The Most Underrated Makeup Brands Of 2021

The beauty industry is booming and expected to reach over $463 billion worldwide by 2027 (via Allied Market Research). These beauty products remain an indispensable part of your modern lifestyle. With all the fantastic brands available throughout the world, it can be tough to figure out which ones to try. It seems these days that there's truly something for everyone, whether you love staying on top of beauty trends and are always trying new makeup products, or enjoy something timeless and straightforward. 

No matter your preferences, there are a few underrated makeup brands that you should try in 2021 to see what you've been missing, especially if you tend to stick with your tried and true cosmetics. From the buzzy and trendy Glossier products to the true artistry of Musee Beauty and the inclusivity of the range offered by Uoma Beauty, these brands are worth trying this year to see if you can improve on your current beauty routine.

It seems like Glossier ads are all over social media, but chances are you don't know much about this underrated makeup brand created by Emily Weiss. According to Her Style Code, Glossier is inclusive and eco-friendly. Even better, it offers a wide variety of all-natural beauty products to enhance your makeup and skincare routine. Buzzfeed recommends the brand's Glossier Cloud Paint, which adds color not only to your cheeks, but also lips. The publication noted that it comes in eight amazing colors, making it challenging to choose just one. Plus, it creates a gorgeous glow wherever you put it.

Allure named Glossier's Boy Brow one of the must-buy products from the line because it's a long-lasting, lightweight tint that leaves your brows groomed with plenty of staying power. Other great items from Glossier include Futuredew (so long as you don't have oily skin), Lash Slick, Milky Jelly Cleanser, Balm Dot Com, Priming Moisturizer, and Haloscope. Another bonus is the pricing, which ranges mostly from $15 to $30.

With Musee Beauty, you are the artwork. The Indie Mood reported that the POC-owned brand founded by sisters Kaya and Tara roared onto the scene in 2020. One unique aspect of the makeup line is that fine art inspires its products. Using Impressionism and Vincent Van Gogh as the muse, the Austin, Texas-based beauty brand offers palettes that help you turn yourself into an artistic masterpiece. For Musee Beauty, makeup is a form of self-expression, revealing who you are to the world before you even say a word.

Try colorful palettes for eyes and highlighting, in addition to sketch pencils and glazes for lips. If you love Van Gogh's famous "The Starry Night" painting, then check out From My Vanity's review of the painting-inspired eyeshadows to find out which one is the best for turning your eyes into a version of the iconic artwork. Although it doesn't offer foundation or skincare, there's a lot to love about the unique and colorful products from Musee Beauty.

Buzzfeed reported that makeup guru and Nigerian-born Sharon Chuter founded Uoma Beauty, intending to create an inclusive line suitable for all skin tones. The brand believes that beauty comes in all colors and hopes to shatter beauty industry norms by moving away from a one-size-fits-all culture. Founder and CEO of the brand, Chuter has a message, which reads, "I could never understand why we live in an age of prescriptive beauty, a monolithic existence where individuality and uniqueness has been left by the wayside and instead a singular idea of what beauty should look like is the status quo. The world is beautiful because we are all different and colorful in our unique way, and this is why Uoma Beauty exists. To celebrate uniqueness, to bring people from all ethnicities, gender, sexual orientation, sizes and of all ages together in a colorful celebration and co-existence," via Uoma Beauty's About page.

According to Refinery 29, Uoma Beauty boasts at least 51 shades of foundation, allowing for a wide range of skin tone matches. The publication recommended the Boss Gloss, the Afro.dis.iac eyeliner, the Hypnotic Impact lipstick, and the Stay Woke Luminous Brightening Concealer.