Last month I spoke about the beauty Brands that don’t typically excite me, so today I thought it would be fun to do a positive post talking about the brands that do excite me. I’m not going to say that I love every single product from all of these brands but to me, these brands offer something iconic, something reliable and are unafraid to innovate and constantly push the creative boundaries. These brands are the ones that always make me sit up in my seat and look for reviews on their latest launches, here they are!


1.  Barry M
I unintentionally included a lot of high end brands however, Barry M is one high street brand that I really love. I haven’t always enjoyed every single one of their products however, they constantly try new things which I really admire. The Gelly Hi Shine Nail Paints are my holy grail of nail polishes, I also like a lot of their lip products particularly the Matte Me Up Lip Kits which were excellent. From the iconic Dazzle Dusts to the growing range of cheek products, Barry M consistently delivers which is why I find it such a a great brand.

2. Benefit Cosmetics
I will admit Benefit definitely milk it a little bit, for example I found the brow ranage to be a little excessive. Having said that, I really like the Benefit cheek products. Hoola is a fantastic bronzer and I also have a cheek palette which has Dandelion, Coralista, Sugarbomb and Rockateur inside and I genuinely love each blusher. Definitely a fan of Benefit and I’m always keeping my eyes out for new releases.

3. Glossier
I’ll admit I was on that Glossier bandwagon before they even landed in the UK (though I didn’t import any products). So far I’ve used up a Milky Jelly Cleanser which I did enjoy, I also have one of their Cloud Paints which I’m very excited to try. There’s a lot on my to-try list but I like how Glossier has a very distinct brand and regularly listens to customer and influencer feedback – social listening done right!

4. Illamasqua
For me Illamasqua are hit and miss, there’s been some products that have blown me away and some that just haven’t worked for me – usually though the products are a good match for me and the quality is always there. Out of every beauty brand, Illamasqua is the epitome of innovation and creativity, I love how the brand actively tackles social issues as well as creating products for customers from all walks of life – a genuinely diverse brand with an astounding portfolio of premium products.

5. Lush
I love Lush, thee products are a little pricey but having said that the ingredients are always high quality and ethically sourced which is great for the environmentally conscious. Thee bubblebars always leave my skin incredibly soft as well as providing a moment of true relaxation, plus can we talk about the swirling colours and amazing scents?

6. MAC
I’m just going to come out and say it – MAC release waaaaay too many collections and I struggle to keep up! Having said that the products are always high quality and there’s always lots of interesting shades and formulas. Again, I like how MAC experiment a lot with textures, shades and finishes, they’re not afraid to try something different and I love that.

7. Nars
I don’t own a lot of Nars simply because of the price but what I do own I do like. Nars is one of those brands where when I try a product in store it always impresses me, the quality is definitely there and I like how they make a lot of different shades and colours for their products so there is truly something for everyone.

8. The Body Shop
Bodycare never excites me as much as makeup but I do like The Body Shop. I’ve gone through countless body butters and the skincare and makeup are usually pretty great too. The brand is comfortably mid-range so you can treat yourself without spending an absolute fortune and it’s rare for me to absolutely loathe a product from the brand.

9. Urban Decay
A firm favourite of mine I’ve had at least seven Urban Decay palettes though I have parted ways with some of them now. Urban Decay just often seem to get it right, there are some products I’m not keen on however, I love how the brand is constantly trying new things and experimenting with different shades. Urban Decay also strikes me as very trend conscious usually jumping on all of the trends in beauty but without compromising on quality.

10. Vichy
Vichy is a skincare brand that truly excites me because my skin loves the products. I like how Vichy have lots of different ranges to suit different types of skin and I find their products to be particularly hydrating. I adore the Aqualia Thermale serum and their latest Mineral Plumping Booster left my skin looking radiant.

I hope that you enjoyed this post and if you did please hit the like button, I’d love to know in the comments which brands excite you plus any recommendations! I’m always on the hunt for new brands to test out.

Thanks for reading!