Zara Beauty review: Is this the best high street beauty launch yet?

Housed in a glossy compact, this bronzer rivals some of our favourite high-end formulas that cost twice as much. Available in four shades (we hope to see this expand) the powder is infused with a subtle shimmer that makes the skin look lifted rather than flat. It’s the perfect balance; matte enough to add definition without looking chalky, and with a hint of shimmer that adds dimension to the skin without being disco-ball-esque.

The colour pay-off is impressive (a little goes a long way, and you will experience a slight kick-back in the pan); it blends effortlessly (a characteristic that many affordable bronzers fail to achieve); and the shade we tried looked natural on the skin, imparting a subtle glow while warming up the complexion. With refills costing just £11.99, this has fast become one of our favourite bronzer formulas in the drugstore price bracket.

Continuing the complexion theme, this palette is perfect for when you’re on the go. Featuring the same bronzer formula as above, it also includes a blush and a highlighter powder in pans that are reasonably sized considering the size of the compact. We tried the “impeccable touch” trio, the lightest offering of the three colourways, and found the blush to be a very close dupe for Nars’s orgasm shade – with the same iridescent flecks of gold shimmer and the cool-toned coral hue. 

Much like the bronzer, the blusher blended effortlessly with enough pigment for a rosy finish while being subtle enough to build. The highlighter is definitely on the more muted side, but if you’re scared of a full-blown sheen and want a subtle pearlescent finish, you’ll be impressed.

We never expected to find our new favourite red lipstick at Zara, but this formula is quite revolutionary. Usually a red lipstick involves compromise: for long-lasting pigment that doesn’t budge, you often end up with a very drying formula; or you’ll use a more comfortable satin formula that smudges as soon as you walk out the door. Not with this one. A true blue-toned red, the balance of colour pay-off and comfort on the lips is a real marvel. It imparts a beautifully bold pigment and looks velvety smooth on the lips without any bleeding around the edges, but doesn’t feel drying either.

The definition of a comfortable matte, it’s worth noting that this doesn’t dry down completely, so you may want to blot it, but it lasts brilliantly and doesn’t smudge throughout the day. There’s plenty of other colours to snap up in this formula and, with refills costing just £6.99, we’ll be stocking up. The lipstick compact has that wonderfully satisfying magnetic lock that’s typically associated with higher-end products, too.

Can’t hack a matte finish, no matter how comfortable? Zara’s range caters to you satin lovers too. Much like its clothing line, the brand has thought outside the box with its shade offering and we love this rich, warm-toned purple that transcends seasons. The formula feels cushiony on the lips without being too glossy and lasts surprisingly well for a satin; we didn’t have to top up until lunchtime. The hydrating formula feels comfortable to wear and doesn’t compromise on colour pay-off – one swipe is enough for serious coverage.

Our only bugbear is the shape of the lipstick bullet itself: it’s quite wide, which makes it challenging to hug the contours of your lip shape, but with a bit of extra patience we got there. At this price, it’s a small complaint.

The eyeshadow offering is where Zara Beauty has really pushed the creative boundaries, particularly for a debut launch. There are five colour stories to choose from, with these eyeshadow palettes, with some being more unusual and contrasting than others. Grey shimmers have been paired with hot apricots in the “till dawn” palette, for example.

But we tried the “clash out” compact, packed with a myriad of purples and golds. The shimmers are more muted on the eye than in the compact, with a creamy finish that looks iridescent and slightly opaque; but this plays into the editorial-turned-accessible feel of the whole line. The shadows blended well and the yellow gold stayed pigmented on the eye all day. These are great for anyone who feels daunted by colour but wants to give it a try, as they are very easy to work with.

Out of the three we tired, this lipstick formula was our least favourite – but we’re really splitting hairs here. Dubbed a “demi matte” finish, we’d say this look and feels far closer to a satin than a matte, and delivers a sheer wash of colour that makes the lips appear pillowy and plump. Unlike the other lipstick formulas, this one has a crayon-eseque scent that is slightly off-putting, but we loved the thin shape of the bullet as it made the lipstick incredibly easy to apply.

The formula feels weightless on the lips, and the “nude premiere” shade is that perfect, your-lips-but-better pinky nude. If you’re looking for a stronger colour pay-off, you can build this serum-like formula on the lips but it’s the best choice for those looking for a natural sheen.