Maybelline is a drugstore brand that has been around since 1915, and you may recall your mother, or even your grandmother, using some of their products on a regular basis. Raise your hand if your first ever mascara was Great Lash, because it was for me! I am going through my personal collection and pulling out what I consider to be the best Maybelline products of all time. This is a tough list to narrow down (and in no particular order), but it will surely aid you in making your next purchase wisely. Maybelline has a ginormous product assortment, so this list is by no means exhaustive. There are so many products that I have yet to try that could easily land a spot on this list. This is where you come in. Be sure to add your favorites into the comments section to keep my list going. Time to begin.
Best Maybelline Products of All Time
1) Soda Pop Eyeshadow Palette
I am starting off my list of the best Maybelline products of all time with the Soda Pop Eyeshadow Palette. Maybelline eyeshadow is incredibly hit or miss, and I am usually disappointed more than I am pleased. As time goes on, Maybelline is getting better with their formula. Soda Pop is one of the best I have tried. Besides the mild grape scent, these eyeshadows pack on plenty of pigment with a smooth formula.
2) Lemonade Craze Eyeshadow Palette
Second is the Lemonade Craze Eyeshadow Palette, which actually was released before Soda Pop. This is such a pretty palette to reach for in the summer with its blushed hues, shimmers, and pops of lemon yellow and bright pink. This palette is not as good as Soda Pop from a pigmentation standpoint, but remember my words that the palettes keep getting better as time rolls forward. You will have to work with this palette a bit more, but the end results are gorgeous.
3) Master Blush Color & Highlight Kit
Third is the Master Blush Color & Highlight Kit. Maybelline’s blush singles are not a favorite among the beauty community, but they are doing something right with this palette. All of the blush shades are pigmented as they should be, and you can easily reach for this palette on a daily basis. Even the highlighter is stunning, not to mention that it compliments the blush shades perfectly.
4) Master Bronze & Highlight Kit
Fourth is the Master Bronze & Highlight Kit. The bronzers are a bit on the lighter side in terms of the shades, which turned me off at first. But, I have grown to appreciate this palette as a daily grab. While it is by no means dramatic, a light, sun-kissed look has its time and place. The highlighter is awesome in this palette as well.
5) Master Contour Face Contouring Kit
Number five for the best Maybelline products of all time are the Master Contour Face Contouring Kits. I learned to love these when I was in college and I had very limited time to apply makeup on Tuesdays and Thursdays. You have no idea how much time it saves to reach for one palette that enables you to bronze, blush, and highlight all in one. I use the contour shade as a bronzer, as the tones are just right. The blush is of excellent quality, as are the highlighters. These shades are perfect for daily wear to get you straight out the door.
6) The Matte Bar Eyeshadow Palette
Next is The Matte Bar Eyeshadow Palette. This is another example of Maybelline getting better with time! Matte eyeshadows are my absolute favorite, and these shades are to die for. You have appropriate selections for the crease and to set the lid, but you also have rich mauves, browns, pinks, and reds. This formula is highly pigmented and smooth, without fear of chalkiness. Everything blends like a dream.
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7) Master Chrome Metallic Highlighters
Here are the Master Chrome Metallic Highlighters. As far as I am concerned, these are some of the best highlighters in the drugstore. They provide a blinding highlight that is not full of glitter. Sometimes I reach for these over high-end selections when I am doing a full glam face, and they stand up to the challenge.
8) The Lasting Fix Makeup Setting Spray
Continuing on is The Lasting Fix Makeup Setting Spray. While it is not the exact formula of Urban Decay’s All Nighter, it is the closest setting spray you can find in the drugstore. I believe that it does extend the wear time of your makeup, besides appropriately setting and melting all of your makeup together.
9) Fit Me Matte and Poreless Foundation
Here is the Fit Me Matte and Poreless Foundation, which is one of my favorite drugstore foundations period. It works great on combination skin like my own. This foundation is skin-like and not heavy, yet it lasts fairly good for a six to eight hour wear time. This is a foundation I will wear on a daily basis, but not for a special occasion look. It does not control all oils, but it is not the worst I have encountered.
10) Fit Me Loose Finishing Powder
Pressing on with the best Maybelline products of all time is the Fit Me Loose Finishing Powder, aka instant Photoshop. This powder does an excellent job of baking and setting the entire face, but the kicker is that it provides a soft blur that I cannot replicate with another loose powder as of now. It always looks great on the skin and never heavy or cakey, no matter how much you use.
11) Brow products
Now I am going to talk about a variety of brow products. To be honest, I have only ever met one Maybelline brow product that I detested. They typically knock it out of the park. I enjoy that the shade range is consistent. I am a deep brown in all of their brow products.
- Brow Extensions Fiber Pomade Crayon: This is my newest obsession! I can actually see in real life that my brows look more 3D and voluminous with this crayon. It is just the right size, not too thick or thin.
- Brow Drama Shaping Chalk: The idea of a brow chalk in and of itself is an ingenious idea, and one that you need to try. Instead of reaching for a brow powder and brush, this is like an all-in-one deal. You simply sweep the wand into your brows, and you can disperse the product with a spoolie, if you so desire. The chalk is not messy.
- Brow Ultra Slim 1.5mm Defining Pencil: This skinny pencil is excellent for achieving hair-like strokes while not ‘coloring outside of the lines’ and making a mess. It is just as good as any other skinny drugstore brow pencil. The formula is creamy and not waxy, making it easy to apply. Best of all, the pencil does not break, despite the thin millimeter.
- Tattoo Studio Brow Pomade: If you are looking for a no-nonsense brow pomade, Maybelline’s is perfectly good and will not disappoint. As the Tattoo Studio name implies, it is designed to last all day. The formula is a bit on the stiff side, but that is not a negative. It is easy to control with a brush.
- Brow Precise Fiber Volumizer: I use the Fiber Volumizer as a brow mascara to hold the brows in place all day. Sure, it can help make your brows look more full, but the mascara aspects are the most exciting.
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12) Mascara
I am going to discuss two of my all-time favorite mascaras for dramatic lashes that just happen to be Maybelline.
- The Falsies Lash Lift Mascara: The wand on this mascara is a bit larger than some others, but it still does a lovely job of bringing on the feathery, false lash effects. It features an hourglass shaped wand, which is a typical trait of a mascara that provides excellent length, volume, and separation.
- Lash Sensational Full Fan Effect Mascara: This mascara has a unique formula. For the first week or two it is very wet and makes your lashes look like a hot mess. Do not give up on her too early! Once it it hits its prime, this stuff is the real deal for head turning lashes.
14) Color Sensational Lipstick
I need to get more Color Sensational Lipsticks into my collection besides this one lonely bullet. The formula smells like dessert, and it glides right onto the lips. This particular shade is called Pink for Me and it is designed to compliment any skin tone. If you are looking for a basic, standard lipstick, this is a stellar option.
15) Superstay Matte Ink
Next is the Superstay Matte Ink line. These are full-coverage and matte liquid lipsticks without any dryness at all. The formula really hugs, or grips to the lips. I think of it almost as a liquid latex, which is the best way that I can say it. This formula does feel tacky on the lips, which is most noticeable when you rub your lips together. It is not bad, and diminishes over time. These hold up well with eating or drinking. Of course, no matter what your lip color is, you need to be mindful in the way that you eat or drink for the best results with anything.
16) Instant Age Rewind Concealer
Instant Age Rewind Concealer is truly a drugstore OG, and for good reason. The formula is thick, creamy, and full coverage. You can apply it anywhere on the face and it always sinks right in and looks like skin. The finish is natural and I have never had a bad experience with the puff ball applicator.
17) Master Precise All Day Liquid Liner
If you are looking for a solid felt tip eyeliner pen, look no further than the Master Precise All Day Liquid Liner. The matte black line lasts all day, and the tip does not wear out over time. I find it incredibly easy to control the thickness of the line, which also makes it great for beginners.
18) Lasting Drama Matte Automatic Pencil in Rusty Terracotta
I am ending the best Maybelline products of all time with a product you may not be predicting. I am not including this Lasting Drama Matte Automatic Pencil because it is God’s gift to eyeliners. Honestly, it is just an average twist-up pencil. But the color Rusty Terracotta is a beautiful red for those of us who love warm colors on the eye. The shade is unique for the drugstore, and I like to pair it with my Urban Decay Naked Heat Eyeshadow Palette.
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Conclusion
We are at the end of my picks for the best Maybelline products of all time. A long standing brand for a reason, Maybelline offers many dependable products that you can easily work into your routine, and at an affordable price point. It does bother me that they are not cruelty free, and while that is definitely a major concern, I do use makeup from across the board. If you are into this brand or if you want to discover it for the first time, this list will help you decide what should be on your personal shopping list. Remember that their lineup presents a lot to try, so be willing to go above and beyond my recommendations and try something new. Until next time, continue to let your true beauty shine.
What is your favorite Maybelline product?