The 30 Absolute Best Makeup Brands and Products, According to Ipsters

We all have those holy grail products—you know, the ones you discover by chance, can’t believe you’ve lived your whole life without, and then can’t wait to introduce your friends to. Ipsters get it; after all, when you’re part of a community like this one, finding new faves and raving about your favorite product discoveries is a regular occurrence.

Whether you want to see how your favorites compare, are looking to discover a new product, or just want to see what Ipsters are saying about their Glam Bag tries, we’ve rounded up the best makeup products and brands according to what Ipsters are loving right now.

1. NARS COSMETICS

89.30% 4-5 Heart

You probably discovered NARS Blush in Orgasm years ago on your own, but when you came to IPSY, you quickly learned how much more this brand has to offer. One of the most raved about and reviewed NARS products is the Powermatte Lip Pigment. Ipsters love that it stays on all day (even under masks!)—and the shade Starwoman is so bright, bold, and pigmented, it may just become your new signature statement lip.

2. ORIGINS

88.00% 4-5 Heart

ORIGINS takes regular products (like SPF tint, masks, and primers) and gives them something extra. We’re talking soothing vitamins, cooling technology for hot summer days, and even two-in-one clay masks. ORIGINS Original Skin Pore-Perfecting Cooling Primer is one of those products that will totally change your routine, because once you discover a primer you love, you never wear makeup without it. This one starts as an airy mousse and transforms into a primer that actually cools skin on contact. It’s the perfect smoothing base for your CC cream, BB cream, or foundation.

2. P/Y/T BEAUTY

87.40% 4-5 Heart

P/Y/T BEAUTY is known for creating long-lasting and highly pigmented shadow colors that work for even the most sensitive eyelids, thanks to formulas that are cruelty-free, hypoallergenic, and free of harsh chemicals. This mini quad shadow palette is the perfect mix of base neutrals and glam contours. Throw it in your smallest purses for touch-ups throughout the day or for those special occasions when you need to throw together an unexpected date-night look.

4. CHRISTOPHE ROBIN

86.80% 4-5 Heart

It’s 2022, and people are finally paying attention to scalp health. Anyone who experiences dandruff knows how important this part of the body is, but the rest of us are just catching on. Keeping an exfoliated and hydrated scalp is important to the overall health of your hair, and no one knows that better than CHRISTOPHE ROBIN. The brand’s Cleansing and Purifying Salt Scrub for the scalp is an Ipster's best friend—and the reviews prove it. One Ipster said “my hair has never felt better,” and we really couldn’t have said it better ourselves.

5. BOBBI BROWN COSMETICS

86.30% 4-5 Heart

BOBBI BROWN is the queen of getting eyes to pop, and since she’s been a mainstay makeup artist since the ’90s, she knows what works and what doesn’t. BOBBI BROWN Eye Opening Mascara is the only product you need to make your eyes pop, and it doesn’t require a primer. The jumbo brush and carbon black formula work together to create dramatic, fanned out lashes you’ll be fluttering all day long.

6. AISLING ORGANICS

86.10% 4-5 Heart

It’s not always easy to find organic, cruelty-free makeup brushes, but our search is over thanks to AISLING ORGANICS. Not only are all of their products vegan and cruelty-free, but the brand’s Eco-Luxe Dual-Ended Eyeshadow brush gives back to charity. A portion of their proceeds go to Lipstick Angels, an organization that provides beauty services to cancer patients.

7. STILA COSMETICS

85.90% 4-5 Heart

STILA COSMETICS is basically synonymous with long-lasting, epic lip colors at this point. Just ask Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who we know is a fan. STILA COSMETICS Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick is beloved by Ipsters and beauty editors alike for its longevity, comfort, and ultra-pigmented formula. All you need is a thin layer for eye-popping color.

8. HEMPZ

85.80% 4-5 Heart

Why use regular body lotion when you can use body lotion enhanced with crystals, quartz, and other minerals? HEMPZ Citrine Crystal and Quartz Body Lotion is the holy grail of soft, supple skin products. It also contains 100 percent pure hemp seed oil, which is rich in fatty acids and amino acids that act like a shield to protect your skin from pollution.

9. SUNTIQUE

85.60% 4-5 Heart

SPF is an essential part of any skin care and makeup routine, and SUNTIQUE makes it easy to seamlessly work it into your process. The brand’s I’m Pure Perfect Cica Suncream is EWG green and infused with centella asiatica (a.k.a. cica), meaning it’s soothing enough for all the sensitive skin types out there.

10. MORPHE

85.50% 4-5 Heart

MORPHE was likely one of the first brands to teach you that you need different shaped brushes for different parts of the eye. Since then, the brand has become synonymous with functional makeup brushes and, of course, YouTube tutorials. MORPHE’s 3-Piece Brush Set comes with three different-sized blender brushes that blend your layered eyeshadow into a flawless, glam look—and it gets bonus points for being cruelty-free!

11. IT'S A 10 HAIRCARE

85.30% 4-5 Heart

Leave-in treatments are one of our fave easy ways to get flawless hair without having to blow-dry or style. IT’S A 10 HAIRCARE Miracle Leave-in Product is infused with green tea leaf extract and silk amino acids to both help repair hair that’s been previously damaged and also help prevent new breakage. It’s a 10/10 from us, y’all.

12. F.A.R.A.H BRUSHES

85.30% 4-5 Heart

F.A.R.A.H. BRUSHES took your typical makeup tools and made them ultra chic. With the gold hardware and pointed ends, these makeup brushes are ones you’ll actually be excited to display on your vanity. F.A.R.A.H. BRUSHES 160F Face Brush will be your go-to for applying everything from liquid foundation and blush to bronzer and powder. Even if you’re used to using beauty sponges (or your hands) to apply your products, this brush will have you discovering a whole new beauty world. It flawlessly helps blend the liquid into and around pores for no empty spots.

13. AWAKE

85.30% 4-5 Heart

AWAKE is TARTE’s sister skincare line, and yes, it’s as good as you’d expect from the infamous creators of the cult-classic Shape Tape Contour Concealer. The AWAKE lip mask works while you sleep and features anti-aging properties from raspberry seed oil and argan oil to protect your lips from free-radical damage.

14. URBAN JUVE PROVISIONS INC.

85.20% 4-5 Heart

You can never have enough lip balms, but you can make sure they’re all URBAN JUVE PROVISIONS if you want that soothing and cooling sensation that peppermint oil gives you. This brand’s formulas are also entirely plant-based, so they make the perfect vegan, cruelty-free option for winter (or summer!) chapped lips.

15. KAZU BEAUTY

84.90% 4-5 Heart

Adding 24K gold to your beauty routine is, in fact, as glamorous as it sounds—especially when it’s paired with hydrating hyaluronic acid and actual gold specks that promote firmer, plumper skin, like this sheet mask from KAZU BEAUTY. KAZU BEAUTY is known for its face masks and oils, and adding this mask to your routine is a simple way of doing something just for you. (You deserve it, okay?)

16. YOUTH TO THE PEOPLE

84.70% 4-5 Heart

If we had to give an award for Cutest Brand with Minimalist Packaging, we’d give it to YOUTH TO THE PEOPLE. Each product is also filled with minimalist, natural ingredients (no harsh chemicals here!), so you know this brand means business. YOUTH TO THE PEOPLE Superfood Cleanser is one of their holy grail products, and this a vitamin-rich cleanser is made of leafy greens that help calm red skin, remove toxins, and even out skin tone.

17. AMOREPACIFIC

84.70% 4-5 Heart

AMOREPACIFIC is known for its innovative beauty rituals, and this powder-to-foam cleanser delivers just that. Add a bit of water to turn this product into a foam, which helps to reduce waste and allow you to use less product for more action. It has the strength of an enzyme peel but is gentle enough to use every day—a total win-win.

18. INNISFREE

84.40% 4-5 Heart

Did reading the name INNISFREE just conjure the image of a wall of sheet masks? Same. INNISFREE may be best known for its Korean beauty skincare staples, but it happens to also have a thriving makeup line. INNISFREE uses natural ingredients like green tea extract to create gentle products that pack a big punch, like this intensive hydrating serum crafted with green tea seed.

19. CAOLION

84.20% 4-5 Heart

CAOLION is another K-beauty brand that leads the way on making skincare easy, accessible, and fun. All CAOLION products are free of alcohol, artificial coloring, and fragrances, so you can feel comfortable about the products you put on your face. One of our fave products is the brand’s Blackhead O2 Bubble Pore Pack, which bubbles up as you use it for a tingly facial experience. The product is crafted with walnut shell powder for a gentle, natural exfoliation, while antioxidant-rich ginkgo biloba extract repairs the skin.

20. UOMA BEAUTY

84.10% 4-5 Heart

UOMA BEAUTY is known for unique and innovative products, and its Drama Bomb Extreme Volume mascara is no different. It not only coats and thickens lashes but it also nourishes them with ingredients like avocado, jojoba, and castor oils. You’ll actually strengthen and condition your lashes as you wear this product, which makes it a multitasking must-have in your beauty routine.

21. L'ORÉAL

L'ORÉAL is the world's largest cosmetics company, owning cult-fave makeup brands such as URBAN DECAY, MAYBELLINE NEW YORK, LANCÔME, NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP and hundreds more. But it’s L'ORÉAL’s own makeup products that Ipsters, beauty editors, and makeup artists all love. L'ORÉAL mascara is often priced at under $12 and works as well as its high-end counterpart. Lash Paradise Washable Mascara is even a fave of Zendaya.

22. CLINIQUE

Don’t dismiss the 54-year old CLINIQUE as any old mall makeup brand. It’s a classic for good reason. CLINIQUE hawks stellar eyeliner, concealer, and highlighter—but especially great skincare. Ipsters love the brand’s Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm, which is said to be “fantastic at removing eye makeup/mascara before washing my face.” We’re sold.

23. BOBBI BROWN

Iconic makeup artist Bobbi Brown launched her makeup brand in 1991 and it quickly became a makeup artist staple. She sold the brand in 1995 to Estee Lauder and the team there continues to bang out incredible makeup and skincare under the BOBBI BROWN name. A top fave? The Vitamin Enriched Face Base is a must-have for anyone wanting a flawless foundation base. Ipsters even give it a whopping 4.5 stars.

24. CHANEL BEAUTY

While a CHANEL handbag might not be in your current budget, you can get your hands on a piece of luxury for under $50 with CHANEL BEAUTY. Sure, it’s still pricey but fans say CHANEL BEAUTY’s lipstick, eyeshadow palettes, and nail polish can’t be matched. The brand recently announced a more eco-responsible line called N°1 DE CHANEL and we hear the multi-use Lip and Cheek Balm is worth the price tag.

25. DIOR

French fashion house DIOR is much like YVES SAINT LAURENT or CHANEL in that the clothes and accessories have wild price tags but the makeup and skincare products are almost attainable—if we save up. Currently, beauty lovers on TikTok are obsessed with DIOR’s Dior Addict Lip Glow Oil, a nourishing lip gloss infused with cherry oil. It comes in 10 pretty shades and costs much less than a handbag.

26. LAURA MERCIER

Ask anyone their favorite setting powder and get ready to talk about LAURA MERCIER. It’s one of those cosmetic brands that does many things well—everything from tinted moisturizer to long-wearing eyeshadow—but it’s the brand’s setting powder that gets people talking. Translucent Loose Setting Powder is a silky sheer formula that evens out your skin tone without looking dry, heavy, or cakey. It sets your makeup in place even on the hottest and most humid of days. Yes, it’s that high-performing even against sweat.

27. CHARLOTTE TILBURY

Swipe through any TikTok For You Page and you’ll hear CHARLOTTE TILBURY is one of the best makeup brands out there. The British makeup artist’s beauty brand hawks makeup and skincare products for a natural beauty look or a more dramatic glam. Her Pillow Talk shade of blush, highlight, and lip products is especially popular. To wit, Ipsters say Lip Cheat in Pillow Talk Medium is “the most beautiful lip liner I have ever seen.”

28. M·A·C

Ask any makeup artist the best makeup brands and you’ll hear M·A·C. It’s hard to choose an iconic hero product. Is it the high-shine lip gloss Lipglass? Or maybe the best-selling eyeshadow palettes or the long-wearing lipstick? It’s hard to choose but we have to give Love Me Lipstick in Bated Breath top pick at the moment. Ipsters say it “goes on smooth and doesn’t dry out your lips” and looks great on all skin tones.

29. REVLON

One of the best drugstore makeup brands in the game is REVLON every single time. REVLON mascaras perform at a level twice their price tag—just ask Ipsters. The Bold Lacquer Length & Volume Mascara gets their stamp of approval thanks to its high-shine black fibers that provide the ultimate black, bold definition for volume and length. You can’t ask for much more than that.

30. COVERGIRL

A beauty industry favorite is COVERGIRL, a brand that has been cruelty-free since before it was popular. You can shop almost any makeup or skincare product from COVERGIRL, including foundation. Fans of COVERGIRL go crazy for its full-coverage formulas, as well as its more lightweight options for a natural makeup look. A current best-seller is the Clean Matte BB Cream, a matte version of the hydrating tinted cream everyone loves so much.

Want to try the best makeup products? Get the IPSY Glam Bag! Take our Beauty Quiz now to get started. Already an Ipster? Refer your friends to earn points, which you can use toward products. Either way, don’t forget to check us out on Instagram and Twitter @IPSY.

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