These are the beauty stores to visit next time you’re in Sydney, for both locals and interstate visitors.
You might have some of these stores in your own city, but Sydney’s main beauty strip (especially around Town Hall and the Queen Victoria Building) has gorgeous displays, plenty of products to swatch and play with, and experts on hand during store hours that don’t make you feel rushed.
As it’s near the heart of Sydney’s shopping district, they’re much more used to window shoppers and more experiential layouts, so do take your time browsing.
Recently, my friend Praise, a talented content creator and writer here at White Rabbit Social, visited Sydney.
We did a shortened version of the beauty block I’ve taken endless friends on, and I tweak depending on what someone enjoys. These suggestions should depend on what you enjoy across fragrance, skincare, makeup, haircare, and body care.
Praise is a fragrance-obsessive at heart, so we focused on the fragrance level at MECCA and the fragrance dome (yes, dome) at Aesop.
There are so many beauty stops around the Town Hall, QVB, George Street, and Pitt Street area, so not everything is on the list, just the ones I take people to and revisit. This is also assuming you’re taking the train to Town Hall Station and exiting through the QVB.
Store locations, opening hours, and promotions can change, so check the details before you set off.
I was sad to see The Body Shop that would of made the list seems to be closed.
If I’ve missed anything, please comment below and I’ll add it to my list to visit. These are my tried and true beauty spots.
Beauty Stores In The QVB
LUSH QVB
If you love body care or anything that smells good good (the edible, the unique, the if-you-smell-it-too-long-your-nose-hurts), it’s hard to get past LUSH.
If you walk past, you’ll understand why.
Sensitive noses may want to steer clear, but I love the LUSH store in the QVB.
They often have big displays of bath bombs at the sinks where staff live test the products (do not dunk your own bath bombs!).
I’ve always found the staff really warm, too.
If you’re not into baths, there’s a lovely fragrance section (both classic perfumes and body mists, a few oils) and plenty of shower products including body washes and shower jellies.
I especially love their massage bars that melt on contact and feel wonderfully aromatic. Think luxury spa massage.
LUSH has expanded further into haircare in recent years, which I’m interested in because I think the brand does rich textures well. You can see that across its body lotions and creams, too, so it’ll be easy to find a texture and scent you vibe with.
Pro tip! If you’re lucky enough to visit after Christmas / Boxing Day / Halloween, or another holiday, LUSH often has some very good discounts.
You can pick up some high-quality body care on sale if you don’t mind the scent or packaging being a little out of season.
LUSH QVB Address: Shop 70, Lower Ground Floor, Queen Victoria Building, 455 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000.
Bath & Body Works QVB
Bath & Body Works is a little less my vibe, mainly because I haven’t been able to enjoy candles as much since having cats with very sensitive noses.
Still, the Bath & Body Works in the QVB is perfect if you love strong-smelling candles. They do them incredibly well, and they don’t go for subtle.
The store also carries body mists / fragrances, general body care like lotions, hand soaps, sanitisers etc etc. I am a sucker for their candy apple scent. I also find because of how potent everything is, they really are the lotion that lasts you years when you do get them.
Admittedly, the fragrance style is very up my alley. They aren’t afraid of a fun themed scent, and they also have some great sales after holidays like LUSH.
This is a stop I’d mainly recommend if you or your friend enjoys an unapologetically strong scent (guilty as charged).
Bath & Body Works QVB Address: Queen Victoria Building, Shop 60, Lower Ground 1, 455 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000.
Beauty Stores Close To The QVB
BONIIK
On our way to MECCA, we saw the BONIIK store and popped in.
Praise ended up making a purchase of the Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream Mist and I got to try out the textures of the moisturisers from that range too. They’re great!
The shop was nice, more open than other K&J beauty stores that are more isle-focused.
For me, BONIIK is a chance to swatch lip stains and makeup especially to see how the undertones look on my light olive skin alongside trying out all the K beauty and J beauty skincare textures.
It’s hard to go wrong with the skincare ranges there. You truly could throw a dart and buy whatever you land on, but being able to test makeup in person is especially helpful.
Worth noting that you can find lower prices online through retailers such as Stylevana. Still, the makeup prices can be close enough that I’m happy to buy in person, especially when I can test the product and take it home that day.
There was also an interesting selection of men’s ranges, including products from Laneige, which I hadn’t seen before.
BONIIK Sydney Store Address: 488 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000.
MECCA George Street
I personally think it’s hard to avoid the MECCA George Street near Town Hall.
It’s a three-level beauty heaven, with makeup on the ground level, ranging from affordable (MECCA MAX, Morphe, Mario Badescu) to high-end (YSL Beauty, Origins, RMS Beauty) to high-high-end (RAE-MORRIS, Augustinus Bader).
I like the displays featuring new products and value packs when you walk in the entrances.
They’re always worth checking so you can see what has arrived most recently and they’re usually curated well or feature limited edition picks or value sets.
On the makeup level, you can also have your makeup done or book a lesson. Services and appointments can be booked online.
The top level is fragrance, and MECCA has made it a full experience. It feels particularly luxurious, and you can take your time sniffing with low pressure.
The lower level is skincare and hair care, including their FaceGym and facial services.
MECCA Sydney Address: Corner of George Street and Market Street, Sydney NSW 2000.
Sephora Pitt Street
Sephora Pitt Street is a longer, slightly narrow store that makes it easy to work through in stages if you’re in a browsing mood.
When you enter, there’s usually a large display on the left for a new launch, with bigger graphics and plenty to look through and play with.
Sydney city stores in general tend to do new-launch displays particularly well.
You walk into skincare, mainly on the right, and makeup on the left, with fragrance and haircare towards the back.
Anua is worth a look, and don’t dismiss the more affordable brands, including The INKEY List, The Sephora Collection (their in-house brand), and The Ordinary.
On my recent visit, I tested the HAUS LABS Glassy Blush Balms and checked out some of the newer fragrance launches.
Sephora is a great chance to swatch and smell the products that are hard to blind buy online.
The staff are friendly and knowledgeable, but they tend not to approach you. If you ask for help, though, they’re always happy to recommend a product or help with a colour match.
Sephora Pitt Street Store Address: 160 Pitt Street Mall, Sydney NSW 2000.
Aesop Sydney
If you’re new to the Aesop experience and you love anything intentional or slightly moody, the Sydney store is special.
I’m personally not a big one for more natural-leaning products typically, but Aesop is definitely the store on this list that gets the most wows from experience alone.
Each Aesop store is created with its city and location in mind. The Pitt Street store has a concrete interior with a gorgeous peach-coloured fragrance dome at the back.
The staff are very kind without being pushy or overwhelming. You can take your time walking through.
You’re often offered a cup of peppermint tea, and near the centre of the store is a long table where you can test products and wash your hands, with clean towels ready to use.
It’s a lovely experience and a calm change from the hustle directly outside.
AESOP Sydney Address: Westfield Sydney, Ground Floor, Shop 2047, 188 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000.
MYER Sydney City
It’s hard not to mention MYER when it’s changing up its beauty range and bringing in French brands such as SVR, which I love.
I’ve written about SVR countless times and will continue to because I strongly believe the brand is underrated. MYER carries a large part of the range in store and has also brought in Fenty Beauty.
The beauty department is worth a walk through. I think this is where MYER is heading with its beauty angle, and it’s a win for beauty lovers.
They tend to have more consistent sales, and it’s easier to bundle purchases together. If you prefer shopping in person, the beauty area is divided into brand sections that feel like separate stalls.
You can have your brows done at Benefit, and they do a fantastic job there.
There are plenty of gift sets, too.
I will warn you to be careful because this is a huge MYER with multiple levels, and it’s easy to get carried away.
If you’re doing the full Sydney beauty trail, I’d do a loop and keep moving.
I had to shout out SVR and the fact that Fenty Beauty is there, especially if you’re hoping to catch a sale.
MYER Sydney Address: Inside Westfield Sydney, with multiple entrances. 436 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000.
A Couple More Beauty Stops Near George Street
W Cosmetics
W Cosmetics carries a slightly different range from BONIIK, so it’s worth visiting both if you enjoy K beauty and J beauty.
The layout is different enough too that you can get another impression of what’s popular and perhaps find something you missed.
The retailer has more than one Sydney CBD location, including stores on George Street and inside Westfield Sydney.
The stores can feel more tightly packed because there’s a bigger range to fit in. I also like the accessory range.
You’ll find eyelashes, nail files, headbands (very very cute), and all the extras that scratch that itch for me.
I like searching aisle by aisle. Even though the store is a little more tightly packed, I don’t feel as though I’ve missed anything because I can map it out and snake my way through.
W Cosmetics George Street: Shop 2, 403 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000.
Priceline Pharmacy George Street & World Square
Last, but not least, is Priceline.
I know you probably have a Priceline near you, but I enjoy the George Street store because it carries a wider range.
The last time I visited, it had a much bigger NYX selection, which was a relief because why is it so hard to find a full range of NYX products?!
Priceline ranges vary between locations because many stores are independently owned.
In my experience, this store has a stronger makeup range. You may also need a pharmacy price break after visiting all the higher-end beauty stores.
Priceline Sydney Address: Shop 9.01, 644 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000.
Which Sydney Beauty Stores Are Most Worth Visiting?
It’s okay not to visit every store on this list. Take your time and choose the stops that match what you actually enjoy because half the fun is browsing the selection.
There are smaller beauty boutiques you could add, too. The QVB has a small Dermalogica store, and there are non-beauty stores worth visiting while you’re there like the T2 and kikki-K which I love. I love T2.
For my preferences, I would prioritise MECCA, Aesop, and LUSH. Sephora and the other stores are great, but they may not carry much that’s different from what you have locally.
BONIIK and W Cosmetics are worth adding if you don’t have easy access to K beauty or J beauty stores at home to try in-person.
If I’ve missed a Sydney beauty store near Town Hall or the QVB, please let me know.
Until next time!
Minnie xx
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