The best beauty outlet shopping you won’t want to miss

Beauty outlet shopping

Did Black Friday pass you by? Well, don’t worry, you can breathe a sigh of relief as we have the ultimate guide to beauty outlet shopping: online, in London, and beyond.

Forget your preconceptions about discount stores, these have been handpicked – so they’re not the usual array of broken bronzers or lime-green shadows that nobody wants, and there are no bargain bins to rummage through. It’s just like regular shopping – with nice packaging and must-have products – but with a much friendlier price tag.

Read on to find our favourite budget beauty stores that offer discounted make-up, affordable brushes, thrifty salon-worthy hair products and cost-effective tanning. Plus, there’s an online price-comparison site – so you can figure out the best discount on Charlotte Tilbury, Huda Beauty, Estée Lauder Companies, and the rest – and the best bit? They’re available all year round. Happy shopping.

​The Cosmetics Company Store at McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Ashford

This latest boutique in The Cosmetics Company Store empire can be found at McArthurGlen’s Designer Outlet Mall in Ashford. It’s just 40 minutes from London (the train practically stops at the mall) and has all the big brands from Estée Lauder Companies (think M.A.C, Tom Ford and Clinique), but for a fraction of the RRP. On average, there's a discount of 30% off department store prices, along with store manager and sale specials. You really can bag a bargain on all your favourites.

Brands: Tom Ford, Estée Lauder, Clinique, Bobbi Brown, Darphin, Origins, Glamglow, M.A.C and Michael Kors, Aramis, Smashbox, Tory Burch and Aerin.

Hero beauty buys: Estée Lauder’s Advanced Night Repair, Tom Ford Traceless Foundation Stick and Bobbi Brown’s Beach Fragrance.

​Beauty Outlet at the Icon O2

Rows of brightly coloured nail polish, shadow palettes, hair care, beauty tools, skincare and self-tan line the shelves, along with their beauty line of basics (the pro nail polish remover in a pump bottle is brilliant). Cases, bath bombs, body care and gifts can all be found here too. Good essential buys all around.

Brands: OPI, Clarins, Cover FX, Essie, Arden, Max Factor and Revlon, Stila, St Tropez and many more.

Hero beauty buy: The Stila Serum Foundation, £5

Online: Cosmetify.com

Cosmetify is the price comparison site for all your cult beauty brands. Think Charlotte Tilbury, La Mer and Aesop. It has over 38 retailers, 1,710 beauty brands and can potentially price-check 216,000 products at the click of a button. It’s the Google of beauty products: clever, slick and easy to use. Type in your favourite product and they’ll find the lowest price. It takes the legwork out of looking, saving you both time and money.

Brands: Aesop, Acqua di Parma, Balenciaga, Cowshed, Dior, Fenty Beauty, Ghd, Iconic London, La Mer, OPI and Penhaligon’s plus many more.

Hero beauty buys: We found 19% off Aromatherapy Associates bath products, a whopping £9 off Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream and under half price on some Penhaligon’s fragrances.

​If you’d like more outlet inspiration...

Click here for our best in discount designer fashion.