9 Indie Makeup Brands That Won’t Disappoint
Published Aug 30, 2021
I’m just gonna start this post with a prediction that indie makeup will be the future of the beauty industry. Actually, no, that’s not a prediction. It’s already happening. According to Forbes, indie beauty brands are gaining the upper hand in the cut-throat world of cosmetic products. And it’s easy to see why.
In an industry where trends rise and fall in the blink of an eye, indie brands have become the game changers and trendsetters. If you look at the makeup trends that went viral in recent years, most of them were started by an indie brand.
Their relative anonymity also played to their advantage. It allowed them to cater to a niche demand. In fact, most indie makeup brands were started to cater to niche markets that mainstream brands failed to serve.
But as the market for low-cost, high-quality makeups expanded, so did the number of indie makeup brands. If you’ll search the internet today for the best indie makeup brands, you’ll probably see hundreds of recommendations. Some were truly innovative brands with quality products that can match even known luxury brands. While others just don’t live up to the hype.
Lucky for you, I already did the leg work. I scoured various beauty forums and reviews to come up with this list of indie makeup brands that won’t disappoint.
1. Coloured Raine
Known for its highly pigmented eyeshadows, Coloured Raine broke barriers in the cosmetics industry. When the brand was founded in 2013, most makeup products were geared towards fair-skinned women. But its founder believed that beauty should be about self-expression. She wanted to create a beauty line that embraces all shades of skin tones. This resulted in the vibrant and long-lasting hues and colors that are specially formulated for darker skin tones.
Must-Try: Queen of Hearts™ Eyeshadow Palette
2. Devinah Cosmetics
Branding itself as the “eyeshadow emporium”, it’s pretty obvious what Devinah Cosmetics specializes in. The brand is known for its handmade eyeshadow palettes in a variety of eye-popping colors.
Since they make everything by hand, non of their products are tested on animals. They’re even PETA-certified.
Must-Try: Aurorae Flare Collection
3. Kjaer Weis
Founded by world-renowned makeup artist Kirsten Kjaer Weis, the brand reflects her style in so many ways. Despite being an indie brand, they offer luxury products with price points rivaling that of Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent. But since their products are made from certified organic and natural materials, I think it’s pretty reasonable. Kjaer Weis was also the first luxury beauty brand to introduce refillable packaging. They also use recyclable and compostable FSC-certified materials to package and ship their products all over the world.
Must try: Iconic Edition Facial Oil
4. Jillian Dempsey
Building on her experience and reputation as a legendary makeup artist, Jillian Dempsey founded a brand in her namesake. She translated those experiences and expertise together with her sense of color into her makeup products.
Staying true to her image as a passionate animal advocate, all of her products are vegan and cruelty-free. They are also derived from natural and organic ingredients making them truly “finger-friendly”.
Must try: Gold Bar Skin Sculpting Tool
5. Uoma Beauty
With a slogan that says “beauty comes in every color”, we already know that Uoma beauty has some great stuff to offer. From their foundations to their brow definers, they have the colors to match every shade of skin.
Founded by Sharon Chuter, a Nigerian-born beauty executive, the brand seeks to rewrite the rules of diversity and inclusivity. The brand name itself, Uoma, is derived from the Igbo word “oma” which means beautiful. And true to their slogan, they have created beauty in vibrant lush colors that are sure to delight everyone from all walks of life.
Must try: Black Magic Color Palette (Poise)
6. Mented Cosmetics
Like most brands in this list, Mented Cosmetics offers vegan, cruelty-free makeup products. But they are especially known for their highly pigmented eyeshadows and lipstick in different shades of nude. Their website also has a great shade finder tool to help you find your perfect foundation and nude lipstick shade.
7. Kosas
Setting itself apart from most indie make-up brands, Kosas offers clinically-tested makeup products. This ensures that everything you’re putting on your skin is actually good for it. They’re also renowned for their loose, clean, and comfy formula that doesn’t feel too thick on the skin. Their lightweight lipsticks, in particular, glides easily on your lips and don’t leave residues when removed. This gives you the freedom to do and redo your makeup to your heart’s content.
Must try: Revealer Concealer
8. Makeup Geek
Though they have a wide range of makeup offerings, Makeup Geek specializes in eyeshadows. Whether you’re looking for highly pigmented matte shadows or metallic ones that are a hybrid between powder and cream eyeshadows, they’ve got the right one for you. They even let you create your own eyeshadow palette.
If you’re not really a fan of eyeshadows, their vibrant colored blushers and bronzers are also worth checking out.
Must try: Foiled Eyeshadow Bundle
9. Thrive Causemetics
Combining makeup and skincare, all Thrive Causemetics products are made of skin-friendly products. They don’t use sulfates, parabens, and any synthetic or animal-derived ingredients.
But aside from their natural and cruelty-free products, Thrive Causemetics is also actively giving back to the community. They run various charity drives that are mostly aimed at lifting women and supporting current social justice issues. So every time you buy from them, you’re not only making yourself beautiful, you’re making the world a better place to live in too.
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About The Author
Judy Ponio is the lead writer for the Salon Suites of Palm Beach website and blog. Her many years of blogging experience and passions for beauty trends helps her create content that has helped millions of people worldwide.
