Anyone who knows anything about makeup knows that makeup is a pretty broad term. It could include foundation, eyeshadow, mascara, primers, brow makeup, and much more. However, there's one thing that unites all kinds of makeup: the difficult process of finding the best makeup products that will work for you.

Any makeup user out there will happily tell you about the makeup that changed their life and the one that you can’t live without. However, the truth of the matter is that finding the right mascara, foundation, or anything else will never be quite as simple as doing what worked for someone else. Your needs are unique, and that can make it incredibly difficult to find the “perfect” makeup for you.

We do have some good news, though. The right recommendations can not only put you on the path to finding the perfect makeup but may actually result in you finding the perfect product on your first try.

It all starts with taking a look at the best of the best. In the wide, wide world of makeup products, there are a few that stand out as ones that we can recommend to just about anyone as something that is worth their time, their money, and even their trust. Who knows? Maybe one of these makeup products will soon become the makeup that you can’t wait to tell others is something you just can’t live without. So without further ado, take a look at our picks for the best makeup products on the market.

Treating pores can be difficult. Along with the challenges of finding a product that is capable of hiding pores in the first place, you also want to be sure that what you’re doing is concealing your pores rather than trying to block them outright. The latter approach is effective, but has potential long-term downsides.

So when you’re looking for an easy-to-use concealer that will hide your pores without throwing off the rest of your look, what you want is this Baby Skin pore eraser from Maybelline.

First off, this product can truly hide your pores. We’re not talking about minimizing their appearance either. We mean that it can essentially make them vanish or, at the very least, make it so that they don’t draw quite as much attention as they would otherwise.

More importantly, this is a makeup product that isn’t a makeup in the more traditional sense of the idea. What we mean by that is that it’s not a powder foundation that people will be able to easily notice. This makes it a tremendous option for anyone that doesn’t usually wear makeup (or at least a lot of it), but want to take advantage of some of the more obvious benefits of makeup (without being quite so obvious).

While this primer is magical in many ways, it should be noted that this product formula may feel a little “greasy” to some. While that feeling should disappear after it dries, drying can take a little while. A little patience in that instance goes a long way, though.

Key Features
  • Pore minimizer
  • Works alone or with a foundation
  • Smooth formula
Specifications
  • Coverage: Full
  • Consistency: Thick
  • Product Dimensions: 0.67 fl. oz
  • Waterproof: Yes
  • Brand: Maybelline
Pros
  • Works well to minimize pores
  • Goes on easily
  • Good for oily and dry skin
Cons
  • May take some time to dry
  • Strange feel on skin
  • Can cause breakouts

Mascara is a wonderful way to enhance the thickness of your eyelashes and eyebrows. However, there are some downsides to even the best mascaras. Namely, you’ll find that most of them don’t actually enhance the quality of your brows and lashes over the long-term. Instead, they just kind of work in the moment.

Well, here’s one product that promise to enhance the long-term quality and thickness of your brows and lashes and actually does so.

First off, let’s clear some common misconceptions about this product and similar products on the market. You shouldn’t use this makeup if you’re expecting immediate results. “Immediate results” in this instance means applying this before a night out and expecting long-term benefits to come right away. The benefits of this product can take months to really kick in. Even then, they’ll vary from person to person.

However there are few makeup products on the market that offer what this one does and do it quite as well. If you suffer from thin lashes and brows and don’t want to resort to fakes and temporary solutions, then you really have very little to lose by trying this product. Most likely, you’ll find that the volume of your lashes will improve even in the short-term and that it’s worth sticking with even if you have to supplement it.

Here is an easy-to-apply, affordable, and potentially miraculous product with long-term benefits. It’s really hard to think of too many reasons why you shouldn’t give it a shot if you’re in need.

Key Features
  • Botanical serum
  • 60-day lash boost
  • Hypoallergenic formula
Specifications
  • Coverage: Partial
  • Consistency: Serum
  • Product Dimensions: 0.6 ounces
  • Waterproof: Yes
Pros
  • Little-to-no irritation
  • Long-lasting benefits
  • Easy application
Cons
  • A bit watery
  • Long-term effects may take some time

People look for different things when shopping for mascara, but it’s safe to say that one of the most desirable qualities in a mascara is volume. Thousands of users look to add volume to their eyelashes, and only the best mascaras are able to properly do that.

If volume is what you’re looking for, then Lash Princess from Essence might just be for you.

Volume is the name of the game with this mascara, and it excels at offering eyelash volume in ways that similar products just can’t hope to equal. Immediately after using this mascara, you should start seeing some pretty drastic differences in the quality of your lashes.

What’s truly amazing, though, is that this mascara offers those benefits without many of the drawbacks associated with similar products. Clumping shouldn’t be too much of a problem, but you may find that you’ll occasionally encounter it even with the best products. You should also be able to enjoy long-term coverage with this mascara even if you’re testing it in less than ideal conditions.

This is also a cruelty-free product, which is perfect for the modern shopper that is trying to ensure that their preferred makeup is good for the environment, animals, and their conscious.

If there’s one downside to this product, it’s that the effect is so powerful that you might deal with eyelashes so thick that they have a bit of a “fake” look. It’s easy to manage that with careful application and practice, though.

Key Features
  • Deep black color
  • Intense volume
  • Gluten and Cruelty Free
Specifications
  • Coverage: Full
  • Consistency: Thick
  • Product Dimensions: 0.32 ounces
  • Waterproof: Yes
Pros
  • Fantastic volume
  • Lasts for at least 24 hours
  • Cruelty free product
Cons
  • Can run a bit
  • May result in "fake" look
  • May cause some irritation

Fighting age can be a risky gamble. If you go too far through tactics like plastic surgery, you run the risk of not aging gracefully and encountering additional problems. If you choose not to use any products, then you’re really subject to encountering additional facial problems that can occur over time.

So if you’re looking for an anti-aging solution that isn’t too aggressive yet capable enough to do its job, you’re looking for something along the lines of Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser.

This product from Maybelline is designed to help negate the effects of aging around your eyes. Specifically, it’s designed to target dark circles and bags. While those problems are certainly more common as you age, there’s also a good chance that you may suffer from them even when you’re younger.

Regardless of your actual age, the appeal of a concealer that really works on the potentially problematic areas around your eyes is no doubt high among makeup users working with anything less than a perfect face. While it’s mostly advertised as a product perfect for the areas around the eyes, you’ll also find that this makeup works well for other blemishes around the nose and on your cheeks.

One thing that you should know about this product, though, is that it can actually be difficult to get it out of the bottle over a longer period of time. The degree of difficulty may vary from person to person, but it’s worth keeping in mind.

Regardless, this is a tremendous opaque concealer.

Key Features
  • Anti-aging
  • Infused with Haloxyl
  • Concealer abilities
Specifications
  • Coverage: Full
  • Consistency: Light
  • Product Dimensions: 0.2 fl. oz.
  • Waterproof: Yes
Pros
  • Smooth application
  • Long-lasting
  • Opaque formula
Cons
  • Can be tough to get out of bottle
  • Not the best for dry skin
  • Thin formula

Very few people out there like to talk about thinning hair. Along with the “social shame” of the problem comes the fact that many of the most popular solutions to thinning hair comes in the form of products that try to hide your thinning hair. What it comes down to is anyone who is trying to deal with thinning hair may not be in a hurry to tell you what products and solutions they are using.

Well, we can tell you that this mattifying powder from Schwarzkopf is a tremendous everyday solution to those who want to battle their thinning hair problem.

No, this powder won’t actually make your hair thicker or help you grow back lost hair. You should be wary of any products that say they can do that for you. What it will do, though, is help your hair look more voluminous.

The benefit of that approach is that it won’t really look like your trying to hide a “problem.” Instead, you’ll be able to take the hair you already have and just make it look naturally fuller. By applying this powder to your head once a day (or as needed), you can turn your thin hair into something that’s much easier to stylize and actually do something with.

Two things you should know is that there is an odor to this product that may be more noticeable shortly after application. The fact that this is a powder that also turns into a paste can also make application somewhat challenging. Otherwise, it’s a fantastic product.

Key Features
  • Matte effect
  • 24 hour volume
  • Lightweight
Specifications
  • Coverage: Full
  • Consistency: Powder
  • Product Dimensions: 0.35 ounces
  • Waterproof: Yes
Pros
  • Excels at volumizing
  • Great for thinning hair
  • Long-lasting
Cons
  • Noticeable smell
  • Can be difficult to apply
  • Strange texture

It’s really no secret why mascaras rank among the most sought-after makeup products on the market. Even people who don’t use other forms of makeup tend to use a little mascara in order to enhance their look.

Because they’re so popular, though, there are too many mascaras on the market that promise too much and offer so little. It reaches a point where most mascara users just want something that’s simple, reliable, and generally effective.

For those times, you should really take a look at this voluminous lash boosting from L'Oréal.

First off, don’t take this talk about reliability to mean that this is a boring product. It’s not. As the name implies, this mascara is one of the absolute best when it comes to giving your lashes serious volume in both the short term and the long-run. It’s not shortchanging you when it comes to the overall quality it offers in that department.

However, the strength of this product really does lie in its simplicity. Thanks to a best-in-class wand, it goes on smoothly and is easy to apply without clumping. It will last for a long time (even if it doesn’t really offer long-term benefits), and it’s a fantastic option for those who prefer to curl their eyelashes.

It’s possible that this formula may trigger your allergies, but you can mitigate that possibility by ensuring that you’re aware of your allergies and what potentially sets them off.

The fact of the matter is that this is as reliable and effective as mascara in this price range gets. It’s easy to recommend and easy to love.

Key Features
  • Boosts your eyelashes
  • Increases volume
  • Formula designed to resist clumping
Specifications
  • Coverage: Full
  • Consistency: Thin
  • Product Dimensions: 0.24 fl. oz
  • Waterproof: Yes
Pros
  • Easy application
  • Lasts for a long time
  • Great for curling
Cons
  • May dry out your eyelashes
  • Can trigger allergies
  • Product can dry up quickly if not properly sealed

In theory, there shouldn’t be much of a difference between the top mascaras out there. They should all make your lashes look fuller and thicker. More often than not, the difference between the top mascara brands out there is a matter of degrees. Some are just slightly ahead of others in terms of their overall effectiveness.

When if comes to this mascara from Cabaret, though, the appeal is clear. This is one of the best mascaras on the market when you’re trying to avoid clumping.

There are a few things that cause clumpy eyelashes, and not all of them are caused by an inferior product. However, the truth of the matter is that there are some products out there that are more likely to result in clumping due to the formula of the mascara itself. Well, this product from Cabaret is one of the absolute best when it comes to avoiding clumping for reasons other than user error or an expired product.

While some of Cabaret's anti-clumping benefits can be traced back to the formula itself, some of them come from the fact that this mascara includes a fine application wand that makes it easier to cover your lashes without applying too much product. That said, it does take a little practice to use if you’re used to larger application wands.

Given that Cabaret also results in lovely thickly lashes, it’s easy enough to recommend this mascara to anyone looking for a mascara that they don’t have to worry about.

Key Features
  • Everyday mascara
  • Clump free, lightweight
  • Easy application
Specifications
  • Coverage: Full
  • Consistency: Thick
  • Product Dimensions: 0.96 ounces
  • Waterproof: Yes
Pros
  • Doesn't clump
  • Irritation-free
  • Great for full eyelashes
Cons
  • Small application wand
  • Some bleeding and smudging
  • Wet formula

The truth of the matter is that most facial blemishes are not your fault. A combination of genetics and environmental factors can lead to you suffering from less-than-smooth skin. There are certain things you can do to prevent common blemishes, but for the most part, you’ll find that prevention really only takes you so far.

However, when it comes to treating your facial blemishes, you are very much in control of the problem. If you want to take control, you can start by checking out Coty Airspun Loose Face Powder.

Like many other foundations and powders, the basic idea of this product is that you’ll use it in order to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, acne, and other common blemishes. There’s no shortage of products out there that promise those same benefits.

The big selling point of this product is that it conveniently avoids the most common problems you encounter with other foundations and powders. Namely, this powder from Coty shouldn’t really cause much caking, flashbacks, and greasing. It also offers full coverage that excels at covering the most common blemishes out there with a (mostly) translucent product that won’t stand out while offering you a tremendous makeup base to work off of.

What’s the downside? There aren't many, but as with many powder foundations, you’ll find that this powder may result in a chalky feel that may dry your face out if you use it for too long. As long as you’re comfortable with how powders generally work, though, you’ll find a lot to love here.

Key Features
  • Disguises wrinkles and lines
  • Long-lasting coverage
  • Airspun face powder
Specifications
  • Coverage: Full
  • Consistency: Loose Powder
  • Product Dimensions: 2.24 ounces
  • Waterproof: Yes
Pros
  • Blends smoothly
  • Great for oily skin
  • No caking or greasing
Cons
  • Somewhat strong smell
  • Chalky feel
  • Can dry your face out

If you’re reading this, then you probably already know how hard it is to find a good eyeliner. The thing about eyeliners is that there’s how good they are when you first apply them, and how good they are after you’ve shed some tears, sweat a bit, and generally lived your life throughout the day. While there are a lot of eyeliners that do the job after application, there are significantly fewer that hold up after a little wear and tear.

Well, this eyeliner from NYX certainly does the job when it comes to immediate benefits, but its true power lies in how well it works once you’ve really put it to the test.

The long and short of it is that this eyeliner from NYX is one of the best waterproof eyeliners in its price range. Waterproof eyeliners such as this won’t start running just because you shed a few tears or sweat a little on a hot day. Where this eyeliner really stands out, though, is when you start to put it to the test against heavy water flows. That’s when you’ll really begin to appreciate just how durable this eyeliner really is.

In fact, one of the biggest downsides to this product is that you may actually have to rely on makeup remover in order to properly get rid of it. That also means that you may have to be extra careful during application as any errant applications will be especially hard to undo. As long as you are comfortable with that, though, this is a great product.

Key Features
  • Waterproof formula
  • Precision tip
  • Cruelty free
Specifications
  • Coverage: Full
  • Consistency: Thin
  • Product Dimensions: 0.48 ounces
  • Waterproof: Yes
Pros
  • Resilient against tears and sweat
  • Easy-to-use
  • Long-lasting
Cons
  • Some smudging during application
  • May require makeup remover to fully remove
  • Requires careful application

What’s a makeup setting spray? That’s a question you either know the answer to or, more likely than not, are embarrassed to admit you have absolutely no idea. The fact of the matter is that setting sprays are one of those things that many makeup users could take advantage of but often do not.

Basically, a setting spray is a product which you can apply on top of your other makeup in order to help ensure that it holds during the day. Ideally, that means less running and fading.

Well, this setting spray from NYX is one of the best in its price range. It offers a matte glow that should help enhance the base quality of the makeup you already use by ensuring that it doesn’t naturally fade away during the day. It can even help it look better immediately after you apply your other makeup.

The real benefit of this product, though, is how it helps prevent against the everyday (but tragic) occurrences that really play hell with your makeup. This is especially true of makeup such as foundations that tend to run and fade regardless of how carefully you put them on. While this product can’t work miracles in that regard, you’ll find that having the extra layer of protection really does wonders in terms of avoiding the routine midday touch-up and similar processes.

There is a slightly stronger smell to this product, and you may also notice that you’ll encounter problems like smearing until you really get the hang of applying it. For the most part, though, it’s a tremendous makeup companion.

Key Features
  • Vegan formula
  • Lightweight setting spray
  • Cruelty free
Specifications
  • Coverage: Full
  • Consistency: Spray
  • Product Dimensions: 0.32 ounces
  • Waterproof: Yes
Pros
  • Great for oily skin
  • Lasts all day
  • Great matte finish look
Cons
  • Strong smell
  • May cause smears and smudges
  • Somewhat lighter formula

Even the best makeup won't do much for you if you don't know what it is that you're really looking for. With that in mind, let's take a look at some of the tips you need to know before you start shopping for the best makeup out there.

Know Your Skin

Knowing your skin is the most important thing you can do when picking makeup.

What does knowing your skin mean? It means knowing what your skin tone is in relation to typical product labels. It means knowing whether you have oily or dry skin. Most importantly, it means knowing what kind of skin you have so that you can look for the products that will give you the skin you want.

Truly knowing your skin makes it easy to avoid common conflicts that can prevent even the best products from working their magic or perhaps even damaging your skin.

Know The Ingredients

Speaking of damaging your skin, it's vital to know the ingredients of the makeup you choose to use.

The fact of the matter is that there are very few makeup products out there that cause breakouts among everyone that uses them. There's no way a product like that would ever stay on the market for long. The biggest reason why you see claims about breakouts and other problems like that is that there was an ingredient (or combination of ingredients) in the product which caused them to suffer blemishes.

Once you understand what your skin likes and doesn't like, it's time to start looking at product ingredients and finding the ones that are friendly to your needs. That brings us to our next point.

Don't Settle...Shop

There should never be such a thing as a makeup you use that is "good enough." Good enough is never good enough.

You might be tempted to stick with your makeup mostly because it doesn't give you problems. While a makeup product that doesn't cause you a breakout is a good start, there are too many good products out there to even think about settling on something that you don't absolutely love.

The point is that you shouldn't stop the pursuit for the perfect makeup because you found a pretty good one.

Think About What You Need...and Want

For those who wear makeup daily, the best makeup is usually the item that's simple, reliable, and consistent. There's absolutely nothing wrong with shopping for makeup based on your needs.

However, you also need to think about what kind of makeup you want. By that, we mean that you should also be shopping for the makeup that will help you overcome whatever it is about your look that you might not like about yourself. The right makeup can help you to achieve the look that you always wanted.

Finding the right makeup is all about balancing your needs and want.

Think About Outside Factors

Knowing your skin and your body is important, but don't forget that your choice of makeup can also be affected by outside factors that can drastically impact your decisions.

Outside factors include things like the temperature, the dryness of the air, and even what you're doing that day. If you're feeling more stressed than usual or are even entering a different climate, that can drastically impact what kind of makeup you should be wearing, particularly something like foundation that covers your whole face, or eye products like eyeliner that could, for example, run in humid or rainy weather.

The point is that it doesn't hurt to have a few different makeup products around that take into account the various factors you can encounter. Once you've found the best makeup products for your needs, you'll be well on your way to putting your best face forward.

Resources — L'Oreal, Allure, WebMD

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