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Highlights
- MAC Cosmetics' global director of makeup artistry Terry Barber predicts maximalist and glowy makeup trends in 2024.
- Smashbox Cosmetics offers cruelty-free products endorsed by Hollywood artists.
- Guerlain shifts to engaging younger audiences and diversifying products in 2024.
- The most expensive makeup brands today maintain accessible, affordable options in some categories.
In the fast moving world of beauty, where innovation meets glamour, makeup enthusiasts find themselves captivated not only by the transformative power of cosmetics but also by the allure of luxury.
In 2024, the beauty industry continues to redefine opulence with a lineup of the crème de la crème – the most expensive makeup brands right now.
Updated, February 2024: On February 21st, NewBeauty.com published an article about cosmetic trend forecasts for 2024, as anticipated by one of the most expensive makeup brands on this list, MAC Cosmetics.
MAC global director of makeup artistry Terry Barber spoke to the outlet about runway influences and cosmetic trends, and summarized them as being "all about regency, maximalist romance with a modern twist."
Barber identified three specific uptrending looks, both for drugstore and the most expensive brands. Maximalism – the counterpart to minimialism, and something of a MAC mainstay – was at the top of the list, after several years of pandemic era "no-makeup makeup."
Barber also predicted that "glowy" skin finishes would be big in 2024, and prognosticated that nostalgic colors such as "like pale blue or playfully murky neutrals or oxblood cranberry" could make a return in 2024. As for neutrals, Barber hinted they might evolve through a "grunge makeover."
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This article unveils the haute couture of makeup, where each product is a masterpiece, and indulgence knows no bounds.
From iconic classics to cutting-edge formulations, these brands redefine the boundaries of beauty (and offer some unexpectedly affordable items).
10 Smashbox Cosmetics
Price Range (Highest To Lowest): $65 To $11
Smashbox originated in an LA photo studio, where makeup artists and photographers rigorously tested the makeup for years to ensure its resilience under different lighting conditions.
The brand boasts cruelty-free products known for their finely milled textures and comfortable feel, whether in front of the camera or behind it.
Many Hollywood makeup artists endorse Smashbox due to its high-quality products.
Moreover, the brand offers numerous kits that center around the latest trends.
9 Kjaer Weis
Price Range (Highest To Lowest): $99 To $30
Kirsten Kjaer Weis is the creator of Kjaer Weis's makeup.
Her upbringing on a farm in Denmark instilled in her a deep understanding of sustainability.
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Wit & Whimsy decreed the brand one of the "most innovative" in the industry.
Despite not being the priciest makeup brand, its products are widely available at exclusive retailers such as Nordstrom.
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The reality star and her family have been facing a series of financial setbacks since her departure from RHOA in 2020.8 Guerlain
Price Range (Highest To Lowest): $165 To $26
Guerlain rightfully holds its place among the most expensive luxury makeup brands, holding strong since its establishment in 1840.
It's credited with inventing bronzer, making it a brand deserving of gratitude if you're a fan of this product.
Traditionally, Guerlain has appealed to an older demographic due to its longstanding presence and often prohibitive price point.
However, in 2024, the brand has shifted gears, focusing on digital marketing, collaborations in the fashion industry, and more.
Their success with the novel KissKiss Bee Glow Honey Tint Lip Balm has notably attracted younger audiences.
7 MAC Cosmetics
Price Range (Highest To Lowest): $220 To $25
MAC Cosmetics has a long-standing presence in the beauty industry, and part of the reason for their higher pricing is their extensive range of services.
They offer the convenience of chatting with a MAC artist, and provide in-store demonstrations for customers to learn how to effectively apply their makeup products.
Throughout its history, the company has engaged in numerous celebrity collaborations.
MAC is also known for having affordable options among its extensive offerings – but a "full face" of MAC Cosmetics set YouTuber Mia Maples back $400 in December:
Bustle highlighted some of the notable MAC collabs and co-branded collections, including Mariah Carey, Rihanna, a line honoring late singer Selena, and even Barbie are among the brand's top collaborations.
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The BAFTAs were held on February 18th, and Emily Blunt wore a rare Tiffany necklace, likely worth over half a million dollars.6 Valentino Beauty
Valentino Color Flip PalettePrice Range (Highest To Lowest): $240 To $25
Valentino, a renowned luxury brand, ventured into the makeup portion of luxury goods more recently than other brands on this list.
They provide several options for personalization, such as custom engraved packaging.
Moreover, their lipstick containers are designed to work with refills, a practice more common in the upper echelons of luxury beauty – enabling fans of the brand to invest in pricier, refillable compacts and containers.
Valentino achieved success in its makeup launch by gaining popularity on TikTok.
YouTube beauty maven Tati Westbrook (a fan of high-end formulas) reviewed Valentino in 2022, and even Tati called it "new insanely priced" makeup in her description box:
In August 2022, E! Newscomprehensively assessed Valentino's cosmetics, pointing out a complete stock up would set cosmetics collectors back more than $1,000:
But how does the entire makeup collection really hold up, especially when the full line will cost beauty lovers $1,004? Yes, you read that correctly.
In an assessment of Valentino's $98 Color Flip palette, E! determined it largely performed as expected (with some minor longevity issues for shimmer pans):
Currently, there's one eye palette available but you can easily create a day-to-night look since it includes neutral tones, as well as a black, and two glitzy shades. Although the shadows are pigmented and blend seamlessly without any fallout, there is one downside: The shimmer shadows lose their luster after a few hours of wear.
5 Sisley-Paris
Price Range (Highest To Lowest): $307 To $50
Sisley-Paris stands as a prestigious French company renowned for incorporating various plant-based elements, encompassing fruit extracts, mint, and other botanical extracts.
Their range includes user-friendly products like crayons, sponge-tipped concealers, and more.
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While their cosmetics top out at a few hundred dollars, fashion magazine W ranked August's "Best New Beauty Products," with a Sisley-Paris moisturizer priced at $940 in the top spot.
Of the product, W reported:
Sisley’s newest launch delivers radiance to your skin in a matter of hours. Supremÿa La Nuit merges cutting-edge science and high-grade botanicals to deliver a truly sublime repairing night cream.
The formulation uses targeted steps to promote detoxification and skin resynchronization. The brand’s patented Fundamental Regeneration Complex is formulated to fight 25 antiaging aggressors while you sleep—so your skin can slay the next day.
4 Hermés Beauty
Price Range (Highest To Lowest): $350 To $43
Hermés offers an extensive array of beauty items, spanning blotting papers (in an iconic Hermés orange box, of course) to refillable lipsticks.
Widely recognized by their aforementioned signature orange boxes, the brand excels in presenting impeccable packaging and consistent branding with its makeup line.
The Hermés website showcases various popular products, and they generate excitement by introducing "limited edition" items to increase interest and anticipation.
In addition, Hermés has been able to generate significant buzz about the quality of its products, meeting and exceeding high expectations and reinforcing its status in the luxury goods market.
3 Christian Louboutin Beauty
Price Range (Highest To Lowest): $355 To $40
It is perhaps a bit of an understatement to say Christian Louboutin is best known for his iconic red-soled high heels, which have been referenced everywhere from Sex And The City to the chorus of Cardi B's hit "Bodak Yellow."
While Cardi B doesn't reference the shoes by name, she rhymes about them and their exclusivity :
"These expensive, these is red bottoms, these is bloody shoes ... hit the store, I can get 'em both, I don't wanna choose ..."
In short, it would be easy to forget the Louboutin brand isn't just about the most wanted high heels for many years running ... but it isn't.
Louboutin's beauty line also captivates with exquisite offerings, all presented in awe-inspiring packaging.
Lipsticks are encased in tubes reminiscent of antiques, complemented by available charms for a personalized touch. Nail polishes resemble the sleek design of their high stilettos.
Allure swiftly praised the brand's lipstick formula, highlighting its moisturizing qualities which prevent drying lips.
In the world of high-end makeup, Louboutin beauty products are widely considered worthy of "red-bottom" status.
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Price Range (Highest To Lowest): $435 To $12
For years, Estée Lauder (which bears the name of its founder) has maintained its status as a luxury brand, and it is frequently a feature at high-end department stores like Macy's and Nordstrom.
Another legacy brand often associated with a more mature demographic, Estée Lauder offers several products dedicated to skin rejuvenation, targeting the reduction of lines and wrinkles.
Their range includes the Instant Glow line, repair serums, and high-performance treatment products – but their cosmetics certainly appeal to a wider audience, and the brand is notable for its collectable and refillable compacts.
Additionally, the Re-Nutriv line stands out for collaborating with leading artists to design the bottles and jars, contributing to the overall higher cost of the makeup products.
Estée Lauder is especially notable in the cosmetics industry as a parent company to a massive number of prominent subsidiaries.
MAC, Aveda, Dr. Jart, La Mer, Too Faced, Smashbox, Le Labo, and Tom Ford are just some of the brands under its giant umbrella.
1 Westman Atelier
Price Range (Highest To Lowest): $750 To $32
Gucci Westman, a celebrity makeup artist famous in her own right, ventured into launching her own makeup line in 2018.
Gucci drew immediate support from several celebrities, including Gwyneth Paltrow and Kate Hudson, and the brand participated in popularizing TikTok's makeup "underpainting" trend:
Her formulations are "pure" and user-friendly, containing beneficial ingredients like jojoba oil, vitamin C, and other "actives" aimed at nurturing the skin instead of triggering breakouts.
In skincare parlance, "actives" are specific ingredients included to target a precise problem.
A common "active" is retinol, a vitamin A derivative which targets and improves dull skin.
Several Gucci Atalier items are offered in a "hot right now" stick form, ensuring effortless application.
W magazine profiled Gucci Westman in September, and the influential publication credited Westman with introducing a then-currently popular focus on "clean makeup" and "no makeup makeup," reporting:
Gucci Westman pioneered the glowing, “no-makeup makeup” look long before Sofia Richie Grainge took TikTok by storm or Hailey Beiber [sic] launched her viral hydrating Peptide Glazing Serum.
Westman is known for using pigment and coverage sparingly and expertly to create the effect of supple, luminous skin. There’s an elegance to Westman’s work—and a very human, natural quality.
She got her start on film sets, collaborating with directors Spike Jonze and Vincent Gallo. Since then, she’s done countless runway shows and created looks for everyone from Natalie Portman and Drew Barrymore to Gwyneth Paltrow, who booked the California-born artist for her 2018 wedding.
According to W, Westman's reasonably new brand is designed to work "as a system," with its various formulations functioning in concert:
Still, Westman’s five-year-old cosmetics line, Westman Atelier, may be her most delicately seductive offering yet. The products are designed to act as a system, enriching and enhancing your skin while working in partnership with one another.
Overall, Gucci Atalier has made a considerable mark in the beauty industry, due to a high number of celebrity fans ... and the viral popularity of its blush stick on TikTok.
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