Walking into a physical Boots or Space NK is fun, but if you’re buying skincare or makeup on a budget and want the full picture, nothing beats scrolling through LOOKFANTASTIC UK‘s brand directory with a cup of tea. The retailer stocks over 800 brands, which is great for choice but overwhelming when you’re trying to decide what’s actually worth adding to your basket.
I’ve put this list together after a year of ordering regularly and keeping notes on what delivers, what’s overpriced, and what I’d genuinely repurchase. These aren’t the biggest names by ad spend — they’re the ones that consistently perform, and that LOOKFANTASTIC tends to discount meaningfully.
How I Chose These Brands
Three filters:
- Consistency — the brand has been on LOOKFANTASTIC UK for at least two years with stable availability (nothing worse than loving a product that disappears).
- Price-quality ratio — at LOOKFANTASTIC’s typical discounted price, the product is better value than alternatives at the same price point.
- Real reviews — I’ve either tried it myself, or the product has 500+ reviews on the site with a 4.3+ average.
The list covers skincare, haircare, makeup and a couple of body-care picks.
1. The Ordinary (Skincare — Budget)
The obvious starter. No-frills packaging, single-ingredient formulas, mostly under £10. The Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% serum and the Granactive Retinoid 2% in Squalane are the two I’d recommend to anyone starting a routine. LOOKFANTASTIC UK stocks the full range and regularly includes them in multi-buy offers.
Best buy: Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%, around £5. A year’s supply for the price of one high-street lunch.
2. CeraVe (Skincare — Sensitive/Everyday)
Dermatologist-developed, ceramide-based, and boring in the best possible way. The Foaming Cleanser and Moisturising Cream are the two I re-buy constantly. LOOKFANTASTIC UK is usually cheaper on CeraVe than Boots once a site-wide code is applied.
Best buy: Moisturising Cream 340ml tub — one lasts 3+ months.
3. Medik8 (Skincare — Mid-range Active)
A UK brand that punches above its weight. Their Crystal Retinal range is one of the cleanest retinal-based products on the market — stable, graduated strengths (1, 3, 6, 10, 20), and actually delivers visible results over 8–12 weeks. LOOKFANTASTIC occasionally runs 25% off Medik8 events, which is when to stock up.
Best buy: Crystal Retinal 3 (for beginners) or Crystal Retinal 6 (once you’re tolerant). Full-size is £45 at RRP, closer to £33 during sales.
4. ESPA (Skincare/Body — Premium)
Spa-grade British brand. The Optimal Skin ProCleanser and the Restorative Bath Oil are the two classics. ESPA gift sets show up on LOOKFANTASTIC in November and consistently price 30–40% below the ESPA site itself — if you buy Christmas gifts in advance, this is where I’d start.
Best buy: ESPA gift sets during the autumn beauty event.
5. Olaplex (Haircare)
Known for bond-building treatments. No.3 (the at-home weekly treatment) and No.4/5 (the shampoo/conditioner pair) are the core. Real impact on colour-treated or heat-damaged hair — I’ve watched a friend go from brittle to shiny over about two months of consistent use. LOOKFANTASTIC often discounts the bundles.
Best buy: No.4 + No.5 duo, £45 full-size.
6. Color Wow (Haircare)
Their Dream Coat anti-humidity spray is the single most effective hair product I’ve ever tried — apply damp, blow-dry, and your hair stays frizz-free for three washes. LOOKFANTASTIC stocks the full range and includes it in haircare multi-buys.
Best buy: Dream Coat Supernatural Spray, 200ml.
7. Elemis (Skincare — Premium/Mature)
The Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm is the cult hero — a warming, oil-to-milk cleanser that shifts everything including stubborn mascara. Expensive at full price (£50+), but LOOKFANTASTIC UK’s 25% Elemis events bring it down to a justifiable £37.50.
Best buy: Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm 100g.
8. NARS (Makeup)
For foundation, concealer and a famously good blush, NARS remains reliable. The Radiant Creamy Concealer is the one worth buying — lightweight, buildable, doesn’t crease. LOOKFANTASTIC stocks the full shade range, which is better than most UK retailers.
Best buy: Radiant Creamy Concealer.
9. Sol de Janeiro (Body Care)
The Brazilian Bum Bum Cream went viral for a reason — it smells incredible (pistachio/salted caramel), hydrates seriously well, and a jar lasts months. The travel size is a good way to try before committing to the big tub. LOOKFANTASTIC regularly has it in “three for two” body-care events.
Best buy: Bum Bum Cream 240g jar.
10. Pixi (Skincare — Budget Toner/Exfoliant)
Pixi Glow Tonic (the 5% glycolic acid toner) is a staple. Gentler than it sounds, visibly smooths texture over 2–3 weeks. LOOKFANTASTIC pricing is consistently on par or below the Pixi UK site, and the travel size is a good entry point.
Best buy: Glow Tonic 100ml (for testing) or 250ml (once you’re hooked).
Quick Reference: What to Buy When
| If you want… | Go for | Rough price (sale) |
|---|---|---|
| First retinol | Medik8 Crystal Retinal 3 | £33 |
| Budget daily routine | CeraVe Cleanser + The Ordinary Niacinamide | Under £20 |
| Premium gift | ESPA or Elemis gift set | £40–60 |
| Hair repair | Olaplex No.4 + No.5 duo | £45 |
| Anti-humidity frizz fix | Color Wow Dream Coat | £21 |
| Body-care treat | Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum Cream | £38 |
How to Actually Save Money Stacking These
A few tactics I’ve picked up after enough orders to feel qualified:
- Wait for the site-wide event. LOOKFANTASTIC UK runs a 20–25% off weekend about twice a month. Build a wishlist and pull the trigger during the event, not in between.
- Stack the Beauty Plus points. If there’s a “triple points” weekend at the same time as a discount code, you’re effectively stacking ~25% off + ~12% cashback.
- Hit the £25 free-delivery threshold. Adding a £5 tonic to hit it often saves £4 delivery, so the toner is effectively £1.
- Check multi-buy thresholds. Many brand events are “£60 get 30% off” — adding one more mid-range item sometimes saves more than it costs.
Ready to build your basket?
Check what’s on offer this week — the homepage banner shows the current code, and the prices on the 10 brands above shift every few days.
Free standard delivery over £25 • Earn Beauty Plus points on every order
Final Thoughts
The joy of a retailer like LOOKFANTASTIC UK isn’t the individual brands — you can buy most of these elsewhere — it’s the combination of access, discounts and rewards in one checkout. If you rotate through 3–4 of the brands above regularly, consolidating your orders here genuinely adds up to £80–150 saved over a year, plus the Beauty Plus points on top.
If you’re just starting out, I’d pick one brand from the list (probably The Ordinary or CeraVe for entry, Medik8 or Olaplex for intermediate), order during a site-wide event, and see how the delivery, packaging and customer experience feel for yourself. You can always expand the basket from there.
FAQ
Are these brands the same price everywhere?
RRP is usually the same across UK retailers, but LOOKFANTASTIC’s site-wide codes almost always beat the brands’ own DTC sites.
What’s the cheapest way to try a premium brand?
The Beauty Box (£15/month) or a brand-specific discovery set during the autumn beauty event. Both give you 4–6 products to test before committing to a full size.
Do they ever have genuine flash sales?
Yes, but rarely unannounced. Subscribe to the newsletter and they email you about upcoming events a day or two in advance.