Archived Post

What brand do you find most reliable in quality?

I think Viseart and ColourPop are fairly reliable–not perfect–but usually good. Again, not perfect, but brands like Make Up For Ever, Urban Decay, Bite Beauty, Surratt Beauty…

— Christine

24 Comments

Comments that do not adhere to our comment policy may be removed. Discussion and debate are highly encouraged but we expect community members to participate respectfully. Please keep discussion on-topic, and if you have general feedback, a product review request, an off-topic question, or need technical support, please contact us!

Please help us streamline the comments' section and be more efficient: double-check the post above for more basic information like pricing, availability, and so on to make sure your question wasn't answered already. Comments alerting us to typos or small errors in the post are appreciated (!) but will typically be removed after errors are fixed (unless a response is needed).

We appreciate enthusiasm for new releases but ask readers to please hold questions regarding if/when a review will be posted as we can't commit to or guarantee product reviews. We don't want to set expectations and then disappoint readers as even products that are swatched don't always end up being reviewed due to time constraints and changes in priorities! Thank you for understanding!

Comments on this post are closed.
Aj Avatar

For me reliable means they have an overall great quality permanent line and their LEs are the same most of the time. So, that would be ColourPop, Bite Beauty, Viseart, MUFE, Urban Decay, and NARS.

Alecto Avatar

I’m pretty pleased you mentioned those two; I was (for a while) thinking about recommending both NM and MPZ.

Notoriously Morbid has some very satisfying liquid lipsticks (I wore “Stay Evil, Dollface” today), and some great matte shadows. I’ve found their non-mattes to be mostly good, with a few misses.

My Pretty Zombie has some really stunning eyshadows, which are better than their — in some case some very unique — blushes (though they sell what WAS my all-time favorite blush before UD’s “Lost Soul” came along: “Reclusa”).

I ended up not naming them because I’ve personally run into some duds with both lines. Having said that, I’d put them both above companies like Urban Decay.

Anne Avatar

I’ve always found more reliability in skincare than makeup. There are certain brands that have made names for themselves based on the excellence of their skincare products for decades. Many new skincare lines have launched in the past 5-8 years or so, and I’ve dabbled in a few, but I almost always end up returning to my tried and true. And I’ve found these lines have more stable pricing. (Some of the newer skincare lines have price tags that take my breath away.)

Conversely, I’ve found little reliability in makeup. I cherry pick from a dozen or so lines. It’s been my experience that the more reliable makeup brands don’t often have the most reliable skincare products and visa versa. That’s been my observation, anyway.

Anne Avatar

As a qualifier for my choices, I have mature, dry skin. For years and years, I’ve relied on Shiseido, Decleor and Clarins. They’re simply outstanding skincare lines. I’ve also found winners made by Kiehl’s, DHC and even Mario Badescu. Of the newer lines, I’ve enjoyed Fresh and Sunday Riley. Skincare is so individual, but I’ve been pleased with all these lines. The first three, though, are golden, imho.

ShariP Avatar

Anne, thank you for the info. I was going to ask the same question. While I can’t say I’ve mature skin I do tend to be more dry. I’ve tried Shiseido and I’ve wanted to try something from Clarins so now that I have a good report I think I will. Thanks.

Seraphine Avatar

Urban Decay, because I’ve rarely ever been let down by their eyeshadows and lipsticks.

Colourpop is up there, too, for their Ultra Satin lipsticks. I haven’t used anything else by Colourpop, but the Ultra Satins have all been excellent (and I have about 11 of them).

Leslie Avatar

I can’t nail that down to one brand. I find Lancôme (for me) has the best skincare products. It’s all I use. Chanel has great lipstick and blush….not so great in the eyshadow department. I could go on all day. I have to pick apart certain brands for quality of particular products. Not every brand is consistent in every category. 🙂 I have my favorites from just about every brand out there lol.

bibi Avatar

It Cosmetics- I’ve really loved every product I’ve tried – their CC cream, concealer, blush, brow pencil, highlighter, bronzer, – all amazing products for the price. They aren’t glamourous nor hip but their products perform!

Cle de Peau- one of the few luxury brands that really performs perfectly. I love all of their foundations, powder products, mascara, (their lippies could last a bit longer). Baby Universe has been my ‘work appropriate’ quad for 2 yrs now.

Elizabeth Arden- Yes, I know, EA is considered an ‘old lady’ brand, But for the basics EA’s products are always reliable in quality- great mascaras, concealers, blushes, lippies, skin care, and their Smoky Eyes Powder Pencils has been a staple in my makeup arsenal for 20 yrs!!!

Genevieve Avatar

I agree with you Bibi – I have often been very pleasantly surprised by EA – lipsticks, foundations, skin care etc. Quite often you get wonderful GWP with their products too. And I can often get them on sale as well through an online retailer here in Australia Buyinvite. Fantastic quality.

Deborah S. Avatar

Bite Beauty and ColourPop. I agree that Viseart seems to always produce wonderful eye shadows I don’t have enough by the brand to really comment. I have the Paris Nudes palette and two of the theory palettes, one of which I don’t care for and the quality was substandard relative to their other palettes, at least as they were reviewed.

Nicole D Avatar

Bite Beauty for their entire line, IT Cosmetics (their products, which combine skincare and makeup, are unique and vital for people with rosacea) and ABH (I don’t have their Glow Kits but I like a lot their eyeshadows, lip and brow products).

Rachel R. Avatar

Based on what I personally own: Bite Beauty, Anastasia Beverly Hills, MUFE, bareMinerals, Urban Decay, Tarte, ColourPop, Nyx, Milani, e.l.f., bhCosmetics, Notoriously Morbid, Darling Girl, Apocalyptic Beauty (etsy), Tater Rounds (etsy), Everyday Minerals, NuSkin, and Paula’s Choice.

I think MAC is reliable in that the permanent range is really good to excellent, but LE is really inconsistent from collection to collection, especially the eyeshadow palettes.

Alecto Avatar

I’d put Bite Beauty at the top of my list. Also a few indies: Aromaleigh, Concrete Minerals, Lunatick Cosmetic Labs. Other companies exist that I’m always willing to gamble on, but for a few minor past issues, wouldn’t recommend unreservedly.

Genevieve Avatar

I think different brands are reliable in specific areas, for example
Milani – blushes and lipsticks
Elizabeth Arden – lipsticks
Clarins – lipsticks and skincare (although expensive)
Urban Decay – their past eye shadow palettes (Naked lines, Vice 1 & 2, Moondust etc)
Becca – highlighters
Foundation & Setting powder: Rimmel (for me)

For skincare – I am ‘mature age’, have dry skin and just a few little wrinkles and I have tried lots of different skincare products – so what I go back to is:
Swisse – cleanser, night moisturisers – all cruelty free and often available on sales. Cleansers don’t need to be expensive
Goodness – Chia seed oil
Physicians Formula – Argon Oil
Olay Regenerist – serum, day & night moisturiser
La Roche Posay – sensitive skin issues, sunscreen

We try to approve comments within 24 hours (and reply to them within 72 hours) but can sometimes get behind and appreciate your patience! 🙂 If you have general feedback, product review requests, off-topic questions, or need technical support, please contact us directly. Thank you for your patience!