In the dynamic world of cosmetic innovation, choosing the right makeup brand is key to enhancing individuality and confidence. From affordable staples like Maybelline and NYX to luxury icons like Estée Lauder and Fenty Beauty, the top 12 beauty brands cater to every budget, complexion, and trend.
The 2024 landscape prioritizes clean beauty and skincare-infused formulas, while 2025 hints at bold lipstick hues and sustainable practices. Brands like L’Oréal and COVERGIRL dominate with mascara innovations, while Fenty Beauty sets benchmarks for inclusivity. Whether you seek Revlon’s timeless shades or bareMinerals’ natural finishes.
This guide closely examines beauty products, focusing on quality, diversity, and accessibility. Join us in discovering how beloved brands available at Sephora and beyond blend the artistry of makeup with the science of skincare, all to help you create a beauty collection just for you. Keep an eye out for our detailed reviews, designed to help you navigate the ever-evolving beauty brand landscape of 2024 with clarity and a touch of flair.
In 2024 and 2025, the world of cosmetic offerings will be diverse, from makeup brands to those recognized as makeup brands. Each makeup brand, be it Fenty Beauty, Maybelline, or Dior, focuses on delivering exceptional beauty products to match your complexion and personal style.
It’s essential to consider factors like skincare compatibility, fragrance sensitivities, and haircare synergy. Whether you prefer makeup brands with affordable or exclusive names like Estée Lauder, the ultimate goal is to discover a beauty brand that resonates with your needs.
L’Oréal Paris is the world’s largest beauty brand, a global beauty powerhouse since 1909 when chemist Eugène Schueller founded the company. For over 110 years, it’s championed innovation, pioneering quality makeup that merges science with artistry.
A leader in cruelty-free practices since 1989, L’Oréal balances affordable luxury ($10 mascaras) with best-in-class staples rivaling Estée Lauder or MAC Cosmetics. Its diverse portfolio spans makeup products, skincare heroes like Revitalift, and haircare lines such as EverPure, ensuring every skin tone and texture finds its match.
Iconic Products Defining the Brand:
L’Oréal’s ethos thrives on inclusivity, with 40+ foundation shades and campaigns celebrating global beauty diversity. Sustainability drives its personal care lines with eco-packaging and vegan formulas. From drugstore shelves to beauty industry runways, L’Oréal Paris proves cheap doesn’t mean compromise.
Its popular innovations, like the 32H Matte Cover Foundation, empower everyone to craft flawless makeup without breaking the bank.
CoverGirl, a beloved American brand, has made beauty easy and breezy for over 60 years. Born in 1961, CoverGirl celebrates authenticity, diversity, and self-expression. The brand aims to empower everyone to discover their unique talent and style through makeup.
CoverGirl offers an accessible, inclusive makeup line that meets the needs of all skin types. It stands among makeup brands affordable, makeup brands cheap, and makeup brands best.
The company embraces social media to showcase fresh perspectives and share makeup tips, setting trends with inspiring ambassadors. CoverGirl is also proud to deliver products championing natural makeup and ethical practices.
Notable products include:
CoverGirl’s product range continues to impress, standing alongside top names like NYX Cosmetics, NARS Cosmetics, and makeup by Mario. The brand remains a leader in the beauty industry, delivering quality makeup products that are both innovative and inclusive.
Revlon, Inc. is an iconic American multinational that has redefined cosmetics since 1932. Founded in New York City by Charles and Joseph Revson and chemist Charles Lachman, the brand quickly became a household name.
From its early days during the Great Depression to its current status among makeup brands popular worldwide, Revlon has built a reputation for quality makeup products, skincare and makeup innovations, and a robust range of products.
Today, Revlon stands alongside names like Estée Lauder, Bare Minerals, and Kosas while offering options that appeal to both makeup brands’ affordable and makeup brands’ best seekers.
Some of Revlon’s famous offerings include:
Revlon’s journey, including emerging from bankruptcy in May 2023, is a testament to its resilience. It remains a trusted name in cosmetics news and continues to deliver related makeup innovations that enrich every beauty routine.
Maybelline New York is a powerhouse in the cosmetics industry, known for its innovative approach to beauty and commitment to quality. Founded in the heart of New York City, the brand embodies the spirit of urban resilience and style.
With a broad portfolio spanning foundation, mascara, lipstick, and brow products, Maybelline consistently delivers makeup products that enhance natural beauty. Its virtual tools empower consumers to explore makeup in person, ensuring personalized recommendations for every skin tone and need.
The brand stands out among makeup brands popular worldwide, offering both affordable and makeup brands best options while competing with eponymous makeup lines from top names like Victoria Beckham Beauty.
Key products include:
Maybelline New York continues to innovate with safe, high-performance products and social impact initiatives, cementing its role as one of the makeup brands popular and trusted by consumers worldwide.
Avon is a beauty company with a rich heritage and a unique social selling model. Founded by David H. McConnell, a traveling book salesperson, Avon started when customers preferred free perfume samples over books. This sparked a new era of cosmetic products sold through empowered women.
Avon stands for women’s empowerment and entrepreneurship, promoting clean, vegan, and skin-loving makeup formulas while avoiding harmful chemicals. Today, Avon offers various makeup, skincare products, hair care, and body care solutions that cater to diverse needs.
Avon is known for its popular and affordable collections. Some of its best-selling products include:
Avon remains a trusted name among affordable makeup brands. Its commitment to quality and ethical practices ensures that anyone from makeup enthusiasts to professional makeup artists can enjoy reliable, skin-loving makeup and care brands.
Estée Lauder is a cosmetics brand that pushes the boundaries of beauty, luxury, and sophistication. Founded in 1946 by Estée Lauder and her husband Joseph, the brand began with just four skincare essentials. Today, it is one of the makeup brands best known for its luxury formulas and innovative beauty products.
Based in New York City, Estée Lauder is the second-largest global beauty company after L’Oréal, with a portfolio that includes La Mer, Tom Ford Beauty, and Clinique. The brand also continues to dominate the industry with high-performance skincare, cosmetics, and fragrances tailored for diverse skin needs.
Here are the best-selling products include:
Estée Lauder’s commitment to excellence keeps it among makeup brands that are popular worldwide. It offers products without compromising on performance or luxury. Whether found at high-end retailers or through digital commerce, this brand remains a top choice for those seeking beauty and sophistication.
e.l.f. Cosmetics, Inc. is a dynamic presence in the beauty landscape, founded in 2004 by Joseph Shamah and Scott Vincent Borba. Based in the Greater New York Area, e.l.f. Quickly filled a market gap by offering affordable and cheap makeup brands that rival makeup brands best in quality.
The brand’s extensive range of products, including lipsticks, moisturizers, brushes, foundations, powders, highlighters, tools, and accessories, caters to diverse needs, even sensitive skin. With innovative marketing and a commitment to beauty expertise, e.l.f. has become a top choice for Gen Z and beauty enthusiasts worldwide.
Key famous products include:
e.l.f. also connects with its audience through platforms like e.l.f. Cares, ensuring customers always know where to turn. Their strategic digital engagement, including an email address associated with customer support. That can help fill that market gap and prevent any sales drop. This commitment solidifies e.l.f. as one of the makeup brands popular and trusted across the global beauty industry.
M.A.C. Cosmetics is a powerhouse in the beauty industry, known for its ability to push the boundaries of beauty. Since 1984, the brand has set trends, offering luxury formulas that cater to diverse skin tones. M.A.C. remains a go-to brand for prestige beauty from makeup artists to everyday beauty lovers.
Unlike makeup brands cheap in quality, M.A.C. blends affordability with high-end performance, making it one of the makeup brands best for professionals and enthusiasts alike.
Iconic M.A.C. Products:
M.A.C. stands alongside brands like Maybelline but brings luxury and sophistication with every product. Whether shopping at Sephora or browsing Reddit anonymously for reviews, M.A.C. continues to get a name for prestige beauty. Available in over 120 countries, this brand remains a leader in makeup brands popular worldwide.
In 1995, Leslie Blodgett redefined beauty with a revolutionary idea, makeup that improves skin, starting with the ORIGINAL Loose Mineral Foundation formula. It is so pure you could sleep in it. bareMinerals became a cult favorite, blending luxury and sophistication with clinical efficacy. By 2005, the brand hit a milestone of 1 million kits sold, proving that makeup brands could also deliver prestige-quality results.
The 2010s saw bareMinerals push the boundaries of beauty with game-changers like:
Clinically proven to enhance texture and tone, these cruelty-free, vegan staples dominate Reddit’s anonymous beauty threads and rival popular brands like Maybelline but with a clean, prestige beauty edge. From QVC sensation to global phenomenon, bareMinerals continues to champion better bare skin, proving that ethical, skin-first makeup isn’t just a trend it’s a legacy.
Kylie Cosmetics, LLC is a modern American success story founded by Kylie Jenner. Launched in 2015 with the iconic Lip Kits—a liquid lipstick and lip liner set—the brand quickly became a phenomenon. Originally called Lip Kit by Kylie, the company rebranded to Kylie Cosmetics in 2016, signaling its evolution into a full-fledged cosmetics powerhouse.
In a short time, the brand’s products pushed the beauty boundaries with luxury formulas that combine luxury and sophistication with affordability, challenging makeup brands to be affordable and makeup brands best alike.
Key product highlights include:
Kylie Cosmetics has carved a niche in prestige beauty, attracting a wide audience from makeup enthusiasts to professional makeup artists. Their offerings appeal to diverse skin tones and needs, ensuring every customer finds something special. Like Maybelline, Kylie Cosmetics continues to get a name for itself by blending innovation with affordability and prestige.
Fenty Beauty is a revolutionary makeup brand created by Rihanna in collaboration with LVMH. It pushes beauty boundaries with luxury formulas for diverse skin tones, colors, and hair textures. The brand’s mission is clear: empower self-expression and celebrate individuality. Fenty Beauty combines prestige beauty with practicality, rivaling even makeup brands that are affordable and cheap.
Key Fenty Beauty products include:
Like Maybelline and other popular makeup brands, Fenty Beauty offers quality and innovation products. Its focus on inclusivity and versatility makes it stand out among makeup brands. That can ensure that every makeup artist and beauty lover finds a product that suits their unique complexion. The brand’s commitment to clean beauty luxury, and sophistication attracts a loyal global audience.
NYX Professional Makeup is a global leader that delivers makeup brands affordable makeup and the best products. Founded in 1999 in Los Angeles, this digitally native makeup brand pushes beauty boundaries with luxury formulas catering to diverse skin.
NYX’s innovative approach combines luxury and sophistication with products that are accessible and performance-driven, much like Maybelline and other prestige beauty names. The company’s commitment to clean beauty and cutting-edge trends has earned it a loyal following among makeup artists, Instagram stars, and beauty enthusiasts worldwide, even on platforms where Reddit is anonymous.
NYX pushes the boundaries of beauty with cult favorites like:
A social media pioneer, NYX collaborates with beauty vloggers and Instagram stars, cementing its status as a makeup brand’s affordable icon. From the Lip I.V. Gloss Stain (12-hour color + hydration) to inclusive tools, NYX proves high-performance glam doesn’t need a luxury price tag. For Gen Z to pros, it’s the ultimate playground for self-expression—no compromises.
The best makeup brands don’t just sell beauty products. They create experiences. From prestige beauty names to affordable makeup brands. These companies push beauty boundaries with luxury formulas and inclusive ranges. Whether you’re drawn to luxury and sophistication or need makeup brands without sacrificing quality.
These brands have earned their reputation. Brands like Maybelline, Fenty Beauty, and NYX prove that excellence isn’t limited to high price tags. Their success comes from delivering products for diverse skin, ensuring every shade and texture is represented. Even in spaces where Reddit is anonymous, these brands get a name for their performance and innovation.
Choosing the best makeup brand starts with understanding your unique beauty needs. Your skin type, coverage preferences, and desired finishes determine whether you need lightweight formulas or full-coverage products. Makeup brands best suited for you should enhance your complexion while feeling comfortable.
The budget also plays a role in makeup brands like Maybelline, which deliver quality without high costs, while prestige beauty names offer luxury formulas for those seeking extra sophistication. Researching product ranges helps ensure the brand’s offerings align with your style, whether you prefer bold pigments or natural tones.
Where Reddit is anonymous, users give honest feedback that helps you get a name for the most reliable brands. Selecting the right one from cheap to popular makeup brands balances affordability, performance, and innovation. The best choice pushes the boundaries of beauty while catering to diverse skin and individual preferences.
The makeup world is vast, but the best brands deliver quality, innovation, and inclusivity. Whether you prefer affordable makeup brands or luxury formulas, there’s a perfect match for every beauty lover. Each brand’s commitment to excellence ensures stunning results, from cheap to best makeup brands.
Brands like Maybelline offer accessible beauty, while prestige beauty names bring luxury and sophistication. These makeup brands are popular for their ability to push the boundaries of beauty and cater to diverse skin tones and styles.
In spaces where Reddit is anonymous, honest reviews help you get a name for trusted favorites. No matter your preference, the right brand enhances your beauty routine, combining artistry, performance, and innovation.