What beauty brands rarely let you down?
Pat McGrath, Viseart, Hourglass; these are brands that seem to knock it out of the park more often than not.
— Christine
- Net-A-Porter — 15% off with code NEWSEASONREFRESH (including beauty) (some exclusions apply), ends 3/31.
- Saks — Earn a gift card up to $700 (includes beauty) with code MARCH2019, ends 3/22.
- Saks — 10% off sitewide (includes beauty!) with code BYFEB, ends 3/22.
- Ulta — Too Faced Chocolate Gold Palette for $24.50 (regularly $49), Urban Decay Primer Potion for $12 (regularly $24), ends 3/22.
24 Comments
Discussion and debate are highly encouraged, and we expect community members to participate respectfully. When asking a question, please check the post above for information regarding pricing, availability, dupes, and availability, and keep discussion on-topic.
Please do not ask if/when a review will be posted as we cannot review everything and often change priorities from day-to-day. If you have general feedback, a product review request, an off-topic question, or need technical support, please contact us. Thank you!
Comments that include advertisements, self-promotion, insults, etc. may be in violation of our comment policy and subject to deletion. Please see our comment policy for more information.
Leave a Reply
If you don't see your comment yet, it's still in our moderation queue. We try our best to approve comments within 24 hours (and reply to them within 72 hours) but can sometimes get behind. Thank you for your patience!
Maybelline. Is it the bee’s knees? No. Do I sometimes want more from my makeup? Yes. But for the price and what I expect it to do, it always delivers if not over delivers.
Brands like Maybelline and L’oreal have some amazing products (even for the price), but I personally find them very hit and miss. And I’m not just referring with having generically low quality product; even for the same products I can get an amazing one, make a repurchase and get sub-par quality (viceversa usually doesn’t happen because… who re-buys a product that failed? 😆 ).
For one, I don’t think I’m deeply disappointed with most brands I’ve tried. Most for me fall in the meh or I like category. My true disappointments are few and far in between and are mostly with a singular product rather than a brand as a whole. I’m love whatever MAC, ABH and Colourpop I have tried. And surprisingly I’ve really enjoyed Bare Minerals as a whole which my 20 yr old self would have laughed lol
Oh gosh – Bare Minerals used to have some wonderful products. I’m sure they still do but they’ve dropped so many of my favourite products (the Ready shadows, the loose shadows and blushes) at least from Sephora, so I can no longer purchase them.
“For one, I don’t think I’m deeply disappointed with most brands I’ve tried. Most for me fall in the meh or I like category. My true disappointments are few and far in between and are mostly with a singular product rather than a brand as a whole.” Same here!
Marc Jacobs, Viseart, Hourglass.
PMG, Natasha Denona, Marc Jacobs, ABH, but even within these labels, I’m looking for good reviews first.
In the same way that I think all brands – even the priciest – have some real gems and some embarrassing fails, I feel the same about the winners – every brand has some stand-out products that I adore and having access to Temptalia’s information and only shopping in person (at least for the first time I purchase a product I might re-order when it’s near to being finished), almost all my purchases “rarely let me down”. So, I’d say MAC (because they really were my first makeup love and you always have a soft spot for your first love) and Dior (I don’t own a lot of Dior but everything I have, from foundation and blush to eyeshadow and even a few nail products, delights me when I use it)
Estee Lauder and MAC (the permanent line, not anything limited edition or collection related) are the brands that I can personally rely on. I just know that if I need a quick product grab (no time for further documentation) I can get a decant pick from the line. For Estee Lauder it’s especially the Double Wear line… I tried so many products from that line along the years and loved them; but I do agree that with long wearing make-up it’s also the fact that I learned to prep the skin and work with this types of products (probably my high school self would hate those products 😆 ).
Skincare wise it’s definitely Paula’s Choice; even products that are not for me (lifestyle, skin type) from their line I end up using up just because their good and do their job.
I do so much research before buying a makeup product that I don’t often get let down by a product anymore! I think my biggest letdown in the past year has been Kat Von D, because I used to like many of her products before learning certain foul things about her and swearing off her brand completely.
Viseart, MAC Permanent line, Smashbox, Sugarpill, Pat McGrath and Nyx. I would say UD lipstick, Afterglow Blush and 24/7 Glide On pencils have never let me down, can’t say the same for their e/s palettes half the time, though.
Notoriously Morbid, Apocalyptic Beauty, Igneous Cosmetics (etsy), Darling Girl Cosmetics, Black Beauty Cosmetics (etsy), SugarPill, SauceBox, Juvia’s Place, ABH, BareMinerals, theBalm, ColourPop, Coloured Raine, BH Cosmetics, Revolution Makeup, Coastal Scents, Milani, and Sleek.
I don’t own a lot of their items yet, but so far PMG, Viseart, Natasha Denona, and Fenty are winners for me.
ABH, Pat McGrath, ColourPop. I don’t feel the need to purchase everything they release but what I do purchase I enjoy.
For eyeshadows – bareMinerals has never let me down – their Ready formula was stunning and it’s sad to see that the brand has moved away from that.
ABH is generally good too. But with eyeshadows, you really need to rely on blogs like this one because every brand can deliver a dud.
Lipsticks – Maybelline Colour Sensational line was great, Colour Pop Lux lipsticks and Milani lipsticks. I have loved the EA Ceramide lipsticks and the Clarins Jolie Rouge range too.
Natasha Denona, Colourpop, PMG, Viseart and so far, Sydney Grace. I find BH Cosmetics pretty decent too, they’re not perfect but they have some really great options!
Melt Cosmetics, Colourpop, and Real Techniques (haven’t met a brush I won’t use).
Bite Beauty, Colourpop, UD (lipstick, eyeliner and eyeshadow singles), Viseart.
I have not had any issues with Pat McGrath. All the of e/s palettes and lipsticks I have purchased have been exceptional in quality. I also love her lip gloss formula and I am not a gloss wearer. I have had good luck with ColourPop and although I am sure there are duds in their line, I personally haven’t purchased a bad product. The availability of good, impartial reviews and knowledge of my personal preferences have kept me from making really bad choices.
Just before going on my low buy I purchased a couple of things from L’Oreal and I have to say, I really like the two products I picked up. I really have loved the Colour Riche Shines so decided to pick up a newer foundation and blush and other than the foundation being too light for me, (an amazing feat by itself) I like how it is wearing. I had to laugh because Taylor, (Thataylla on YT) reviewed it on the second day of her 15 DOF and she really loved it. I love Taylor but frankly, nothing she loves has ever worked for me but that is because she is in her 20’s and I am in my 60’s so not the fault of either of us!! This foundation is really pretty on my droopy, wrinkled and dry skin. Now I just need to figure the shade out and I might be able to buy a foundation that doesn’t cost me my first born child.
Chanel and Pat McGrath for makeup; Clarins and Tatcha for skincare. Actually, Chanel for skincare too, as they have some great products, like the Hydra Beauty Micro Essence…oh, that stuff is sooo nice!
Colourpop and BH. I think those are the two brands that I am likely to buy almost every release because I always really like them. Although…BH more for palettes and brushes than anything else. And I’ve done well enough with Too Faced and Violet Voss that I’d pretty much purchase from them without seeing reviews or seeing the product live.
Also just recently started shopping Rude Cosmetics and so far I’m impressed with all my products, but may be too soon to say this about them.
There are other brands that I love for specific items, but not enough to say this about the whole brand.
Marc Jacobs, Natasha Denona, Charlotte Tilbury, and Hourglass; Honorable Mentions to Becca and ABH.
Bobbi Brown and Marc Jacobs Beauty. I’m excited just thinking about buying from them *.* and Tom Ford and Guerlain perfumes <3
Fenty beauty. The brand has the best foundation I’ve ever found that matches my skin perfectly and I love the setting powder! I’m just waiting for them to come out with bronzers and lip glosses!
I feel let down by Pat McGrath’s new mascara. I also think her eyeliner sucks.