping options. Unfortunately, Sally Beauty has a "D-” rating from the Better Business Bureau and customers complain about quite a few issues they've had. Since this is a place with a solid variety of basic products for good prices, it's an okay place to turn when you're in a rut, but it isn't the best beauty store out there.

Bluemercury Review 2.5 Star Rating

Bluemercury

2.5 Star Rating

Bluemercury is owned by Macy's and sells high-end beauty products for men and women. They don't carry well-known brands, but rather have their own lineup of expensive products that are unique to their store. If you're okay spending nearly $100 on a single makeup item, then you won't bat an eye at Bluemercury's prices. However, if you just need some generic makeup or hair products, then this place won't fit the bill. Bluemercury has a generous 90-day return policy that customers can take advantage of, and they have high, unfiltered customer reviews on their individual products. However, they have a low rating from the Better Business Bureau and they seem to have an issue with canceling people's orders too often, so this isn't our top choice for beauty stores.

Beauty Brands Review 1.5 Star Rating

Beauty Brands

1.5 Star Rating

Beauty Brands is kind of a catch-all for beauty supplies. They have products for men, women, and children alike. Their website is a bit loud with big pop-ups and banners advertising current sales. It's easy enough to find what you're looking for from Beauty Brands, but nothing about them really stands out among their competitors. We aren't at all confident that this company is completely reliable, since they have an "F” rating from the Better Business Bureau and a few too many complaints from customers about orders not arriving on time and poor customer service. Beauty Brands has good potential, but since we've found some other stores we'd prefer to buy beauty products from, this company isn't one we'd confidently recommend.

Compare the Best Reviews

Continued from above...

People are usually pretty picky about the shade, brand, scent, and color of the beauty products they use. We all know the frustrating feeling of running to the store to get what you need and finding out that your exact item is out of stock. When you shop online, you avoid running that risk because you have access to a much bigger inventory. You'll be able to see exactly what the store has in-stock and how soon it will get to your house or if it's available for a same-day pickup.

Whether you're just needing a new lip gloss or you want the latest in curling iron technology, you'll be able to find it at a beauty store. They usually have hundreds of brands that cater to people's preferences. If you just need something inexpensive, you can find what you need from a lower-end brand. However you can also find higher-quality, non-toxic beauty products, that weren't tested on animals or full of synthetic fragrances and irritating ingredients. There is a big spectrum of beauty products out there, so shopping online gives you access to all of it.

Browsing beauty products online gives you the ability to compare the prices of similar items at the same store and the prices of the same products between competing beauty stores. We also recommend taking the following things into consideration when you're about to make a purchase from a beauty store:

  • Selection. Does the company have a big selection of brands and products that are in-stock and ready to ship? You want to shop at a place that will always have what you need in the future for a restock, so the bigger the selection, the better. A wide inventory of beauty supplies also means you'll likely be able to find all the other things you need at the same time.
  • Pricing. How do the prices of beauty products compare between retailers? Does the company offer any big sales or buy-one-get-one deals? How about free shipping? Beauty products can add up, so if you find somewhere with good pricing, jump on it.
  • Return policy. There's always a chance that you'll order the wrong shade or makeup or a conditioner that doesn't work for your hair. In the event that anything you buy isn't what you hoped for, it's ideal if the beauty store you bought from offers a full refund on their products. Check the return policy from a store before ordering so you know what to expect.

You should have fun shopping for beauty products online. You'll be open to a world of products you never even knew you needed, from stores carefully reviewed and ranked on our list from best to worst. We hope this information from our experts at Top Consumer Reviews helps you find a one-stop beauty shop to take care of all the needs you have for you and your family.

The Best Beauty Stores Compare Beauty Stores Compare Beauty Store Reviews What are the best Beauty Stores Best Beauty Store Reviews

Beauty Store FAQ

When people think of beauty products, they often think of makeup. Beauty stores sell so much more than that. There are, of course, products for every part of the face (think eyeliner, lip gloss, eyeshadow, eyelashes, foundation, bronzer, brushes, and so much more) as well as for other parts of the body. Most beauty stores carry all types of items for your nails, hair treatments and styling tools, hair accessories, shampoo and conditioners, perfumes, bath and shower gels, spa essentials, and thousands of other products as well. Anything you might need to add a little glam and self-care to your regimen is at your fingertips from an online beauty store.
Everyone can benefit from an online beauty store. Of course, women probably make up the biggest demographic of shoppers at beauty stores, but there are plenty of useful products for children and men as well. You'll usually find shaving cream and razors, beard care, aftershave, face wash and moisturizing treatments, deodorant, and hair styling products designed just for men. When your family needs any type of hygienic products, you could likely get them for everyone all from a single beauty store.
Every store has a return policy that's unique to them. It's important to read carefully what it is before making a purchase online from a beauty store. Some places have generous return policies that allow you to return any product even if it has been used and opened for a full refund within a certain time period (usually between 30 and 90 days). You may have purchased the wrong shade of makeup or a hair product didn't do you any good and it's great to be able to get your money back in these instances. Some stores only allow returns for products that are unused and unopened, so you'll need to be extra careful with your purchases in this case.
One of the biggest perks to shopping online is that you don't even have to leave your house. No using up gas, no traffic, no having to get out of your pajamas. Shopping online gives you access to the biggest possible inventory, selection, and best prices. Not every beauty store will have what you want in-stock at their physical location. You can avoid running into this problem by shopping online and take advantage of sales or discount codes you find to help you save some money. Online shopping really is the superior way to go these days.
Online stores are organized into product categories to help you find what you need. If you know exactly what you're looking for, you can also search a company's website and go straight to it. If you don't know the name of the product and have a hard time sorting through all the online inventory, you can always contact a customer service representative by phone, email, or online chat to get some one-on-one help. Most companies have someone who can get back to you right away to assist in finding what you need.
One way to ensure you're getting high quality beauty products online is to check the company's reputation. Unfiltered customer reviews and a Better Business Bureau rating give you a glimpse into how well the company performs and whether or not they are completely trustworthy. If there are reviews on individual products, be sure to check those out as well.
If you shop around any holiday, you'll usually find that beauty stores run online sales. If you sign up for the emails and text messages, you'll probably be one of the first to get alerted about upcoming storewide savings. Some companies also give you a discount on your order when you sign up for their marketing emails, so check if this is an option before buying anything.
Usually you'll receive an online order within just a couple of days. Some beauty stores offer free shipping with minimum purchases or the option to expedite your shipping for a small fee. Depending on whether or not the item you're wanting is in-stock, you might be able to do a same-day pickup through some of these beauty stores if there is one near where you live.

Compare Beauty Stores

Select any 2 Beauty Stores to compare them head to head

best-beauty-stores
  • Ulta
  • Sephora
  • Dermstore
  • Safe and Chic
  • Nordstrom
  • Luminess
  • Macy's
  • Strawberry Net
  • Planet Beauty
  • Sally Beauty
  • Bluemercury
  • Beauty Brands
Ulta vs Sephora Ulta vs Dermstore Ulta vs Safe and Chic Ulta vs Nordstrom Ulta vs Luminess Ulta vs Macy's Ulta vs Strawberry Net Ulta vs Planet Beauty Ulta vs Sally Beauty Ulta vs Bluemercury Ulta vs Beauty Brands Sephora vs Dermstore Sephora vs Safe and Chic Sephora vs Nordstrom Sephora vs Luminess Sephora vs Macy's Sephora vs Strawberry Net Sephora vs Planet Beauty Sephora vs Sally Beauty Sephora vs Bluemercury Sephora vs Beauty Brands Dermstore vs Safe and Chic Dermstore vs Nordstrom Dermstore vs Luminess Dermstore vs Macy's Dermstore vs Strawberry Net Dermstore vs Planet Beauty Dermstore vs Sally Beauty Dermstore vs Bluemercury Dermstore vs Beauty Brands Safe and Chic vs Nordstrom Safe and Chic vs Luminess Safe and Chic vs Macy's Safe and Chic vs Strawberry Net Safe and Chic vs Planet Beauty Safe and Chic vs Sally Beauty Safe and Chic vs Bluemercury Safe and Chic vs Beauty Brands Nordstrom vs Luminess Nordstrom vs Macy's Nordstrom vs Strawberry Net Nordstrom vs Planet Beauty Nordstrom vs Sally Beauty Nordstrom vs Bluemercury Nordstrom vs Beauty Brands Luminess vs Macy's Luminess vs Strawberry Net Luminess vs Planet Beauty Luminess vs Sally Beauty Luminess vs Bluemercury Luminess vs Beauty Brands Macy's vs Strawberry Net Macy's vs Planet Beauty Macy's vs Sally Beauty Macy's vs Bluemercury Macy's vs Beauty Brands Strawberry Net vs Planet Beauty Strawberry Net vs Sally Beauty Strawberry Net vs Bluemercury Strawberry Net vs Beauty Brands Planet Beauty vs Sally Beauty Planet Beauty vs Bluemercury Planet Beauty vs Beauty Brands Sally Beauty vs Bluemercury Sally Beauty vs Beauty Brands Bluemercury vs Beauty Brands
Compare the Best Beauty Stores
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