Discover the 7 best stores where to buy makeup in Portugal and stop shopping on your trip to Europe!
When I travel to any different country, one of the things I like to buy most is makeup. Sometimes I don't even take anything, but I like to visit stores, see what different brands they offer, price differences where I live... it's almost a hobby.
And with Portugal it couldn't be any different. Since arriving in Lisbon, I've been going into all the beauty stores, looking at everything they have to offer. Some brands I already knew from Brazilian shelves, but others I had never even heard of and was dying to try.
What surprised me most, however, was the number of different stores that sold beauty products. I expected something like Sephora and a competitor, but in fact the country is full of options for those who like to shop for makeup, hair, and skin care.
As there are many options and few days of travel, I decided to write this post to recommend the best stores where to buy makeup in Portugal. So you can add some of them to your itinerary around the country!
Where to buy makeup in Portugal – Best stores
Remembering that in this post I will only cover stores that sell makeup and beauty products. If you want other purchasing options, You can read this post where I talk about where to shop in Lisbon, with the best stores in various categories.
Now, let's go to the stores where to buy makeup:
Sephora
Starting with the best-known store. Yes, Sephora is also available in Portugal, and is easy to find in the country's main shopping malls and shopping streets.
It's the usual store you already know: slightly more expensive brands, and in addition to makeup, it also sells hair products, skin care products and perfumes. Some of the brands available at Portuguese Sephora are:
- RareBeauty
- Fenty Beauty
- Huda Beauty
- Charlotte Tilbury
- Milk
- Makeup For Ever
- Tarte
- Too Faced
- Natasha Denona
- Makeup by Mario
Remembering that, in Europe, the brands sold at Sephora vary according to each country. Personally, I think Portugal's is one of the weakest. Therefore, if you are going to visit several countries on your trip, take a look at the store's official website in each country on your itinerary to see which one will meet your needs.
Sephora in France, for example, sells Pat McGrath, Zoeva and Westman Atelier, which are not brands found in Portuguese territories.
Perfumes & Co
The name may make it seem like the store only sells perfumes and body products, but don't be fooled. At Perfumes & Cia you will find several makeup brands, from the cheapest to the luxury ones.
There you will find Make Up Factory, Shiseido, YSL, Estée Lauder, NYX, Guerlain, Lancôme, Dior…
The interesting thing about Perfumes & Cia, in addition to the more sophisticated brands and some that are more difficult to find, are the promotions. Almost every time I enter the store there is a promotion going on, and they even have a store called Freeport, a famous outlet in Lisbon, where you can buy beauty products at an even more affordable price.
It is a very popular store, and you can find it in several shopping malls and tourist neighborhoods.
Douglas
Douglas is a German store present in several European countries. In my view, it's like a younger version of Perfumes & Cia., as it also sells more expensive brands and some of the more affordable ones, as well as having walls and walls of perfumes. In fact, it's the only place in the country where you can find Ariana Grande's famous perfumes.
Some interesting makeup brands I saw there: Kylie Cosmetics and Kylie Skin, Jeffree Star, Guerlain, Estée Lauder, Clinique, Armani, Catrice, Maybelline, Clarins and even Morphe Cosmetics with their huge eyeshadow palettes.
Primor
Primor is paradise for those who like to buy cheap makeup. This is because, even working with big brands, the store always offers lower prices than competitors.
It's the perfect place to shop more affordable brands like NYX, Maybelline, Catrice, Essence and L'Oreal, and there you can also find some different brands, such as Make Up Revolution, W7 and Revuele. It's also a great place to buy makeup brushes, as it sells Real Techniques and Ecotools.
The store also has a section of luxury brands such as Urban Decay, YSL, Guerlain, Estée Lauder, Clinique, It Cosmetics, NARS and other big names. It's also an excellent place for those who want to buy hair products, as brands like Moroccanoil and L'Oreal tend to be cheaper at Primor.
If you like Korean cosmetics, the store also has a wall full of a wide range of products, including items from COSRX, Some by Mi and Holika Holika.
Wells
Wells is the pharmacy of the Continente supermarket chain. You can find it both within markets and in its own units in some neighborhoods and shopping malls.
I really like to buy cheaper brands, like Maybelline, Essence and Catrice. The displays are usually very complete, especially in larger stores, and you can still take the opportunity to take a look at the skin products. There you also find Avene, La Roche-Posay, CeraVe, Eucerin and Isdin.
I know that when we're traveling we like to go to the store and look at the products, but if you already have a shopping list and know what you want, it's worth taking a look at the Wells website. Promotions are constant, and at the time I write this post, there are perfumes from brands like Armani, Paco Rabanne and Prada with up to 60% off.
Normal
“Normal products at abnormal prices”, this is the Normal store’s proposal. Well known in Portugal for selling “TikTok viral videos”, this Danish store has been a huge success since its launch, and already has several units throughout the country.
The beauty area has some really cool finds, especially skin lines. Maybelline, which usually cost a little more in similar stores. You can also find Garnier, Make Up Revolution, Carmex, and other brands with popular items.
It is also excellent for purchasing skin care products, with really cool prices for micellar water and facial masks, as well as hair products. It's the only place in the country that sells Monday, my favorite brand of shampoo and conditioner.
The store itself is really cool, there are a lot of different things and it's easy to spend a lot of time in there. If you forgot toothpaste or deodorant, also buy it at Normal which is much cheaper than at the market.
El Corte Ingles
El Corte Inglés is a Spanish department store, and there you can find everything from beauty products to clothes, accessories, shoes, electronics and home decor.
At the Lisbon unit, the first weight has a huge area dedicated to beauty, with stands from several brands such as Jo Malone London, Lancôme, Dolce & Gabbana, Kiehl's, and even a small Sephora with its most popular brands, such as Rare Beauty and Fenty Beauty.
It is not the place for those who want to save money, as it is a store that only sells higher-end brands. There's no Maybelline or Catrice there, and the cheapest you'll pay is probably for products from Sephora's own line.
Still, it's a super cool store and a must-see for anyone who likes perfumes, with several brands that are harder to find.
Is it worth buying makeup in Portugal?
In the past, there was no doubt that buying makeup in Europe or the United States was much cheaper than in Latin America. Today, with the enormous devaluation of our currencies, and with the different installment payment options that exist in countries like Brazil, the answer is already depends.
I've already analyzed several products, including makeup, hair treatments and skin care, and the truth is that you'll need to do some research to decide what's worth buying in Portugal and what's not.
Rare Beauty, for example, will only be R$30 cheaper compared to the price in Brazil currently. It's a saving, but is it worth taking up space in your suitcase with an item that is available at Brazilian Sephora, and that could still be paid in installments if you purchased there? If the difference were R$80 or R$100, I think it would be worth it, but for R$30…
So, before you go madly buying everything you see in front of you, thinking that “It’s definitely cheaper”, stop and do the math. If you don't want to waste time during your trip for this, make a list of products you would like to buy in advance, and search European websites for prices.
Take the list with you during your trip, so you know what you should buy, what you shouldn't buy, and what is actually on sale and could be an opportunity.
Now, of course, if the brand doesn't sell where you live, this discussion is meaningless, and it's worth buying in Portugal.
How does tax-free work in Portugal? Does it apply to makeup?
European Union countries have a system of tax-free for tourists. This means that when you shop, you can receive a refund for taxes paid on your purchases, since you don't live locally.
And yes, this refund also applies to makeup purchases. Stores such as Sephora and Perfumes & Cia. are registered in the program and allow you to request a refund for your purchases before leaving the country.
To get your refund in Portugal, simply follow the following steps:
- When shopping in participating stores, when you pay, ask for the document relating to the tax-free In box. The staff will write down some details about you and your purchase, and give you a reference number.
- When arriving at the airport to leave the European Union, before boarding, stop by a kiosk tax-free and validate your purchases. These kiosks are available at Lisbon airport.
- After that, in the boarding area, go to the kiosk of the company responsible for your refund. The name will be written on the documents you validated at the kiosk.
- Most refunds are made instantly, and you go home with the money!
Conclusion
There are several places to buy makeup in Portugal, but before you go adding products to your basket, remember to compare the prices with those in your country. Believe me, they won't always be cheaper in Europe, especially with the Euro being so valued!
And you, have you ever done beauty shopping in Portugal? Bought what? Tell me in the comments!