Some trends emerging in the make-up market, other than the blatantly obvious ones, will be I think a gradual transition for the professional ranges into a more open consumer market. If bloggers have shown the buyers anything, it’s that so called professional ranges are used by – gasp – non-professionals! I’d love to see a counter (yes, Harrods, Selfridges, Liberty and Harvey Nichols, that’s you) that deals in professional make up from around the globe. The other big trend I’m predicting is make up from the Asian markets coming over to the UK. We’ve kind of almost sucked America dry (not quite…but near enough) of the goodies we want, so buyers will be searching further overseas.
Josie Maran. Former model, Josie Maran’s range is currently US based. She’s a huge fan of argan oil and her newest make up palette, Argan Eye Love You, features argan oil enriched shades. Her skin care is sublime. We should have this range here.
Anna Sui Cosmetics. We can get the fragrances, no problem. But why not the make up? It used to be available in the UK but sadly no more. I miss it and want it back. Asian cosmetics are a major trend coming up over the next few years, so it wouldn’t surprise me if someone’s already on the case.
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Ben Nye. It’s inexplicable that Ben Nye is not easily available in the UK as a mainstream luxury brand. The make-up artists love it, the models love it and the beauty bloggers love it…see a theme here? It’s a professional line that is making its way into the make-up bags of beauty lovers everywhere who love the pigments, the flexibility and the intensity.
Make Up Forever. I’ve only recently developed a passion for this range, but it’s loved the world over by make-up fans. You can get it in very limited distribution in the UK, but I’d love to see it more readily available.
Numeric Proof: This is a professional range from France that up until yesterday I didn’t even know existed. It’s got presence in Japan; I’ve never seen it anywhere here but it looks tempting.
Shatona. An amazing colour brand with some incredible colours – I’ve only ever seen in on Japanese sites so far. But, I’d find it quite hard to resist, I think. The Lip Rouge Mini’s would be clustering in the bottom of my handbag!
Sonia Rykiel. This is the brand that baffles me the most – the make-up line is only (I think) in Asian markets, but the brand is in fact European. It will be some weird licensing agreement, but it’s time for change. It’s gorgeous and would give some of our regular premium brands a run for their money.
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13 comments
thanks for doing this. a really interesting post!
I really enjoyed reading this. I know of some of the brands but others are totally new to me but sound very interesting. I agree about Ben Nye and MUFE. I really wish they were more easily available. I think MUFE in particular would be a complete hit in somewhere like Selfridges or Harvey Nichols.
The fact that some of these are European brands yet unavailable in the UK really gets to me. I feel like that about Sephora too. I assume it’s our regulations that drove them out. It’s just so annoying for make up lovers that want access to products without risking getting stung by Customs!
have you ever heard of Kiko Cosmetics(http://www.kikocosmetics.com/) ? It’s an italian brand, not a luxury one, but it’s got a huge range of products…I love it!
I agree! Personal favourite include etude house which is a Korean brand. Amazing make up and at really affordable prices too 🙂
I agree – up the availability of MUFE and Ben Nye! AND FOR THE LOVE OF LIPGLOSS BRING BACK ANNA SUI! Gorgeous packaging, incredible products and within a *cough* reasonable price range – it’s everything we want. Is this too shallow a cause to start a petition? Bring it on over to No.10? No?
I’d actually cheer on for a few more Asian brands – especially skincare. A ton of drugstore Asian makeup brands are making their mark and it would be so good to get my fix over here.
Anna Sui products are available on StrawberryNet.com, check it :).
Anna Sui was born in Michigan – surely it’s an American brand?!
MUFE *was* pretty widely available in the UK some years back and was pulled back. (see below)
I think we are more likely to see ranges being withdrawn rather than launched. Look at the US and the slew of what, by anyone’s marker, were heavy hitting, household name brands from Asia that have been withdrawn in the US. Shu Uemura withdrawn by L’Oréal being the most well-known. And then Prescriptives over here…sure, these were big brands, and not the niche ranges about which you are talking, but is there room for anyone to achieve sufficient volume to make it worthwhile. I’ve lost count of the niche make up ranges have been launched in the UK since I started writing about beauty in 1997 and which gently disappeared…Australia’s Red Earth, Sweden’s FACE Stockholm…and so on…it’s a shame, cos, like you, I’d love to see some of these exciting brands over here. LLGxx
Hi – delving into the licensing arrangements of Anna Sui is almost a full-time job! I believe that AS licensing is co-owned by Wella AG (German) and Albion (Japanese), with Albion holding the colour and skin care licenses. But yes, you are correct that was indeed born in Michigan. Red Earth in my view, didn’t stand a chance in the UK market because it was a massive range – and they ‘over’ launched – too many products into too small a distribution channel. I think where there is a geniune opening and interest level is in the ‘professional’ ranges – beauty blogging has opened up a whole new arena for beauty fans who are now being exposed to hitherto unknown ranges that were kept for the make up artist market. Now the message that you can be your own make up artist is well and truly here, in large part thanks to beauty bloggers, the aspiration to own ‘professional’ products has never been higher. I think you are absolutely correct that we will see brands leave – think of Stila for example; a shock exit – but my belief is that these will be in the skin care arena more than the cosmetics arena.
Numeric Proof looks interesting!
This is a great post and I would love to see these brands in the UK. As a make up artist and a lover of make up, I’m often armed with a list for any friends travelling to buy and bring back for me. But I miss having the opportunity to walk into a store and test things out myself. Such a shame!
Would love to see Anna Sui and Sonia Rykiel sold is the UK.
Thanks to the internet you can get almost anything, but I’d really love to see Anna Sui more widely available too. I also wish I could buy Jill Stuart makeup more easily!
I found Ben Nye here: http://treasurehouse.sageshops.co.uk/index.php?cPath=1084
but I suppose it’s the ability to be able to walk into a shop and see the goods for ourselves!
I wish there was a wider distribution of certain brands/stores – too often, I see products being sold at Selfridges or Harvey Nicks only – neither of which I live close to! 🙁
Sorry to spam your blog – loving it today. I LOVE Anna Sui cosmetics… best face cream I’ve ever owned. Such a shame it’s not in the UK! x