Why Mecca beauty stores are worth travelling around the world to visit

There are a whole host of amazing things about Australia – but Mecca stores definitely top my list.

When I first moved to Sydney from the UK almost 12 years ago, I found myself wandering into a Mecca Maxima in Bondi Junction, sparking one of the most intense love affairs of my life.

Sure, there are some great make-up and beauty stores in my home country, but Mecca was shiny, new and exciting, and I must admit – I’m a sucker for a Hollywood mirror.

Over the years, I’ve spent hours trawling through various Mecca stores, even slipping into a few Mecca Cosmetica stores to indulge in more high-end products in my time (though I’ll always hold a soft spot for Mecca Max products – you can’t ever go wrong with a budget-friendly purchase).

One of the things that hasn’t changed since I first rolled into a Mecca all those years ago is the amount of products you can get there that you can’t find anywhere else.

It really is what makes shopping there so special – that, and the incredible knowledge of the staff. Some of the brands exclusively stocked in Mecca these days include Drunk Elephant, Nars and Go-To, created by our very own Zoe Foster-Blake. Now if that’s not worth travelling almost 17,000km for, I don’t know what is.

With that in mind, I thought I’d round up some of my favourite products at Mecca – ones I’ve bought time and time again.

Sunday Riley Good Genes

Price: $141

Nothing beats a good exfoliation – but this lactic acid treatment is on another level. I whack this serum on at night and it gently munches up my dead skin cells and leaves me with fresh, glowy skin while I sleep. It really is magic.

Hourglass Unlocked Instant Extensions

Price: $53

One of my wildest unpopular opinions is that I hate lash extensions. They look amazing on other people but they just irritate the hell out of me, which is why I love a mascara that can fake my lash length for me. This stuff is bloody brilliant. It coats lashes evenly and makes them look naturally leggy but doesn’t flake or smudge. It’s also really easy to remove. Yay.

Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Radiant Concealer

Price: $48

If there was a beauty product I couldn’t live without, it’s concealer. This Charlotte Tilbury one has fast become my everyday go-to. The formula is creamy and makes my skin look happy and bright. It also covers redness and blemishes beautifully, without caking. I also love that there are skincare ingredients in it too, including hyaluronic acid, pore-refining niacinamide, brightening, radiance-boosting golden vitamin C and vegan collagen. These help improve the look of your skin every time you wear it – you truly can’t go wrong.

Omorovicza Gentle Buffing Gelee

Price: $118

She’s bougie and delicious and your skin will love you for it. This gentle cleanser also buffs away that icky daily build-up we all get, leaving your face fresh and soft after use. I love the gel formula which feels cool on application and the teeny tiny exfoliating particles are such a fun element too. After using, my face feels refreshed and ready for anything.

Go-To Nifty Fifty

More Coverage

Price: $45

There’s a lot of regulation around giving sunscreen recommendations these days, so I am not going to say anything at all and let its inclusion on this list speak volumes. Please use SPF as directed, reapply often and stay out of the sun where possible.

This column is not advertorial content. Every review is independent, honest and ad-free. If you have a question about a beauty product or an item you’d like to see road-tested in The Beauty Diary, jump into our official Facebook group where you can join like-minded beauty junkies. You can also catch me on Instagram – don’t forget to hashtag #TheBeautyDiary

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