The top 10 best make-up brands

What is a good make-up brand? The answer to this question is of course subjective and depends on one's specific preferences. In our test for the top 10 best make-up brands, we have tried to include as many factors as possible.

Please note that the top 10 below was created by researching the different brands, but not by testing out the products.

Choosing from which make-up brands?

It is impossible to test all make-up brands. For this test, we have chosen affordable make-up brands.

How do you determine if a make-up brand is good?

Determining whether a make-up brand is good can depend on several factors. Here are the considerations you can take into account when assessing the quality of a make-up brand.

Ingredients

Ingredients are crucial in determining the quality of a make-up brand. It is important to look at the ingredient list to see if the brand uses safe and skin-friendly substances. Brands that avoid harmful chemicals such as parabens, sulphates and phthalates are often considered better and safer.

Product reviews

Reading online reviews from users can be valuable to get an idea of experiences with a brand's products. It is useful to pay attention to the consistency of feedback, both positive and negative, to get a good idea of the products' performance.

Animal testing

For many consumers, it is important that a brand is animal-tested free. It is useful to investigate whether the brand maintains this ethical standard. Certifications such as Leaping Bunny or PETA's Cruelty-Free label indicate that a brand does not conduct animal testing.

Sustainability

Sustainability plays an increasing role in choosing make-up brands. It is good to look at a brand's sustainability performance, such as the use of eco-friendly packaging and sustainable sourcing practices. Brands that take sustainability seriously often list certifications or initiatives on their websites.

Value for money

When assessing make-up brands, value for money is an important factor. By comparing the prices of products with those of similar brands, you can assess whether you are getting value for money. Note that more expensive brands are not always better, but extremely low prices can indicate inferior quality.

Professional reviews

Reviews from beauty experts, make-up artists and beauty bloggers can offer a lot of insight. These professionals often have a lot of experience with different brands and can provide a detailed analysis of product quality and performance.

Brand reputation and history

Researching the history and reputation of a brand can also help determine its quality. A brand that has been around for a long time and has built up a good reputation is often a reliable choice.

Hallmarks

Hallmarks are a valuable indicator of a brand's quality and ethics. Hallmarks such as ECOCERT, COSMOS Standard, Leaping Bunny, and PETA's Cruelty-Free label indicate that a brand meets certain standards in terms of safety, sustainability and animal-testing freedom. Having such certifications can help consumers make an informed choice.

Assessing a make-up brand thus involves several factors, each with its own importance and contribution to the overall quality and reliability of the brand.

Our top 10 best make-up brands

1. e.l.f. Cosmetics

Ingredients: avoids parabens, sulphates, and phthalates; 100% vegan and cruelty-free.
Product reviews: users appreciate the high quality and low price, with positive feedback on long staying power and pigmentation.
Animal testing: PETA-certified, fully animal-tested and vegan.
Sustainability: use of recycled packaging and sustainable practice initiatives.
Value for money: very affordable, ranging from €2 to €15.
Professional reviews: favorably rated by beauty experts and make-up artists.
Brand reputation: known for affordability and ethical practices.
Hallmarks: PETA Certified.
Brand specifications: focus on a wide range of make-up products, including primers, foundations, eyeshadows, and lip products (ORGANIC BEAUTY LOVER) (EcoWatch) (WhoWhatWear).

2. NYX Professional Makeup

Ingredients: free of parabens and sulfates; offers vegan options.
Product reviews: positive reviews for variety and performance, especially for eyeshadow palettes and lip products.
Animal testing: PETA-certified, animal-tested.
Sustainability: commitment to eco-friendly packaging and sustainable sourcing.
Value for money: competitive prices, most products between €4 and €20.
Professional reviews: widely used by professionals for its quality and affordability.
Brand reputation: strong social media presence and reliable products.
Hallmarks: PETA Certified.
Brand specifications: known for their extensive collection of lip and eye products, including lipsticks, eyeshadow palettes and eyeliners (ORGANIC BEAUTY LOVER) (WhoWhatWear).

3. Milani

Ingredients: natural and skin-friendly ingredients; avoids harmful chemicals.
Product reviews: very positive feedback, especially for blushes and foundations.
Animal testing: Leaping Bunny and PETA-certified.
Sustainability: use of recycled packaging and sustainable practices.
Value for money: affordable, most products between €5 and €20.
Professional reviews: favorably reviewed by make-up artists.
Brand reputation: high quality and affordability.
Hallmarks: Leaping Bunny, PETA Certified.
Brand specifications: known for blushes, foundations, and lip products, with a focus on pigmentation and long-lasting formulas (The Good Trade) (EcoWatch).

4. Wet n Wild

Ingredients: avoids parabens and sulfates.
Product reviews: popular because of low prices and good quality.
Animal testing: PETA-certified.
Sustainability: eco-friendly packaging initiatives.
Value for money: very affordable, many products under €5.
Professional reviews: good value for money.
Brand reputation: strong brand with loyal customers.
Hallmarks: PETA Certified.
Brand specifications: known for eyeshadow palettes, foundations, and nail polishes, with a wide range of colors and formulas (ethical elephant).

5. Burt's Bees

Ingredients: 99% natural ingredients on average; free of parabens, phthalates and petrochemicals.
Product reviews: positive feedback for natural formulas and skin-friendliness.
Animal testing: Leaping Bunny-certified.
Sustainability: landfill-free operations and carbon-neutral since 2015.
Value for money: reasonably priced, products between €4 and €17.
Professional reviews: favorably rated for natural and effective products.
Brand reputation: long history of ethical and environmentally friendly practices.
Hallmarks: Leaping Bunny, Carbon Neutral Certified, PETA Certified.
Brand specifications: known for lip products, such as lip balms and lipsticks, with natural and caring ingredients (The Good Trade).

6. Pacifica Beauty

Ingredients: 100% vegan and cruelty-free; free of harmful chemicals.
Product reviews: positive feedback for quality and skin-friendliness.
Animal testing: PETA-certified.
Sustainability: recycled materials and eco-friendly packaging.
Value for money: affordable, most products between €5 and €20.
Professional reviews: favorably rated for ethical production and quality.
Brand reputation: known for sustainability and ethics.
Hallmarks: PETA Certified.
Brand specifications: focus on skincare-make-up hybrid products, such as tinted moisturizers and caring foundations (The Good Trade) (EcoWatch).

7. The Body Shop

Ingredients: natural and ethically sourced ingredients.
Product reviews: good reviews for quality and skin-friendliness.
Animal testing: Leaping Bunny-certified.
Sustainability: community trade and eco-friendly packaging.
Value for money: reasonably priced, most products between €5 and €20.
Professional reviews: positive reviews for ethical practices and product quality.
Brand reputation: known for ethical and environmentally friendly practices.
Hallmarks: Leaping Bunny, Fair Trade Certified, PETA Certified.
Brand specifications: focus on skincare make-up, such as foundations and BB creams, with caring ingredients (WhoWhatWear).

8. Honest Beauty

Ingredients: free from harmful chemicals such as phthalates, parabens and synthetic fragrances.
Product reviews: positive feedback for skin-friendly and safe formulas.
Animal testing: PETA-certified.
Sustainability: natural and organic ingredients, eco-friendly packaging.
Value for money: affordable, products between €9 and €24.
Professional reviews: positive reviews for safety and effectiveness.
Brand reputation: known for safe and skin-friendly products.
Hallmarks: PETA Certified.
Brand specifications: focus on skincare make-up and clean beauty products, such as tinted moisturizers and skin-friendly foundations (The Good Trade).

9. 100% Pure

Ingredients: natural, fruit-pigmented ingredients; free of harmful chemicals.
Product reviews: positive feedback for natural ingredients and effectiveness.
Animal testing: Leaping Bunny and PETA-certified.
Sustainability: recycled materials and eco-friendly packaging.
Value for money: reasonably priced, products ranging from €8 to €55.
Professional reviews: favorably rated for pure and natural formulas.
Brand reputation: known for natural and ethical products.
Hallmarks: Leaping Bunny, PETA Certified, USDA Organic.
Brand specifications: focus on fruit-pigmented make-up products, such as eyeshadow, blush and lip products, with natural ingredients (The Good Trade) (Sustainably Kind Living).

10. Tower 28

Ingredients: natural and skin-friendly ingredients; free of harmful chemicals.
Product reviews: positive feedback for sensitive skin and effectiveness.
Animal testing: cruelty-free and vegan.
Sustainability: commitment to ocean conservation and compostable, recycled packaging.
Value for money: affordable, products between €15 and €32.
Professional reviews: favorably rated for skin-friendly and ethical practices.
Brand reputation: known for focus on sensitive skin and sustainability.
Hallmarks: Cruelty-free Certified and PETA Certified.
Brand specifications: focus on make-up products for sensitive skin, such as blush, lip glosses and bronzers, with an emphasis on skin-friendly formulas (ORGANIC BEAUTY LOVER) (The Good Trade).

Disclaimer

Use these top 10 as a starting point for choosing your favorite make-up brand. We recommend doing additional research yourself. In addition, when choosing and using make-up products, it is important to be careful and consider your personal skin condition and sensitivities.

Before fully incorporating a new product into your routine, it is wise to perform a patch test. Apply a small amount of the product to a small area of your skin, such as on the inside of your wrist or behind your ear. Wait 24-48 hours to see if there is any irritation, redness, or other negative reactions.

Have fun testing!

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