Have you ever been through a situation where you just bought a new shade of lipstick or new mascara and got utterly disappointed after applying it? We know it hurts.
Therefore, it is very important to be aware of such brands that can have nothing but failure.
To simplify it, we have compiled some of the worst makeup brands out there so that the next time you go shopping, you know exactly what to avoid.
Based on personal experience and user feedback, the worst makeup brands include Wet ‘N’ Wild, Too Faced, and Urban Decay due to poor longevity and quality issues.
Makeup holds a very important place in today’s world. Whether you are going on your first date or having an interview, makeup is your go-to partner.
However, some makeup brands can turn your beautiful day into a nightmare.
That is why, before you decide to buy makeup for yourself, have a look at our list of worst makeup brands that you should stay away from and why.
Table of Contents
List of Worst Makeup Brands to Avoid
1. Wet ‘N’ Wild
When it comes to affordable, cruelty-free, and safe products, Wet ‘N’ Wild is quite a famous name out there. But with such popularity, what is this brand doing here on the list of “worst makeup brands”?
You are not going to find one, but lots of reasons here. Wet ‘N’ Wild is a good brand for eye shadows, but only if you are looking for cheap products; otherwise, it is a ‘BIG NO”.
The Wet ‘N’ Wild products are not your thing if you want products that will last lifelong.
The Photo Focus Foundation by Wet ‘N’ Wild is a product that makes this brand one of our not-so-favorite brands. This foundation is one of the most controversial foundations out there.
And the reason is that some people hate it to their heart, and others love it. But one thing is certain: the number of haters surpasses the number of lovers.
Take a look at some of the cons of this product.
Reasons To Avoid
- Very poor coverage
- Makes the skin super oily
- Suck the vibe out of your skin, making it look a lot dryer.
- Sinks into the skin.
- Amplifies the fine lines and pores.
- Causes major breakouts
It’s noteworthy how these issues are not unique to the cosmetics industry. Similar concerns about certain toxic sunscreen products have been raised, highlighting the importance of informed choices in personal care items.
2. Too Faced
Okay, so the next worst makeup brand we will talk about is “Too Faced.” Too Faced is one of the great vegan makeup brands. However, some people have different things to say about this brand.
The product under the radar is the white chocolate bar eye palette. This palette is one of the worst eye shadow palettes by Too Faced.
This palette is so dry that the shades are often chalky, dusty, or powdery. The Too Faced palettes claim to be highly pigmented, but this palette is against it.
This eye shadow by Too Faced is too dusty and difficult to blend. If you want to look like a raccoon, go for this palette. Otherwise, it is a “BIG NO.”
Following are a few drawbacks of this product.
Reasons to Avoid
- Wear out soon
- Palette lacks variety
- Doesn’t last long, even with primer
- No differentiation between the shades once on the lid
The disappointment with Too Faced echoes the growing concerns around sustainability in fashion and beauty, where even popular fast fashion brands are scrutinized for their environmental impact.
3. Urban Decay
Urban Decay is one of the most famous American cosmetic brands that are famous for its cruelty-free products.
In 2021, Urban Decay launched many products, but some were totally disappointed. And one of them was the Lash Freak Mascara.
This mascara claims to add volume to the lashes but leaves excessive dump product on them.
It just clumps them together, and to remove the product, you might remove a couple of your own lashes.
Have a look at a few more reasons that you should never go for this product.
Reason to Avoid
- The lashes get darker but not thicker
- Causes irritation in the eyes after application
- It gets smudged all over the eyes.
- This mascara doesn’t last long.
Urban Decay’s Lash Freak Mascara’s shortcomings are part of a broader conversation about product quality in beauty brands, similar to the issues in hair dye products.
4. Sally Hansen
Sally Hansen is not just a brand; it has become a household name. This brand has been there for ages and is famous for its innovatively formulated products.
However, Sally Hansen Line Smoothing Airbrush Primer is a product based on which we have included this brand in our list of worst makeup brands.
The main purpose of any primer is to make your makeup long-lasting. But with this primer on, the make wears out as if you haven’t applied any primer at all.
Check out a few cons of this primer below.
Reasons to Avoid
- The makeup wears out soon
- It doesn’t give a velvety finished look.
- This primer has a stinky smell.
- Makes the pores large.
5. L.A. Girl
L.A. Girl is one of the most famous cosmetic brands out there. It takes pride in offering a selection of amazing, high-quality cosmetic products.
But the L.A. Girl Pro Coverage Foundation is one of the reasons this brand is among the 7 bad makeup brands you will find.
This foundation doesn’t provide a perfect finished look. Instead, you’ll end up having patchy and streaky coverage.
The worst part is that it will start breaking out soon. The longer it can last is 2 hours, which is a big disappointment.
Want to know more about why you should not choose this product? Take a look at it, then.
Reasons to Avoid
- It gets easily smeared.
- Needs layers and layers to get any coverage.
- It makes the skin appear dull and dry.
- This foundation slides the skin.
6. NARS
If you are a big fan of long-lasting and highly pigmented makeup, NARS is a name you might be quite familiar with. However, there are a few products that will change your mind completely.
One of those products is the Endless Orgasm Multi-use Face Palette. This palette is to be easily blended with fingertips.
The main problem with this multi-use palette is that it doesn’t work well on all areas of the face.
It will intensify the creases and give a patchy look to the skin, which might make one wonder whether this product was tested with consumers or not.
Below are a few cons of this palette.
Reasons to Avoid
- This product is tested on animals.
- It doesn’t give a finished look.
- The shades don’t last long.
- It is not Hydrating.
7. Clinique
Clinique is known to be the world’s oldest makeup brand. From makeup to skincare, it has a wide range of products.
Clinique claims to have products free of any components that could harm or irritate the skin.
However, the Clinique high-impact Mascara has a completely different story to tell. This mascara clumps to lashes.
The worst thing is that removing it from your lashes and smudges all over the eyes takes hours.
Take a look at a few drawbacks of this mascara.
Reasons to Avoid
- Causes allergic reactions.
- It doesn’t stay put.
- Adds no volume to the lashes.
- The mascara is very clumpy.
- The products are tested on animals.
Conclusion
As we examine the performance and longevity of these makeup brands, it’s evident that this is a pervasive issue across various beauty products, including worst shampoos, where consumers face similar disappointments.
The brands mentioned above are not entirely the worst. However, these brands have produced some disappointing products.
While reviewing these brands, we have found that one of the most common problems in all these brands is that they don’t last long.
The longer a makeup product would last is 2 hours, which is not a good option for someone who works all day and doesn’t have time for any touchups.
So, we recommend you choose the brand that offers good quality and long-lasting makeup products.
Note: A whole makeup brand can never be considered the worst. However, these brands might make a certain product, so people name them “worst.” In our review, we have gathered feedback from various makeup users and influencers and tested them ourselves to bring out an unbiased review for you.
Erica Steven is the founder and lead writer of WorstBrands, a site dedicated to providing honest and trustworthy reviews about outdoor gear and fashion products.
With a passion for exploring the great outdoors and staying up to date on the latest fashion trends, Erica uses her expertise to provide valuable insights into the products that matter most to her readers.
Whether you're looking for camping equipment or the latest fashion accessories, Erica's articles are the perfect resource for finding the best products that fit your lifestyle.
So Clinique is not the oldest makeup brand ever. It was created under the Estée Lauder umbrella some 30 years after so please fact check. Secondly, Clinique is a skincare brand first and foremost, makeup makes up less than 2% of their sales. Thirdly, Clinique does not test on animals except in China where it is mandatory. Fourthly, the mascara you listed is their best selling mascara and carries a 4.8 rating. Misleading title and misleading information. If you want to talk about the beauty industry maybe you should have put in 20+ years in it like I have before you talk about things you don’t know. It’s called journalistic integrity. You gather correct information and give facts and statistics and don’t lead with a headline that is in fact not what the article is about. I don’t even work for Clinique and knew this information. Shame on you.
I have an issue with Sally Hansen nail polish. The polish cost about $8 to $10 and never stay on more than two days. Very disappointing. Great colors but what’s the point?
Your article title is misleading. I agree about the products you mentioned, but I disagree saying these are the worst brands. You could have said, these are the worst products by these brands. Toofaced makes some good eyeshadow palettes, but Im 100% on board with the white chocolate chip palette being straight garbage.. My sister loves TF, however I noticed with the smaller palettes, the quality sucks. Plus they are pricey for the quality they give. I used the wet N wild foundation and it wasn’t the worst foundation I ever used, but I definitely wouldn’t repurchase. However they do have this bare focus tinted hydrator that I’m in love with! Makes your skin glow and look healthy! Urban decay mascara is total junk. They make really great products that I adore, but their mascara I have never had good luck with. Sally Hansen is a cheap brand, so honestly don’t go looking for OPI, Essie, Nail Inc quality from them. You get exactly what you are paying for. Nars I don’t use their products, not a fan. Clinique makes some good stuff, but again, I don’t own much of their stuff. LA girl is another cheap brand, however!!! I do like some of their products. They make very good concealers. They foundation is terrible though.
Agree completely!
I used Clinique just 2 months ago, n it looks good on me the makeup set(= . I lovvvvvve it(= .
Clinique tests on animals and there is the BAD ingredient’s all together, so I would recommend not using the product at all because it will hurt your skin and your body.
Clinique is dermatologist tested and developed. It is actually one of the safest brands on the market with mass human testing. Each product is tested on over 2500 people before it is released. I myself am a K and J beauty user and don’t use Clinique but I do know facts.
I love Clinique except for the mascara.
I agree with L.A. Girl being horrible! Another one with L.A. in the title that’s definitely not worth it is L.A. Colors, equally as awful. The only thing that I’d buy from either brand is maybe nail polish or lipstick. Mascara or other things? Forget it! And stay far away from their gloss. I purchased a plumping gloss from L.A. Colors that felt like it literally set my lips ablaze! They were so hot they hurt & felt irritated/burned, and I had to remove their gloss immediately after applying…I even contacted the brand to complain, they blamed the supposed “tingling” on plumping formulas in general, yet I’ve used many other plumping brands/types & never had a similar issue. Cheap quality, harmful ingredients, irritation causing products, careless customer service.
Hi Wanda,
Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us. It’s obvious that it was a disappointment for you. Honestly, they don’t even care about the skin. Most of these top brands are using a chemical that may provide short-term benefits, but it can mess with your skin in the long run. So, it is always preferable to check the ingredients used in the product as well as read the reviews about the brand before you buy.
We appreciate it once again that you shared your experience with us because it will help other users decide which brand to purchase.