Bite Beauty seems like a really strong brand with very few misses. I think that MAC has been getting better in terms of quality over the last year or two, compared to the previous years, but not quite as good as what I recall a decade ago.
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I agree about Bite Beauty. Every lip product I have bought from them is spectacular. They are slowly taking over my mainly MAC lipstick collection.
I really still love the MAC lippies though and I have quite a few. I usually buy from their permanent range, I never get any of their LE items.
Also, Wet n Wild! I would’ve never given this brand a second look if it were not for some of the online reviews I’ve seen on their products. They are one of the few drugstore brands I look into regularly.
Another one I think keeps getting better is NARS! I love every single product I have purchased from them, love their newer releases and their whole “style”. I absolutely love their blushes (even though I have fallen out of love with the first one I purchased, which was Orgasm).
Also how could I forget Hourglass!! ? I recently tried Dim Light and I fell in love and had to buy many of their other products. Their whole aesthetic is very appealing to me, very luxurious packaging, blushes, eye shadows, and the price is not so high like some other brands out there.
Anastasia of Beverly Hills. I thought they only did eyebrows… but I love their eye shadows, lip sticks, lip glosses, etc.
Bite beauty and ABH!
ColuorPop’s new press eye shadows are bomb. Juvia’s Place they just released two beautiful blush palettes and I’m waiting for the spring eye shadow palettes to come out! Viseart never disappoints me.
I think that Tarte should be on this list. I didn’t really like them before but they have been releasing great products lately only making them better and better! And I know how much you love their Rainforest of the Sea foundation 😉
MAC has been doing the work to get back up to what they used to be. Their permanent line has always been very good, but for the longest time their LE stuff was very hit or miss. Over the past few years it has been mostly hits, with few misses!
Another brand that I’ve seen much improvement and innovative products in is Nyx. DS, yes, but probably the all-star of DS atm.
Dior seems to have found its way back to producing really wonderful eyeshadow quints all of a sudden! That purple and the darker neutral quints are delish!
I really love NYX for waterproof eyeliner, Slide On Glide On. I may be on my 10th black liner for tight lining.
Anastasia, especially their shadows. I remember the first palette I had from them, Lavish. It was nice, but the single eyeshadows they put out now are spectacular. I’m curious to see how their new blush palettes perform! I also love their Glow Kits, my go-to for shiny, see-from-space highlight.
I’m pleasantly surprised by Chanel, a brand I used to only associate with perfume for mature women. The color cosmetics are pigmented, with beautiful shades and finishes.
Chanel – there used to be problems with their eyeshadow quads and with the quality and formulation being different for different countries. I used to avoid their e/s quads for this reason. And, believe it or not, MAC – their “new” attempts to win or win back customers and the release of some good stuff lately, along with (what seems to me at least) not quite such a flood of LE collections all seems good.
Yes, Bite Beauty left me impressed recently as well.
MAC has continually impressed me but I stay within permanent range. I cannot say a brand has no misses esp a brand like bite that loves putting drying and irritating peppermint in their products. A huge turn off for me and why I stay away from them. Tarte has impressed me more. Finally putting out more than boring neutrals. And I’m usually impressed with whatever I’ve picked up by KVD. Let’s just pretend they didn’t have that silly collaboration with Too Faced (that far too many units have sat on the shelf of Sephora long after its release lol)!
Colourpop is constantly stepping their game up!
Viseart is only getting stronger. Stila… they had a dip, but now it looks like they are coming back. Also, Natasha Denona seems to keep improving.
The only one that comes to mind is BITE. Maybe because they concentrate on a niche so their focus is not diluted? Some lines have lovely things that come out, then miss big time in other areas. So for consistent improvement BITE seems to be working in that trajectory consistently.
Anastasia of Beverly Hills. Especially the eyeshadow palettes.
For me it would be Bite and Anastasia, they have a lot of products that are great quality. Their new releases are great quality too most of the time. They don’t seem to release the same thing over and over, and they do listen to their customers.
Bite, Colourpop, and Anastasia seem to continue on paths of thoughtful development and innovation from core offers, staying consistently strong as they go.
Drugstore brands!
I have tried some AMAZING products from Maybelline, Catrice, Essence, Milani, Note, & Rimmel lately!
For interesting and good-quality products, I’ll say Anastasia Beverly Hills. I just wish they’d tone down the heavily overdone look that’s so apparent on their Facebook page. Scary. Their products are good without having to make people look plastic.
a definite YES on BiTE Beauty. They are an underdog to me who seems to only get better with age; like George Clooney and Brad Pitt : )
Smashbox is getting better as well – their liquid lipsticks remain a top contender but their overall formulas and product selections have been improving.
Kat Von D, while I’m not a huge fan of her products has continued to grow from her packaging to formulas.
Wet & Wild as I saw someone else mention is also getting better. They keep progressing in product selection and packaging.
Josie Maran. While she has some flawed products, majority of her entire line is just fabulous.
I’m going to say bite! Because I’m a HUGE fan of them, and the fact they started up in my home town!!
I lovr that a canadian brand is doing SO well on the market!!!
I also adore their lipsticks. And own 4 of them!
A lot, actually, come to mind.
Juvia’s Place, for sure, even though they are still a new brand. I’ve literally never tried a bad palette from them & I have all of the ones they’ve released. Impressive (especially at that price point)- can’t wait for the next two that have been teased!
Wet’n’Wild, Milani, and ELF all are impressing me at the drugstore. In particular, I think Milani does a nice job of curating their releases & making them count, as opposed to throwing a ton of products at the wall & seeing what sticks.
Colourpop is still impressing me with their new lines, and I’m kind of surprised by that. I thought they might just be a flash in the pan, but I’ve really enjoyed the pressed power shadows (though to be fair, I always research the shades on here before I buy so I may be missing the clunkers) and the 2 new blotted lip formulas they just released.
And finally, Dose of Colors. I really like the liquid lips, which is what I think they’re best known for, but I am in love with the Marvelous Mauves palette I picked up last month. SO buttery, very pigmented, especially for purples. I really enjoyed the EyesCream palette, but this one is even nicer. Excited to see this brand at Ulta, so hopefully more people can fall in love.
I like Dose of Colours, the owner is such a hands on woman with fans/clients.
Bite, Kat von D, ABH, Tarte, Nyx, ColourPop, Makeup Revolution, Wet n Wild, bhCosmetics, and e.l.f.
NARS is consistent with color selection, but their formulas are innovative and better with each release. For example, the revamp of all their lip glosses, then release of audacious lipstick, and recently the velvet lipglides. I’m looking forward to trying the new liquid blushes, too! Also, Anastasia Beverly Hills keeps refining and improving their products; I’ve continued to enjoy many of their newer releases.
Lately, NARS!
I really love the improvement in both CHANEL and Marc Jacobs, both are very solid for the products I like.
I the bite beauty,abh, Viseart and Colourpop are amazing quality!!
Can’t wait to get the new Viseart palette posy, I don’t necessarily look good in pastels so will combine with my other palettes. It hasn’t shipped yet so fingers crossed xx
Companies trying to make a come back:
Benefit / Urban Decay / MAC / SmashBox.
Innovative and interesting Companies:
Colourpop / LimeCrime / The Balm.
High End & Popping:
Dior / Tom Ford / Guerlain.
BITE lipsticks and high pigment pencils are wonderful ! I just can’t find a lot of shades which would look good on me – most are too dark . Anastasia Eye Shadows . I’ve always loved their brow products and their eyeshadows are now my favorite . I hope as they expand their product line they choose to keep quality a high priority .
ABH, I never used to buy any of their products but now, they seem to be venturing out with some very nice products, I’ve been loving every purchase so far. Then I picked up a Ciate mascara just out of curiosity and my eyelashes now look like I’m wearing extensions. I’ve just received their new blush today and will be putting it to the test tomorrow, Christine mentioned that you needed to use a denser brush with this blush to get a good result so the VIB Rouge brush I just received will be perfect.
ABH and Colourpop. They just keep getting better and better.
WetnWild I really love their things except foundation and face powder I have not try yet. The mascaras do not give you lots of show/thickness but they don’t clump either si they are fine with me. Everything else I love!
Colourpop their eyeshadows colors are unique! Milani I love also! And always NARS.