Beauty Price Wars: Amazon Enters the Online Luxury Beauty Market

Amazon makes a play for the upscale beauty market with a new online store.

In a surprise move today, Amazon.com is taking a run at the luxury beauty market by opening a new online Luxury Beauty Store. Usually, Amazon is a web destination that we turn to when looking for the best prices on fashion, beauty and more.  That’s because Amazon literally carries everything.  If they don’t have it, they link to eBay sellers that do.  It’s a great one stop shopping destination.  So what can you expect from the new luxury beauty store? Amazon tells us that the store is designed to offer visitors thousands of products via an easy to navigate interface.  The wide array of products includes makeup, skin care, hair care, men’s grooming and fragrance from sought-after, high-end brands including Burberry, NARS, Dr. Brandt, Jack Black, Deborah Lippmann and more.  Some of our favorite brands in the store include LORAC, L’Occitane, NARS, STILA, Look for enhanced search and browse options, detailed product information, editorial content, and good looking images to make this a truly “curated experience.”    The editorial content allows customers the chance to study  beauty techniques, try new products with free samples, and shop complete looks from start-to-finish in one convenient location, with Free Super Saver Shipping or Free Two-Day Shipping with Amazon Prime.  Customers can shop by collections, categories and the latest trends.

The free samples offered with purchase will help to attract savvy shoppers planet-wide.  At first glance, the prices look very comparable to Sephora,  but I think consumers can expect some price wars going forward especially with the holidays coming up.  What do you think readers? Will you add luxury beauty products to your Amazon shopping cart?