South Africaโs online beauty market has expanded dramatically โ drugstore giants, premium department stores, and fashion retailers all now ship makeup to your door. Whether youโre stocking up on Essence mascara for under R70 or picking up a MAC foundation from Bash, this guide breaks down the best stores and what to expect from each, with current price ranges across product categories.
Prices are subject to change and vary by retailer, promotion, and availability. All prices listed are indicative based on current data and should be confirmed directly on each retailerโs website before purchasing.
1. Dis-Chem โ Best for Affordable Everyday Makeup
Dis-Chem is the go-to online makeup destination for most South Africans. Its beauty department covers everything from foundations and concealers to eyeshadow palettes, mascara, lipsticks, false nails, and brow products โ all from international brands stocked at consistently competitive prices. The online store mirrors its in-store offering and includes frequent promotions and Loyalty Benefit pricing.
Brands available include Maybelline, LโOrรฉal, NYX Professional Makeup, Revlon, Rimmel, Essence, Catrice, L.A Girl, Black Opal, Clinique, Clarins, Almay, Yardley, and Broadway. The range skews strongly toward drugstore and mid-tier products, making it the most accessible option for everyday shoppers.
| Product | Brand | Price Range (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation | Maybelline, Rimmel, LโOrรฉal, Yardley | R90 โ R320 |
| Concealer | L.A Girl Pro Conceal, NYX, Essence | R65 โ R220 |
| Mascara | Essence Lash Princess, Maybelline, Rimmel | R69 โ R260 |
| Lipstick / Lip Gloss | Revlon, Essence, Catrice, Maybelline | R39 โ R250 |
| Eyeshadow Palette | NYX, Wet n Wild, Catrice | R120 โ R390 |
| Setting Powder / Blush | Revlon, LโOrรฉal, Essence | R79 โ R280 |
Dis-Chem generally prices lower than Clicks on many shared SKUs โ research has confirmed a consistent pricing edge on comparable cosmetic lines. Loyalty members get additional markdown pricing and exclusive promotional access. Delivery is available nationwide, with a click-and-collect option at pharmacies.
2. Clicks โ Best for Loyalty Rewards and Broad Range
Clicks is South Africaโs largest health and beauty retail chain by store count, with over 990 locations and a well-developed online store at clicks.co.za. Its makeup offering covers every category โ foundations, lipsticks, mascaras, eye palettes, brow products, primers, and nail care โ with strong stock depth across Maybelline, LโOrรฉal, Revlon, Rimmel, Catrice, Essence, and its own Clicks private-label range.
The ClubCard loyalty programme is one of South Africaโs oldest and most used retail rewards systems, offering points accumulation, cash-back promotions, and member-exclusive pricing. For shoppers who buy beauty products regularly, ClubCard pricing can meaningfully reduce the effective spend per item. Clicks also stocks premium brands like Clinique and Clarins in selected categories.
| Product | Brand | Price Range (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation | Maybelline, LโOrรฉal, Rimmel, Revlon | R95 โ R350 |
| Mascara | Maybelline, Rimmel, LโOrรฉal Voluminous | R80 โ R270 |
| Lipstick | Revlon, Maybelline, Catrice, Yardley | R55 โ R280 |
| Eyeshadow Palette | Wet n Wild, NYX, Essence | R130 โ R420 |
| Clicks Own Brand Makeup | Clicks private label | R45 โ R150 |
3. Takealot โ Best for Price Comparison and Deals
Takealot is South Africaโs largest general e-commerce platform and carries a substantial makeup and beauty department. Its advantage lies in variety โ it aggregates both Takealotโs own stock and third-party marketplace sellers, which means you can often find the same product listed at multiple price points. For shoppers willing to compare listings, this is where deals emerge. Products range from internationally known drugstore brands to niche imports not commonly found in pharmacy chains.
Takealot Daily Deals and Blue Dot Sale events frequently include beauty and makeup products at discounts of 20โ50%. The platform also stocks a wide range of electronics and tech accessories alongside its beauty range, making it convenient for multi-category orders. Delivery is available nationwide with standard 2โ5 business day shipping.
| Category | Brands Available | Price Range (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation & BB Cream | Maybelline, Revlon, e.l.f., L.A Girl | R80 โ R400 |
| Lip Products | NYX, Maybelline, e.l.f., Wet n Wild | R50 โ R300 |
| Eye Makeup | Rimmel, Essence, NYX, Maybelline | R60 โ R350 |
| Makeup Brushes & Tools | Various brands | R39 โ R500+ |
4. Superbalist โ Best for Fashion-Forward Beauty Shoppers
Superbalist is South Africaโs biggest online fashion destination and carries an extensive beauty and makeup section. The range covers face makeup, eye products, lip products, nail care, and skincare, with a focus on popular mid-tier and premium drugstore brands. MAC lipsticks, Clinique foundations, Bobbi Brown concealer, Smashbox, NYX, Rimmel, and Maybelline all appear in the lineup โ often with seasonal discount pricing.
Superbalistโs beauty department appeals most to shoppers who want to browse fashion and beauty together in one cart. Delivery is fast โ typically 1โ3 business days to major metros โ and the site runs regular sales events with meaningful reductions. If youโve been looking at budget-friendly smartphone options or gadgets alongside beauty, this multi-category approach suits combined shopping trips well.
| Product | Brand | Price Range (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation | MAC, Clinique, Smashbox, Revlon | R200 โ R900 |
| Lipstick | MAC, Bobbi Brown, Maybelline, Rimmel | R90 โ R650 |
| Mascara | Maybelline, Rimmel, Clinique | R95 โ R420 |
| Eye Shadow / Palette | MAC, NYX, Urban Decay | R200 โ R1,200 |
| Concealer | Bobbi Brown, MAC Concealer, Maybelline | R150 โ R750 |
5. Bash (Foschini for Beauty / TFG) โ Best for Premium and Mid-Tier Brands
Bash is The Foschini Groupโs unified online shopping platform and includes the full Foschini for Beauty catalogue alongside brands from TFGโs ecosystem of over 3,000 stores. The beauty offering at Bash skews toward premium and mid-tier brands: MAC, Clarins, Clinique, LโOrรฉal, Urban Decay, Revlon, Maybelline, Rimmel, Yardley, and Kiss are all represented, with regular catalogue promotions. For those who prefer premium-positioned makeup, this is where Foschiniโs long-standing cosmetics buying relationships translate into curated online availability.
TFG Rewards Card holders benefit from year-round promotions and exclusive member pricing across the groupโs 18-plus store brands. Click and collect is available from over 800 TFG stores nationwide, and free delivery applies on qualifying order values. Much like comparing Android phones in the sub-R5,000 bracket โ where spec value matters enormously at each price band โ Bashโs beauty range is best navigated by clearly identifying which tier of brand youโre targeting before browsing.
| Product | Brand | Price Range (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation | MAC, Clarins, Clinique, LโOrรฉal | R180 โ R1,100 |
| Lipstick | MAC, Revlon, Yardley, Maybelline | R90 โ R700 |
| Eye Products | MAC, Urban Decay, Rimmel | R150 โ R1,200 |
| Nail / Accessories | Kiss, Revlon, Yardley | R60 โ R300 |
6. Woolworths โ Best for Premium and Clean Beauty
Woolworths has quietly built one of South Africaโs most compelling online beauty destinations. Its WBeauty private label range โ 100% vegan, cruelty-free, and paraben-free โ offers foundations, lip colours, eye palettes, mascaras, and concealers at premium-but-not-luxury price points. The store also stocks third-party premium beauty, including fragrances and skincare, and recently opened a standalone Woolworths Beauty store in Cape Town โ described by beauty editors as having a Sephora-like European feel. The brand has seen strong beauty category growth and is now expanding its beauty offering into other African markets.
For shoppers prioritising ingredient transparency or clean-formulation claims, Woolworths is the most clearly positioned option among mainstream South African retailers. Delivery is fast to major metros and click-and-collect works at over 360 food stores and 225 department store locations.
| Product | Range | Price Range (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| WBeauty Foundation / BB Cream | WBeauty (own brand) | R130 โ R350 |
| Lip Colour | WBeauty, premium brands | R99 โ R450 |
| Mascara | WBeauty | R120 โ R280 |
| Eye Palette / Highlighter | WBeauty | R150 โ R450 |
7. Edgars โ Best for Department Store Cosmetics Experience
Edgars has been a makeup destination for South Africans since 1929 and its online store at edgars.co.za brings that department store cosmetics experience to your screen. The beauty department stocked at Edgars features a broad mix of fashion-forward makeup brands, with a focus on womenโs cosmetics across face, eyes, and lips. Edgars offers free delivery, free returns, and click-and-collect, and provides flexible payment options โ including account-based purchases โ which differentiates it from pure-play e-commerce retailers.
The brand has repositioned itself as a mass-market fashion and beauty destination under current ownership, expanding accessibility while maintaining range depth in beauty. For shoppers who prefer traditional department store browsing online, or who use account-based retail credit, Edgars remains a relevant option. Comparing this cross-shopping habit to researching phones under R5,000 with long battery life before committing โ the value comes from looking across multiple options before deciding.
8. Temu โ Best for Ultra-Budget Makeup Tools and Accessories
Temu ships directly to South African shoppers and carries a vast catalogue of makeup tools, accessories, and cosmetics at prices that significantly undercut local pharmacies. Brush sets, sponge applicators, eyeshadow palettes, nail art kits, lip glosses, setting sprays, false lashes, and makeup organisers are all available at aggressive price points โ often in the R30โR150 range. The platform ships from China, with delivery typically taking 7โ15 business days.
Temu is best used for accessories, tools, and non-critical beauty items where brand trust is less of a factor โ think brush sets, organisers, nail kits, and starter accessories. For formulated products like foundation, concealer, or mascara where skin compatibility and ingredient safety matter more, established SA-stocked brands through Dis-Chem, Clicks, or Superbalist are the safer choice. Temuโs new-user discount offers and app-exclusive deals frequently run at 30% or more off listed prices.
| Product | Type | Price Range (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Makeup Brush Sets | 5โ20 piece kits | R35 โ R120 |
| Beauty Sponge / Blenders | Single / Multi-pack | R20 โ R70 |
| Eyeshadow Palettes | Unbranded / House brand | R39 โ R150 |
| False Lashes (Multi-pack) | 3โ10 pairs | R25 โ R90 |
| Lip Gloss / Lip Tint | House brand | R19 โ R60 |
| Makeup Organiser / Storage | Acrylic / Plastic cases | R45 โ R200 |
Brand Availability Across Stores โ Quick Reference
| Brand | Dis-Chem | Clicks | Takealot | Superbalist | Bash/TFG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maybelline | โ | โ | โ | โ | โ |
| LโOrรฉal | โ | โ | โ | โ | โ |
| NYX Professional | โ | โ | โ | โ | โ |
| Essence / Catrice | โ | โ | โ | โ | โ |
| MAC Cosmetics | โ | โ | โ | โ | โ |
| Clinique / Clarins | โ | โ | โ | โ | โ |
| L.A Girl / Wet n Wild | โ | โ | โ | โ | โ |
How to Get the Best Price on Makeup Online in SA
- Check both Dis-Chem and Clicks before buying โ prices differ item by item, often meaningfully.
- Dis-Chem Loyalty and Clicks ClubCard both offer cashback-style benefits on repeat purchases.
- Takealot Blue Dot Sales and Daily Deals frequently discount makeup 20โ50%.
- Temu is unbeatable for brush sets, tools, and accessories โ less suitable for skin-contact formulations.
- Superbalist and Bash are the best destinations for MAC, Urban Decay, and Clinique at SA market pricing.
- Woolworths WBeauty range is the strongest option for clean-formulation, vegan-certified makeup in SA.
Which Store Should You Use?
For everyday drugstore makeup at the best price: Dis-Chem, then Clicks. Dis-Chem has the pricing edge on most shared SKUs โ especially for Maybelline, Rimmel, Essence, and L.A Girl. Enrol in the Loyalty Benefit programme for additional savings.
For MAC, Clinique, Urban Decay, and premium brands: Superbalist or Bash. Both carry the labels South African pharmacy chains donโt stock, and both run regular promotional pricing.
For clean-beauty and vegan-certified makeup: Woolworths WBeauty stands alone in the SA mainstream market with credible ingredient transparency claims.
For deal-hunting across brands: Takealotโs multi-seller marketplace and seasonal sale events are worth checking before committing elsewhere.
For tools, brushes, and accessories on a budget: Temu. Starter brush sets, sponge blenders, false lashes, and organisers at a fraction of local prices โ with the caveat of 7โ15 day delivery times and no established brand accountability on formulated products.
