Life Style

Only Some Luxury Makeup Brands Are Worth the Splurge—18 You Won’t Regret

Best luxury makeup products

Photo:

@cocoweekend

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. 

Rouge Allure Velvet Extrême
Chanel
Rouge Allure Velvet Extrême
$0
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It’s my personal opinion that it is a rite of passage to own a Chanel lipstick—that’s how good they are. This one has the dreamiest matte finish and lasts for hours. 

Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Foundation
Chanel
Les Beiges Healthy Glow Foundation
$60
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This foundation mimics your skin, and after applying it, it looks like you have a filter on. 

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. 

Tom Ford Gloss Luxe Moisturizing Lip Gloss
Tom Ford
Gloss Luxe Moisturizing Lip Gloss
$58
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A good lip gloss is hard to come by. This gloss does it all: it delivers intense shine, high-impact color, and a hit of moisture. Plus, it’s not sticky. 

Tom Ford Shade & Illuminate Blush
Tom Ford
Shade & Illuminate Blush
$90
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One matte cheek color and one frosty cheek color ensure that you can always create the most flawless, sun-kissed look. 

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. 

Lancôme Artliner Precision Point Liquid Eyeliner
Lancôme
Artliner Precision Point Liquid Eyeliner
$31
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This perfectly pointed eyeliner will give you the sharpest cat eye (every time). 

Lancôme Lash Idôle Mascara
Lancôme
Lash Idôle Mascara
$27
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Lash Idôle has to be one of the best mascaras I’ve ever tried. It gives lashes more length, volume, and separation than I previously thought possible.

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. 

Gucci Beauty Rouge à Lèvres Voile Limited Edition Lipstick Goldie Red 25
Gucci Beauty
Rouge à Lèvres Voile Limited Edition Lipstick Goldie Red 25
$42
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Gucci’s signature lipstick is inspired by Jean Harlow’s titular role in Goldie, and it’s the most classic, sophisticated red you can imagine. 

Gucci Beauty Éclat De Beauté Effet Lumière Gel Face Gloss
Gucci Beauty
Éclat De Beauté Effet Lumière Gel Face Gloss
$33
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This multiuse face gloss is often sold out. You can use it anywhere on your face to illuminate features or place it on top of makeup to add a glassy, luminous finish. 

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. 

Clé de Peau Beauté Radiant Fluid Natural Foundation SPF 25
Clé de Peau Beauté
Radiant Fluid Natural Foundation SPF 25
$130
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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. 

Clé de Peau Beauté Beauté Concealer SPF 25
Clé de Peau Beauté
Concealer SPF 25
$73
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Like the foundation, Clé de Peau’s concealer works overtime to perfect your skin. This full-coverage formula can help camouflage everything from dark circles to blemishes. 

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. 

Pat McGrath Labs Divine Rose Luxe Eyeshadow Palette: Eternal Eden Divine Rose II Collection
Pat McGrath Labs
Divine Rose Luxe Eyeshadow Palette: Eternal Eden Divine Rose II Collection
$58
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Highly pigmented rosy shades make this one of the best pink-toned makeup palettes on the market. 

Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish: Divine Powder Blush
Pat McGrath Labs
Skin Fetish: Divine Powder Blush
$38
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Just one swipe of this blush leaves you with an incredible flush like you just walked inside from the cold. The color payoff is intense, and it’s highly blendable, so you can truly customize this blush to your own preferences. 

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.

Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Light Wand Pinkgasm
Charlotte Tilbury
Beauty Light Wand Pinkgasm
$40
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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. 

Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Lip Kit - Makeup Kit
Charlotte Tilbury
Pillow Talk Lip Kit – Makeup Kit
$52
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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.

Byredo Eyeshadow 5 Colours
Byredo
Eyeshadow 5 Colours
$70
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This palette is versatile and will quickly become your most reached-for eye shadow. 

Byredo Colour Stick
Byredo
Colour Stick
$33
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Swipe this color stick anywhere—seriously. This can be used as a highlight, an eye shadow, or even a lip color if you’re feeling bold. 

9. Dior

Dior makeup is the height of luxury—just like the brand itself. 

Dior Addict Lip Maximizer Plumping Lip Gloss
Dior
Addict Lip Maximizer Plumping Lip Gloss
$35
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This lip plumper is a cult-favorite, and anyone who has tried it knows exactly why. It looks good on every skin tone, and leaves lips moisturized and pillowy.

Dior Backstage Rosy Glow Blush
Dior
Backstage Rosy Glow Blush
$39
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This TikTok sensation is consistently sold out. It makes sense, too—as far as blush goes, this one delivers an other-worldly glow to cheeks, leaving you looking lit-from-within. 

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. 

Westman Atelier Lit Up Highlight Stick
Westman Atelier
Lit Up Highlight Stick
$48
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This highlight stick couldn’t be easier to use, and it gives you a radiant glow that looks like an enhanced version of your natural skin. 

Westman Atelier Lip Suede
Westman Atelier
Lip Suede
$85
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Consider this compact the height of customizable beauty. This innovative lip palette can be blended, or each color can be used on its own. You can even swipe across the cheeks—the possibilities are endless. 

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. 

Surratt Beauty Noir Lash Tint
Surratt Beauty
Noir Lash Tint
$50
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I’ll wager you’ve never seen a mascara with a brush like this before, and that’s what makes it so unique and singular. This metal “brush” allows you to coat every last lash and doesn’t give you any clumps or flakes. 

Surratt Beauty Expressioniste Brow Pomade
Surratt Beauty
Expressioniste Brow Pomade
$35
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Like the lash tint, this brow pomade is unique-looking (it almost looks like a toothbrush, no?). It’s the bristles that help make sure brows are evenly brushed through—they distribute the ideal amount of product. 

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.

Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat High Cover Radiant Undereye Brightening Concealer Pen
Yves Saint Laurent
Touche Éclat High Cover Radiant Undereye Brightening Concealer Pen
$38
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Behold, my favorite under-eye concealer of all time. This concealer flawlessly covers dark circles, all while color-correcting and brightening. It doesn’t even look like you’re wearing any makeup. 

Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupté Shine Oil-In-Stick Lipstick Balm
Yves Saint Laurent
Rouge Volupté Shine Oil-In-Stick Lipstick Balm
$39
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Somewhere at the intersection of a lip oil and a lipstick, you’ll find this lipstick balm. It gives lips radiant shine, highly pigmented color, and tons of moisture. 

13. Givenchy

Givenchy’s beauty products are all about celebrating femininity, with classic colors and luxe formulas leading the charge. 

Givenchy Prisme Libre Finishing & Setting Powder
Givenchy
Prisme Libre Finishing & Setting Powder
$58
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This color-correcting, four-in-one finishing powder is a favorite among makeup artists. It gives a flawless, filtered finish, and never looks cakey. 

Givenchy Le Rouge Sheer Velvet Matte Lipstick
Givenchy
Le Rouge Sheer Velvet Matte Lipstick
$38
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For effortless, just-been-kissed lips that the French are known for. 

14. Giorgio Armani

Armani beauty is all about bringing elegance to your everyday life. These products enhance the skin’s natural beauty. 

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Perfect Glow Flawless Oil-Free Foundation
Giorgio Armani
Luminous Silk Perfect Glow Flawless Oil-Free Foundation
$44
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You’ll find this foundation on just about every list of the best foundations. It goes on effortlessly and leaves you with radiant, even-toned skin. 

Giorgio Armani Eye Tint Long-Lasting Liquid Eyeshadow
Giorgio Armani
Eye Tint Long-Lasting Liquid Eyeshadow
$30
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With just one swipe (and no primer needed), you can create a runway-worthy eye look that lasts all day. Use it as an eye shadow or as an eyeliner.

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. 

Guerlain Météorites Illuminating Powder Pearls
Guerlain
Météorites Illuminating Powder Pearls
$64
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These novel illuminating powder pearls can be used all over your face to color correct and add luminosity to the skin. Use them to set makeup and watch your complexion transform. 

Guerlain Terracotta Sunkissed Natural Bronzer Powder
Guerlain
Terracotta Sunkissed Natural Bronzer Powder
$56
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Guerlain’s bronzer doesn’t just contour—it also adds moisture and nourishment to the skin with argan oil. It’s easily blendable and makes you look instantly sun-kissed. 

16. Sisley Paris

This French luxury brand makes plant-based products made with top-tier ingredients that help perfect skin. 

Sisley Paris Lorchidée Highlighter Blush
Sisley Paris
Lorchidée Highlighter Blush
$120
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Use this to sculpt your face by creating a subtle, glowing flush that looks natural, thanks to light-diffusing pigments that impart radiance. 

Sisley Paris Phyto-Touche Sun Glow Bronzing Gel-Powder
Sisley Paris
Phyto-Touche Sun Glow Bronzing Gel-Powder
$128
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A unique gel-powder texture looks heavenly once applied to the skin, as it illuminates and evens texture. Infused with gardenia, wood mallow, and linden blossom, it also helps nourish and soften. 

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. 

Valentino V-Lighter Face Primer & Highlighter
Valentino
V-Lighter Face Primer & Highlighter
$58
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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. 

Valentino Rosso Valentino Refillable Lipstick
Valentino
Rosso Valentino Refillable Lipstick
$55
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Refillable beauty is the name of the game these days, and a lipstick this luxe being endlessly refillable is music to any beauty lover’s ears. This lipstick comes in 50—yes, 50—high-impact shades. 

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. 

Hermès Rose Hermès Silky Blush Powder
Hermès
Rose Hermès Silky Blush Powder
$78
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This blush will look just as good on your vanity as it will on your face. It’s endlessly blendable and customizable, so you can have as pigmented color as you want. 

Hermès Rouge Hermès - Matte Lipstick
Hermès
Rouge Hermès – Matte Lipstick
$69
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An Hermès lipstick is the height of sophistication and cool—full stop. 

Next, Revealed: The 8 Most-Used Beauty Products on the Season 2 Euphoria Set

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