About Us


MECCA is no ordinary beauty destination. Since our humble beginnings in Melbourne back in 1997, we've redefined the beauty landscape in Australia and Aotearoa (New Zealand), championing retail innovation and delivering the ultimate beauty experience to our beloved community.
With our fearless founder Jo Horgan at our heart, MECCA has blossomed into Australia’s largest prestige beauty retailer, captivating over 4 million customers every year. We have more than 100 stores scattered across the two countries, as well as online shopping via our website. Our offering? An exclusive curation of over 200 of the best beauty brands in the world.
Today, MECCA is fuelled by a passionate and growing team of more than 6,000 across our Support Centre, Distribution Centre, Customer Care and store network. From the beginning, the MECCA team has shared a devotion to education and equality, and together, we share a common purpose to help you look, feel and be your very best.
We are well on our way to becoming the world's most-loved beauty haven. So, join us on our extraordinary adventure and let the MECCA magic sweep you away!

MECCA is no ordinary beauty destination. Since our humble beginnings in Melbourne back in 1997, we've redefined the beauty landscape in Australia and Aotearoa (New Zealand), championing retail innovation and delivering the ultimate beauty experience to our beloved community.
With our fearless founder Jo Horgan at our heart, MECCA has blossomed into Australia’s largest prestige beauty retailer, captivating over 4 million customers every year. We have more than 100 stores scattered across the two countries, as well as online shopping via our website. Our offering? An exclusive curation of over 200 of the best beauty brands in the world.
Today, MECCA is fuelled by a passionate and growing team of more than 6,000 across our Support Centre, Distribution Centre, Customer Care and store network. From the beginning, the MECCA team has shared a devotion to education and equality, and together, we share a common purpose to help you look, feel and be your very best.
We are well on our way to becoming the world's most-loved beauty haven. So, join us on our extraordinary adventure and let the MECCA magic sweep you away!


At MECCA, we believe that beauty has the power to change lives. That's why, in 2017, we launched our social change program, MECCA M-POWER.
Our mission? To educate, elevate and empower women and girls to create a world where everyone has equal rights and opportunities. Through M-POWER, we support a group of incredible organisations that are dedicated to creating a future where the next generation can thrive. Together, we're the M-POWERED Collective. 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.




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 Australian women to enjoy. In 1997, the first Mecca Cosmetica store opened in South Yarra, offering an expertly curated selection of seven renowned global beauty brands.
By 2001, MECCA was leading the way with online shopping, enabling beauty enthusiasts to browse and buy their favourite products anytime, anywhere. Six years later, MECCA ventured across international waters to open its doors in Ponsonby, Auckland.

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 Australian women to enjoy. In 1997, the first Mecca Cosmetica store opened in South Yarra, offering an expertly curated selection of seven renowned global beauty brands.
By 2001, MECCA was leading the way with online shopping, enabling beauty enthusiasts to browse and buy their favourite products anytime, anywhere. Six years later, MECCA ventured across international waters to open its doors in Ponsonby, Auckland.


Today, there are more than 100 MECCA stores across Australia and 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.
Life is a journey, not a destination, and MECCA's ever-evolving concepts show that anything is possible. Along the way, education has always been critical to what we do – from arming our store teams with key knowledge to demystifying beauty for our customers. In 2017, Jo announced the addition of a new arm to MECCA (and a project very close to her heart): MECCA M-POWER, our social change program, which aimed to assist 10,000 girls facing social and financial barriers to complete secondary school. Since achieving that goal in 2022, it 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.

Want to learn more about MECCA?
