About Us

Since our beginnings in 1997, MECCA has redefined the beauty landscape in Australia and Aotearoa (New Zealand), leading in retail innovation and delivering the ultimate beauty experience.

MECCA was created to demystify beauty – curating, celebrating and educating on the best moisturisers and must-have serums, latest makeup trends (and products) and scene-stealing fragrances. Our goal has remained the same since the beginning of our journey—to help our community look, feel, and be their best. After all, a lipstick is just a lipstick until that very first transformational swipe.

With over 25 years of drive (and beauty obsession), MECCA has become Australia’s largest prestige beauty retailer under the leadership of our enterprising founder, Jo Horgan. Empowered by Jo’s gung-ho spirit, we now captivate over four million customers every year through our network of 100+ stores, our brimming digital content, ecommerce platform (and app!), and our best-in-class Beauty Loop loyalty program with an exclusive curation of over 200 of the best beauty brands in the world, and a high-touch, love-filled approach to customer experience.

Since our beginnings in 1997, MECCA has redefined the beauty landscape in Australia and Aotearoa (New Zealand), leading in retail innovation and delivering the ultimate beauty experience.

How we got here

It all started in the living room of Jo Horgan's Melbourne home, where she hatched a vision to search the world for the most exciting makeup, niche fragrances and cutting-edge skincare, bringing them home for Australians to enjoy. In 1997, the first MECCA Cosmetica store opened in South Yarra, offering an expertly curated selection of seven renowned global beauty brands, that weren’t previously available down under.

By 2001, MECCA was leading the way with online shopping, enabling beauty enthusiasts to browse and buy their favourite products anytime, anywhere at our dot-com. Six years later, MECCA ventured across international waters to open its doors in Aotearoa (New Zealand).

Beyond beauty retail, MECCA’s commitment to providing the best in beauty has extended into three brands: MECCA COSMETICA, launched in 2003 and thoughtfully crafted by beauty enthusiasts for beauty lovers; MECCA MAX – a collection of vibrant pigments and essential makeup and skincare for all – which emerged in 2017; and in 2022, kit:, a reimagining of the Kit: Cosmetics store concept that offers modern skincare and body care solutions made with premium, plant-derived ingredients and sustainable practices.

How we got here

The Heart of Beauty

MECCA, everywhere! MECCA on the high street, MECCA in the shopping centre and MECCA Flagship deliver on a variety of curated and personalised shopping experiences so that you can explore and enjoy beauty your way. We bring together the world’s most exciting beauty brands – from coveted classics to the latest launches – alongside exceptional service and beauty expertise from our team of highly skilled Makeup, Skin and Fragrance Specialists, who are on hand to make your MECCA experience nothing short of extraordinary. Whether you’re a beauty obsessive or just starting your journey, our feel-good spaces are designed to inspire and unlock a sense of self-care, creativity and love, in all its forms.

Making the World Over

We believe that beauty has the power to change lives. That's why in 2017, we launched our social change program, MECCA M-POWER, which aimed to assist 10,000 girls facing social and financial barriers to complete secondary school. Since achieving that goal in 2022, M-POWER now has a new mission: to create a world where women and girls can thrive and achieve their full potential – a world of possibility and opportunity, regardless of gender.

Through M-POWER, we support a group of over 20 incredible organisations dedicated to creating a future where the next generation can thrive. We strive to fight for women by ensuring their access to education, improving their health, safety and well-being, empowering female-led businesses, supporting women to become financially secure and independent and elevating women's voices in politics and public life. Join us, and together we can make the world over.

More Than Skin Deep

At MECCA, we're committed to being a force for good – within and beyond the beauty industry. Through our sustainability initiative, MECCA M-PACT, we’re transforming our business by building environmental and social sustainability-focused thinking into our operations – from our products and footprint to our brands and suppliers. Together, we can create positive change in our communities, playing our part to make the world a more beautiful place.

The Home of Beauty Education

Education runs deep in our DNA. MECCAversity began as a way for the beauty obsessives on our shop floor to hone and develop their makeup, skin, fragrance and hair skills and has since evolved into the education model at the epicentre of all we do. Then, in 2023, we handed MECCAversity over to you! This online learning platform will revolutionise the way you learn about beauty, with introductory lessons from our expert team and in-depth masterclasses led by industry innovators, founders and pro-artists. And this is just the beginning – stay tuned for specialist courses that go beyond beauty that will help you look, feel, and, most importantly, be your best!