Last updated April 2026. This is a working lash tech's honest comparison, not a hit piece. LashBase is a fine business. They just run a different game to us.
Quick answer, if you're skimming
If you want a faceless, mid-size UK supplier that's been around a while and does adequate Russian trays, LashBase works. Their glue is solid. Their pricing is competitive on the basics. Nothing flashy, nothing exciting.
If you want a founder-led UK brand with a proper brown range, a glue that's gone through 13 formula rounds, and a founder who answers her own DMs, you want Pop of Beauty.
The rest of this article is the detail. Skip to the comparison table if you just want the numbers.
Who are LashBase?
LashBase is a UK-based lash supply company founded around 2012. They sell a broad range of classic and volume trays, glue, tools and aftercare. They run training courses out of a physical base. Their brand is functional rather than personality-led. You've probably seen their logo on a tech's shelf somewhere.
They're not owned or run by a working lash tech in any visible way. You buy from them the way you'd buy from a stationery brand. It does the job. Nothing more.
Who are Pop of Beauty?
Poppy founded Pop of Beauty because the suppliers she was using as a working tech weren't good enough. Every product in the range is something she uses on her own clients in her home studio. If it doesn't pass her test, it doesn't get made.
We're smaller than LashBase. We ship from the same country (UK, Royal Mail Tracked 24, next working day). We run three tiers of ambassador programme and a founder-led DM line. Read Poppy's full story here.
The feature-by-feature comparison
| Feature | Pop of Beauty | LashBase |
|---|---|---|
| Glue price (pro) | £19.99 (£16.99 on Subscribe & Save) | Around £19.95 |
| D Curl 0.03 tray | £11.95 | Around £10-11 |
| UK dispatch | Next working day, Royal Mail Tracked 24 | Next working day |
| Founder-led | Yes, Poppy is a working UK lash tech | No, corporate structure |
| Dedicated brown range | Coffee Collection: Latte, Mocha, Espresso | Limited brown options |
| DMs answered by founder | Yes, Poppy replies directly on @popofbeauty_ | No, customer service team |
| Ambassador programme | 3 tiers, up to 25% personal discount | Basic affiliate |
| Subscribe & Save on glue | Yes, 15% off every drop | No |
| Community | POP Fam WhatsApp, Instagram engagement, founder visible | Standard customer base, no visible community |
| First-order discount | SWITCH20 = 20% off, or WELCOME10 for new subscribers | 10% welcome |
Where LashBase wins
👉 Longer trading history. If "how long have you been around" is a box you need to tick, LashBase has the edge. They've been at it since 2012.
👉 Physical training base. If you want in-person courses at a specific UK location, LashBase runs them. Our training is online-first.
👉 Slightly cheaper on the very basic single-length trays. A pound or two per tray in some cases. If raw cost is your only filter, that matters.
Where Pop of Beauty wins
👉 Coffee Collection. Three dedicated brown shades (Latte, Mocha, Espresso) designed for blonde and brunette clients. LashBase does not have an equivalent range at the same quality. Our brown lashes photograph brown, not orange. Read The Coffee Collection guide for the full breakdown.
👉 Founder who uses the products. Poppy lashes clients every week. Every formula and tray passes her personal test before it goes on the site. If a glue isn't right, the next batch gets changed. Faceless suppliers can't do that.
👉 Subscribe & Save at 15% on glue. LashBase does not offer a subscription discount. If you go through 2 glues a month, that's £80 back in your pocket per year for doing nothing.
👉 13-iteration glue formula. Our adhesive isn't a white-label bottle with a new label slapped on. It's been through 13 formula rounds to nail the dry time (0.5-1 second), humidity tolerance (40-60%) and retention profile. Read more on the Lash Glue product page.
👉 Community that isn't just a newsletter list. POP Fam ambassadors get a WhatsApp group, monthly spotlights on Instagram, and real conversations. LashBase doesn't run this kind of community.
👉 DMs answered same-day by the founder. You DM us on @popofbeauty_ and Poppy replies. Usually within the hour. This is not replicable at a corporate supplier.
Who should stay with LashBase
Genuine answer: if you've got 3-5 years of stock already set up through them, retention is consistent, and you don't need anything they don't offer, don't switch for switching's sake. Finish the stock you've bought first.
If you're only buying from them for the basics (C curl trays, classic glue) and you're not a brown-lash specialist, they do a fine job.
Who should switch to Pop of Beauty
👉 You're a UK tech who wants to offer brown lashes properly. The Coffee Collection is a genuine category gap filler.
👉 You want a visible founder, a visible team, and a brand you can talk about with clients. "My supplier is a working UK lash tech called Poppy" lands differently to "I buy from LashBase."
👉 You're losing 30-60 minutes a month on re-ordering. Subscribe & Save plus the Full POP Restock Bundle takes that to zero.
👉 You care about a community of working UK techs, not just transactions.
How to switch without losing retention
Most retention drops during a supplier switch come from mixing glue brands with primers and sealants tuned to a different glue. Fix: use SWITCH20 at checkout to try the Switch Kit, which bundles our glue with our Primer and Superbonder so your workflow is fully calibrated to our system from day one.
We've written a full guide on how to switch lash suppliers without losing retention. Read that first if you're nervous.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pop of Beauty more expensive than LashBase?
About the same on glue. Roughly the same on trays. Cheaper over time if you subscribe, because LashBase doesn't offer a subscription discount on glue.
Will my retention be the same if I switch?
If you use our full system (Primer + Glue + Superbonder), most techs report retention going up, not down. Mixing our glue with a different primer is where it wobbles.
Can I test before committing?
Yes. Use SWITCH20 on the Switch Kit for 20% off your first order. Run it on 3-5 clients. Decide then.
Do you ship as fast as LashBase?
Yes, both brands dispatch next working day from UK warehouses using Royal Mail Tracked 24.
Do you train in person?
Our training is online-first at the moment. If you need an in-person UK course base, LashBase has that option today.
Still not sure?
DM Poppy directly on @popofbeauty_. Tell her what you're currently using and what's not working. She'll give you a straight answer, including when staying where you are is the right call. She's not going to push a sale for the sake of it.
It'll never be perfect. But it can be better.