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P.Louise makeup review: We tested over £200 worth of product – these are the ones that really worked
The TikTok-famous beauty brand has arrived in Boots, but does it actually live up to the hype?
Call me a sceptic, call me a pessimist, call me the most wonderfully honest person you'd [virtually] met, but cards on the table, I didn't have particularly high hopes for P.Louise. *Places hand on heart and prepares for backlash* Sure, that's blunt, perhaps even a touch shallow, but there's something about TikTok-famous beauty brands swaddled in hyper-cute packaging that makes me instinctively clutch my pearls and credit card (hyperthetically speaking because I cannot be trusted to own either).
But friends, how wrong was I. After putting a selection of P.Louise's bestselling products through their paces, I found myself eating a generous helping of humble pie – and enjoying it, TBH. Not everything earned a permanent place in my makeup bag, but a handful genuinely impressed me. So, if you take away anything from this review, let it be this: never judge a beauty brand by its bubblegum-pink packaging. Or a book by its cover. Or, for that matter, a man with a podcast microphone.
From hyper-pigmented liquid blush to mascara that coats every single lash, scroll to find out which P.Louise products I'd actually recommend – no algorithmic persuasion required.
If high street mascara were a religion, I'd be a devout follower. For years, I've maintained that some of the best formulas on the market can be found on the beauty aisle, not behind a luxury counter. And at £15, P.Louise's Tearproof Mascara only strengthens my case. The slim plastic wand grips and coats every single lash, delivering impressive definition without clumping – even after a second or third coat. Above all, it adds the kind of dramatic length I long for in a mascara. Ghost lashes, where?
What really sold me on the lip liner was the sheer range of neutrals. To some, it may look like 12 slightly different variations of brown, but to a makeup enthusiast, it's all about undertone – and P.Louise has thought of everyone. Whether you lean cool, warm, rosy or caramel, there's a nude with your name on it.
P.Louise Stay Shining Mini Keychain Lip Oil
P.Louise Stay Shining Mini Keychain Lip Oil
If there's one thing the beauty industry has successfully convinced me I need, it's a lip product that doubles as an accessory – whether it be on your phone case or handbag. Case in point: The Stay Shining Mini Keychain Lip Oil, which is undeniably gimmicky and yet... I fear I love it... says the once highly judgmental, snobbish beauty writer. Novelty factor aside, the formula actually delivers, too. It's lightweight and glossy, but crucially, non-sticky. Applications for a smooch are now open. Any takers?
P.Louise Make It Melt Makeup Cleansing Balm
P.Louise Make It Melt Makeup Cleansing Balm
Taking my makeup off is somewhat deeply ritualistic for me. A near religious fervour, if you will. So, you could say a cleansing balm has to work hard to impress me. Thankfully, the P.Louise Make It Melt Makeup Cleansing Balm does exactly what it says on the tin – and more. The waxy formula transforms into a silky oil once worked into the skin and not only melts stubborn makeup, but SPF and residue from the day, too. And if scent is your thing, you're in luck because this product comes in everything from pineapple and strawberry to birthday cake. Delicious in both performance and smell.
P.Louise Clean Up Your Act Whipped Body Foam
P.Louise Clean Up Your Act Whipped Body Foam
Speaking of delicious-smelling formulas, P.Louise extends to body care with a range of lotions, scrubs, mists and washes. My favourite is the Clean Up Your Act Whipped Body Foam, for it spices up any shower routine. Part cleanser, part sensory experience, the formula is a delight to use with a scent that lingers and a texture that is cloud-like. What's not to like?
You could say I've saved the best for last with The Cheek Of It Liquid Blush because it was, in fact, my favourite product from the entire line-up. The pigment is no joke – a tiiiny dot goes a very long way – but what really impressed me was the formula. Even when applied over powder products, it blended seamlessly without lifting, patching or disturbing the makeup underneath. And then there's the range of 30 shades. Yep. That's right. Thirty! DIFFERENT! Tones! Truly, we love to see the inclusivity.
Lia Mappoura (she/her) is the Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan UK, with over four years of experience reporting across the brand's print, social, video and digital platforms. Lia covers everything from emerging trend analysis to viral celebrity hair and makeup moments, making her an expert at spotting the season’s next big beauty look (before it takes over social media feeds).
In 2025, she was named The Rising Media Star at the Love Perfume Awards with The Perfume Shop, recognised for her outstanding digital fragrance content and for building genuine authority within the space. She is passionate about challenging outdated beauty stereotypes, championing inclusive representation in beauty, and educating readers on the trends, products and conversations shaping the industry today. Follow her on Instagram or find her on LinkedIn.
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