Space NK Beauty Flagship Store on London’s Oxford Street

So, it only seems fair that the beauty aficionado in me pays a visit on Day 2 (perfectly reasonable and not too late to the party) to discover what this emporium has in store.

First off, if you’re heading over on a weekend and want to avoid the inevitable crowds, the store mercifully opens at 9.30am, and I can assure you that this is the perfect time to peruse the store. At this early shopping hour, you don’t have to fight for access to ‘try on’ the products – you can moisturise, spritz and exfoliate without interruption.

So, what can you expect from the new flagship Space NK store?

The design

Think ‘Willy Wonka’ turning his talents to beauty! It’s a veritable skincare sweet shop heaving of small pick and mix beauty items and accessories, fragrances whizzing past on conveyer belts, and the latest beauty must-haves you’ve likely seen on TikTok. The whole vibe is fun, kitschy and, above all, designed for ‘play’.

At one end of the store, you have a dedicated fragrance stop where a friendly staff member is on hand to guide you through a variety of scents, including recently launched and trending fragrances. Best of all, they have thoughtfully categorised each scent by their unique profile; whether you’re after a sweet, gourmand scent, a light floral, or something fresh and citrusy.

Who are the brands?

You could say ‘who aren’t the brands?’ as any beauty name worth their salt can be found in this store. You’ll find the best high-end luxury, more affordable mid-range, as well as on-trend sought-after brands with that ‘word of mouth’ factor.

On the super luxury end you have Augustinus Bader, Allies of Skin, iS Clinical and Dr. Barbara Sturm, which are brands most closely associated with the visages of the super A-list.

On the mid-tier aisle (which are still hugely sought-after) you’ll discover Medik 8, Dr. Dennis Gross, Elemis, IT Cosmetics, to name a few. These are just a few of the brands you may know, with plenty more on offer.

We think Space NK really shines when it comes to offering new brands such as Joonbyrd, Dizziak, Mirror Water and Pleasing, which are not yet household names but offer incredible products. Incidentally, if you’re looking for a fragrance that will have people stopping you in the store (this actually happened) to ask what you’re wearing, have a few spritzes of Closeness by Pleasing – it’s that good!

And if you’re after brands that look after your skincare as well as your wallet, these brilliant companies keep those costs low: BYOMA, Dr. Jart, Hello Sunday, Nursem and The INKEY List – all truly superb brands, with one of the products on my recommended beauty buys below.

My recommended beauty products:

Active Serum – iS Clinical

On the luxe end of skincare, we have one of the most innovative serums of the market today. This serum is a powerhouse product that helps you achieve brighter, clearer skin and come morning you have that ‘glassy’ skin look – as if you had a mini-facial in your sleep.

The water-light serum is packed with kojic and arbutin, as well as retinol, natural acids, and antioxidants. It’s a pricey investment but worth it when you see the results. You only need to use a few drops at night and then come morning…skincare goals achieved!

If I was only allowed one serum for the rest of my life…this is the one I would choose.

10% Sulphur Paste – Malin + Goetz

Blemishes be gone with a dab of this wonder paste which shrinks angry spots practically overnight. The sulphur paste is a blend of salicylic acid and zinc oxide which dries over the blemish but also heals and helps prevent scarring.

It’s not the most glamourous beauty item but an absolute must have in case of a blemish-sized emergency!

Soft Pinch Luminous Powder Blush – Rare Beauty

Props to Selena Gomez for starting a beauty brand with products to rival some of the biggest names in the business.
I’ll admit, I was a little sceptical at first…will it be just a celebrity name with no real substance or longevity behind the range? In the case of Rare Beauty, I’ve been bowled over by the products and depth of pigmentation of the eyeshadows and superb powder blushes.

I’ve been using the colour ‘happy’ which gives a natural pink flush while also containing a subtle highlighter effect (nothing glittery or garish) which does double duty of making me look like I’ve had some semblance of sleep with a gorgeous, illuminated complexion to boot. It also stays put which is a miracle for me.

Exosome Hydro-Glow Complex – The Inkey List

On the other end of the price point is the rather brilliant Inkey List which packs a punch (if not more!) than some of their pricier counterparts.

This new release serum is an absolute winner, and one that is increasingly hard to find on the shelves – such is the demand for this impactful and serious-results serum.

It’s basically designed to boost collagen production in your skin via cica exosomes which also promotes renewal and repair. It layers beautifully with other products and really creates a gorgeous even glow that you’ll notice straight away. It’s also an absolute bargain – what’s not to love!