The ranking
Every house we have scored
One rubric, five weighted criteria, no sponsored placements. A score describes the brand on its publication date — reformulations and price rises move it, and we say so when they do.
54Brands scored
7.7Mean score
6Rated 8.6+
#BrandBest forPrice bandScore
01
La Roche-PosaySkincare Brands · Outstanding
Sensitive and reactive skin, and the best sun care you can legally buy$15–$458.9/10Review 02
Paula's ChoiceSkincare Brands · Outstanding
Anyone who wants to know the percentage before they buy$12–$608.8/10Review 03
CeraVeSkincare Brands · Outstanding
Barrier repair on a budget, and anyone told to simplify$13–$248.7/10Review 04
Beauty of JoseonK-Beauty & J-Beauty · Outstanding
Sunscreen you will genuinely wear every day, at a price that lets you use enough$12–$268.6/10Review 05
e.l.f. CosmeticsDrugstore & Value · Outstanding
Almost everything, if the price matters at all$3–$168.6/10Review 06
Fenty BeautyMakeup Brands · Outstanding
Complexion matching at either end of the depth range$20–$428.6/10Review 07
COSRXK-Beauty & J-Beauty · Strong
Effective actives and hydration at genuinely low prices$9–$308.5/10Review 08
Maison Francis KurkdjianFragrance Houses · Strong
Serious perfumery from a named perfumer who is still composing$125–$4958.5/10Review 09
Rare BeautyMakeup Brands · Strong
Cream blush, and anyone who struggles with standard cosmetic packaging$16–$348.4/10Review 10
ShiseidoK-Beauty & J-Beauty · Strong
Sun protection, and skincare from a company that does actual research$30–$1308.4/10Review 11
The INKEY ListDrugstore & Value · Strong
Buying a single active cheaply when you want to be told how to use it$9–$308.4/10Review 12
Hada LaboK-Beauty & J-Beauty · Strong
Hydration for sensitive or reactive skin, at almost no cost$10–$248.3/10Review 13
SkinCeuticalsSkincare Brands · Strong
Vitamin C done properly, if the budget can take it$38–$1828.3/10Review 14
Ilia BeautyClean & Indie Beauty · Strong
Light-coverage complexion with SPF, from a brand that publishes its standard$24–$548.2/10Review 15
The OrdinarySkincare Brands · Strong
Buying a single active cheaply when you already know what you want$6–$328.2/10Review 16
OlaplexHaircare Brands · Strong
Chemically treated, bleached or heat-damaged hair$30–$628.1/10Review 17
Tower 28 BeautyClean & Indie Beauty · Strong
Reactive, eczema-prone or rosacea-prone skin that still wants makeup$12–$348.1/10Review 18
BriogeoHaircare Brands · Strong
Curly, coily and textured hair that needs moisture without heaviness$26–$528.0/10Review 19
DiptyqueFragrance Houses · Strong
Fig, fresh florals, and candles that actually burn properly$40–$3208.0/10Review 20
LaneigeK-Beauty & J-Beauty · Strong
Dehydrated skin, and the best lip treatment on the market$18–$528.0/10Review 21
KosasClean & Indie Beauty · Strong
Under-eye concealer that does not crease or emphasise texture$18–$427.9/10Review 22
NARS CosmeticsMakeup Brands · Strong
Blush, concealer, and anyone who cares about pigment payoff$26–$547.9/10Review 23
NYX Professional MakeupDrugstore & Value · Strong
Lip products and eyeliner, at prices that let you experiment$6–$207.9/10Review 24
Dr.Jart+K-Beauty & J-Beauty · Strong
Redness, and barrier repair with a cosmetic finish$18–$527.8/10Review 25
K18 HairHaircare Brands · Strong
Badly damaged hair that needs a visible result immediately$29–$757.8/10Review 26
Maybelline New YorkDrugstore & Value · Strong
Mascara, and foundation matched by undertone rather than guesswork$6–$187.8/10Review 27
SaieClean & Indie Beauty · Strong
Dewy, minimal complexion that still looks like skin$16–$387.8/10Review 28
Le LaboFragrance Houses · Strong
A distinctive, slightly austere house style worn for its own sake$95–$4207.7/10Review 29
MAC CosmeticsMakeup Brands · Strong
Lipstick, and long-wear complexion for photography or stage$22–$487.7/10Review 30
Merit BeautyMakeup Brands · Strong
A complete five-minute face from a range small enough to hold in your head$16–$387.7/10Review 31
Youth To The PeopleClean & Indie Beauty · Strong
A good everyday cleanser, and a brand that takes packaging seriously$19–$887.7/10Review 32
Charlotte TilburyMakeup Brands · Strong
Complexion products with a soft-focus, camera-ready finish$25–$1007.6/10Review 33
InnisfreeK-Beauty & J-Beauty · Strong
Affordable, pleasant everyday skincare with a green-tea hydration core$10–$407.6/10Review 34
RedkenHaircare Brands · Strong
Colour-treated hair that needs strength without stiffness$24–$467.6/10Review 35
TatchaLuxury Beauty · Strong
Texture — a light gel moisturiser you refill rather than rebuy$39–$1987.6/10Review 36
Dior BeautyLuxury Beauty · Mixed
Backstage complexion products and Rouge Dior lipstick$38–$3907.5/10Review 37
Living ProofHaircare Brands · Mixed
Fine hair that goes flat under conventional conditioner$26–$487.5/10Review 38
Color WowHaircare Brands · Mixed
Humidity-proofing a blow-dry, and covering a parting between colour appointments$14–$637.4/10Review 39
Jo Malone LondonFragrance Houses · Mixed
Light, uncomplicated scent for an office, and gifting$42–$2057.4/10Review 40
Kiehl'sSkincare Brands · Mixed
People who want a counter they can sample at before committing$25–$927.4/10Review 41
Anastasia Beverly HillsMakeup Brands · Mixed
Eyebrows — genuinely the best range in the industry$18–$657.3/10Review 42
BYOMADrugstore & Value · Mixed
A fragrance-free barrier routine at a price that lets you use enough of it$12–$267.3/10Review 43
ByredoFragrance Houses · Mixed
Scandinavian minimalism, if you accept you may need to reapply$60–$3907.2/10Review 44
Urban DecayMakeup Brands · Mixed
Setting spray, and eyeshadow that survives a long night$22–$587.2/10Review 45
Drunk ElephantSkincare Brands · Mixed
People who genuinely react to essential oils and can absorb the price$36–$1387.1/10Review 46
Sisley ParisLuxury Beauty · Mixed
Dry and mature skin, from a house that formulates carefully and charges for it$95–$1,1007.1/10Review 47
OuaiHaircare Brands · Mixed
People buying haircare for how it smells, which is more of us than admit it$16–$487.0/10Review 48
Tom Ford BeautyLuxury Beauty · Mixed
Fragrance with presence, and lipstick that justifies a heavy case$45–$4207.0/10Review 49
GlossierMakeup Brands · Mixed
Boy Brow, Cloud Paint, and a very specific undone aesthetic$16–$426.9/10Review 51
BeautycounterClean & Indie Beauty · Mixed
People who want a published ingredient exclusion list and will pay for it$29–$986.7/10Review 52
Herbivore BotanicalsClean & Indie Beauty · Mixed
People who want skincare that looks beautiful on a shelf$18–$886.6/10Review 53
Augustinus BaderLuxury Beauty · Weak
People persuaded by the science who can absorb the price$85–$4906.4/10Review