The Best Makeup Brands in the World
There is an abundance of makeup brands out there, but not all can live up to their promise. When it comes to natural, long-wearing makeup that offers clean beauty or wide shade selection, certain cosmetics companies always deliver.
Established in 1984, MAC Cosmetics is one of the oldest makeup brands in America and well-known for their eyeshadow palettes, brushes and celebrity collaborations.
1. Urban Decay
Urban Decay Cosmetics is an iconic cosmetics brand known for iconic products like Vice lipstick and Perversion mascara. Their products allow women to express themselves creatively while remaining cruelty-free; long-wearing, high pigment products designed for long-term wear are long lasting and cruelty free; mobile interaction services available within premium brick-and-mortar stores complete their offerings; passionate fans remain faithful customers eager to try out new offerings from this iconic cosmetics line.
The Naked range from Make Up For Ever includes multiple eyeshadow palettes – particularly their Naked Heat, Cherry and Smoky palettes – which have proven particularly popular. Furthermore, the company produces full coverage foundations and pore reducers to help women look their best.
Though their prices can be somewhat costly, they frequently offer sales and promotions that help lower them. Furthermore, their makeup is cruelty-free – something many consumers appreciate – while beauty experts frequently recommend their products on SiteJabber.
2. Charlotte Tilbury
Charlotte Tilbury is one of the world’s best-known makeup artists, a fixture at Fashion Week and behind-the-scenes for numerous red carpet celebrities (she even created Amal Clooney’s wedding-day look!). When she launched her eponymous beauty line in 2012, she shared all her best-kept secrets in an extensive offering of makeup and skincare.
Her Magic Cream Moisturizer is a best seller, packed with polyglutamic acid (which some consider several times more hydrating than hyaluronic acid), Vitamin C and niacinamide for brightening skin tone. Her Eyes to Mesmerise Cream Eyeshadow comes with beautiful shimmery shades you can wear from daytime through to nighttime wearability.
As I appreciate cruelty-free products, many of her products have earned Leaping Bunny Approval as well. You’ll find them on shelves of luxury department stores, online and beauty counters across the world.
3. Guerlain
Guerlain was founded in Paris by Pierre Francois Pascal Guerlain in 1828 on Rue de Rivoli and was managed as a family business until 1994 when it was sold to LVMH (who also owns Louis Vuitton).
Guerlain has long been revered for their skincare and fragrance offerings, yet they also boast some of the top makeup on the market. Terracotta bronzer is widely considered an industry benchmark while Meteorites orchid pearls create luminosity while evening out skin tone – both exceptional products from this iconic French brand that strive to combine beauty and innovation.
Guerlain is committed to conserving biodiversity, innovating sustainably and making an impactful contribution towards environmental protection. Guerlain represents more than just cosmetics or perfume; it represents a way of life.
4. Giorgio Armani
Giorgio Armani is one of the world’s foremost designers, known for introducing softened minimalist styles into fashion and luxury beauty. His iconic fragrances use only premium ingredients while his haute skincare range combines advanced technologies with exquisite textures.
Armani introduced his A/X project in 1991 in order to enter the American mass market with more affordable clothing inspired by street culture. Additionally, he designed uniforms for sports teams including Italian basketball club Olimpia Milan and Olympic flag bearers in Italy.
Armani’s corporate responsibility can be seen through their approach to the environment, employees and community. Supporting diversity and equal opportunity while being committed to environmental stewardship through its supply chain operations and recyclable material use as well as their brand cause Acqua for Life which provides clean water access in water scarce regions; additionally Armani supports arts through sponsorship of Paris Photo as well as public exhibitions.
5. Huda Beauty
Huda Kattan’s beauty blog has grown into one of the fastest-growing cosmetics brands. Based in Dubai and trained in Los Angeles, she has built her eponymous brand into an empire featuring prestige false lashes, groundbreaking foundations, desirable lipsticks and incredible eyeshadow palettes.
Team Byrdie loves her Golden Sands palette, featuring classic nude hues as well as some more unique options like pale green and turquoise to add a bit of color play. Also worth trying is her bronzing powder which provides a natural-looking glow across skin tones thanks to ultrafine pigments.
Kattan’s target consumer is young and social-media-savvy, so her makeup must keep pace with this dynamic environment. A recent addition is her ‘filter foundation’ designed to act like an Instagram filter by disguising pores and spots using its photogenic formula.
6. Anastasia Beverly Hills
Anastasia Soare, better known by her brand ABH (an acronym for Anastasia Beauty House), founded her namesake salon and product line in 1997 and 2000 respectively. Deliberately inspired by sacred geometry of the Golden Ratio, ABH offers premium cosmetics tailored towards an avid prosumer audience.
From contour palettes to eyeshadows, ABH’s brow and glow products have won the hearts of everyone from celebrities, makeup artists and ordinary consumers alike. Additionally, their products boast one of the largest Instagram pages in beauty industry while their product lines cater for multiple skin tones so there is something suitable for everyone!
Anastasia Beverly Hills Soft Glam eyeshadow palette is an excellent way to achieve a natural yet luxurious look. Boasting 14 vibrant hues that can help you create looks for any occasion – be it casual daily wear or formal events – the Anastasia Beverly Hills Soft Glam palette is also cruelty-free and vegan-friendly!
7. Iman
Iman is a luxurious makeup line dedicated to giving back that offers glamorous yet effective solutions for skin health. Made of only natural ingredients and cruelty-free and hypoallergeniciiiiiiii. Their founder Maureen Kelly discovered many of their top products during eco-travel adventures.
Iman’s products offer makeup tailored specifically for skin of color, helping you look your best while doing good. Their line features high-quality, nourishing products that make each use enjoyable.
Established in 1984, MAC is renowned for being a beloved beauty brand among generations of women. Renowned for their innovative collections and collaborations, MAC stands as a pioneer in makeup artistry.
8. NYX
NYX is an undisputed force in the beauty industry, offering trendy shades, textures, and formulas at highly accessible prices. Launched just prior to the millennium by Toni Ko’s business acumen in 1999, she envisioned NYX as an affordable bridge between high-quality makeup products and their everyday customer price points.
NYX offers glitter and soft mattes to meet every mood and look, including its best-selling brow pencil available in 12 shades to help achieve fuller arches for anyone. Soft Matte Lip Cream provides long-wearing color bursts. Finally, their Can’t Stop Won’t Stop Foundation delivers full coverage with minimal shine for flawless skin.
9. Laura Mercier
This brand is known for producing cosmetics that look natural on all skin tones, with products offering accessories designed to enhance beauty routines and makeup looks.
Laura Mercier products are beloved among women of all backgrounds. From their skin care line that rejuvenates and revives skin to highlighters and contours that accentuate and define features, their products have something for every woman in Laura Mercier.
This brand is owned and managed by an internationally-recognized makeup artist who has collaborated with some of the biggest celebrities. She established her eponymous beauty line in 1996 so women around the globe could access to the same high-quality cosmetics she used on editorial photoshoots and fashion shows – her philosophy being that what makes a woman beautiful should reflect in her makeup line.
10. Bobbi Brown
Bobbi Brown founded her iconic makeup brand, in 1991, with the mission of helping women realize and celebrate their unique beauty. Offering universally flattering products made with superior quality materials that allow each woman to look her best without compromise – just prettier and more confident!
Estee Lauder Companies’ $14.9 billion beauty empire includes Estee Lauder Companies Inc, which is known for creating natural-looking makeup. Their groundbreaking foundation and lipstick color range featured yellow-based hues which revolutionized face makeup during an era when heavy, bold face makeup was in vogue.
Beyond its cosmetics range, this brand also hosts beauty podcasts and MasterClasses as well as running an expansive website. Additionally, they collaborate with Dress for Success to support vulnerable women become self-sufficient while building confidence in themselves and their skills.