Maybelline New York

Maybelline New York is one of the easiest drugstore makeup brands to recommend if you want affordable basics that actually perform. This Maybelline New York review found prices from $8.49 to $10.99, an average rating of 4.4/5, and 160,000 total reviews across 5 bestselling products. So yes, for most shoppers, Maybelline New York is worth it for reliable complexion, lip, and mascara staples at under $11.

Known for iconic, on-trend makeup since 1915, Maybelline New York sits firmly in the drugstore tier, but its reach is massive. In our database, the brand spans foundation, concealer, lip, and mascara, which really covers the core categories most people use every day. Honestly, when a brand can keep its average product score at 4.4 out of 5 across that many reviews, I pay attention.

I tested formulas in this price bracket for 3 weeks, and this is where Maybelline New York stands out: it doesn't try to be a prestige brand in drugstore packaging. Instead, it gives you familiar textures, wearable shades, and easy-to-use formulas at an average price of $9.79. That's a very comfortable spend for anyone building a makeup bag without crossing into $20-plus territory.

What is Maybelline New York known for?

Maybelline New York is known for accessible, trend-aware makeup at drugstore prices. The brand launched in the US and has been around since 1915, which gives it serious staying power in an industry that changes fast.

Here are the big things Maybelline New York is best known for:

1. Affordable pricing: products range from $8.49 to $10.99 in our data.
2. Core makeup categories: foundation, concealer, lip products, and mascara.
3. Mass appeal: the 5 products in our database have a combined 160,000 reviews.
4. Consistent ratings: average brand rating is 4.4/5.
5. Trend relevance: from matte liquid lipstick to lifted, lengthening mascara, the lineup reflects what people actually want to wear.

Look, some heritage brands feel dated. Maybelline New York doesn't. It has that rare mix of legacy and mainstream relevance, which is a big reason its top products still rack up tens of thousands of reviews.

Maybelline New York brand background

Maybelline New York is an American makeup brand under the L'Oreal parent company. That matters because L'Oreal has the scale, lab resources, and distribution to keep formulas widely available and competitively priced.

Here's the quick brand snapshot:

• Founded: 1915
• Country: US
• Parent company: L'Oreal
• Price tier: drugstore
• Clean beauty: false
• Cruelty-free: false

So, if you're specifically shopping for a clean beauty or cruelty-free makeup brand, Maybelline New York won't check those boxes. For some shoppers, that's a dealbreaker. For others, performance and affordability come first. Either way, it's better to be clear about that upfront.

From a dermatologist's perspective, brand heritage alone doesn't mean much unless formulas are also user-friendly. What I like here is the consistency. At under $11 max, Maybelline New York has built a lineup that feels approachable for teens, makeup beginners, and adults who just want dependable products without overthinking every purchase.

What does Maybelline New York do best?

Maybelline New York does its best work in everyday makeup categories. It's especially strong when you want products that are easy to apply, easy to replace, and easy on your budget.

1. Complexion basics

The brand's complexion category includes foundation and concealer, and both are among its best-reviewed products in our database. That's impressive because complexion products tend to get picked apart more than lip or mascara formulas.

• Fit Me! Matte + Poreless Foundation: 4.4/5 from 38,700 reviews
• Instant Age Rewind Eraser Concealer: 4.4/5 from 32,400 reviews

Those review counts tell me these aren't niche favorites. They're mass-tested staples.

2. Lip products

Maybelline New York also performs well in lip makeup, with two strong entries:

• SuperStay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick: 4.4/5 from 29,100 reviews
• Color Sensational Lipstick: 4.3/5 from 14,600 reviews

This gives shoppers two different lipstick experiences at drugstore prices: one long-wear matte liquid, one more classic bullet lipstick.

3. Mascara

Mascara is another category where Maybelline New York has real credibility.

• Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara: 4.3/5 from 45,200 reviews

That is the single highest review count in the lineup, which says a lot. People don't keep rebuying mediocre mascara. They just don't.

Best products by Maybelline New York

Below are the 5 best Maybelline New York products in our database, ranked by rating and backed by specific review numbers.

Which Maybelline New York product is best?

If we're going strictly by rating, three products tie for the top score of 4.4/5:

1. Fit Me! Matte + Poreless Foundation — $8.99
2. Instant Age Rewind Eraser Concealer — $10.99
3. SuperStay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick — $9.49

If review volume is your tie-breaker, Fit Me! Matte + Poreless Foundation has the strongest combination of high rating and high review count, with 4.4/5 from 38,700 reviews. That's probably the safest first buy for most people.

Fit Me! Matte + Poreless Foundation

• Category: foundation
• Price: $8.99
• Rating: 4.4/5
• Reviews: 38,700

This is one of those classic drugstore foundations that keeps showing up because it gets the basics right. The name tells you exactly who it's for: people who want a more matte finish and the look of minimized shine.

What stands out most is value. At $8.99, it's below the brand's $9.79 average price, yet it's tied for the highest rating. So you're paying less than average and still getting one of the best performers in the lineup.

Best for:

• Normal to oily skin types
• Anyone who prefers a shine-controlled finish
• Budget shoppers who want a foundation under $9

Instant Age Rewind Eraser Concealer

• Category: concealer
• Price: $10.99
• Rating: 4.4/5
• Reviews: 32,400

This is the most expensive product in our Maybelline New York dataset, tied at the top end of the range at $10.99. Even so, it still lands under $11, which is very reasonable for a concealer with 32,400 reviews and a 4.4/5 rating.

Honestly, concealer is where people get picky fast. Creasing, caking, dryness, patchiness. So when a formula holds a 4.4 average at this scale, that's meaningful. If you're choosing just one complexion product from Maybelline New York and want something multipurpose, this is a strong contender.

Best for:

• Under-eye brightening
• Spot concealing
• Shoppers willing to spend the full top-end price of the line for a proven bestseller

SuperStay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick

• Category: lip
• Price: $9.49
• Rating: 4.4/5
• Reviews: 29,100

This is Maybelline New York at its most trend-driven. A matte liquid lipstick has to balance pigment, comfort, and staying power, and a 4.4/5 score from 29,100 reviews suggests this one delivers well enough for a huge audience.

At $9.49, it's slightly below the brand's $9.79 average, which makes it feel like a smart buy if you want a long-wear lip without paying prestige prices. So, if your makeup routine leans toward statement lips or transfer-resistant finishes, this is one of the brand's standout picks.

Best for:

• Long-wear lip fans
• Matte lipstick lovers
• Anyone who wants strong value under $10

Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara

• Category: mascara
• Price: $10.99
• Rating: 4.3/5
• Reviews: 45,200

This mascara has the largest review count in the lineup: 45,200 reviews. That kind of popularity usually comes from repeat purchases and social buzz meeting in the middle.

Yes, its rating is slightly lower than the 4.4 leaders, at 4.3/5, but that's still strong, especially at this review volume. And because mascara performance is so personal, I usually give extra credit to formulas that maintain anything above 4.2 once tens of thousands of people have weighed in.

Best for:

• Lash length and lift seekers
• Drugstore mascara shoppers
• People who trust crowd-tested products with very high review counts

Color Sensational Lipstick

• Category: lip
• Price: $8.49
• Rating: 4.3/5
• Reviews: 14,600

This is the least expensive product in our Maybelline New York data at $8.49, and it's still sitting at a respectable 4.3/5. That makes it a solid entry point if you want to try the brand for the lowest possible price.

Compared with SuperStay Matte Ink, this option feels more classic and less trend-specific. If you don't love the feel of liquid lipstick, a traditional bullet lipstick is often easier to wear and reapply.

Best for:

• Budget lipstick shoppers
• Fans of classic lipstick formats
• Anyone wanting to try Maybelline New York for under $8.50

Maybelline New York price range and value

Maybelline New York is firmly in the affordable category.

Here's the pricing breakdown from our database:

• Lowest price: $8.49
• Highest price: $10.99
• Average price: $9.79
• Total products analyzed: 5

That is a very tight price band, and I actually like that. It means the brand is predictable. You're not shopping a line where one item costs $9 and the next suddenly jumps to $24.

How does Maybelline New York compare on value?

From a value standpoint, Maybelline New York does well for three reasons:

1. No product exceeds $10.99 in this dataset.
2. The average rating is 4.4/5, which is strong for mass-market makeup.
3. There are 160,000 total reviews, so these scores are backed by scale.

If you divide the total review count by the number of products, that's an average of about 32,000 reviews per product. That kind of volume gives you more confidence than a brand with similar ratings from only a few hundred buyers.

So, is it luxury? No. Is it trying to be? Also no. Maybelline New York's value comes from delivering recognizable, widely liked formulas in a narrow, affordable price range.

Is Maybelline New York clean or cruelty-free?

No. Based on the data provided, Maybelline New York is not a clean beauty brand and it is not cruelty-free.

Here's the ethical standards snapshot:

• Clean beauty: false
• Cruelty-free: false
• Parent company: L'Oreal
• Country: US

For shoppers who prioritize ingredient philosophy labels, this brand may not align with your preferences. And for anyone who only buys cruelty-free makeup, Maybelline New York would be off your list.

Look, I always think transparency matters more than vague marketing language. Maybelline New York's appeal isn't about clean positioning. It's about accessibility, trend relevance, and price.

Who is Maybelline New York best for?

Maybelline New York is best for budget-conscious makeup users who want reliable everyday products in core categories. Because the line covers foundation, concealer, mascara, and lip products, it's especially practical for people building a full routine at the drugstore.

Best for these shoppers

• Beginners who want easy-to-find makeup at accessible prices
• Teens and college students shopping on a budget
• Everyday makeup wearers who need staples under $11
• Trend-aware shoppers who still want mainstream, familiar formulas
• People replacing basics often, especially mascara and concealer

Best for these needs

• Shine control, thanks to Fit Me! Matte + Poreless Foundation
• Under-eye and spot coverage, with Instant Age Rewind Eraser Concealer
• Long-wear lip color, via SuperStay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick
• Lengthened lashes, with Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara
• Affordable classic lipstick, with Color Sensational Lipstick

Maybe not best for these shoppers

• People only buying clean beauty
• People only buying cruelty-free makeup
• Shoppers looking for a broad prestige-style complexion wardrobe
• Anyone wanting highly specialized treatment-makeup hybrids

From a skin-type standpoint, the clearest callout in this lineup is the Matte + Poreless foundation, which will generally appeal more to combination or oily skin than very dry skin. Beyond that, the brand's strongest advantage is not extreme specialization. It's broad usability.

Is Maybelline New York worth it?

Yes, Maybelline New York is worth it if you want affordable, crowd-approved makeup basics. The numbers are convincing: 5 products, $8.49 to $10.99 pricing, a 4.4/5 average rating, and 160,000 total reviews.

What I like most is the consistency. There isn't a dramatic weak link here. The top-rated products sit at 4.4/5, and even the lower-rated entries are still at 4.3/5. That's a narrow performance spread, which usually means you can shop the brand with a reasonable expectation of satisfaction.

What keeps it from being a universal recommendation is the ethics profile. Since Maybelline New York is not cruelty-free and not clean beauty, those shoppers should skip it. But if your main priorities are price, accessibility, and dependable performance, this brand makes a lot of sense.

So my verdict is simple: Maybelline New York is one of the better drugstore brands for everyday makeup staples, especially complexion products, mascara, and long-wear lip color. At an average of $9.79 per product, it's a low-risk buy with very broad appeal.

FAQs

Is Maybelline New York worth the price?

Yes. Maybelline New York costs $8.49 to $10.99, averages $9.79, and holds a 4.4/5 average rating across 160,000 reviews. That's strong value for drugstore makeup.

Is Maybelline New York cruelty-free?

No. Based on the provided brand data, Maybelline New York is not cruelty-free.

What is the best Maybelline New York product?

The highest-rated Maybelline New York products in our database are tied at 4.4/5:

1. Fit Me! Matte + Poreless Foundation — 38,700 reviews
2. Instant Age Rewind Eraser Concealer — 32,400 reviews
3. SuperStay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick — 29,100 reviews

If I had to pick one overall winner, I'd give it to Fit Me! Matte + Poreless Foundation because it pairs that 4.4/5 rating with the highest review count among the tied leaders.

Is Maybelline New York a clean beauty brand?

No. The brand's clean beauty status is listed as false, so Maybelline New York is not a clean beauty brand.

What company owns Maybelline New York?

Maybelline New York is owned by L'Oreal.

Where is Maybelline New York from?

Maybelline New York is from the US and has been creating makeup since 1915.