✦Cult Confidential picks every product independently. If you shop through our links, we may earn a small commission, but it never decides what makes the list.
Most makeup is forgotten within a season. A rare few become something else entirely: cult products.
Every year, thousands of new makeup products launch with promises of being the next big thing. Most are forgotten within a season. A rare few become something else entirely: cult products. The ones that get passed down from mothers to daughters, repurchased for decades and recommended in reverent tones by makeup artists and beauty editors alike.
What makes a product cult? It isn’t just clever marketing. It’s a formula that genuinely works and a kind of staying power that outlasts trends, packaging redesigns and entire social media platforms.
We’ve rounded up the cult makeup products that deserve their reputation, from true legends launched decades ago to modern icons that went viral and never left. Most have earned a permanent place in our own makeup bags. A couple are still on our wishlist, and we’ll tell you which.
✦ Cruelty-free bonusYou’ll spot this on products from brands that don’t test on animals. That matters to us, and it earns extra points in our book.
Part one
The Legends
Launched before the millennium and still going strong.
01Benefit Benetint Cheek and Lip Stain
Cheeks & Lips · A forever favorite
The story: Benetint has one of the best origin stories in beauty. In the 1970s, twin sisters Jean and Jane Ford were running a small makeup boutique in San Francisco when an exotic dancer asked for something to tint her nipples. The sisters boiled rose petals to create a rosy stain, and Rose Tint, later renamed Benetint, was born. It became the brand’s first product.
Why it’s a cult classic: It was multi-use long before multi-use was a trend. The sheer rose stain works on lips and cheeks, builds easily and stays put, which is why it keeps resurfacing in every flushed-cheek and stained-lip trend.
Our verdictI wore Benetint almost every day through high school. It’s durable, versatile and works just about everywhere. After years of daily use I wanted to branch out and try other products, but I still have so much love for it and wouldn’t hesitate to buy it again.
Cruelty-free bonusBenefit is now approved by Cruelty Free International, and we love that. It earns this classic a well-deserved bonus point from us.
02YSL Touche Éclat
Complexion · An icon
The story: Created in 1992 by legendary makeup artist Terry de Gunzburg, then working for YSL Beauté, the gold click pen took years to convince the brand to make. De Gunzburg was introducing a concept the industry barely had a word for yet: glow. It has since become one of the best-selling face products in history.
Why it’s a cult classic: Many people think of it as a concealer, but the original is actually a highlighter. It uses light-reflecting particles rather than heavy pigment to brighten tired eyes, lift shadows and lighten the inner corners, brow bones and Cupid’s bow. If you need real coverage, YSL later launched a dedicated concealer version: Touche Éclat High Cover.
Our verdictShe’s an icon, she’s a legend, and she is the moment.
03NARS Orgasm Blush
Cheeks · Still in my makeup bag, almost 20 years later
The story: NARS began in 1994 with a dozen lipsticks at Barneys New York. Five years later, in 1999, founder François Nars launched a peachy-pink blush with soft gold shimmer, and he chose the name before he’d even created the shade, because he wanted something shocking. It worked: Orgasm became one of the best-selling blushes of all time and spawned an entire family of products. Read the full history of NARS Orgasm.
Why it’s a cult classic: Beyond the provocative name, the shade itself is the magic. The peachy pink and gold shimmer flatters a remarkable range of skin tones, giving cheeks a natural, healthy flush. With new blush formats and viral competitors appearing almost constantly for more than a quarter of a century, its staying power is remarkable.
Our verdictThis was actually the first blush I ever bought. I was 13, it was around 2008, and I chose Super Orgasm, the glitzier, extra-shimmery version, with a name that was not remotely age-appropriate. It was one of my most prized possessions. Almost two decades later, Orgasm still deserves its spot in my makeup bag.
04Maybelline Great Lash Mascara
Eyes · A true classic
The story: Great Lash launched in 1971 as the first water-based mascara, at a time when most formulas relied on wax. Its famous pink-and-green tube was inspired by the bright prints of fashion designer Lilly Pulitzer, and it has barely changed since.
Why it’s a cult classic: It’s reliable, affordable and available everywhere. The formula defines lashes without clumping or turning crunchy, and makeup artists have relied on it for decades. Its fans span generations: there’s a good chance your mother, and her mother, owned that same tube.
Our verdictIt’s probably the one makeup product almost all of us have bought at some point, and for good reason. It’s a dependable workhorse, gives soft, natural definition and even works on brows. And that tube is pure nostalgia. Need something that truly won’t budge? See our edit of the best waterproof mascaras, including our cruelty-free picks.
05MAC Eyeshadow
Eyes · The ultimate learning tool
The story: MAC was founded in Toronto in 1984 by makeup artist and photographer Frank Toskan and salon owner Frank Angelo, who were frustrated that the makeup available didn’t photograph well. They started making their own, and professional artists quickly followed. Its single eyeshadows became a staple of makeup kits and vanity tables everywhere.
Why it’s a cult classic: A huge range of shades and finishes, a professional reputation and the ability to build your own palette made MAC eyeshadows a rite of passage for makeup lovers.
Our verdictThey’re harder pressed and drier than many newer formulas, so you won’t get bold color in one swipe; you build it up. But that’s exactly why I love them. They blend beautifully, last really well on the eyes and give you so much control, which makes them one of the best formulas for learning how to do eyeshadow. And a single pan lasts practically forever.
06Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder
Complexion · A staple in our routine
The story: When French makeup artist Laura Mercier launched her brand in 1996, this powder was one of the original products, created to achieve her signature “flawless face.” Mercier is also credited with pioneering tinted moisturizer, the category behind many of our favorite tinted moisturizers today. Decades later, it’s still the setting powder many others are measured against.
Why it’s a cult classic: It absorbs oil, blurs pores and sets makeup without adding weight or a chalky cast, because it’s genuinely translucent rather than tinted.
Our verdictIt’s an icon for a reason. Makeup artists and beauty lovers keep coming back to it because it sets makeup flawlessly, feels completely weightless and leaves the most beautiful soft-focus finish. Few products have earned a permanent place in quite so many makeup bags.
07Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick
Lips · On our wishlist
The story: Revlon has been in the lipstick business since the 1930s, and Super Lustrous is its most enduring line. Some of its classic shades have been around for generations: the blue-red Cherries in the Snow dates back to 1953 and was famously worn by Dorian Leigh, one of the world’s first supermodels.
Why it’s a cult classic: It’s the definition of an accessible icon. The creamy formula is comfortable, the shade range is enormous, the clear-topped packaging lets you see the color without opening it, and it costs a fraction of a luxury lipstick. Fans also praise how little it smells and how rarely it feathers. The trade-offs, according to devotees, are a fair amount of transfer and the need to reapply more often than with longer-wearing formulas.
Our verdictWe’ll be honest: we haven’t tried it yet. But the rave reviews were so convincing that we’ve already ordered one online. Any lipstick that has held its own for this long deserves a swipe, and we’ll report back.
Part two
The Modern Classics
The 2000s and early 2010s heroes that never went out of style.
08Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation
Complexion · A former favorite
The story: Launched in 2000, Luminous Silk became a favorite of makeup artists for red carpets and editorial shoots thanks to its skin-like finish. For its 25th anniversary, the formula was updated with skincare ingredients like niacinamide and glycerin, and the shade range expanded to 44 shades.
Why it’s a cult classic: It delivers weightless, buildable coverage with a natural-to-dewy, skin-like finish that blurs pores and evens out tone, and it’s designed for long-lasting hydration. Need serious staying power? These are the foundations that actually survive a 12-hour shift.
Our verdictThis was my foundation for several years, and with good reason. It’s creamy and hydrating, and I love the glow it gives, so it’s easy to see why it reached cult status. But even though I still love the formula, I switched to Hourglass once I became more aware of animal testing in beauty. Hourglass has been cruelty-free since its very first launch in 2004, and its complexion products have more than filled Luminous Silk’s place in my routine.
09Benefit Hoola Matte Bronzer
Bronzer · A nostalgic favorite
The story: Benefit launched Hoola in 2001, at a time when most bronzers were shimmery and very orange. Its completely matte, natural-looking bronze stood out, and the little cardboard box quickly became a fixture in makeup bags everywhere.
Why it’s a cult classic: The finish is entirely shimmer-free, so it can double as both bronzer and contour. The powder is soft, buildable and hard to overdo, and it now comes in a wider range of shades.
Our verdictI used Hoola constantly in my twenties, and its compact size made it easy to slip into my clutch on nights out. I’d honestly forgotten about it until I started my research for this article. It’s a great product; I simply moved on to bronzers with more grown-up packaging in my thirties.
Cruelty-free bonusLike the rest of Benefit’s range, Hoola is now approved by Cruelty Free International. A bonus point from us.
10Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzer
Bronzer · A tried-and-true classic
The story: Too Faced’s chocolate-scented bronzer has been a bestseller for well over a decade, instantly recognizable by its chocolate-bar-inspired compact and the real cocoa powder in its formula.
Why it’s a cult classic: A rich, silky matte finish without shimmer, buildable pigment that lasts, and, of course, that unmistakable chocolate scent.
Our verdictI used this for most of my early twenties and loved how buildable and pigmented it is. Like Hoola, I eventually moved on in search of more grown-up packaging and scent in my thirties, but it’s a great product that has truly stood the test of time.
Cruelty-free bonusToo Faced has been cruelty-free for decades and has stayed that way under new ownership. We love that, and it earns a bonus point.
11Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray
Setting · Does exactly what it promises
The story: Urban Decay’s All Nighter has been a beauty staple for well over a decade, and for many people it’s the setting spray that made the category mainstream.
Why it’s a cult classic: Its temperature-control technology is designed to stop makeup from melting, fading or settling into fine lines, locking a look in place for up to 24 hours without feeling heavy.
Our verdictIt’s a great setting spray, and we understand why it’s lasted. I used it for years before switching to newer sprays to try different formulas, but I still come back to it, because it truly does what it says: it locks your makeup in place.
Cruelty-free bonusUrban Decay has been cruelty-free from the very beginning, and that earns it a bonus point from us.
12Clarins Lip Perfector
Lips · A 15-year love affair
The story: Clarins, the French skincare house, launched its Lip Perfector (originally called Natural Lip Perfector) in 2009. It brought the brand’s plant-based skincare expertise to lips, and its sheer, glossy “your lips but better” finish has made it a quiet favorite ever since.
Why it’s a cult classic: It sits somewhere between a gloss and a treatment: a cushiony texture with nourishing plant butters and plumping peptides, a non-sticky feel and a sweet vanilla scent. It can be worn alone, layered over lipstick or tapped onto cheeks for a soft flush.
Our verdictI used this lip gloss on and off for the better part of 15 years. For hydration and formula, it’s the perfect lip gloss. I always went for 21 Soft Pink Glow or the shades in the Lip Perfector Duo, a must-buy from duty free every time I traveled. I truly loved it, but in the end I switched to a gloss from a brand that doesn’t test on animals.
13IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream
Complexion · First in my cart when I need coverage
The story: IT Cosmetics was founded in 2008 by former TV news anchor Jamie Kern Lima, who struggled to find coverage for her rosacea. She famously built the brand on live television, selling on QVC, and the CC+ Cream became its hero product, eventually helping L’Oréal acquire the brand for $1.2 billion.
Why it’s a cult classic: It combines full, color-correcting coverage with a dewy finish, SPF and skincare benefits in one tube, which is why so many people treat it as an everything-in-one base.
Our verdictI love it and used it for many years. It was a lifesaver during my freshman year of college, when a steady diet of Cup Noodles and late-night snacks left my skin breaking out. It covered everything while still looking like skin. As my skin cleared up with age, I needed less coverage and switched to a lighter base. But if I ever get dark spots or breakouts and need high-coverage, hydrating foundation again, this is the first thing in my shopping cart.
Cruelty-free bonusIT Cosmetics is cruelty-free, which we love. A bonus point from us.
14Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in Pillow Talk
Lips · My favorite lip liner
The story: As a makeup artist, Charlotte Tilbury spent years mixing different lipsticks backstage to create the perfect nude-pink. When she launched her brand in 2013, that shade became the Pillow Talk Lip Cheat lip liner, and it has since grown into an entire Pillow Talk universe, now available in several shades, including Fair, Medium and Intense.
Why it’s a cult classic: Pillow Talk is a universally flattering pinky nude that mimics natural lip pigments, so it defines and plumps lips without looking obviously “done.”
Our verdictMy favorite lip liner, full stop. It has more than earned its cult following. I might stray now and then to try new brands, formulas and colors, but I always find my way back home to this perfect lip liner and shade.
Cruelty-free bonusCharlotte Tilbury is approved by Cruelty Free International’s Leaping Bunny programme. One more reason to love it, and a bonus point from us.
Part three
The New Icons
Launched in the last decade, and already part of beauty history.
15Tarte Shape Tape Concealer
Complexion · Made for dark-circle days
The story: Tarte launched Shape Tape in 2016 as a matte, full-coverage concealer that could also contour. It went viral almost immediately and became one of the best-selling concealers in the US.
Why it’s a cult classic: A concealer has one job: to be dependable, without caking or looking obvious. Shape Tape’s long-wearing coverage delivered, and the line has since expanded with creamier and medium-coverage formulas to suit different skin types.
Our verdictShape Tape is my go-to on dark-circle days, especially layered over a color-correcting primer like Smashbox’s. It covers darkness under the eyes beautifully. It’s not the best match for my dry skin, though: the matte, fast-setting formula seems better suited to oily skin. If your skin is dry like mine, the creamier version in the range might be worth a look.
Cruelty-free bonusTarte is certified cruelty-free, and that earns Shape Tape a bonus point from us.
16Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks Blush Stick
Cheeks · The anti-blush blush
The story: Celebrity makeup artist Gucci Westman, known for her “second skin” approach on clients like Jennifer Aniston and Anne Hathaway, launched Westman Atelier in 2018. Her Baby Cheeks Blush Sticks quickly became the brand’s breakout hit.
Why it’s a cult classic: Long before “quiet luxury” became a buzzword, Westman was making makeup that embodied it. Baby Cheeks is creamy, sheer and nearly impossible to get wrong, creating a flush that looks like it comes from within rather than sitting on top of the skin.
Our verdictSwipe it on, tap it in with your fingers, and you’re done. It’s the easiest, most natural-looking blush there is. And the luxurious, minimalist packaging certainly doesn’t hurt: it makes me feel a little extra elegant every time I apply it.
Cruelty-free bonusWestman Atelier is cruelty-free, which makes this quiet-luxury favorite even easier to love. A bonus point from us.
17Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm
Lips · My fall lip treat
The story: Summer Fridays founders Marianna Hewitt and Lauren Ireland launched the Lip Butter Balm in 2020 in a single flavor, vanilla. Thanks largely to TikTok, it became one of the most recognizable lip products of the decade, and it now comes in a whole menu of tinted, flavored versions.
Why it’s a cult classic: It’s deeply hydrating, leaves a glossy shine without stickiness and has a slanted tip that glides across lips easily. And the sweet, dessert-inspired shades have made it as much a lifestyle accessory as a lip balm.
Our verdictThe newcomer on our list. I buy it in Vanilla Beige every fall to get into the season’s mood, and it delivers. Honestly, buying it felt a little like stepping into Gen Z territory, and it may be more of a cult favorite with a younger crowd. But I love it and will repurchase.
Cruelty-free bonusSummer Fridays is Leaping Bunny certified. We love that, and it earns a bonus point.
18Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush
Cheeks · On our wishlist
The story: When Selena Gomez launched Rare Beauty in 2020, no one could have predicted that a small liquid blush would become one of TikTok’s first truly viral makeup products. It has since become one of the best-selling blushes in the world, proving that a celebrity brand can earn real respect from beauty experts.
Why it’s a cult classic: The pigment is famously intense, so a single dot is enough, and it blends seamlessly into a natural-looking flush. It comes in a wide range of shades, from soft pinks to deep berries.
Our verdictWe haven’t tried it ourselves yet, but it’s firmly on our list. Few celebrity beauty products have stood out against the competition the way this one has.
Cruelty-free bonusRare Beauty is Leaping Bunny certified, which moves it even higher up our wishlist. A bonus point from us.
19Patrick Ta Major Headlines Double-Take Crème & Powder Blush Duo
Cheeks · A blush with its own technique
The story: Celebrity makeup artist Patrick Ta launched his brand in 2019, and his Major Headlines blush duos followed soon after. Each compact pairs a powder blush with a matching cream, built around his signature technique.
Why it’s a cult classic: Here’s the twist: Ta layers the cream on top of the powder, which sounds like it breaks every makeup rule. Instead, it creates a glossy, dimensional, long-lasting flush that has become synonymous with his work.
Our verdictThe result doesn’t look like blush at all. It looks like you slept nine hours, drank plenty of water and just got some very good news.
Cruelty-free bonusPatrick Ta’s products are cruelty-free, and we love that. A bonus point from us.
20Makeup by Mario Master Mattes Eyeshadow Palette
Eyes · Our absolute favorite
The story: Mario Dedivanovic, best known as Kim Kardashian’s longtime makeup artist, launched Makeup by Mario at Sephora in October 2020, and the Master Mattes palette was part of that debut. It has been selling out ever since.
Why it’s a cult classic: Every shade is inspired by human skin tones, which makes the palette incredibly versatile. You can create everything from a soft everyday eye to a smoky evening look without needing professional skills.
Our verdictOur absolute favorite, and quite simply the be-all and end-all of eyeshadow palettes. It’s perfect for the trending toasty makeup look, too. No notes. It’s perfection, and we’ll keep buying it again and again.
Cruelty-free bonusMakeup by Mario is cruelty-free, which only adds to our love for this palette. A bonus point from us.
21Lancôme Lash Idôle Mascara
Eyes · Ticks every box
The story: Lancôme launched Lash Idôle at the end of 2020, with Zendaya as the face of the campaign, as a follow-up to its Idôle fragrance. It quickly became one of the brand’s bestselling mascaras.
Why it’s a cult classic: The flexible brush grabs every lash, fanning them out and adding volume without clumps, for a soft, fluffy effect that lasts up to 24 hours.
Our verdictThere are so many mascaras out there, but Lash Idôle ticks every box. I’ve used it before, and I was genuinely impressed.
22Rhode Pocket Blush
Cheeks · Our wildcard pick
The story: Hailey Bieber launched Rhode as a skincare brand in 2022, and Pocket Blush, released in June 2024, was its first step into makeup beyond the lips. The creamy, compact blush stick quickly became one of the brand’s signatures, and Rhode has since been acquired by e.l.f. Beauty and launched at Sephora. Its latest moment: a September 2026 collaboration with Alexandra Leclerc, which introduced Pocket Pearl, a mini, shimmery version of the original in three new shades.
Why it’s a cult classic in the making: The formula is creamy, hydrating and buildable, it melts into a dewy flush, and its tiny size means you can apply it anywhere, no mirror required. Add a launch strategy that turns every drop into an event, and it’s easy to see why it’s everywhere.
Our verdictWe’ll admit we hesitated before adding this one. Rhode is so popular and so hyped that it’s hard to know whether it will truly stand the test of time, or whether we’re simply caught up in the moment. A collaboration like the one with Alexandra Leclerc is something we haven’t seen in beauty for a while, and the way Rhode drops seem to sell out almost instantly only adds to the frenzy. But hype aside, we genuinely love the Pocket Blushes, and the new shades are beautiful. So we’re making a bet: we believe this is a product we’ll keep buying again and again, and that in a few years, it will have earned its cult status for real.
Cruelty-free bonusRhode is certified cruelty-free, and we love that. It’s one more reason we’re betting on it.
The Bottom Line
Cult status can’t be bought. It’s earned, one repurchase at a time.
Some of these products have been loved for half a century; others went viral just a few years ago. What they all share is a formula that delivers, a finish that flatters, and the kind of quiet reliability that keeps people coming back long after the hype has moved on.
And if your skincare shelf deserves the same treatment, don’t miss our edit of the cult classics: 18 skincare products that earned legend status.
Looking for skincare icons too? Here are the top 5 premium skincare brands in the world.
Now tell us: which cult product could you never live without?
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Our promise
Why trust Cult Confidential
Every product in this story was chosen by our beauty editors for its proven track record and lasting reputation. We’ve tested the vast majority ourselves, and where we haven’t, we tell you. No brand paid for placement. Some links in this story are affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you shop through them, but they never decide what makes the list. If we ever feature a gifted product, we’ll tell you clearly.
