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17 Designer Make-Up Collections Made For Your Most Fashionable Self
From Carolina Herrera to Hèrmes.
For decades, the pinnacle of a luxury make-up bag has been getting your hands on the iconic red Chanel lipstick. A small piece of high fashion that fits conveniently in even the tiniest of Jacquemus bags, when it comes to make-up (and most things) going designer has always been the aspiration.
So it's no surprise that more and more legendary fashion houses have decided to dip their toe into the beauty biz. That, and the fact that the beauty industry is worth over £28 billion in the UK alone...
Causing a storm in 2019 was Gucci's first foray into beauty under the direction of extrovert fashion genius, Alessandro Michele. Campaigns featuring gappy teeth, smeared lipstick and clumpy lashes epitomised Michele's alt approach to traditional designer beauty brands. Most recently, Burberry made its big Selfridges return, debuting a collection of oh-so-British branded beauty goods. Now, everyone from luxury leather goods brand, Hèrmes, to Prada and Rabanne have made a fashionable foray into make-up. Forget the Birkin, we want a refillable Rouge Hèrmes lipstick for a fraction of the price, thank you very much.
Read on for the designer make-up brands tempting us to invest in our very own piece of cosmetic couture.
The Best Designer Make-Up Brands
Burberry Beauty
This iconic British make-up brand just made its big return to beauty with a luxe range of runway-inspired lipsticks and trench tech-powered foundations. Lustrous in packaging and powerful in formula, we welcome this new era of Burberry Beauty with open arms. Adds to cart, immediately.
Selfridges London will open a Burberry Beauty boutique on the 4th December, with a pop-up preview from 2nd November.
The ELLE UK Beauty Team's Choice... Burberry Kisses Matte Lipstick, £35
Prada Beauty
Prada's reimagined venture into beauty is exactly what you'd expect it to be: chic, bold and triangular (a nod to Prada's iconic triangle bag).
Launching with a full catalogue of eyeshadows, foundations and lipsticks (not to mention a fully stocked shelf of skincare) is no short feat, but to do so with smudge-resistant textures and ultra-pigmented shades aplenty is pretty impressive - it's no wonder we were won over by Prada Beauty instantly.
The ELLE UK Beauty Team's Choice... Prada Hyper Matte Monochrome Refillable Lipstick in Fuoco, £37
Rabanne Beauty
From gunmetal pigments to glittering mascaras, Rabanne is heavy metal beauty. With a Gen Z attitude at the forefront, here you'll find punchy hues, shimmering finishes and out-of-the-box experimental textures. Think sparkle for your lashes, body, eyes...
Formulas and packing alike, the ethos of Rabanne fashion shines through in its beauty - striking, colourful and stylish.
The ELLE UK Beauty Team's Choice... Rabanne Famous Glitterizer Top Coat Mascara, £27
Gucci Beauty
If you're all about a vintage movie star lip and timelessly elegant packaging, Gucci Beauty could be the designer make-up line for you. The Rouge à Lèvres Liquid Matte Lipstick in Goldie Red is an ELLE UK beauty team staple; it's a classic evening red and a everyday neutral in one.
Beyond its generous menu of flattering lip shades, you'll find everything from glossy highlighters, lightweight mists and carefully curated eyeshadow palettes.
The ELLE UK Beauty Team's Choice... Gucci Rouge à Lèvres Liquid Matte Lipstick in Goldie Red, £37
Dior Beauty
If you're searching for intricately embossed lipsticks that you'll begrudge even swatching, or ultra-viral iced pink tones that are covetable both online and off, look no further than Dior Beauty. With a curated range of timeless tones and formulas you'll find in every pro's kit, this backstage beauty brand is perfect for polishing off your oh-so-aesthetic make-up collection.
The ELLE UK Beauty Team's Choice... Dior Backstage Rosy Glow, £33
Hèrmes Beauty
You might have thought that the legendary Hèrmes Birkin bag was the ultimate fashion accessory. But, we're here to suggest otherwise...
Because, for 2023, we're all about the Hèrmes lipstick. With shades inspired by the classic handbag, plastic-free packaging made from the same metals used in the hardware and costing just £52, this is the easiest way to get your hands (and lips) on a little bit of Hèrmes luxury.
The ELLE UK Beauty Team's Choice... Rouge Hermès Limited-Edition Matte Lipstick, 66
Chanel Beauty
Chanel is at the pinnacle of timeless sophistication and the classic quilted shoulder bag isn’t the only emblem of the house. First launching into beauty in 1924, it’s safe to say the designer brand has mastered the art of uber chic make-up, from glistening eyeshadow palates to iconic cream bronzers. Even the minimalist interlocking C is a work of art for your shelfie.
The ELLE UK Beauty Team's Choice... Chanel Ombre Essentielle Multi-Use Longwearing Eyeshadow, £36
YSL Beauty
Saint Laurent has all the finesse of a true Parisian powerhouse. Classic gold and black packaging, clean cut lines and velvety brushes, the packaging is exciting in itself. Home to the classic Touché Éclat Illuminating Pen and editor-favourite Lash Clash Mascara, YSL’s glistening formulas are a must-have for any dramatic make-up look.
The ELLE UK Beauty Team's Choice... Yves Saint Laurent Lash Clash Extreme Volume Mascara, £29
Givenchy
Looking for advanced colour correction and exquisite coverage? Let us introduce you to Givenchy's curated edit of skin-like finishes and versatile colourways. Long-time fans will already recognise the best-selling Prism Libre powders, a four-toned quartet of balancing hues, for the ultimate cake-less base. Beyond that, we're loving the range's newest blush; where else can you get four flattering shades in one loose formula?
The ELLE UK Beauty Team's Choice... Givenchy Prisme Libre Blush, £42
Closer to a luxe piece of jewellery than your regular lipstick, Carolina Herrera's debut make-up line is so much more than your go-to nude.
Between the decadent refillable lipstick cases inspired by prints from the current season's collection, the satisfyingly chunky gold keyring loops and the interchangeable charms and tassels (yes, tasselled lipsticks are a thing now), Carolina Herrera's lipsticks are more akin to a piece of bespoke ready-to-wear fashion than a make-up product. Just think of the gifting (or self-gifting) opportunities.
The ELLE UK Beauty Team's Choice... Carolina Herrera The Lip Liquid Vinyl, £34
Armani Beauty
Loved by some of Hollywood's most covetable stars, Armani's elite range of make-up is adored by celebrities far and wide. From lightweight washes of metallic eyeshadow, to generous ranges of blush in every complimentary hue, you can look to Armani to deliver a red-carpet beauty look, no artist required.
The ELLE UK Beauty Team's Choice... Armani Luminous Silk Foundation, £45
Valentino Beauty
Italian designer Valentino’s beauty sector runs by the motto ‘colour, cool, couture’. The exuberant range couldn’t embody the motto any better, with endless colours and hues to match any vivid mood. High fashion pinks? Check. Bold festive reds? Check. If versatility is a must in your make-up bag, look no further than the future classic Eye2Cheek palette, a blush and eyeshadow all-in-one.
The ELLE UK Beauty Team's Choice... Valentino Eye2Cheek Dual Use Blush And Eyeshadow, £39
Tom Ford Beauty
Ultra-sleek modernity runs deep through the veins of Tom Ford’s beauty line. Enabling you to 'reveal your most glamorous and inspirational self', the brand has everything from covetable contours to sparkling lip colours.
Perfectly cohesive with the brand's bestselling fragrance line, here you'll find balms flecked with 24-carat gold, which not only react with your skin's pH for the perfect sultry pink, but also draw inspiration from its sunny perfume notes.
The ELLE UK Beauty Team's Choice... Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Contour Duo, £84
Christian Louboutin
Only Christian Louboutin could give you the honour of matching your lips to your heels. The indulgent range features unreservedly pigmented, refillable lipsticks and nail varnish bottles so sharp they could kill. Ornamental and totally extravagant, we look to Louboutin Beauty to deliver high performance formulas perfect festive gifting.
The ELLE UK Beauty Team's Choice... Christian Louboutin Matte Fluid Lip Colour, £78
Dolce & Gabbana Beauty
Can't get enough of Amalfi designs, animal prints and royal gold? Dolce & Gabbana is the epitome of Italian luxury, delivering delightfully flattering formulas and romantic packaging. The ideal investment for any holiday make-up bag. Did we mention their couture lipstick lines even have customisable caps?
The ELLE UK Beauty Team's Choice... Dolce & Gabbana Passioneyes Mascara, £39
Jimmy Choo
Finally, you can match your toes to your Jimmy Choo heels. Entering the world of make-up for the first time ever with their Seduction Capsule collection, the iconic shoe brand has taken their signature glamour top-to-toe, literally.
With an array of lip colours housed in an art deco-esque case complete with golden orb, nail colours and perfumes, we have a feeling shoe lovers will be snapping up the whole lot. Oh, and did we mention the lipstick bullet is embossed with the brand's signature python print and JC monogram? Yeah, we know.
The ELLE UK Beauty Team's Choice... Jimmy Choo Seduction Matte Lip Colour, £50
Dries Van Noten
Founded in 1986, Dries Van Noten is synonymous with luxe fabrics, bold prints and vivid colourways; the same can be said for its line of statement make-up products. From next-gen purples to decadent refills, we trust DVN to bring contrasting hues and stylish designs to the world of designer beauty.
The ELLE UK Beauty Team's Choice... Dries Van Noten Refillable Lipstick, £62
Katie Withington (she/her) is the Beauty Writer, at ELLE UK and Harper’s Bazaar. Working alongside the ELLE UK Beauty Team, she covers all things beauty for both print and digital, from finding backstage make-up trends at London Fashion Week and investigating buzzy skincare ingredients, to unzipping the beauty bags of Hailey Bieber and Margot Robbie. Prior to joining ELLE UK in 2022, Katie studied (BA) Fashion Journalism at London College of Fashion and has previously contributed to Red, Good Housekeeping and Prima.
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