My first ever dip into the Topshop makeup counter.
Hello there! How are you doing today? I hope you’ve had a restful week and are easing nicely into the weekend.
I don’t tend to share an awful lot of beauty reviews on here—I am usually far too busy talking about jumpsuits and bags—but when the winter sales hit their absolute final reductions a couple of weeks ago, I couldn’t resist placing a cheeky order on the Topshop website. We all know their clothing rails are a staple, but despite walking past their cosmetics displays in Oxford Circus hundreds of times, I had somehow never actually picked up any of their makeup.
So, I decided it was high time to fix that! I put together a little edit of high-street gems to see if the formulas lived up to the chic monochrome packaging. If you’re looking for an affordable, pocket-friendly treat to cheer up a grey February morning, here are my honest thoughts on my first Topshop Beauty budget buy haul.
MODERN DUPES: HOW TO GET THE LOOK TODAY…
A quick note from the archive: While the original 2015 Topshop makeup range has since been retired, you can still easily recreate every finish, shade, and texture from this haul with these modern high-street alternatives:
AN HONEST FIRST IMPRESSION…
Matte Lip Bullet in Get Me Bodied
What can I say about this Lip Bullet? It’s formulated to be a flat matte, but in reality, I find the finish sits somewhere very close to the Rimmel London Lasting Finish by Kate Moss lipsticks*—it has that velvety look without sucking every drop of moisture out of your lips.
What made me fall in love with it is the shade. It’s a deep, berry-toned purple that flatters deeper skin tones so beautifully. I already own quite a few plum shades, but I couldn’t resist adding one more to the stash! It feels comfortable and nourishing on the lips rather than tight and parched. My only minor gripe is that the bullet transfers slightly against the twist-up casing when applying, so you need to be a little gentle with it. You can swipe it on straight from the stick for an everyday stain, or use a lip brush to carve out a sharp evening lip.
Cream Blush in Afternoon Tea
When I spotted this little pot online, I thought: yes, absolutely, into the basket you go! I am a sucker for cream formulas because they melt into the skin so effortlessly, and this was the piece I was most excited to tear into when the parcel landed. As you can see from the pan, I have been using it pretty much every single day since.
It’s a gorgeous, fresh pop of baby pink. Once blended out, it gives the most natural, healthy flush to the cheeks without looking powdery or clingy. If you have a deeper skin tone like mine, it isn’t intensely pigmented in a single dab, so you will want to layer it two or three times to build up that rosy warmth. I usually just tap it on using my fingertips for speed, but buffing it with a Real Techniques brush works like a dream too.
Mint Carmex Lip Balm
It has been freezing outside lately—snow, bitter winds, and central heating on full blast—and my poor lips were really feeling it. My holy grail winter saviour is usually the Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant* (which is pure magic on chapped lips), but I wanted a handy squeeze tube that I could easily apply on the go while wearing gloves.
I usually love the cherry Carmex in the yellow pot, but this mint version is such a good handbag staple. It delivers instant hydration, soothes dry patches, and has added SPF which is great even in winter. The cooling mint scent is quite strong when you first squeeze it out, but once it settles, it leaves a lovely balmy sheen.
Waterproof Liner in Gunpowder
I am unapologetically the girl who loves her classic black eyeliners. I have endless black pencils rolling around my vanity, the occasional warm brown, but absolutely no greys. So Gunpowder felt like the perfect test product to push me out of my usual routine.
It’s a shimmering metallic gunmetal that glides on without dragging or tugging at the delicate lash line. It has just enough sparkle to feel special for an evening out, but soft enough to smudge into the lash roots for daytime definition. I haven’t put it through the ultimate tear-jerker film test to confirm if it’s 100% waterproof yet, but for wearability and ease of use, it’s a brilliant little pencil.
3D Curve Mascara in Black
Just look at the size of that wand! If you love volume and drama, this oversized curving brush is incredible. It grabs right at the roots of the lashes and pushes them upwards for a wide-eyed, fanned-out effect.
My quick tip for application: curl your eyelashes first, then apply a light coat to your lower lashes before moving to your top lashes. Doing it this way stops wet mascara from transferring onto your upper eyelids while you look down—a small trick, but a total game changer!
Matte Nails in Double Denim
If you follow me over on Instagram, you already know how obsessed I am with this nail lacquer! The moody slate/denim blue shade is completely on trend right now, and the flat matte finish makes it look so modern and edgy. It dries down quickly and looks effortlessly cool against cosy knitwear. A total high-street winner.
THE FINAL VERDICT
Overall, this Topshop Beauty budget buy haul has genuinely surprised me. The packaging is sleek, the formulas punch way above their price tag, and every item felt like a genuine bargain rather than a compromise. I will definitely be picking up a few more bits to review next time I pass a store!
SHOP THE POST…
- Matte Lip Bullet in Get Me Bodied: Shop Lipsticks*
- Cream Blush in Afternoon Tea: Shop Cream Blush*
- Mint Carmex Lip Balm: Amazon*
- Waterproof Liner in Gunpowder: Shop Liners*
- 3D Curve Mascara in Black: Asos*
- Matte Nails in Double Denim: Shop Nail Colours*
What is your favourite budget makeup discovery lately? Have you tried anything from Topshop’s beauty range that I need to add to my shopping list? Let me know in the comments below!
Thanks so much for stopping by,
xoxo
