Victoria Beckham is a beauty icon – fact. So, when she launched her namesake brand back in 2019, my only question was 'Why did it take so long?'. I had high hopes that she'd deliver that enviable 90s look in product form, and she did not disappoint.
I was a loyal Spice Girls fan, but even if you weren't, I do think the Victoria Beckham Beauty range stands out on its own amongst the celeb beauty brand craze. It wasn't just the luxurious weighty packaging in the Insta-worthy tortoiseshell design (I'm a sucker for this packaging), but the formulas are unanimously creamy, buttery and blendable. Seriously, it makes a smokey eye foolproof to achieve.
It's worth noting that this isn't the cheapest celeb beauty brand knocking around (the most budget-friendly are the lip liners at the £26 mark) but it is the definition of luxe. It's expensive because it looks and feels expensive – totally VB vibes.
I'd tried bits and bobs since the launch, but it wasn't until I went on a recent trip and had to bring my condensed makeup bag and I realised how much Victoria Beckham Beauty I use on a daily basis, that I decided it was time for a rundown on my top-rated products from the range (and the ones I'd skip on next time).
Victoria Beckham Beauty review
This was the first product I ever tried from the range and it made me fall in love with blush again. I use the terracotta-y shade 'Playground' on a daily basis to act as a 2-in-1 blush-bronzer hybrid and it's the skin equivalent of a Red Bull for when I'm tired.
Not only are all the shades wearable (picking only one would be a feat) but they also blend out easily, without compromising on pigmentation; these are not blushes that are going to disappear after five mins, trust me.
Despite their staying power, they leave cheeks looking hydrated and dewy, so you're left with a natural-looking flush.
How can you get excited about a brow gel? When it's VB's brow gel, it's possible. What's kept me hooked is how lightweight the formula is: it almost feels like you're applying water to your brows to hold them in place, without leaving a sticky reside – which so many formulas tend to do.
The gel comes in a 5 shades, but I opted for the clear as that last slick of product. I also love the comb-style applicator that precisely shapes my arches to how I want them.
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These were what I was most excited to try when the brand first launched. They promised a sexy worn-in smokey eye look that has only grown in popularity since, thanks to TikTok's 'espresso makeup' trend.
These are like glittery butter and can be worn as a light sheen or an intense bold eye if you layer them. They're a doddle to blend and the final result looks effortless, yet high maintenance at the same time.
My only bugbear is the fallout. You will end up with glitter on your cheeks before midnight, but it kind of goes with the grungey look, right?
Out of the entire range, I feel like people are sleeping on these the most. Considering we all know what VB looked like in the 90s, are we really that surprised she nailed lip pencils? I think not.
These have the precision of a pencil with the creaminess of a crayon and wear considerably well throughout happy hour (I've tried and tested them thoroughly).
The nude shades are my personal favourites (quelle surprise) and I find them so pigmented and natural-looking that I often wear them on their own.
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Victoria Beckham Beauty Reflect Pearl highlighter stick
If you're looking for a highlighter to give you glass-like skin – sans chunky glitter – this is your stick. It's subtly pearlescent to allow cheeks to hit the light, without leaving you looking like a disco ball.
This is shaped like a lip balm, which really meant it hugged my cheekbones as I applied it. It's more shiny than anything else, so it's basically the equivalent of lip gloss for your face (without any stickiness).
It's become my go-to for days when I want to look a bit dewy without appearing too 'done'.
This is by far the smallest contour stick I've ever encountered. The slimness means you can contour your nose without any fuss and allows you to be more precise and get into smaller nooks (i.e. your eye socket), too.
However, if you're just a cheek-swipe gal like me, I did find it took a bit longer to achieve my toned look than with other chunkier sticks in my collection. Having said that, it was very blendable.It is the same price as my bigger contour products though, so with only 1.1g of product, you're going to be going through this pretty quickly which will add up in the long run.
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This makes a moody lip effortless and leaves you looking like you've gorged on fresh cherries (the luxury).
It dries down quickly and provides a velvety finish. It's not as drying as previous lip tints I've encountered but isn't exactly hydrating either.
Its lasting power is impressive and I like that you can tap it on for a most just-pinched look or build it up to a bolder colour. Although, I've had two of these and both sponge applicators have fallen off the top, just FYI.
Believe the hype when it comes to these liners. Not only did they not irritate my eyes (always a bonus), but they're also super creamy and do.not.budge.
The shades have a beautiful metallic finish and feature subtle glitter particles that do flake a bit with wear, but I kind of love the slept-in vibe they provide. I use these for a winged liner, in my waterline and even as an eyeshadow stick (yep, they're that pigmented).
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These are essentially a gloss-lipstick hybrid. The balmy texture delivers a pigmented wash of colour, but the finish is super shiny and hydrating, making them comfortable to wear, too.
It's tough to find shine that lasts though, which is the only problem with these. If you hate the stiffness of traditional lipsticks though, you'll love 'em. Plus, the 90s-esque grungey shades are *chef's kiss*.
The newest addition to the VB Beauty range is a set of three fragrances. Each represents a different era and set of memories in Victoria's life. If you remember the OG Noughties Beckham fragrances, these are so much more sophisticated than that.
Suite 302: Trust me when I say it was hard to pick a favourite, but I think this has to be mine. Inspired by rendezvous
in Paris, this features notes of black cherry, musk and black leather. This is sexy – simple as that. If you love a smokey scent, this is for you.
San Ysidro Drive: This is the complete opposite of Suite 302. It features fruity – but not sickly – passion fruit, peony and vanilla, which leaves you with a warm and strong feminine scent.
Portofino '97: If you're a fan of a zesty scent, this needs to be in your collection. I'd seen online some comments of this being a Tom Ford dupe, but the only thing they have in common is the name and colour of the bottle. This mixes black pepper with amber and vetiver that *scream* sexy man. The vetiver makes it more spicy than Suite 302's smokey aroma, so it isn't one for the faint-hearted.
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I don't tend to get along with fluffy brushes due to the mess they leave on my lids, but this might just be my exception. Despite the bigger brush, this managed to cling to individual lashes, which I think is down to its slightly drier-than-normal formula.
It separated my lashes like a pro and provided a subtle amount of volume. It's not the most impactful mascara I've ever used, but it is clump-free and gives my lashes a genuine fanned-out effect. Wear-wise it was flake-free, too.
Essentially a glazed doughnut finish for your lips, this lightweight gloss doesn't skimp on shine. The texture is super creamy and lasted me a pretty impressive amount of time considering its intense wet-look finish.
The colour is subtle but not wishy-washy like some of the other formulas I've tried. The best bit? My lips are left so much softer once the gloss wore off.
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Calling all perfectionists out there: this minuscule nib allows you to draw on individual faux hairs. Texture-wise, it's got the stiffness of a pencil but the bendability of a crayon, which is the best of both worlds.
If you're in a rush, its petiteness might be too time-consuming, but the targeted approach definitely does make them look more eau naturale.
The brick-style layout of this palette gave me serious Bobbi Brown vibes (which is always a good sign). These look like they're going to be quite chalky, but once applied I was shocked at how buttery they were.
As such, they were faff-free to blend and looked so natural. If you're looking for an effortless smokey eye, this will have you covered. Due to their creaminess, they did move around on my lid a bit and crease, however, if I'd used an eyeshadow primer this wouldn't be the case – hindsight, am I right?
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Victoria Beckham Beauty Cell Rejuvenating Priming Moisturizer with TFC8
Anyone who's a VB fan will remember how the primer in her Estee Lauder collab back in 2016 basically broke the internet, so I was excited to see if this alternative lived up to the OG.
It's had a skincare upgrade – courtesy of one Augustinus Bader – and contains a cocktail of amino acids and vitamins, aiming to replenish skin. Because of all this, it's pretty pricey for a primer, but it's so hydrating even I, someone with chronically dry cheeks, could get away with using this as my moisturiser.
It left my skin feeling silky and soft, without leaving behind a greasy finish, and did work as a great base for makeup. It even gave my skin a slightly blurring effect – always a bonus.
I personally wouldn't spend this much on a primer (or moisturiser), but if you're willing to splurge this won't disappoint. Plus, an Augustinus Bader The Cream will see you back £225, so this is the cheaper option (believe it or not).
Charlotte Bitmead
Former Senior Beauty Writer
Charlotte Bitmead (she/her) is the Senior Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan UK. She has over six years experience writing about beauty and has previously written for ELLE and The Sunday Times Style, covering everything from politics to sustainability to inclusivity within the beauty industry. When she’s not writing in-depth features, testing out the newest skincare fad or trying to decide what nail art to get, you can find her overspending in bookshops or shouting at Arsenal matches. Find her on LinkedIn
