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Kristine Solomon, Rachel Dube, Taylor Lane
Nowadays, teens know just about everything regarding creating the perfect makeup look, thanks to TikTok. The app displays video after video with product reviews, makeup tutorials, hacks, and more, which means they’ve probably been asking you to buy their favorite TikTok-famous beauty products for them to duplicate the looks at home.
Best Makeup Brands for Teens, at a Glance
Best Drugstore: Wet ‘n Wild
Best Affordable: e.l.f. Cosmetics
Best Lip Balms: Lip Smacker
Best Bronzer: Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer
Best New Brand: Gen See
Best Cult-Fave: Glossier
Best Celeb Brand: Rare Beauty
Best Press-On Nails: Chillhouse
Most Fun: Milk Makeup
Best K Beauty: Kaja
Best Eyeshadow Palettes: Colourpop
Best Brow Products: Benefit
Truthfully, diving headfirst into the world of makeup with your teen can be quite daunting (and expensive) for parents. Thankfully, many of the makeup brands that are popular on the app are both budget-friendly and age-appropriate, making the transition into this new stage as seamless as possible. And, chances are they’ll find a way to save up and buy the makeup they want, so at least this way, you can have a say in what (and how much) makeup they begin using.
With all the options available now, it can be a bit overwhelming heading into a store to purchase makeup or skincare for the first time with your teen. There are brands that’ve been around for years — and that you yourself probably used as a teen – along with newly launched brands like GoPlay Cosmetics and Gen See. However, there’s no need to worry: we did the legwork for you and narrowed it down to the TikTok-approved makeup brands that both you and your teen will adore.
Our mission at SheKnows is to empower and inspire women, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Target is a SheKnows sponsor, however, all products in this article were independently selected by our editors. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.
Wet n’ Wild
Wet n’ Wild offers a laundry list of beauty items at affordable prices, perfect for teens. Pick up the , which effortlessly styles brows that pair nicely with the Mega Volume So Defined Volumizing Mascara. Shoppers also recommended the Mega Glow in Love Radiance Liquid Highlighter, only $8!
Mega Clear Lash & Brow Mascara
$2
Buy now
e.l.f. Cosmetics
No doubt, e.l.f. Cosmetics is one of the most beloved drugstore brands out there for teens (and adults!). Not only are their products actually good, with manyhaving gone viral, they’re super affordable as well. Take for instance, the Liquid Poreless Putty Primer. It creates a smooth, flawless canvas to apply makeup on for just $10.
e.l.f. Liquid Poreless Putty Primer
$10
Buy now
Lip Smacker
Lip Smacker has the most adorable (and affordable) lip chaps that teens can toss in their belt bags and lockers. Aside from their cute designs, Lip Smacker’s formula is packed with soothing ingredients that moisturize your lips.
Lip Smacker Best Flavor Forever Lip Balm Party Pack
$11
Buy now
Physicians Formula
Physicians Formula is known for its easy-to-apply hypoallergenic makeup that’s free from over 150 known irritants. While there are tons of products to shop from, we recommend picking up this buttery smooth bronzer for your teen. It’s dermatologist-tested and provides a tropical glow. The formula is made with Murumuru butter, which softens, conditions, and moisturizes the skin.
Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer
$13
Buy now
Gen See Makeup
The eco-conscious Gen Z demands it, and the hot new makeup brand Gen See delivers. Every single product, from its mascaras to its sparkly metallic iquid eyeshadow, is vegan and cruelty free. Plus, it’s tested by dermatologists and designed to be gentle with skin of all kinds. Mixed Media Metallic Liquid eyeshadow even has antioxidants.
Mixed Media Metallic Liquid Eyeshadow
$24
Buy now
Glossier
Founded by Millennials, startup-turned-smash hit Glossier has made a major splash with Gen Z, and its Balm Dotcom lip balm, which comes in myriad flavors, has become a cult favorite. Like all the brand’s products, it’s vegan, clean and cruelty-free. It nourishes lips naturally and keeps them that way for hours.
Balm Dotcom Lip Balm
$14
Buy now
Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez
Meet your teen’s (and your) new favorite makeup brand that you’ll find yourself purchasing every time you pop into Ulta or Sephora. The brand, which was created by Selena Gomez, offers products that will instantly become your go-tos — like this liquid blush — due to their incredible formulas, beautiful, accessible packaging, and wide selection of shades.
Soft Pinch Liquid Blush
See AlsoWho is Tiktok Star Charli D'Amelio? Her Age, Family & MoreVividly Viral Facts About Charli D’Amelio, The Reigning TikTok Queen - Factinate$23
Buy now
Milk Makeup
Milk Makeup has a ton of multi-use products that are perfect for minimalist looks or quick-fixes. One product that’s taking off on social media is the Cooling Water Jelly Tint Blush. It’s sheer lip and cheek tint that’s both highly pigmented, yet looks so natural on. It also feels nice and cool when applied on the skin.
Cooling Water Jelly Tint Blush
$24
Buy now
Kaja
Chances are your teen has raved on and on about Kaja’s super popular heart-shaped blush or eyeliner stamp, but the K-beauty brand has tons of other fun makeup products, too. The best part? Every product is super user-friendly, making it perfect for first-time makeup users.
Wink Stamp Original Waterproof Wing Eyeliner Stamp & Pen
$29.00
Buy now
More Than Magic
Target is home to plenty of exclusive brands like More Than Magic, a brand that believes being yourself means to sparkle. You can pick up a variety of lipglosses and nail care, or our favorite — this lipgloss palette that has 25 lipgloss and four highlighter options.
More Than Magic Lip Gloss Palette
$8.50, originally $10.00
Buy now
Benefit
While it’s not necessarily new or made just for teens, Benefit Cosmetics will always be a staple for incredible brow products. It’s a tried-and-true pick for anyone who wants products that are worth every penny—and it’s a favorite of teens everywhere. Snag their Gimme Brow Volumizing Eyebrow Gel, 24-Hour Brow Setter Clear Brow Gel, and Brow Microfilling Brow to give your teen all the essentials they’ll need to create brows that wow.
Kiss
Thanks to Kiss products, teens can get false lashes for a fraction of the price. Whether they’re trying them out or getting ready for a dance, these press-on lashes come with everything they need to make them look professionally done. The best part? Kiss’ Falscara Complete DIY Eyelash Extension Kit is just $25.
Falscara Complete DIY Eyelash Extension Kit
$25
Buy now
GoPlay Cosmetics
Let your teen’s creativity run wild with this one-of-a-kind DIY color-mixing makeup kit. The LIPSKIT, by the innovative and earth-friendly GoPlay Cosmetics, comes with five lipstick bullets designed to be blended into an endless array of custom colors (mixing pots are included too) and used not just for lips but for eyes and cheeks, too. The ideal gift for the teen in your life who loves to experiment with and really have fun with their makeup — or the budding beauty chemist! The LIPSKIT formulation is waterproof, vegan, cruelty-free — and 100 percent pure fun.
LIPSKIT
$79 (originally $89)
Buy now
CoverGirl
When it comes to drugstore brands, it doesn’t get any more iconic than CoverGirl. The brand, which has had numerous A-list celeb ambassadors throughout the years, has a lip gloss that’s gotten a ton of attention on social media. The Clean Fresh Yummy Gloss comes in the cutest pink packaging and a variety of “delicious flavors” and scents. It contains ultra-hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid to keep lips moisturized, and it’s also made to be non-sticky and lightweight.
Clean Fresh Yummy Gloss
$9
Buy now
The Crème Shop
The Crème Shop is a K-beauty brand known for its adorable collabs with Sanrio and BT21 (their Hello Kitty sheet masks are really fun!). While they do have a ton of skincare, their makeup has also gotten attention as well for its cute packaging. The Cheeky Liquid Blush is one such product. It’s ultra-pigmented, long-lasting, and super blendable.
Cheeky Liquid Blush
$12
Buy now
Kosas
If your teenager wants to dive into a full makeup routine, have them browse through Kosas’ products. There are so many good finds including the Revealer Concealer, which is formulated to be gentle on the skin and helps to smooth imperfections — without a heavy finish. They also released a new bronzey version of their popular skin tint: the DreamBeam SPF 40.
DreamBeam SPF 40 PA++++
$40
Buy now
Essence
Essence is an affordable and accessible drugstore brand that has gone viral for several different products (Essence Lash Princess mascara, anyone?). The best-selling mascara features a clump-free application that leaves lashes instantly volumized for a bold look. It’s also free from gluten, silicones, parabens, oil, fragrance, alcohol, and microplastic particles.
Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara
$5
Buy now
Alleyoop
Truth be told, there’s no need for a million steps in your teen’s skincare or makeup routine, which is precisely why Alleyoop was developed. Each product in the line is intended to be multi-use, making makeup applications super simple and saving you time and money in the process. Grab their multi-tasking makeup brushes, blush, bronzer, and highlighter compact, or a beauty starter kit for a teen who’s looking to dip their toes into the makeup world.
Multi-Tasker All-in-One Makeup Brush
$28
Buy now
Chillhouse
Chillhouse took social media by storm with its Instagram-famous nail art, and now, you can get the same fun looks at home! Stock up on the brand’s $16 press-on nails that come pre-designed with artwork.
Chillhouse Chill Tips
$16
Buy now
Morphe
Your TikTok-loving teen definitely knows who Charli and Dixie D’amelio are — and has probably begged you for makeup from their line, Morphe 2. Each product was created for younger teens who aren’t necessarily into heavy makeup looks and includes a barely-there skin tint, lip oil, and more, along with some skincare. It’s great for those who aren’t into heavy makeup or are making their foray into beauty for the first time.
Hint Hint Skin Tint
$18
Buy now
Kopari
Ever hear of Kopari? Well your teen definitely has (and they probably heard about it by one of the gloss’s biggest fans, pop star Billie Eilish). The clean, vanilla-tasting Lip Glossy is clear, and thanks to coconut oil and squalene, it’s clearly hydrating too.
Lip Glossy
$8 (originally $16.00)
Buy now
Florence by Mills
This clean, cruelty-free brand was created by Millie Bobbi Brown, a Gen-Zer herself and star of Stranger Things, as a way for teens to love and express themselves through beauty. Its makeup products range from gorgeously hued cream blushes to highly pigmented eyeshadow palettes with price tags all under $30. Every product also features adorable packaging and can be used in looks that are appropriate for everyday or special occasion wear. Also: The brand has a wide range of amazing skincare products that are equally as great.
Cheek Me Later Cream Vegan Blush
$7.00
Buy now
Fenty Beauty
Rihanna’s makeup brand, Fenty Beauty, is nothing short of perfection, so prepare for your teen to fall in love with every single product they try. You can’t go wrong with any of their makeup products, but Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer and the Eaze Drop Blurring Skin Tint are game-changing. You can also grab them a set of minis if they aren’t sure what shades are their favorite yet.
Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer
$21.00
Buy now
MCoBeauty
Founded in 2016, McoBeauty has been making waves on TikTok and beyond, with its XtendLash Duo Mascara becoming a cult favorite. This one’s a tubing mascara, forming a bond over each individual lash while lengthening and thickening. And it’s totally clean, using active ingredients like beeswax.
XtendLash Duo Mascara
$18
Buy now
Nudestix
TikTok-endorsed by the likes of Kylie Jenner and Sofia Richie, Nudestix are the perfect cosmetics for on-the-go teens. These soft-colored sticks come in a ton of shades and can be used on cheeks, eyes, and lips for an all-over glow in a snap — it’s a whole face of makeup in one convenient stick.
Roses 'N Honey 3-Piece Kit
$30.00
Buy now
ColourPop
Your teen will be obsessed with ColourPop‘s lineup at Target. There’s no shortage of color when it comes to the eyeshadow palettes that they can wear to school or out with friends.
Pressed Powder Eyeshadow Makeup Palette
$14.00
Buy now
Petite ‘n Pretty
Teens just starting out with makeup need no-mess options that they can easily apply. Luckily, there is Petite ‘n Pretty‘s starter kit that includes one GLOW! Eye & Cheek Palette and a 10K Shine Lip Gloss in Gia Pink.
At First Glow Makeup Starter Kit
$36.00
Buy now
Maybelline
Your makeup-loving teen will think you’re the coolest after you snag them some of the products they’ve been seeing all over their For You page. The products are all super affordable and can be easily bought at your local drugstore, which is a win-win for everyone. Start with the very viral Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Washable Mascara.
Lash Sensational Sky High Washable Mascara
$10
Buy now
ITEM Beauty
ITEM Beauty, a creation by TikToker Addison Rae, fills the gap in young adult skincare and makeup with a line that helps teens feel their best by enhancing their natural beauty. Each product is vegan and cruelty-free and features no harsh ingredients within its formulas, so you can rest assured that your teen isn’t putting any of the bad stuff onto their skin. And, many of the products, like this lip gloss, are under $20, too.
Lip Quip Clean Moisturizing Lip Gloss
$14.00
Buy now
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