Shopping for beauty products online is no easy feat. Depending on how good your monitor is (or in our case, how dirty your computer screen might be) that coral lipstick you ordered might end up looking more orange than planned when it arrives at your door—which is actually the least of the disasters that can befall you when purchasing products you can't test in person. To help navigate the world wide web of beauty, we've listed what we consider to be 38 of the best beauty websites out there. These stores span the best in makeup, haircare, body products, hair tools, fragrance and more. Did we forget your favorite? Leave it in the comments below.
1. Aesop: There's something undeniably cool about Australian-born brand Aesop. Maybe it's those luxurious little metal tubes full of product, maybe it's that everything smells amazing (plant-derived ingredients are a focus), maybe it's that the stuff actually works.
2. Beauty Bar: This straightforward site stocks everything from makeup to fragrance to men's products to natural lines from about 150 brands, and each order comes with three free samples. In partnership with Allure magazine, the site offers what it's calling a "Sample Society," a monthly membership program that delivers luxury, travel-friendly samples along with expert advice.
3. Beauty.com: With thousands of products and an incentive (10% off) to auto-reorder, this beauty domain challenges Sephora in its reach and ease-of-use. Free shipping (over $35), free returns, and loads of free samples sweeten the deal even further.
4. Beautycounter: This Los Angeles upstart was founded on the idea of transparency and vows that its beauty products are safe and free of dangerous chemicals. Right now, the beautifully-packaged offerings are limited mostly to skin care (creams, balms and face oils) and lipsticks, but more are in the works. The site features a "Never List" full of scary-yet-commonly-used compounds that consumers should avoid.
5. Beauty Sage: This beauty site has a three-step vetting process for each and every product sold. Beauty editors choose the products, chemists test the claims, and then "real women" test it and report back. The result is super user-friendly and a great source of trustworthy, organic products and reviews.
6. Benefit: Benefit's site will not only assist you with buying a slew of new beauty products—it'll also put you in a really good mood. Its cheeky packaging and extensive use of puns puts the fun back in shopping for makeup (or at least distracts you from how much you're spending.)
7. B-Glowing: We love perusing the beauty insiders edits. Somehow it makes the absolutely massive selection of men's, women's, hair care, bath & body and makeup digestible.
8. Birchbox: While the $10 to $20 a month subscription club has been around for some time, it's still a viable method for sifting through all the stuff that's offered in the beauty world for men and women. The samples sent through mail come with info on each product, how-tos and even exclusives to the service. Head here if you're looking to enter the beauty game or break out of a rut.
9. Bergdorf Goodman: Bergdorf's extensive list of beauty brands pretty much sums up why it made our list, as do the special offers, and the products that are exclusively theirs.
10. Bliss: If there's one thing that Bliss is awesome at, it's making you feel really, really good about spending a bunch of money on beauty products. The site, just like the brand itself, is extra cheery, and the "Special Offers" tab always has great deals. Become a "Glow-It-All" to receive member's-only offers.
11. Bloomingdale's: The beauty department over at Bloomingdale's carries pretty much any high-end brand you could ever want. Some of our favorites include Chantecaille, La Mer, Sisley-Paris, Dior, and SK-II.
12. Bobbi Brown Cosmetics: The legendary makeup artist is known for her natural-yet-polished look, and on her webshop, there are products and step-by-step guides for achieving that flawless complexion at home. Brides-to-be shouldn't miss Bobbi's no-nonsense advice for mastering your wedding makeup.
13. Boots.com: This is the online extension of the iconic UK drugstore. The US site is slightly more limited, but it can be one of the only places to find popular-in-Great-Britain goods.
14. Butter London: The British import has a dedicated nail fanatic following, but don't look for it on the shelves of your favorite cheap mani spot. Instead, pick your favorite colors for the season here, and bring 'em with your to your corner salon.
15. Chanel: Chanel doesn't really need any sort of explanation as to why it made the list, because, well, it's Chanel. If you need one, how about the online exclusives, the expert skincare advice (sunscreen people!), or the in-demand nail polishes.
16. Clinique: The Clinique website makes shopping online for beauty and skincare products a cinch. All of your purchases are stored automatically, so there's no more guessing if you bought that last eyeliner in black or black/brown. There's also a "Skin Diagnostic" tool, and an area where you can sign up for auto-replenishment of your favorite items.
17. Dior: A premium French brand that's long been a favorite with fashion editors, thanks to its lightweight foundations, hydrating serums and high-impact Diorshow mascaras.
18. Diptyque: Diptyque has moved beyond its coveted candles into skin and body care that's just as chicly-packaged. The website is as appealing as the products; we particularly love the travel section, which is chock full of mini candles, fragrances and balms to make any trip a little more glamorous.
19. Drugstore.com: There's nothing fancy about Drugstore.com, but that's what makes it genius. Let's face it: Some of the best beauty products can be found at Duane Reade, and here's where you can shop them all in one place.
20. Fekkai: Every $50 purchase gets you a complimentary gift, and currently all shipping is free. The "Consult Frederic" questionnaire will guide you to the perfect product (or regime, if you're planning an entire Fekkai-approved makeover).
21. Fresh: You probably already own some sort of Fresh beauty product. If you forget the name of it, no worries—it'll most likely be on the "Fresh Favorites" page, which highlights everything from its Sugar Lip Treatment to the Sugar Body Polish. They throw in three samples per order, so you'll always be able to find more products to obsess over.
22. Jo Malone: Fragrance combining is a tricky thing to master, so it's a good thing the Jo Malone website has an entire section dedicated to helping you through amateur hour. Also: Shopping for gifts is a cinch, and includes the extra perk of tissue-paper spritzed with the brand's fragrances.
23. Laura Mercier: In addition to stocking products we're in love with (even the most beauty-averse ladies can appreciate her tinted moisturizer, right?), the Laura Mercier website is also quite educational. On it, you can watch video tutorials or play with the "Virtual Makeup Artist Tool" to figure out exactly what products are best for your complexion.
24. L'Occitane en Provence: There's always a ton of stuff happening on the L'Occitane website, so try not to get overwhelmed with the sensory overload. In addition to e-commerce, the site also features tons of helpful beauty tidbits, like information on why almonds are so good for you, and a YouTube video on how to pronounce the brand's name.
25. Lucky Scent: Don't let the rather elementary-looking site design get you down. Lucky Scent is one of the best places to search for niche fragrances from the likes of CB I Hate Perfume, Tauer Perfumes and Le Labo plus a host of others you've probably never heard of. Each is characterized as "femme," "unisex" or "masculine."
26. MAC Cosmetics: Visually, the MAC Cosmetics site is just as great as its products. (It's strangely hard not to be tempted with neon purple eyeshadow when the landing page is a model done up in an extra bold lid.) Bonus: The "My MAC" tab let's you customize your profile and select your favorite products for easy shopping, and there's free shipping on every order.
27. (Malin+Goetz): Each (Malin+Goetz) product contains a bevy of information on the label (what's in it and exactly what it's gonna do), and the website is no different. The "Problems+Solutions" tab also recommends appropriate treatments for skin conditions like rosacea, seborrhea, and eczema.
28. Nars: Sometimes, all it takes to make a website top notch is really good imagery. Cue the Nars site, with its dramatic lookbook images plastered on the homepage. It also doesn't hurt that they stock the best bronzing powder on the planet.
29. Net-A-Porter: Ever so quietly, this luxury retailer has been beefing up its beauty selection. Now, they're stocked with loads of pricey must-haves like Rodin oils, By Terry foundations and Eve Lom creams. As with its clothing and accessories, the edit is precise and exacting; there's no scrolling through endless options. Everything here is of high quality.
30. Nordstrom: Do you like saving money? Nordstrom's online beauty department offers up a ton of "beauty values" like sets from Lancôme and Bvlgari. But one of the site's biggest values, aside from its ease of use, is its active community of commenters who weigh in on every product.
31. Shu Uemura: Shu Uemura's website makes the list because Shu Uemura's website is the only place in the U.S. you can currently buy Shu Uemura. The "Last Chance" tab might feel like salt in the wound, but for every product that the company no longer sells, they'll recommended another one that's just as obsession worthy.
32. Space.NK: Space.NK was revolutionary when it launched in the US because it brought a ton of cool, under-the-radar brands to our shores. The high-end selection includes SACHAJUAN haircare, Sai Sei bath products and and Sunday Riley serums.
33. Saffron Rouge: If you're looking for organic products, then Saffron Rouge is your go-to. And the site takes the selection seriously: All products sold must have organic body care certifications (or prove they would qualify for one), and the company refuses to sell anything with even one "Black List" ingredient—which include benzenetriacetate and naphthalenediol, or, the scary products normally found in hair-dye.
34. Saks: Saks' beauty collection is the crème de la crème—think La Mer, Chanel, Dior, Tom Ford, and more. Plus, there's a designated "Special Offers" page, which includes gift with purchases and other goodies.
35. Sephora: What would a beauty shopping guide be without Sephora, the mega-chain that has totally changed the way we shop for concealer, blush and various other potions? Like its brick-and-morter locations, the web shop boasts a simple, clean layout and a wider selection of in-demand brands such as YSL, Living Proof and Fresh. Browse your favorite products, or peruse categories like "Free Samples" (bingo), "Our Favorites," and "Just Arrived."
36. Shiseido: According to its bio, Shiseido dates to 1872, making it one of the oldest cosmetic companies in the world. Pretty impressive. Customers rave about the brand's ultra-lush lipsticks and silky foundations.
37. Smashbox: Makeup brand Smashbox has tons of fans for a reason—it has released a ton of lauded products, like its Photo Finish Primer and its O- Gloss lip gloss. The brand's also created an incentive program for aspiring Smashbox fangirls, the Pretty Points reward system. Shop online and earn points, freebies and more.
38. Urban Decay: Urban Decay's "What's New" page will keep you up to date on this season's trends, but the brand also realize that oldies are goodies. There's a designated page with current product recommendations, in case your favorite shade from last season was discontinued, and a bonus sale section for bargain hunters not afraid of adventurous color combos.
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