Only Some Luxury Makeup Brands Are Worth the Splurge—18 You Won't Regret
I’ve loved makeup ever since I was a 12-year-old watching makeup tutorials on Youtube. My first splurge was for Urban Decay’s now discontinued Naked Palette (at the advice of a beauty YouTuber), and as I’ve gotten older, I’ve continued to spend time hunting for products I think are worth my while.
Luxury makeup, like luxury skincare, seems like a beast, but if you know what to look for, it’s very much worth the splurge. Once you add a Chanel lipstick or a Georgio Armani foundation to your lineup, you’ll understand why sometimes, luxury makeup is really worth the sticker shock.
I like mixing highbrow and lowbrow, and luckily, my job allows me to play around with tons of different formulas at different price points. After testing many luxury brands, I know which ones are actually worth your money—and more importantly, which hero products to buy from each if you want to (strategically) amp up your makeup game.
1. Chanel
Believe it or not, the iconic fashion house's makeup line is just as luxurious as the brand's clothing. Chanel's foray into beauty began with Chanel No. 5, its most well-known (and arguably the most well-known) perfume. Chanel No. 5 revolutionized the perfume industry and the brand has been making waves in beauty ever since.
2. Tom Ford
Tom Ford set out to make a modern luxury brand, and everyone can agree that he did just that. Tom Ford's makeup line is a true staple for anyone who wants high-quality luxury beauty that goes above and beyond.
3. Lancôme
Lancôme came to fruition in the 1930s and has stood the test of time. Today, the brand's vision is "beauty for all," which it achieves with high-quality products that are worth every penny.
4. Gucci Beauty
When Gucci's makeup line was revived in 2019, it was met with plenty of fanfare—and for good reason. Gucci's makeup products are meant for makeup lovers and people who appreciate their playful, vintage-inspired packaging.
5. Clé de Peau Beauté
This Japanese brand is backed by cutting-edge science that aims to make skin look as radiant as possible, and that translates into all of their covetable makeup products.
Yes, I know $130 is a lot for a foundation, but I would never recommend something at that price point that wasn't worth every penny. This innovative formula illuminates skin, minimizes pores, and imparts a radiant glow. Plus, it's infused with SPF, so you get a little extra protection from the sun.
6. Pat McGrath Labs
Anna Wintour once dubbed Pat McGrath "the most influential makeup artist in the world." Her eponymous makeup line proves that even further, with rich, bold colors and high-performing formulas.
7. Charlotte Tilbury
Like Pat McGrath, Charlotte Tilbury is another makeup artist that has reached superstar status. Tilbury doesn't miss—everything in her makeup line is worth adding to your collection.
This illuminating wand has gone viral on TikTok. Use it as a highlighter or as a blush. It will make you look effortlessly glowy and fresh-faced.
Is there a more iconic lip color than Pillow Talk? According to the brand, four Pillow Talk products are sold every minute. The universal nude looks good on everyone—it enhances your natural lip color and makes lips look flawless. Use the liner to create a natural-looking lip lift.
8. Byredo
When Swedish perfumer Byredo launched their makeup line in 2020, everyone in the beauty industry lost it. This makeup is made for makeup lovers and people who like to play around with makeup.
9. Dior
Dior makeup is the height of luxury—just like the brand itself.
10. Westman Atelier
Renowned editorial makeup artist Gucci Westman founded Westman Atelier, a clean makeup brand that has taken the beauty world by storm. These products are all good for your skin and highly efficacious.
11. Surratt Beauty
This brand merges New York ideals with Japanese innovation for products unlike anything you've ever encountered before. Surratt "puts artistry at everyone's fingertips," which is a philosophy we can get behind.
12. Yves Saint Laurent
YSL Beauty makes the kind of products you might expect a makeup artist to have in their kit backstage at fashion week. The legendary fashion house's beauty products are elegant and practical.
13. Givenchy
Givenchy's beauty products are all about celebrating femininity, with classic colors and luxe formulas leading the charge.
14. Giorgio Armani
Armani beauty is all about bringing elegance to your everyday life. These products enhance the skin's natural beauty.
15. Guerlain
Founded in 1828, Guerlain is one of the oldest brands on this list. Guerlain makeup products are timeless and infused with Parisian sophistication.
16. Sisley Paris
This French luxury brand makes plant-based products made with top-tier ingredients that help perfect skin.
17. Valentino
The most recent luxury brand to enter the beauty world, Valentino came in swinging. The Italian brand's makeup formulas are high-performing and offer an inclusive shade range.
It's a primer, moisturizer, and highlighter all in one. If you wear this alone or under makeup, it gives you a diffused, all-over glow, and if you use it on the high points of the face, you'll have a highlight that simply looks like you found the good light—in any situation.
18. Hermès
We'd be remiss not to include Hermès, the endlessly coveted French luxury brand. You may not be able to get your hands on a Birkin, but you can put the designer's luxe makeup on your face, and we think that's pretty great.
An Hermès lipstick is the height of sophistication and cool—full stop.
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Prior to her time atBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing , Katie Berohn worked as the beauty assistant for Good Housekeeping, Woman's Day, and Prevention magazines, all part of the Hearst Lifestyle Group. She graduated from the University of Colorado, Boulder, with a major in journalism and minor in technology, arts, and media, and earned her master's degree at NYU's graduate program for magazine journalism. In addition, Katie has held editorial internships at Denver Life magazine, Yoga Journal, and Cosmopolitan; a digital editorial internship at New York magazine's The Cut; a social good fellowship at Mashable; and a freelance role at HelloGiggles.
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