67 Comments

Comments that do not adhere to our comment policy may be removed. Discussion and debate are highly encouraged but we expect community members to participate respectfully. Please keep discussion on-topic, and if you have general feedback, a product review request, an off-topic question, or need technical support, please contact us!

Please help us streamline the comments' section and be more efficient: double-check the post above for more basic information like pricing, availability, and so on to make sure your question wasn't answered already. Comments alerting us to typos or small errors in the post are appreciated (!) but will typically be removed after errors are fixed (unless a response is needed).

We appreciate enthusiasm for new releases but ask readers to please hold questions regarding if/when a review will be posted as we can't commit to or guarantee product reviews. We don't want to set expectations and then disappoint readers as even products that are swatched don't always end up being reviewed due to time constraints and changes in priorities! Thank you for understanding!

Comments on this post are closed.
Saga Avatar

Wohoo! I live in Finland too, highfive!

I usually buy my beauty products from Amazon.co.uk (if I’m buying online) so I guess that is my favourite one… Although it’s not a beauty store per se… My favourite in-store retailer is propably Kicks, it’s a swedish beauty store that we also have here in Finland.

Tatiana Avatar

Do you prefer beauty shopping online or in person?
In Person.
Favorite online beauty retailer?
Urban Decay and Eyeko
Favorite in-store beauty retailer?
MAC and Inglot

MJ Avatar

Do you prefer beauty shopping online or in person?
I prefer to shop in person if I know I can find what I’m looking for without having to run around from store to store. Online shopping saves a lot of valuable time and saves me money since I don’t have nearly as many impulse buys.

Favorite online beauty retailer?
I have several; Nordstrom (in store or on line), Sephora (shipping takes forever and their packing sucks- broken products, or directly from the line itself.
Favorite in-store beauty retailer?
I love Nordstrom, just wish mine had more lines. Ulta is my next fave since their rewards in N.Ca are way better then Sephora’s. Sephora is my last hit because they are cheap on the rewards, even after hitting VIB status. I do enjoy wandering around the drugstore beauty isles, because I always find a hidden gem.

Kelly Avatar

Do you prefer beauty shopping online or in person? online! I don’t like having people breathe down my neck in the store 🙁

Favorite online beauty retailer? sephora or mac. Both of their websites are great and user-friendly.

Favorite in-store beauty retailer? ulta! I love how I can get my drugstore products with some higher end ones as well.

msharma3 Avatar

in person, cos then i can look at stuff and maybe not buy it if i don’t like it in person. i spend less money in person.

urban decay: their shipping is freaking fast, within a week, and stuff goes on sale on their website.

tough question: local cco prolly, cos of stuff on sale, so i don’t feel as guilty buying stuff.

Joanne Avatar

In person, I like a more hands on experience.
I live in NYC so I usually don’t shop online. Don’t mean to brag but everything is at my fingertips 🙂
Sephora, MAC & Ulta

Julie Avatar

Do you prefer beauty shopping online or in person?
– I much prefer beauty shopping in person because you can swatch the colours and feel the textures, as opposed to seeing a picture of a product in which the lighting might be off and make the product seem a different colour. But I find I do most of my beauty shopping online, regardless, because here in Denmark we don’t have a lot of the awesome brands that you do in the US.
Favorite online beauty retailer?
– I really like beautybay.com because they have a whole lot of brands at very reasonable pricepoints. There are brands like Urban Decay and Stila and Too Faced, which are not otherwise available in Denmark. – And their shipping- and customer services are good, too.
Favorite in-store beauty retailer?
– I really enjoy going to the MAC counter for the sake of all the awesome products, but at my MAC there’s this really annoying sales assistant who actually knows less about NC and NW than I do… She totally mixes everything up all the time, lol. But my second favorite beauty retailer would be a Danish store called Matas, kinda the Danish equivalent of Sephora, I would say 🙂

Babs Avatar

I’m vacationing in Denmark now. My husband is Danish and we come here every year. Cosmetics are sooooo expensive in DK. I always bring my Danish family goodies from the US.

Bekka Avatar

I prefer to buy in-person. Yeah, you have to pay taxes, but I’d rather pay tax than wait for the item to ship, hehe. Also, I like to see the product and possibly swatch before I commit to buy.

As far as online sites, I love Hautelook and Urban Decay for the deals. I use Sephora to spy on products I want (best reviews and great site organization… haven’t actually bought from the site, though!).

In-store, I prefer Ulta. They’re not snooty, have a great clearance aisle, and have a fantastic variety of products.

Alex Avatar

Do you prefer beauty shopping online or in person? Definitely in person, I have to swatch products!
Favorite online beauty retailer? Don’t have a favourite, maybe NARS
Favorite in-store beauty retailer? Sephora and MAC. MAC Artists make me feel like gold!

mkdallas Avatar

1) I prefer to shop for beauty products online (mostly).
2) Favorite online retailer is Sephora because so many lines are available.
3) Favorite in-store retailer is Ulta.

Courtney Avatar

Preferably in person. But I am happy to shop for beauty products in any way, shape, or form!

For online shopping I prefer brand websites rather than multiple brand retailers because I find it hard to navigate through all of those brands and products.

For in person, I like places like Sephora better than Nordstrom because Sephora has brands that I tend to ignore, and something totally new and different might catch my eye without me expecting it at all. Sometimes I feel like the people at Nordstrom are snobs. They always act like they’re better than you and that’s a real turnoff when I shop! The other day, I asked the MAC counter girl in Nordstrom a question about one of the new collections coming out in the near future and she knew nothing about it! I sat there for a good five minutes telling her about all of them.

Thanks Christine for all the info… I totally got my snobby revenge on them!

Kristina Avatar

Do you prefer beauty shopping online or in person?
I test it in person, and sometimes buy it online if it’s cheaper or out of stock in stores.

Favorite online beauty retailer?
Sephora

Favorite in-store beauty retailer?
Sephora, Nordstroms

Mariella Avatar

Do you prefer shopping online or in person? In person – I need to see how the product REALLY looks and that doesn’t always come across online (MAC and Sephora, are you reading this?) and I like to see how it looks on me, what the texture is like, etc.

Favourite online beauty retailer: the only one I’ve ever used is MAC so I have to say “MAC”

Favourite in-store beauty retailer? Sephora or the really huge, big, good Shopper’s Drug Mart near me that carries Benefit, Stila, Smashbox…

Sophie Avatar

Do you prefer beauty shopping online or in person? Mostly online because it is so much cheeper to order from the US and sometimes UK, than it is in sweden.
Favorite online beauty retailer? Cherryculture for NYX products, lookfantastic for urban decay. Oriflame, and elf.
Favorite in-store beauty retailer? Kicks a swedish beautystore.

Nancy Avatar

Do you prefer beauty shopping online or in person? In person
Favorite online beauty retailer? Sephora
Favorite in-store beauty retailer? Macy’s

Lulee Avatar

* Do you prefer beauty shopping online or in person? ideally, i like to pick out what i want in store and then order online, so i can get ebates money 🙂
* Favorite online beauty retailer? sephora and nordstrom are good, but laura mercier runs great promos as well. nordstrom’s lack of free shipping deters me sometimes though.
* Favorite in-store beauty retailer? sephora and nordstrom

Courtney Avatar

I prefer shopping in person when I can. I’m wary of buying colors without testing them first. Photos can be deceiving, and I dislike not having swatches.

Favorite online beauty retailer: Oh gosh, I love so many!

Favorite in-store retailer: MAC, specially at my Nordies counter. They’re an awesome team.

Natalie Avatar

Do you prefer beauty shopping online or in person?Iin person!

Favorite online beauty retailer? Sephora!

Favorite in-store beauty retailer? Ulta..I like being able to find lower- and higher-end stuff in one place!

Carolito Avatar

Do you prefer beauty shopping online or in person? In person! I like to try things on!
Favorite online beauty retailer? Bobbi Brown.
Favorite in-store beauty retailer? Its between Blommingdales and Sephora.

Carrie Ann Avatar

Do you prefer beauty shopping online or in person? I like to shop online if I’ve already seen swatches/reviews because there aren’t many stores that carry good beauty products where I live. If I’m unsure about a product and I can find it in store, seeing it in person definitely helps.

Favorite online beauty retailer? Sephora

Favorite in-store beauty retailer? MAC. The ladies at my MAC counter are super nice and helpful.

Katherine Avatar

Do you prefer beauty shopping online or in person?
In person so I can test the product, but I usually do it online because I am lazy and it’s just easier. Plus online, I can do more research and buy less impulsively – but that’s no fun, is it?

Favorite online beauty retailer?
Nordstrom, Sephora, anywhere with a good sale really.

Favorite in-store beauty retailer?
Sephora 🙂

Dana Avatar

Do you prefer beauty shopping online or in person? Both, I like to buy online when I’m repurchasing an item or I know exactly what I want. For new products I like to buy in store so I can swatch, test, etc.

Favorite online beauty retailer? Sephora, Mac, Beauty/Drugstore.com

Favorite in-store beauty retailer? Ulta, Mac, and CCO’s. It used to be Sephora but my closest has new beauty advisors and now I don’t like going in there anymore. It used to be the opposite, loved Sephora and didn’t like Ulta.

Annalisa Avatar

* Do you prefer beauty shopping online or in person?
in person because I can swatch the colors and I love to see and touch the products, the textures…

* Favorite online beauty retailer?
Neve Cosmetics (it’s an italian mineral make up store, it sells online only)

* Favorite in-store beauty retailer?
MAC and Sephora

Quinctia Avatar

* Do you prefer beauty shopping online or in person? – Shopping in person is the nicest, in terms of getting a look at product and having instant gratification. I get some nice 20% off anything coupons from Ulta that only work at the store, too. But I can get some great deals online with some hunting, and I don’t have a real Sephora by me, so if something isn’t carried at Ulta, Sally’s, or mass market, I’ll have to order it online.

* Favorite online beauty retailer? This is tough. Cherry Culture for the cheaper brands of makeup, and Beauty Ticket or HauteLook for other brands, if my luck is right. I wouldn’t have fallen in love with Smashbox lipsticks if I hadn’t gotten them on Beauty Ticket for 5-6 bucks a pop. I wouldn’t have risked full price, sight unseen.

* Favorite in-store beauty retailer? It’s hard to judge because I don’t have a real Sephora nearby, but I think I might still prefer Ulta over it, in the end. Nice brands, as well as drugstore brands, and their inhouse brand is more reasonably priced than Sephora’s.

Maria Avatar

Do you prefer beauty shopping online or in person? In-person .. I want to see what I am getting before I spend my money $$
Favorite online beauty retailer? Ulta .. They have great sales
Favorite in-store beauty retailer? MAC

Chester Avatar

Do you prefer beauty shopping online or in person? In person because I like to see for myself if the desired product will fit my expectations.
But with nail polish it’s not feasible because my most beloved brands, Essie and OPI, are pricey as hell in retail, and the other beloved one, China Glaze isn’t even sold in Germany. I order those online.

Favorite online beauty retailer? nailsupplies for OPI, head2toe for China Glaze, Essie, Orly and others.

Favorite in-store beauty retailer? I love MAC free standing stores. And I heard good things about Inglot but I haven’t come across a store yet.

Inky Avatar

Do you prefer beauty shopping online or in person? I prefer in-person but I can’t often get to the store.

Favorite online beauty retailer? Sephora; MAC

Favorite in-store beauty retailer? Sephora; MAC (it’s all we have where we live and I’m glad we have those or it would all be online!)

Bailey Avatar

Do you prefer beauty shopping online or in person? in person, i dont like wasting my money on something that i cant really see the colors of
Favorite online beauty retailer? maccosmetics.com so user friendly and easy to shop on, plus the shipping has never been a problem for me
Favorite in-store beauty retailer? ulta, they have drugstore and high end products and they alwsays have coupons out!

Karen Avatar

definitely prefer shopping in person whenever possible
favorite online beauty shopping would have to be MAC and Fyrinnae
In-store would be Sephora and Lush

Jasmine Avatar

Do you prefer beauty shopping online or in person? Yes. LOL. I like going online to browse things I might want, and then I’ll go to the store to actually see it in person & (hopefully) purchase it!
Favorite online beauty retailer? NYX cosmetics/ ELF I’m a sucker for cheap makeup 🙂
Favorite in-store beauty retailer? Ulta! But I don’t live near many 🙁 So Sephora/MAC

Rena Avatar

Same with being a sucker for cheap makeup! I’m a student and probably shouldn’t even be buying so much makeup now anyway but I’ve actually had really good luck with ELF! And they even have good sales! I can only splurge on high end value kits like the UD palettes!

Queen Shanine Avatar

Do you prefer beauty shopping online or in person? I love both. It depends if I find online swatches sufficent or not.
Favorite online beauty retailer? Sephora
Favorite in-store beauty retailer? Sephora and Nordstrom

Yazmin Avatar

I love beauty shopping in person, because im the type of person that if i pay for something i believe it should be with me the moment i hand over the payment, im not very patient lol. but when i find a good bargan online, i cant resist.

Love makeup.com for online beauty stuff

Instore: Debenhams, has all my favourite brands under one roof, they should move the nars counter from john lewis there, and then add a MUFE counter and i will never leave 😀

meme Avatar

1. Do you prefer beauty shopping online or in person? A little of both. I have to on line shop a lot due to living in the middle of nowhere.
2. Favorite online beauty retailer? Wish I could say ULTA but never been in a store so I am hesitant to get into their web site until I know a store and the product lines. I order from Sephora & UD more than others
3.Favorite in-store beauty retailer? Hard call as I don’t have choices were I live. When I am in a town that has a Sephora I am like a kid in a candy store and spend 5 hrs I think looking at everything! But agree with the comment that they are stingy on their free-bee stuff. I work on them to make me samples while I am there begging telling them where I live and they know I have nothing there so if they do a good job sampling I will buy from them on line.

Becca Avatar

Do you prefer beauty shopping online or in person? in person!!! I never shop online!
Favorite online beauty retailer? I don’t know, I’ve only shopped online 1 for cosmetics
Favorite in-store beauty retailer? sephora, ulta and MAC 🙂

Laurel Avatar

Do you prefer beauty shopping online or in person? both, but I like the instant gratification of in person shopping
Favorite online beauty retailer? Sephora!
Favorite in-store beauty retailer? either Sephora or Nordstrom

Katie Avatar

Do you prefer beauty shopping online or in person? In person so I can test the makeup.
Favorite online beauty retailer? Sephora
Favorite in-store beauty retailer? Sephora, but I also love Dillards.

Z Avatar

Do you prefer beauty shopping online or in person?
-> Online if the items are only available online, but in person (after doing thorough research about the product, dupes, reviews, etc) when possible

Favorite online beauty retailer?
-> Haven’t tried many…MAC so far (among E.L.F., NYX, UD)

Favorite in-store beauty retailer?
-> NORDSTROMS/MACYS

=D

Yaz Avatar

– I prefer to shop in person.
– Mac or Strawberry Net. (I love Sephora but here in Canada the delivery takes 3 weeks! I hate that)
– Sephora

Kimberly Avatar

I really love to shop both ways, I love to see, & feel the items in person. But on the other hand, I love being able to access so many other items & brands online which is not sold in my area.

I love buying from Urban Decay’s website, & I get super great deals on Nyx on Ebay from my favorite seller’s. I really want to try ordering from Ulta’s site soon.

I love Sephora, it’s the only one in my area, & I love the variety & the return policy is wonderful!

Sarah Avatar

Do you prefer beauty shopping online or in person?
I shop online, i dont like dealing with makeup counters because i dont feel that i get any customer service, i tend to do all my research online looking at swatches, blogs, reviews and official websites and order it from there. If i need a colour for foundation then i will go to the store and try in there and then come home and order it online

Favorite online beauty retailer?
MAC and my various Mac connections from Canada and USA with

Favorite in-store beauty retailer?
if i had to pick one, Mecca which i have gone to before and brought Nars. MAC counters are avoided at all costs 🙁

Denise Avatar

 Do you prefer beauty shopping online or in person? both–online is best for careful consideration, in person to see colors and textures
 Favorite online beauty retailer? QVC
 Favorite in-store beauty retailer? Sephora

Krista Avatar

Do you prefer beauty shopping online or in person? I usually do both. I see something interesting online then I go to a store and swatch it or analyze it in person before I decide to buy it. Sometimes I buy it on the spot, other times I go home and order it after thinking about it awhile.
Favorite online beauty retailer? I suppose Sephora is my top choice.
Favorite in-store beauty retailer? Sephora or Nordstrom.

Emily O. Avatar

I’m obsessed with AllCosmeticsWholesale.com and BrigettesBoutique.com. I love Sephora in
person and online. I detest Ulta- I cannot stand all their limitations on “sales”, how badly their stores are designed and how ill informed and rude their associates are. When I really need something, it’s Nordstrom.

Liang Avatar

Do you prefer beauty shopping online or in person? I prefer buying in person, but if I need to, I” definitely buy them online.

Favorite online beauty retailer? My favorite online beauty retailer is either Bobbi Brown, Sephora, and MAC

Favorite in-store beauty retailer? My favorite in-store beauty retailer is MAC, Ulta, Chanel, Macy’s and Nordstrom.

yajuwen Avatar

Do you prefer beauty shopping online or in person?
for high ends products I’ll swatch in person but buy online, because it’s cheaper lol
but if I just want something that’s below $20 or drugstore brand, definitely in person

Favorite online beauty retailer?
Sephora

Favorite in-store beauty retailer?
lord and tayler, because that’s the only place I can find NARS 🙁

artemis Avatar

Do you prefer beauty shopping online or in person? In person, at the hypermarket, they got testers there….but even then it’s hard
Favorite online beauty retailer? None because the shipping is scary and I’m poor :))
Favorite in-store beauty retailer? Mine is called Cora…it has everything from food to furniture and make-up :)) plus clothes and mcdonals and stuff. you can see i’m eastern european lol

coco Avatar

1. In person so I can swatch and test products. Online photos/descriptions can be so deceiving!
2. bobbibrown.com (free samples and extra gifts)
3. The mall….dept store counters + Sephora

Ellie Avatar

Do you prefer beauty shopping online or in person? In person for sure. I hate paying for shipping and I hate having to feel like I need to buy extra crap just to meet the free shipping requirements.

Favorite online beauty retailer? Sephora.com!

Favorite in-store beauty retailer? Sephora/Nordstrom Mac counter/my local drugstores

Meg Avatar

Do you prefer beauty shopping online or in person?
in person, so I can swatch…
Favorite online beauty retailer?
Coastal scents, amazon, sigma
Favorite in-store beauty retailer?
Sephora, Ulta, Dillards

Hannah R. Avatar

Do you prefer beauty shopping online or in person?
In person. I am a VERY visual, kinesthetic and hands-on person. I can read the product size and stuff online, which does help, but i need to actually see how big it is and be able to test it to really think through whether or not it’s worth the money.

Favorite online beauty retailer?
Don’t have one.

Favorite in-store beauty retailer?
Sephora/MAC (its a tie), then Ulta.

We try to approve comments within 24 hours (and reply to them within 72 hours) but can sometimes get behind and appreciate your patience! 🙂 If you have general feedback, product review requests, off-topic questions, or need technical support, please contact us directly. Thank you for your patience!