Makeup Artists Spill on Celeb Beauty Lines that Are Reasonably Priced and Actually Worth a Try
When it comes to makeup and skincare brands backed by celebrities, you can't help but feel a tad skeptical about how legit they are. Snooki and Kardashian tanning lotions aside, what is the real deal with products from celebrities? (Sorry guys, but c'mon.) Are they actually good? Are they overpriced? And let's be real, are they junk or nah? It turns out celebrities like Jennifer Aniston and Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen did their homework, gave a stab at the beauty thing, and are actually rocking the hell out of it.
We spoke to several makeup artists who deal with these products on a daily basis, and are constantly trying new ones celebs have to offer. They know what's flying off the shelves and what's collecting dust. Take it from these guys, these products will give you a bang for your buck and make you look and feel amazing.
"I love Kat Von D makeup! The lipsticks, complexion products, eye liners, eye shadows and palettes are all phenomenal!! She brings her tattoo artistry to make up artistry and I love that!! Her prices are decent, an investment but still reasonable and competitive." -Evan Patrick Howley, @Evan_Patrick
More on Kat Von D Beauty:
"I do love Kat Von D's lip color and eye shadow pallets and use them virtually every single day. She really thought about what people actually use. Her lip color Lolita cannot stay on the shelves. I buy them in bulk. Her eye shadow pallet is the exact combination of colors I wear. Creamy mattes in black, rust, brown and warm beige. Including a couple contour shades. Everything you need neatly tied into one glorious pallet. The powder is a tad loose so I wish they'd fix that. But other than that, I'm in love. Her liquid liner is also the jam. Jet black in one stroke. Other brands like MAC's "boot black" come out sheer and requires layering." -Andi Metro
Elizabeth and James by Ashley Olsen and Mary-Kate Olsen
"Their fragrance Nirvana is everything. There are two fragrances, Nirvana Black and Nirvana White. The prices are great, and you can purchase the fragrances in bottle form, roller balls, a solid perfume compact, fragrance oil, body oil, hand cream, and most recently as my new favorite dry shampoo!!!! I love that you can have the fragrance with you no matter what price point, or if you're obsessed (like me) you can get it in every form!" -Evan Patrick Howley, @Evan_Patrick
Living Proof by Jennifer Aniston
"Living proof is a hair care brand that created its own molecule to help hair styles last longer and prolong the time between washing. Some must-try products are the perfect hair day shampoo and conditioner ($24 each), and none of their products have any sulfates or parabens, which won't strip the hair of its natural oils and gives you an instant velvety soft feel leaving the hair full and never frizzy! Others are the satin hair serum ($29), which can be used all over the hair to give a smooth and sleek look no flat iron needed! Finally, the holy grail is the texturizing spray ($26). It can be used with damp, wet, or dry hair and can be spritzed from roots to ends for a beachy, effortless look or can be scrunched into the hair for a more rough, tousled, grungy look. The best part is, it contains no sea salt so it won't dry out the hair. Jennifer Aniston is now the co-founder of this brand exclusively sold at Sephora, and the options are endless!" -Stephanie Blanco, @stephblancoo
Kylie Jenner Lip Kit by Kylie Jenner
"This is a product I haven't tried yet, but am on the list for. This has to be Kylie's most genius business venture yet. There is no doubt in my mind that this product will rule the lip color industry. She's really pioneered the matte lip trend and honed in on the taupes, nudes, and vamps. I'm sure this will be a liquid lip which has always need my fave and I know she's done her homework on this. I can't wait for it to launch." -Andi Metro, @andimetro
Glossier by Emily Weiss (of MTV's The City)
"Glossier is a brand that came from a famous beauty website called Into the Gloss. For me, this website is a beauty bible because it represents the kind of beauty that I subscribe to. I've never once read a blog post from them that I wasn't doing black flips over. The aesthetic is that of which you see the "cool girls." The Kate Mosses of the world that look like they just woke up with perfect tosseled hair and glowing skin. However, we know it ain't like that... so Into the Gloss is there to guide you. The site was so hot, they came out with a line called Glossier. I'm into everything about it, from their packaging to their marketing to their actual product. For example, the latest addition: boy brow. A tool that gives you those thick, awesome, boy brows that are happening right now. Emily, who started the brand, began working for Elle and had a stint at Vogue, but became an icon in her own right, with her finger on the pulse of what essentially has become a lifestyle brand. She's an it girl. Rubbing shoulders with models and celebs, and sitting front row at every fashion show. I basically want to be her best friend." -Andi Metro, @andimetro