Autumn 2019 saw Victoria Beckham transition from lauded designer to beauty magnate, with her hotly anticipated namesake make-up and skincare line. And while Beckham had to fight for the respect she now garners in the fashion world, a well-heeled step onto the beauty scene, by contrast, arrived with apparent ease.
A collaboration with Esteé Lauder that debuted in 2016 marked her first foray into the industry and ignited a desire to marry a zeal for cosmetics with her own fashion label. One link-up with Sarah Creal (formerly Head of Global Make-up Development and Marketing at Esteé Lauder) later, and we had Victoria Beckham Beauty.
Spanning from mascara to eyeshadow palettes and the universally adored stain-meets-balm, the Bitten Lip Tint, £32, Beckham has covered nearly all bases with her luxury make-up line. The latest in her kit? A body oil that meshes stunning fragrance with skin enhancing ingredients.
Scroll on down for all the details and shop the best from VB beauty.
Shop: The Best Victoria Beckham Beauty Products
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If you were a fan of the gloriously beautiful Portofino '97 EDP, then chances are you'll be swayed by this newest launch - the Portofino '97 Golden Shimmer Body Oil which, according to VB herself, is the secret behind her enviable glow - 'I put this on and fragrance lasts all day,' she says. And, after trying it ourselves, we're inclined to agree. The infusion of lightweight botanical oils left our skin feeling silky and awash with subtle gold and bronze pearl particles. And the scent really is long-lasting - expect the familiar citrusy, woody mesh of patchouli, musk, and vetiver. Bonus points for the skin beautifying ingredients too - there's and abundance of fatty acids and antioxidants in there to improve the skin texture and barrier in the long run.
Pros
- Silky, not greasy
- Cruelty-free
- Nut-Free
Cons
- An investment buy
Best for glossy lips
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Throwing back to my Spice Girl days, Posh would always wear a high shine clear gloss with a heavy lip liner to make her lips look fuller. That's when my love affair with gloss started, but I always found it heavy and uncomfortable to wear, and my hair would inevitably get stuck in it - especially riding on the back of David's motorcycle. So it became my mission to create a gloss that was beautiful, with reflective, mirror-like shine—but wearable and not at all sticky. I believe we got it right,' says Victoria.
Pros
- Excellent shine
- Other colour options
Cons
- Will require regular reapplication
Best for a blushed lip
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For a subtle wash of colour as opposed to a sticky, heavier liquid lipstick or gloss, the Bitten Lip Tint is an ultra-light, weightless gelée formula to hydrate and nourish lips, imparting the softest kiss of colour
Pros
- Nourishing
Cons
- Needs regular re-application
Best eye shadow palette
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Victoria knows her way around a beautiful eyeshadow; her compacts house an entire eye look in one place. These powders are buttery, opaque and blend with ease, too. Choose from palettes with matte or shimmer shades.
Pros
- Range of colours
Cons
- The signature shade often sells out
Best for a wash of glitter
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A hit of glitter on the eye? Yes, please. Apply with a fingertip to pick up most of the sparkle, and pat on to the centre of the eye to create a seriously pretty gleam. This eyeshadow is pressed, not loose, so you'll face no fall-down of shadow, either.
Pros
- No fall down
Cons
- Isn't heavily pigmented
Best eyeliner
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Queen of the smudged eyeliner, it was only natural for VB to nail this. This kohl pencil is as soft and buttery as they come. Create a sleek graphic line with a sharpened nib, or buff it out gently with a liner brush for a diffused, smoky finish.
Pros
- Smudges beautifully
Cons
- Can be stubborn to remove
Best for plumped up skin
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Victoria Beckham and Sarah Creal wanted to create the ultimate all-purpose serum. Their aim was to be able to use a single serum and their moisturiser, rather than reaching for every lotion and potion under the sun in the midst of a complicated skincare routine. They joined forces with Professor Augustinus Bader to produce a do-it-all serum that seriously delivers.
Pros
- A little goes a long way
Cons
- An expensive purchase
Best for hydrating
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This was the first collaboration between Victoria Beckham Beauty and Professor Augustinus Bader, a moisturiser packed with actives that plump and tone as well as smoothing skin from the off, so much so, they decided to highlight its complexion priming abilities in its name.
Pros
- A little goes a long way
Cons
- Expensive
- Sells out often
Best for fluttery lashes
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This ultra-black formula promises defining, lengthening, curling and volumising results, all whilst being hypoallergenic, waterproof, sweat-proof, smudge-proof and suitable for contact lense wearers. Victoria Beckham herself says 'This is the best mascara I have ever used!'
Pros
- Can be removed easily
- Dramatic results
Cons
- Lid can be temperamental
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Grazia's Junior Beauty Editor Rachael says, 'This one is a true beauty hero. I'll scribble across my lids and blend out with my finger tips for a fool proof soft, smokey eye.'
Pros
- Easy to blend
Cons
- Often sells-out
Victoria Beckham Beauty Beginnings
The first Victoria Beckham Beauty products arrived in September 2019. At the time Victoria spoke exclusively to Grazia and highlighted a heavy focus on eyes. 'The brand is launching with my Signature Smoky Eye collection - a Smoky Eye Brick, Lid Lustre and Satin Kajal Eye Liner that come in a range of different shades.' As for hero products? 'It’s so hard to choose a hero product but I would say the Smoky Eye Brick could be the one. You can create so many different eye looks with one palette'.
For both Victoria Beckham and Victoria Beckham Beauty, functionality is the order of the day. Each and every product is designed to be just as hard working as the designer herself. 'The range is for people on the move, who have a busy lifestyle and demand a lot from their products. It’s clean, sophisticated, high performing, long-lasting and convenient.'
Victoria is always keen to highlight the amount of thought behind each and every product in the line. 'Each product we have and are creating for the brand is something I’ve felt is missing from my regime or could be better or more streamlined.' From the butter soft liner that subtly defines eyes as easily as it buffs out to a Debbie Harry-worthy fog of liner, to the universally flattering shade selection of shadows you can layer up from a soft wash of colour to a punch of pigment, each piece adapts seamlessly to the unique application technique of the wearer.
Victoria Beckham Beauty Skincare
Victoria Beckham Beauty didn't stop at make-up. A link-up with skincare royalty, Professor Augustinus Bader produced a moisturiser and serum that quickly caused a sensation. Sarah Creal knew that at first a foray into skincare would be a challenge. Speaking exclusively to Grazia she elaborated, ‘right out of the gate I said to Victoria that nobody is going to believe a fashion designer can produce great skincare, that’s the biggest challenge. We needed help and we needed great technology. I met a lot of people, tried a lot of products and knew that Professor Bader was the man to approach. I said to Victoria, "I think you should just call him" and she did. That’s the amazing thing about working with her. When Victoria Beckham calls, people pick up the phone. We had a meeting scheduled in for just over a week later.' Enter the Victoria Beckham Beauty Cell Rejuvenating Priming Moisturizer, £92, and the Victoria Beckham Beauty Cell Rejuvenating Power Serum, £180.
Annie Vischer is Beauty Director at Grazia. Annie was previously Beauty Editor across a number of lifestyle titles at TI Media (now Future Plc) including Woman & Home magazine and Feel Good You. Annie has over a decade-worth of experience as a beauty journalist under her belt and is an established authority in the beauty industry, known for covering skincare, make-up, hair care, body care, treatments and wellness in print, online and across social media.
Picture credit: www.victoriabeckhambeauty.com