Beauty Pie review 2024 UK; we test the 10 best skincare and makeup from the subscription service
WHO doesn’t love a bargain – especially now when prices seem to rise week on week – and that’s especially true when it comes to skincare and make-up, so our Beauty Pie review was a delight to put together.
If you haven’t heard of Beauty Pie – where have you been – it’s a membership site that sells beauty products at great prices for a monthly fee.
The company sources products from the world’s top cosmetic manufacturers, but as it’s not adding a designer label to them or adding huge markups to the price, it can afford to sell these cheaply to us.
There’s skincare, make-up, body care, hair care and fragrance to discover and all are high-quality, as with designer brands. What’s more, all Beauty Pie products are cruelty-free and many are vegan.
Currently, there are two Beauty Pie membership tiers – £59 for the year or £10 per month – which gives you access to a wealth of beauty goodies, so whether you’re after a moisturiser, new mascara, a luxury cleanser or a concealer, your beauty needs and more importantly, your beauty wants, are covered.
We tested out a bunch of products from Beauty Pie to see what all the fuss was about and if the site really is as good as it seems. Read on for our verdict.
Pros
- You can read reviews before choosing each product
- Everything is 100% cruelty-free
- Pay less for great quality products
- Range of products including skincare, body care and makeup
- £60-day free trial then £10, alternatively pay £59 per year
Cons
- The true formulas are a mystery because of the lack of branding
- Membership only unlocks reduced prices
Rating: 4/5
How does Beauty Pie work?
Beauty Pie is a 100 per cent cruelty-free beauty membership service which stocks its own-brand skincare, makeup, haircare, body care and even supplements, all for a fraction of the usual, store-bought price.
There are options from all over the world, including Japan, Korea, France and Switzerland, to name a few.
There are two membership options: £10 per month or a £59 annual subscription, which works out at less than £5 per month. Currently, newcomers to Beauty Pie can also try the site for 60 days.
The £10 per month and annual fee offer member-only offers and perks.
Youthbomb Double Retinol Action Skin Overhaul Serum
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Youthbomb Double Retinol Action Skin Overhaul Serum, £44
Pros: Absorbs quickly, lightweight and non-greasy, brightens skin, doesn’t sting
Cons: No difference to fine lines or wrinkles
Rating: 4/5
I started off using this retinol just a couple of days a week as recommended, then increased to every other day. I had no reaction to the serum, not even a touch of tingling, which was brilliant as I have reacted to some retinol products in the past.
My skin was definitely more glowing and perhaps slightly more even-toned, but I saw no difference to fine lines around my mouth and on my forehead, or to deeper wrinkles around my eyes. I don’t think my skin was firmer either, but I’ll continue to use the product and that might change.
Note – the serum is yellow, but it doesn’t leave a yellow tinge on your face, or on your pillow – happily.
Size: 50ml, How to use: Apply one or two pumps of product to your clean face and neck at night. Use twice a week to start and build up slowly, SPF: No, Main ingredients: Retinol (3%), granactive retinoid (2), niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, concentrated ceramides
Review by Lisa Burn
Super Healthy Skin Featherlight UVA/UVB SPF 50 Sunscreen + Primer
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Super Healthy Skin Featherlight UVA/UVB SPF 50 Sunscreen + Primer, £15
Pros: Applies smoothly, lightweight, gives a healthy glow, hydrating, SPF 50
Cons: None
Rating: 5/5
It’s widely known that SPF is crucial for preventing signs of ageing like lines and wrinkles and, more importantly, protecting against harmful UV rays.
However, it can feel overwhelming having a huge list of products in your daily routine so one of the first steps people often decide to scrap is SPF. If this is you, let us introduce you to this SPF + Primer from Beauty Pie because it’s the ultimate two-in-one.
The ‘featherlight’ in the SPF’s name is exactly how it feels; it’s thin and weightless as it smooths over skin without leaving behind a greasy trail, but it still gives a healthy glow.
It does smell like sun cream, but it doesn’t feel like one you might use on your body. In fact, it feels more like skincare, gliding lightly over skin, hydrating and blurring as it goes.
The packaging looks modern and sleek giving it an expensive feel, even though it only costs £15 with a Beauty Pie membership.
Size: 50ml, How to use: Apply after moisturising each morning, SPF: Yes, Main ingredients: UVA, UVB, grape extract, tomato stem cell extract, peptides
Flawless Eyeshadow Primer
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Flawless Eyeshadow Primer, £9.50
Pros: Easy to apply and blend, colour correcting,
Cons: None
Rating: 5/5
Eyeshadow primers are key to long-lasting eye makeup. Not only does a good one grip onto your product so it doesn’t slide around, but it can also make colours more vibrant.
And Beauty Pie’s Flawless Eyeshadow Primer is a good one.
Unlike so many on the market, it twists open to reveal a doe-foot applicator making it easy to dot a small amount onto the lid and blend in with either a brush or your finger.
The consistency is like that of a concealer, and it looks like a concealer when it comes out of the tube, too.
Its biggest draw is that it colour-corrects the lid so you have a neutral, smooth base to apply your powder shadows on without them creasing or separating.
A top tip for the longest-lasting results: pat a little translucent powder over the top of the primer before applying the rest of your eye makeup.
Size: 8ml, How to use: Apply small amount to eyelids and blend, before powder to set then shadow, Shade range: One shade, SPF: No, Main ingredients: Brightening coated pigments
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Plantastic Apricot Butter Cleansing Balm
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Plantastic Apricot Butter Cleansing Balm, £22
Pros: Skin feels clean and soft after using, feels expensive, hydrating
Cons: None
Rating: 5/5
This one’s a little pricier at £22. However, the non-member price is £50 so when compared, it seems a lot more reasonable.
And it does live up to its price tag. The packaging is heavy and feels expensive, coming with a little scoop to apply the perfect amount of product.
In the pot, the balm looks whipped and has a mousse-like texture, but as soon as it goes on to dry skin, it becomes oilier.
Once you’ve allowed it to melt away your makeup and the day’s grime by massaging the balm into your skin using circular motions, add some water so it lathers before wiping away with a damp muslin cloth or flannel.
It removes all traces of makeup and leaves skin looking refreshed and feeling soft.
The scent is summery and it uses ingredients like vitamin E to support healthy skin and rosehip oil to moisturise and hydrate.
It’s cruelty-free, too.
Size: 100ml, How to use: Apply morning and night to face and neck, massage in, add a little warm water and remove with damp muslin cloth, SPF: No, Main ingredients: Apricot kernel oil, cold-pressed rosehip seed oil and vitamin E
Deluxe Precision Liquid Eyeliner
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Deluxe Precision Liquid Eyeliner, £9
Pros: Applies smoothly, thin tip to get right to lash line, doesn’t smudge
Cons: None
Rating: 5/5
If you’ve incorporated a liquid liner into your makeup look, then it’s likely the standout feature. Whether you’ve gone for a full-on cat-eye or simply played around with subtle graphic lines, it can make or break a look.
The Deluxe Precision Liquid Eyeliner from Beauty Pie ticks all of the eyeliner boxes. It glides over the lid without catching so that the line is smooth.
The point is thin meaning that, as the name suggests, getting a precise line or flick is simple and the tip means you can get right down to the lash line and build up the thickness for ultimate control.
It’s a deep black, which makes eyelashes look fuller and the liner looks intentional rather than wishy-washy. This liner is all about controlled impact.
It doesn’t smudge or slide and you’ll only notice it wipe away after many hours of wear. This is one to add to your makeup bag pronto.
Size: 0.6ml, How to use: Apply close to the lash line, Shade range: Black cat and Java brown, SPF: No
Superluminous Under-Eye Genius
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Superluminous Under-Eye Genius, £12
Pros: Blends easily, really brightens under eyes
Cons: A little sticky, can be difficult to remove if you apply too much
Rating: 4.5/5
This is great for hiding dark circles and brightening the skin under your eyes. It’s easy to apply – just tap it on gently with your finger or a brush – but it’s also easy to use too much as I found, so go easy.
High-luminosity pigments lift the look of your skin, while sunflower and castor oils moisturise it – bonus.
You’re supposed to wear this under concealer, but I also tried it without and as long as you apply it sparingly, it blends in well.
The texture’s almost ointment-like, but it spreads over your skin easily enough and importantly, if you have fine lines it doesn’t cake in them.
As mentioned, a little goes a long way and although it’s a small pot, it’s going to last me ages.
Size: 4g, How to use: Apply after eye cream. Gently pat a little of the product under your eye then follow with concealer, SPF: No, Main ingredients: castor oil, sunflower oil, vitamin E and high luminosity intensity pigments.
Review by Lisa Burn
Wondergloss Collagen Lip Oil
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Wondergloss Collagen Lip Oil in Nude Nectar, £12
Pros: Non-sticky, hydrating, easy to spread
Cons: Strong fragrance
Rating: 4.5/5
Lip gloss has come a long way since its outing back in the early noughties.
Gone are the days of sticky formulas that are flytraps for any loose hair or dust, and now lip oils have come to the fore as an improved version of the classic.
Beauty Pie’s Wondergloss is the epitome of what a modern lip oil should be: lightweight, hydrating and crucially, not tacky.
The colour is very sheer, adding just a hint of rosiness to the lips when worn on its own, or it can turn your matte lipstick into a glossy dream with a single swipe.
The doe-foot applicator makes the smallest amount easy to spread over lips, which is ideal because a small amount is all you’ll need.
The gloss has quite a strong, sweet scent so you’ll either fall into the love it or hate it camp depending on how you feel about scented makeup products.
The packaging looks and feels well made and the design is very clean.
Collagen works with the shine of the gloss to make lips look juicier, giving the illusion of natural plumpness.
Despite how good this lip oil is, it isn’t a miracle worker, so it will need topping up throughout the day to keep the shine consistent.
Size: 4ml, How to use: Apply as often as needed, Shade range: Nude Nectar, Plum Naked, Spicy Pink, Cherryo and Shimmy, SPF: No, Main ingredients: Collagen, cherry and hibiscus oils
Soul Providers Energizing Body Wash
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Soul Providers Energizing Body Wash, £12
Pros: Skin feels soft after using, fragrance, doubles as a foam bath
Cons: Nothing major
Rating: 4.5/5
The orange colour of this body wash is a good indicator of how zesty the scent is. If you’ve ever used Sanctuary Spa, it smells exactly like its hand washes.
It leaves skin feeling smooth and soft once it has been washed away and the bright scent lingers, so you feel genuinely clean.
Press down on the lid to flick open the cap and then squeeze the bottle to release the product evenly into your hand before using.
If you’re someone who enjoys making the most of their products, then double up this body wash as your bubble bath because the smell and how much it lathers makes for an invigorating, bubbly experience.
Considering this would cost £25 without a Beauty Pie subscription, £12 for 250ml is a bargain.
Size: 250ml, How to use: Add to running bath water or use as shower wash, SPF: No, Main ingredients: Aloe vera juice, essential oils (sweet orange, grapefruit, lemon, black pepper and pine), Indian gooseberry extract
Youthbomb 360° Radiance Concentrate Serum
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Youthbomb 360° Radiance Concentrate Serum, £44
Pros: Absorbs quickly, doesn’t clog pores, brightens, large bottle
Cons: Thin consistency
Rating: 4/5
This serum is lightweight and spreads easily across your face. The consistency is on the runny side, but having said that, it absorbed quickly into my skin.
I really like the pump action applicator, which is a cross between a dropper and a regular pump – just press the top of the lid a couple of times to load the glass tube with enough serum to cover your face and neck. You don’t need much and the generous 50ml bottle should last quite a while.
Ingredients include antioxidants, hexapeptide, oat extract, liquorice root and marine actives all of which work together to brighten, smooth, hydrate and firm your skin, according to the Beauty Pie website.
I did find my face looked brighter after using, but I didn’t notice any firming effects. My skin felt hydrated and the serum worked well under my current moisturiser (not Beauty Pie), with no pilling or stickiness.
Size: 50ml, How to use: Apply morning and evening to clean face and neck under moisturiser, SPF: No, Main ingredients: Marine actives, peptides, plant extracts
Review by Lisa Burn
Superdose Vitamin C Oxygen Boosting Moisturizer
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Superdose Vitamin C Oxygen Boosting Moisturizer, £15
Pros: Rich, subtle fragrance, vegan, cruelty-free
Cons: Doesn’t contain SPF
Rating: 4/5
This is a luxe moisturiser — the RRP price of £55 tells us that, but it’s not only the price that fits into the ‘luxe’ bracket.
The consistency of the moisturiser as it comes out of the tube is rich and creamy and immediately feels refreshing when massaged in.
The scent of the daily cream is subtle and natural so it’s perfect for those who aren’t crazy about heavily scented beauty products or for sensitive skin.
It includes brightening vitamin C and the formula is vegan, cruelty-free and clean, so you won’t find anything other than natural ingredients in this one.
Because it includes vitamin C but doesn’t have SPF built into it, be sure to follow the moisturiser with a dedicated SPF – such as the Featherlight UVA/UVB SPF 50 Sunscreen + Primer – because the zesty ingredient makes skin more sensitive to the sun.
Review by Olivia Perl.
Size: 50ml, How to use: Apply a nut-sized amount to face and neck morning and evening, SPF: No, Main ingredients: Vitamin C, Oxygenskin, shea butter, lemon seed oil
Arch-ology Tinted Eyebrow Sculpting Gel
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Arch-ology Tinted Eyebrow Sculpting Gel, £9
Pros: Small applicator for control, no clogging,
Cons: Nothing major
Rating: 4/5
Brow gels are the ultimate everyday go-to because they add definition in seconds.
Arch-ology is a tinted brow gel that holds hairs in place while adding a little colour, giving the effect of fuller brows without having to worry about precision.
The spoolie that dispenses the product is small so you have full control over the areas you’re applying it to.
It doesn’t clog so you won’t need to do a cleanup job afterwards but for the most seamless brows, run through the hairs with a clean spoolie so the product is distributed as evenly as possible.
Size: 3.5ml, How to use: Brush through eyebrows in the direction of growth, Shade range: Perfect brown, caramello, blonde girl, hot coffee, SPF: No, Main ingredients: Synthetic beeswax, bigbrow FP (thickening film) and powderbrow (coated powder pigment)
How much does Beauty Pie cost?
Beauty Pie is a club with a monthly fee, which is currently £10 per month, or £59 per year on the Beauty Pie Plus membership. This is the best value subscription as it works out at around half the monthly cost, but to get your money’s worth, you need to buy products regularly.
If on the other hand, you’re likely to buy from the site just a few times each year then it may cost you less in the long run to sign up for the £10 monthly subscription as you can cancel at any time.
Currently, Beauty Pie has a great offer whereby you receive 60 days free membership before moving to the £10 per month subscription fee, but you can cancel your membership at the end of your free trial if you don’t wish to continue. What’s more, spend £60 or more on your first order and you’ll receive a £20 discount.
Is there an alternative to Beauty Pie in the UK?
As far as we can see there’s no other subscription service in the UK that works like Beauty Pie. However, there are subscription services that offer a curated box of goodies each month for a fee, and you can find out more about that in our best beauty boxes article.
Some beauty companies also offer one-off collections, rather than monthly, beauty boxes – Latest In Beauty, and Boots among them.
If your main concern is skincare then Dermatica and Skin + Me create personalised treatment plans and customised skincare based on the information you provide. They then supply product every four weeks and you pay a monthly fee, which you can cancel at any time.
Is Beauty Pie worth it?
Without stating the obvious, we love the concept of being able to buy high-quality products at reasonable prices, so Beauty Pie was already in our good books before we had even tried it out.
However, it’s clear that every product is high quality, and each offering comes completely full size – you won’t catch any sample sizes around here.
The yearly membership works out at just under £5 a month and with the brand currently offering a 60-day free trial you can try before you buy.
For the products on offer and the significant markdown, we think this is well worth the cost of one of your morning coffees every month.
Where does Beauty Pie get its products?
Its products are sourced from 20 leading laboratories known for producing leading beauty brand formulas. Beauty Pie cuts out the middlemen, the retailer markup and celebrity marketing, and sells them for significantly lower prices.
Fun fact: the company make absolutely no money from the products, all of its revenue comes from memberships!
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Are Beauty Pie products good quality?
Yes, the items from Beauty Pie are the same high-quality products that you’ll get if you bought leading brands from the shops.
Is Beauty Pie a legitimate company?
Beauty Pie was launched at the tail end of 2016 and has been providing its subscribers with savings ever since.
As we’ve mentioned, they’re all about great products for the lowest possible prices and to this point, they’ve garnered rave reviews.
How is Beauty Pie so cheap?
Beauty Pie is cheaper than most leading cosmetic companies because it ditches the hefty markups used by most designer brands in favour of a subscription-based model.
What’s the catch with Beauty Pie?
We’re not sure it technically counts as a ‘catch’ but to claim the best prices you need to be a Beauty Pie member.
That means you’ll still be making a substantial saving as long as you regularly purchase from them.
But if you forget you are subscribed and stop buying, technically, you’re paying money for nothing.
As long as you stay on top of your subscription, there’s no downside!
Want to find more savings on your online shopping? Then head to Sun Vouchers where you can get discounts and voucher codes from hundreds of top retailers including B&Q, Boots, Iceland, Lookfantastic, Dunelm, Adidas, Marks & Spencer and more.
