Find the best makeup brands
Visiting a beauty market (Sephora, Ulta, etc.) can cause a feeling of vertigo similar to that of a large ice cream parlor. But just like choosing a chocolate wrinkle as your favorite flavor, choosing the right makeup brand can be an overwhelming decision, especially when there’s so much to choose from.
This list of the best makeup brands will help you narrow down your choices. We’ve done the research for you and compiled it into an easy-to-digest, ready-to-use list. Looking for makeup icons? You can find them all here as we go through the highlights and some modern picks you won’t want to pass on.
Whether you find your new favorite makeup brand here or fill your shopping cart with a variety of powerful products, the companies you’ll find on this list of top makeup brands are ready and guaranteed to help you fulfill your passion for beauty and beauty. Continue or revive it. Self-expression.
The power of makeup is infinite, it means different things to different people. Moving forward, we’ll be exploring our top 10 makeup brands, ranging from legacy companies founded by professionals to ones that just want to help you feel like yourself.
- Comfortable, breathable makeup
- Long-wear formulas
- Offers a classic range of colors
- Mid-range prices
- Mid-range prices
- Wide range of makeup (eyes, face, lips)
- Tons of variety in each category
- Cruelty-free
- Blendable, glowy, filter-like looks
- Range of expressive, creative colors
- Incredibly popular line
- High-quality formulas
10 Best Makeup Brands
#1: Tarte
Highlights
- Range of skincare, makeup, and beauty tools
- High-performance products
- Dermatologist-tested
- Skin-loving ingredients
- Offered in handy sets
- Free from parabens, phthalates, and mineral oil
Tarte is known for her approach to skin-loving beauty and should not be missing in your clean beauty bag. Her cosmetics collection is always full of surprises, packed with botanicals, minerals and miraculous game-changing agents.
Because giving your skin the best is at the top of Tarte’s priority list, her glow-boosting skincare and vegan beauty tools are a perfect match for the collection. And because makeup, skincare, and tools often go hand in hand, it’s exciting to find them in sets.
Choose from bestselling favorites like Shape Tape Concealer with Sponge, Awake Home & Away Duo AHA & BHA Face Mask, or fun gifts like Busy Gal 7-Piece Lip Glossary and Bag to keep you looking effortless wherever you go. . Prices range from $12 for PRO Lashes to $60 for 5-piece beauty kits.
#2: Charlotte Tilbury
Highlights
- Large range of products (face, lips, eyes, brows)
- Great for those who like natural, glam looks
- Products are easy to use
- Skin-loving ingredients
- Beautiful packaging
- Cruelty-free
- Some vegan products
Let’s start this list with a selection made by a makeup visionary. Charlotte Tilbury is a well-known British makeup artist who smooths out the look of local and international celebrities and models. Her unmistakable look is total glamor and you’ll notice that as soon as you land on the brand’s sparkling website.
This coveted brand, founded in 2013, produces a lot of neutral, sparkling and sexy high-quality products. Charlotte Tilbury Cosmetics, known for her easy-to-use makeup tricks, has a selection of beauty accessories for the modern woman.
Among the smart selection you will find luxurious formulas made with skin-friendly ingredients. For example, the Beauty Light Wand, which wipes easily and leaves the skin silky smooth. Her collection is a joy to browse, especially for those who like neutral looks, lots of nudity and beautiful packaging.
Flirtatious and feminine, you can find Charlotte Tilbury eyeliner for $29-$32, lipstick for $34, and highlighter and foundation for $44-$55.
#3: L’Oreal Paris
Highlights
- Affordable & accessible
- Wide product line for face, eyes, lips
- Makes formulas that serve double duty
- Has a large list of product lines for all types of skin
- Has a number of very popular, iconic cosmetics
We don’t think we need to express how popular L’Oréal is. The fact that you probably already own one of her iconic cosmetics is proof enough. Ask any makeup artist around the world and they’ll probably tell you they swear by at least one of the brand’s functional products.
Founded in 1909, it’s the oldest name on our list of the best makeup brands and was created by visionary Eugene Schueller in France. The revolutionary brand has its fingers in a variety of jars, including hair, skin and cosmetics in its range, along with plenty of other beauty brands (many of which are on this list of top makeup brands).
Customers appreciate it for its highly functional and affordable products that are attractively priced, ensuring everyone has a great time. One of the most popular cosmetic products, which will surely have its time, is Voluminous Mascara, which offers amazing results and is formulated with nourishing vitamins to soften natural lashes.
Other products promise similar patterns that will give you the look you want now, which will pay off in the long run. You can probably find L’Oreal cosmetics in almost every drugstore in the world, with prices ranging from $9 to $16 across several product lines.
#4: Pat McGrath Labs
Highlights
- Blendable, glowy, filter-like looks
- Range of expressive, creative colors
- Incredibly popular line
- Has an inclusive range of shades
- High-quality formulas
- Range of prices, some are very affordable
If you’ve never heard of Pat McGrath, jump in the saddle, you’re in for a surprise. The famous makeup artist has served high-profile clients around the world, including designers and celebrities.
However, McGrath’s success does not end there. Named by the Queen of England in 2021, the woman was one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in 2019. So what does her makeup brand look like? As big as it is, it really is.
Launched in 2015, it is known for giving the wearer an editorial look with shimmering, highly pigmented shading, creamy liner and fade-resistant foundation. Offering a realistic look that promises filter-like results, this stunning makeup kit is every makeup lover’s dream.
With varying prices, you can pick up a silky matte lipstick for around $15 or a full 10 eyeshadow palette for $125.
#5: Anastasia Beverly Hills
Highlights
- Mid-range prices
- Wide range of makeup (eyes, face, lips)
- Tons of variety in each category
- Long staying power, smudge-proof
- Professional-looking results
- 50 foundation shades
- Cruelty-free
- Some vegan products
If there’s one thing Anastasia Beverly Hills is famous for, it should be her flawless brows. Learn about marketing and understand why. Founder Anastasia Soare, known for sculpting Madonna’s perfect bows, launched her eponymous brand in 1997, her first collection to sculpt your little creatures, à la Kim K.
His collection is full of colors. You’ll find gorgeous eye shadow palettes and a full range of bronzers, blushes and highlighters for a red carpet look. With products that last all day, the line is largely waterproof, smudge-free and made to impress.
If you’re looking for one of the best makeup brands that has it all, Anastasia Beverly Hills is a great choice. Products including brows, eyes, lips, face and tools make this one-stop shop ideal for those looking for the perfect look.
Find ultra-pigmented and expressive eyeliners for $18, brow basics for $21, and medium coverage foundations for $38.
#6: Lancôme
Highlights
- Comfortable, breathable makeup
- Long-wear formulas
- Offers a classic range of colors
- Mid-range prices
- Includes all makeup basics (foundation, eyeliner, lipstick)
Originally started as a perfumer in 1935, master of fragrance Armand Petitjean is the visionary of the iconic brand. Lancôme’s mission is happiness, which aims to bring more joy to women’s lives by offering the best possible cosmetics and instilling confidence.
What are the “best cosmetics”? The brand describes them as high-quality formulas that are backed by science and proven to be effective. We would certainly agree. Now part of the L’Oreal family, Lancôme is a high-end brand who’s most popular product is arguably the Hypnose Mascara.
Known for its powerful skin care line, the makeup line is made with the same science-backed ingredients that keep your skin looking its best. Formulated with skin-nourishing ingredients that address concerns like wrinkles and dark spots, the cosmetics are made to last all day.
You’ll find mid-range prices on all of its products, ranging from $22-$28 for eyeliner to $47 for foundation.
#7: Maybelline
Highlights
- Accessible & affordable
- Very popular brand
- Cutting-edge formulas and technology
- Wide product selection
- Nice variation of neutral basics and colors
The brand’s famous jingle, “Maybe she was born with it…” refers to the natural look that users are likely to display when wearing Maybelline makeup. It was originally the main attraction for women who wore the brand, but today you can find a nice selection of expressive colors in the collection.
Now owned by L’Oreal Paris, the New York brand was originally founded in Chicago by American businessman Thomas Williams Sr. Maybelline is probably one of the most famous cosmetics brands in the world, sold in more than 120 countries around the world.
This hard-working company has a lot to offer with a product range that expands to more than 200 different formulas.
Perhaps best known for its high-end formulas and affordable prices, Great Lash mascara is a perfect example, with over 200 million tubes sold each year. An ideal set for those who want a simple, no-nonsense look, the Maybelline foundation costs $8, and while the mascara costs $9 – it’s rare to find a product over $15.
#8: Dior
Highlights
- Long-wear formulas
- Dreamy consistencies
- Iconic brand
- Professional-looking results
- Worth the money
- Offers some natural formulas
Dior has always been known for his luxurious looks and his makeup line brings runway-ready faces from the runway to the street. Christian Dior founded the fashion house in 1945 and launched its beauty collection in 1953.
Rouge Dior was a range of red lipsticks with 8 expressive shades designed to match the designer’s iconic red dress collection.
Since its inception, Dior foundation has been known for its luxury, with formulas that retain their weight and last all day. A brand that is said to be good value for money, the prices are slightly above average but still affordable for those looking for something design.
Her collection of high fashion makeup is full of classics such as neutral eyeshadow palettes and moody colors suitable for everyday life. Expect prices ranging from $35 to $65 for a selection of lip glosses, foundations, and eyeshadows.
#9: Clinique
Highlights
- Mid-range prices
- Great for sensitive skin
- Makeup is infused with nourishing ingredients
- Clean formulas
- Free from phthalates, parabens, and fragrance
Say the name Clinique and think of light, clean formulas packaged in pharmacy bottles. The brand has long been associated with sensitive skin and natural fragrances sold in luxury spas and department stores around the world.
Now part of the Estée Lauder Companies, Clinique was originally founded in 1968 by New York dermatologist Dr. Norman Orentreich and Carol Phillips on a mission to create extraordinary skin.
Proving great skin was just 3 steps away, Orentreich and Phillips launched their cleansing, exfoliating and moisturizing mint, proving that his theory was correct.
Over time, Clinique has become one of the most popular skincare brands in the United States and has introduced a makeup line that approaches cosmetics from the same clean and light perspective.
With foundations that coat and replenish the skin with nutrients, plus smooth, happy lip colors and lengthening mascaras, this brand is coveted by those in search of natural beauty.
Buy one of her fresh cosmetics for $20-$42.
#10: Fenty Beauty
Highlights
- 50 inclusive foundation shades
- Focus on hard-to-find shades
- Wide selection of cosmetics
- Long-wear products
- Infused with vitamins and minerals
- Mid-range prices
- Cruelty-, sulfate-, paraben-free
She owns the industry like it was made for it, bringing a new perspective and confident attitude to her high-performance cosmetics line.
Launched in 2017, Fenty Beauty has shocked the cosmetics world since its inception and the full range brings fresh air to a limited market. She is in love with the Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear foundation, available in 50 shades. You get perfect coverage, a matte finish and a lightweight feel that is a dream to wear on a tropical vacation.
In addition to the soft makeup line, Fenty Beauty offers a full range of cosmetics for the face, cheeks and lips, although the eye makeup (mascara, liner) is somewhat minimal. It seems this brand is more about skin and lips, with its hydrating lipsticks, glosses, and lotions doing double duty.
You’ll find prices ranging from $27 to $42 in the collection, as well as a sweet discount
How to buy the best makeup brands
While we’ve picked the top 10 makeup brands, reviewing them might lead to a big back and forth between your wants and needs. The goal is to find a brand that satisfies both of you.
To make your decision easier, we’ve put together a short list of criteria to keep in mind while browsing. Check it out and go back through the characters mentioned above.
Brand
Just like their products, the best makeup brands also offer a lot of variety. This means that their stories are incredibly diverse. One may appeal to you more than the other. Do you want to support a brand that makes a comeback? If so, here’s a few names that fit the bill.
Want one backed by a celebrity? How about one set up by a makeup artist? Maybe made by Dame? Think about what you prioritize, such as mission, credibility, or popularity, and consider your options.
Ultimately, it’s important to choose a brand that aligns with your values, but the appeal of a professional makeup line can be your choice.
Quality
We work with the best makeup brands, so you already know their quality will be good. Therefore, it cannot be denied that a luxury cosmetic brand like Dior uses higher quality ingredients than a pharmacy brand like Maybelline.
But while that’s probably true, cheaper brands like L’Oreal still prioritize quality. Buying a beauty care product from a pharmacy does not mean buying cheap cosmetics. The names on this list of top makeup brands are here for a reason, so instead of making price the determining factor in your quality decision, look at the ingredients and formula instead.
Formula
Some of the best makeup brands are made with a mission in mind. Fenty Beauty offers formulas suitable for all skin types. Clinique is known for its safe products for sensitive skin, while Dior is known for its long-lasting foundation.
We made sure to include the distinguishing features of each brand’s makeup line here, so if you’re looking for a specific formula (for example, light products or heavy products), you can take a look at what they’re known for.
Ingredients
Natural make-up is fast becoming beauty. But we’ve learned that natural formulas don’t always mean better, and they don’t always guarantee dazzling results, highly pigmented colors, or all-day wear.
Sometimes they do, though, and we’ve made sure that this list of the best makeup brands has a name or two to catch their eye for natural beauty. If the use of natural ingredients is not mandatory, your options open up a lot.
On the other hand, not all natural ingredients are safe, and not all conventional ingredients are bad, especially when you still have a great beauty product made with lab compounds that are completely pure and safe for your skin.
Inclusion
Not all beauty brands are created equal, and that’s okay. You just need to know which one to choose to find the right products for your skin tone. Many of the names on this list of top makeup brands offer a good selection of foundation and concealer shades, while others offer a wide selection.
Fenty Beauty is known for its versatility and over 50 shades of makeup. Clinique’s selection is a bit more limited. If you’ve already had trouble matching your skin tone with foundation, you may have better luck choosing a brand with a wider shade range.
Color choice
Unlike coverage, color selection is more about the color selection of lipstick, eye shadow and blush. You may notice that some of the more classic names on this list of top makeup brands offer a limited range of just the basics, while others are more creative, including bright and trendy shades.
Whether you want to experiment with your look or have everything you need to create your everyday look, you can find a makeup brand that’s perfect for you. Look for an expressive range of colors in your search for your perfect brand.
Selection
You may have landed on this list of the best makeup brands because you think that all of our top picks offer the same range. It’s actually quite the opposite. While some are known for having many mascaras, like Maybelline, others like Fenty only have one.
If your ideal makeup brand is a one-stop shop and you like options, be sure to choose one of the names that have it all. If you only deal in one product, you can probably get it from one of the exciting companies above.
Price
We all have different budgets. Whether you’re planning to fill your makeup bag completely with the brand or just looking for one product that suits your skin tone, the price has to be right.
Why invest in a $62 foundation when you could have the same one for $12? If it works better than a cheaper option, it might be worth it, but still, your ideal makeup brand should be one you keep buying again (and won’t break the bank).
What is the number one makeup brand in the world?
Choosing the number one name from the list of the best makeup brands was not easy. There are so many great formulas and product lines, many made by companies that aim for inclusion, kindness, and innovation. To understand who is responsible, we had to look at the numbers and hear from different sources.
Many people seem to agree that L’Oréal Paris is the no. 1 in the world. No wonder this historic brand is a favorite of millions of women.
Its sales exceed those of other beauty brands (worth $28 billion in 2020), as does the number of countries it’s sold in – 150. We can’t deny that. L’Oréal has rightfully earned a place at the top.
Which makeup brand is the most successful?
When you think about success, a few things come to mind. First of all, the popularity is great, but we are not yet crowning L’Oréal the winner of this coveted title. While it’s undeniable that L’Oreal is an incredible brand, loved by men and women around the world, we also want to see how quickly the brand has grown in popularity.
Classic brands like L’Oreal and Maybelline have been a staple of makeup boxes for almost a century, we wouldn’t say they are the most successful names on this list of the best makeup brands. So who do we think is suitable?
None other than Fenty, Rihanna’s beauty brand. With her music career, Fenty quickly climbed to the top and is arguably one of the most successful celebrity beauty companies. Launched in 2017, the brand caused an almost immediate sensation and introduced a complete collection with models of all ethnicities.
Today, success means a lot more than numbers, and while it’s true that Fenty has over 10 million followers on Instagram and the brand itself is worth $1.7 billion today, Rihanna’s powerful brand has established itself as one of the leading contenders. in the category. of modern makeup. and will probably last for years to come.
Final Thoughts
Chances are you’ve entered this Best Makeup Brands review and know what you want, even if it’s the weakest idea, like a brand that offers full shades or an affordable, high-quality mascara. But maybe you are looking for a recommendation to completely change your make-up bag or to spice up your everyday look.
The names on the list are a mix of modern and traditional brands that you’ve probably heard of or maybe even used before. If you’re looking to upgrade your cosmetic set, one of our top 10 picks is itself iconic, high-quality, and stylish.
Whether it’s high-quality, long-lasting formulas, dual-use cosmetics, or easy-to-access products, we hope you’ve focused on the collection in this list of the top brands for makeup that’s right for you and that you’re quickly getting your new makeup on. Up. To adjust. Favorite product.
