QVC. For those who aren't in the beauty know, those three letters might conjure up images of animated TV hosts harping on about everything from toasters to Tupperware, or your grandma/aunt/insert elderly relative here bidding on a pair of fluffy slippers over the phone. "It's the one where you have to dial in, right?" one confused R29er asked when I mentioned it.
It might be best known as a television shopping network, but fast-forward to 2018 and it's fair to say that QVC has very successfully carved out a name for itself as one of the best online beauty destinations in the UK. Yep, it has a website now, and this time around, you don't have to wait in a call queue. In fact, I've been adding to my virtual shopping basket for years...
Why? Well, from big name brands to those a little more under-the-radar, QVC UK has rather cleverly (albeit quietly) curated an army of brilliant beauty players – some cult and previously only available in the USA, like Tarte (QVC was the UK's very first stockist) and IT Cosmetics (the brand that brought us that amazing CC cream), as well as some yet to be discovered. Haven't heard of The Hero Project? It'll be your new go-to.
From a beauty obsessive's perspective, QVC UK is pretty much on par with the online beauty hubs we all know and love. With hundreds of blogger-, MUA- and celebrity-approved products to choose from, it should be up there with the likes of Cult Beauty, Look Fantastic and Beauty Bay, and believe me when I say that its ability to bag an exclusive is just as savvy.
Huge in the US, Japanese beauty brand Julep recently joined the ranks and QVC is currently the only UK stockist, while beloved brands like bareMinerals, Dyson, Liz Earle and Elemis, to name but a few, have previously all chosen QVC UK to launch new, exclusive and limited edition products. Blink and you'll miss them.
So I'm calling it: QVC UK is the online beauty industry's biggest underdog and you'd be a fool to miss out on the action. Click through to shop some of the website's best beauty editor-approved gems...
If you've been known to beg America-bound friends to bring you back a Tarte makeup haul, you're not alone. Before they stepped up their game and finally started shipping to the UK from their official website (some custom charges may still apply), QVC UK was the stockist of choice, and the offers have always been pretty great. Probably one of the best-loved Tarte products out there (and top-rated by QVC UK customers, FYI), this matte-finish concealer cloaks everything from dark circles to blemishes without slipping or collecting in fine lines, and that's because the formula is super flexible, so it moves with your skin. It comes with a blending sponge, too.
Tarte Shape Tape Concealer With Quickie Blending Sponge, £28, available at QVC UK
Now this is clever. Simply twist the lid on Julep's mascara to make the comb-style brush longer for impressive definition in one swipe, or shorter to capture and fatten up even the tiniest of lashes. The best part? It doesn't smudge or flake.
Julep With A Twist Lash Boosting Bamboo Mascara, £16, available at QVC UK
A single dusting of this intense powder highlighter has the ability to lend skin that lit-from-within effect, sans glitter or gaudy shimmer. It's pretty Instagram-worthy and comes with a brush. Gilded Honey complements all skin tones beautifully.
Laura Geller Baked Gelato Swirl Illuminator, £26, available at QVC UK
You don't have to compromise between minimal makeup and great coverage thanks to this CC cream. Approved by bloggers, beauty editors and makeup artists alike, the super light but pigment-packed formula blurs pores, blemishes and fine lines and makes skin smooth and plump with an added dose of hyaluronic acid and vitamin A. All that and the added protection of SPF50. Genius.
IT Cosmetics Full Coverage SPF 50+ CC Illumination, £30, available at QVC UK
Recommended by some of the best dermatologists in the business, Pixi's Glow Tonic harnesses 5% glycolic acid to slough away at dull, dead skin cells. Used regularly as part of a nighttime skincare regime, it has the muscle to minimise blocked pores and breakouts, erase blemishes and increase moisture levels in the skin. Even better? QVC UK is selling the supersize version – that's a huge 500ml of glow.
Pixi Glow Tonic Salon Size, £28.04, available at QVC UK
I know what you're thinking: nearly £300 for a hairdryer?! But trust me when I say it'll completely revolutionise your hair routine. Incredibly fast – I'm talking just three minutes to dry my long, thick, frizzy hair – it does so without surpassing the 150 degrees mark, which means noticeably fewer split ends and less breakage. The nozzle is controlled, so frizz and flyaways are kept to a minimum, and that's before I've touched on how quiet it is compared to other models – you can actually hear your Spotify playlist over it. Exclusive to QVC UK, the purple and nickel version is just a touch more chic than hot pink.
Dyson Supersonic Hairdryer Purple & Nickel, £299.96, available at QVC UK
There's a reason why this shower gel has an enormous 321 5-star customer reviews. It's pH-balanced so as not to irritate or exacerbate dry, sensitive skin, while 2% tea tree oil is effective at keeping breakouts (looking at you, bacne) at bay. One or two pumps lathers up a treat.
Australian Bodycare Skinwash 1 litre, £32.52, available at QVC UK
No city dweller's skincare routine is complete without a dose of vitamin C, one of the most powerful shields against environmental aggressors such as UV and pollution, which subsequently lead to pigmentation and dullness. The vitamin C in this non-sticky serum is stabilised, which means it protects instantly and cumulatively throughout the day without breaking down and sitting useless on the skin. It'll make your complexion a hell of a lot brighter, too.
The Hero Project Vitamin C-30 Ultra-Brightening Serum, £35, available at QVC UK
What's worse than a patchy fake tan? The difficulty of removing it. Instead of scrubbing yourself red raw, slather yourself in this stuff. Three percent glycolic acid and a dash of vitamin-infused purified water get to work on streaks and stains in minutes, without any abrasiveness. It also makes a brilliant pre-tan treatment, too, boosting the longevity of your bronze.
Tan-Luxe Glyco Water Tan Remover & Primer, £18, available at QVC UK
Approved by celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton, Colorwow is just one of QVC UK's many haircare brands, but this product is a total unsung hero. Pulled through wet hair, it keeps frizz and flyaways on lockdown, smoothes parched fluffy ends and imparts a shampoo ad shine thanks to the fatty acids and emollients like coconut oil. If your hair is thick and hard to manage, you'll want to stockpile it.
Colorwow Coconut Cocktail, £17.50, available at QVC UK
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