Finding the best teen makeup brands are a total rite of passage. Ask a beauty lover of any age, and they can probably tell you the their favorite label, the first real makeup product they bought from it, and what it meant to them. Things like blush, mascara, and concealer sound simple, but they can say so much; makeup is a place for freedom, experimentation, and play.
And there are so many makeup brands to play with! The shelves of your local drugstore, department store, Ulta, or Sephora are packed with products for eyes, cheeks, lips, you name it. This can be both fun and overwhelming to navigate. How do you know what you really need versus what's trending on TikTok at this very moment? Your best friend may love one brand, while your mom recommends another. There's a lot to choose from!
Of course, the best makeup brands for teenagers depends on a few different factors: your day-to-day life, your budget, and your personal style. Some teens are more glitter than clean-girl minimalism. Some prefer a fresh, dewy look, while others gravitate toward a more sculpted, YouTube-tutorial vibe. No matter what you're drawn to, there's a brand or two waiting for you!
We chatted with real teens about their favorite brands and products and scoured store shelves, TikTok, and online reviews to find the best makeup brands for teenagers.
The Top Picks
Rhode
It's probably not a huge surprise that Hailey Bieber's brand Rhode was one of the most popular picks for teen makeup brands. The line, which began as a curated collection of skincare, has now expanded into color cosmetics with its Pocket Blushes, tinted Peptide Lip Treatments, and Peptide Lip Shape liners. Rhode, which was previously available only online, is now available at Sephora, making it so much easier to play with its products. Rhode's products are best for someone who prefers a more minimalist approach to makeup and are meant to be applied with your fingers for an effortless look. “LOVE EVERYTHING,” shared one teen.
- Known for: Lightly tinted makeup infused with skin care
- Price Range: Around $20 to $25
e.l.f. Cosmetics
Drugstore makeup has gotten a major glow-up since this writer was a teenager, and e.l.f. is one of the brands leading the pack. The brand is known for its high-quality products at an accessible price point and its “dupes” of more expensive products. One of the teens we spoke to said e.l.f. is her “go-to" product line. “I love everything from them and they're super affordable.”
- Known for: Affordable alternatives
- Price Range: Around $4 to $25
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Charlotte Tilbury
Teens who prefer a more glamorous aesthetic are drawn to Charlotte Tilbury, a makeup artist-founded brand that is all about Hollywood shimmer and sparkle. Charlotte Tilbury is best known for its complexion products, including the Flawless Filter “complexion booster” and Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder. “If I could use one product for the rest of my life, it would be this,” one teen said about the powder.
- Known for: Full glam essentials
- Price Range: Around $26 to $69
Benefit Cosmetics
Benefit has been beloved by teens (and everyone else!) for decades, but experienced a boost in popularity after some of its products went viral on TikTok. The standout product? The original Benetint Lip & Cheek Stain, a magenta liquid stain that can be applied to lips or cheeks for a flush of rosy color. The brand's Hoola bronzer is another fave; one teen we spoke to said she's been using it for years.
- Known for: Fan-favorite products across generations
- Price Range: Around $16 to $58
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Colourpop Cosmetics
For fun shades, formulas, and finishes that don't cost a ton of cash, try ColourPop Cosmetics. It's a versatile brand with products for every aesthetic. If you love a bright, vibrant eye, try their Chrome Creme Gel Liners. For day-to-day, their Pretty Fresh Hyaluronic Creamy Concealer can't be beat—and costs under $10! ColourPop also does lots of fun collabs, including palettes inspired by Twilight, Bratz, and Shrek.
- Known for: Collab collections & aesthetics
- Price Range: Around $7 to $35
Rare Beauty
Selena Gomez's brand Rare Beauty has been a smash success since it launched in 2020. The hero product is definitely the Soft Pinch Liquid Blush, a highly pigmented blush in a variety of matte and radiant shades, which went majorly viral on TikTok and remains a fave today. Rare Beauty is a go-to for all ages, but its classic, pretty colors and easy-to-use formulas make it a great option for teens.
- Known for: High pigment products & accessible packaging
- Price Range: Around $16 to $32
Glossier
Easy, effortless, everyday makeup—that's Glossier's philosophy. The brand, which launched in 2014 with skincare and then grew to include makeup products, is perfect for teens who are just getting into makeup and want to build a simple routine of easy-to-use products. Standout products include the Boy Brow brow pomade and the brand's beloved Cloud Paint blush. (They recently added a new version of Cloud Paint, a putty-like cream-to-powder formula, to the lineup.)
- Known for: Simple essentials for everyday makeup
- Price Range: Around $16 to $34
Kylie Cosmetics
Kylie Jenner's makeup line has changed a lot since the days of the matte liquid lipstick Lip Kits, though you can still buy those! Jenner's brand is now home to tons of products, from foundation to mascara to bronzer and blush. And of course, she offers all sorts of lip-centric formulas, including glosses, balms, and matte bullet lipsticks.
- Known for: Lippies
- Price Range: Around $17 to $38
NYX Professional Makeup
Another drugstore fave, NYX Professional is all about color, fun, and quality products at an affordable price point. Many of their formulas rival their more expensive counterparts, so if you're looking for quality with a drugstore price tag, NYX is the perfect place to start.
- Known for: Bold finds at the drugstore
- Price Range: Around $10 to $25
Fenty Beauty
Rihanna's Fenty Beauty has been a game-changer since it debuted in 2017 with an emphasis on inclusivity and self-expression. The line is packed with everything you need for a well-rounded beauty routine, from skin tints to blush to lip gloss, in staple shades and fun seasonal colors too.
- Known for: Inclusive shade range
- Price Range: Around $20 to $43
Maybelline
Generations of teenagers have spent their paychecks on Maybelline products, and the tradition is still going today. Several of the teens we spoke to said they “can't live without” the brand's viral Sky High Mascara, which went mega-viral on TikTok for its lash-boosting abilities. If you miss 2016 makeup and wish it would make a comeback, try Maybelline's bestselling SuperStay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick, which stays put for hours.
- Known for: TikTok-favorite drugstore essentials
- Price Range: Around $7 to $18
Patrick Ta
Blush has been one of the hottest beauty products of the past few years, and one of the most frequently mentioned blushes was Patrick Ta's blush duos, which combine a cream and powder formula for a customizable layered look with tons of vibrant pigment. Because founder Patrick Ta is a professional makeup artist, his line is full of splurge-worthy products for gorgeous, gleaming skin and shimmery eyes.
- Known for: Bright blushes
- Price Range: Around $15 to $70
Half Magic
Makeup is all about play, and Half Magic, founded by Euphoria makeup artist Donni Davy, is tailor-made for teens who want to have fun with color, texture, sparkle, and shine. Create your own palette, add a couple face gems to jazz up Tuesday morning geometry class, and sparkle on the dance floor at winter formal with the Glitterpuck.
- Known for: High pigment & sparkles galore
- Price Range: Around $14 to $30
