There’s one thing that I’ve never been, and that’s a minimalist. When it comes to my personal style—in clothes, décor, and beauty—I prefer opulence and grandiose expression. With my wardrobe, I’ve always been attracted to vibrant hues, avant-garde silhouettes, and over-the-top looks, and the same goes for makeup. Be it neon-glitter winged eyeliner or a red lip that’s shellacked in glitter and gloss, I’ll take it all. I love the drama.
My reasoning behind this is simple. We only live once, so why not indulge in whatever sort of fabulousness that speaks to you—even if it’s blue eye shadow when the rest of the world is wearing neutrals? The freedom of creative expression, after all, is a gift to our inner child. Let her play, I say!
Ahead, you’ll find my favorite picks for maximalist beauty products that celebrate color, sparkle, and whimsy, from glittery lip gloss to bright, unapologetic eye shadow. Who knows—maybe you’ll be inspired to awaken your hidden maximalist.
I have been searching for a super-shiny, colorful liquid eyeliner, and I think I found it. These limited-edition Fenty eyeliners come in silver, peacock blue, and purple, and they are so pigmented your cat eye will pop.
You guys, I’m so glad bows are back. I was a big bow girl about 15 years ago and wore them almost every day! When I say big, I’m not joking. I wore a massive bow headband on my head. This cute satin set from Ceremonia is a dream and will help make any day a good hair day.
Special-effects makeup artist Isamaya Ffrench is the queen of maximalist beauty, and her eponymous makeup brand perfectly embodies everything she’s about. I’ve talked about it in the past (specifically this hilariously cheeky lipstick that I unfortunately dropped on my toe once), and every one of its launches feels like Christmas. When I saw that this lip serum comes in silver, I bought it immediately. Now, I need this eye shadow palette.
If there was one beauty-product VIP I had last year, it’s About-Face’s Shadowstick, particularly in the shade Creature. That electric blue made me feel like a pageant queen. And yes, I love wearing it with red lipstick for an Anna Nicole Smith–inspired look!
To me, any of Dior’s lip glosses give subtle baby maximalism. They may not be as obvious, but the low-key glitter and plump lips thanks to cherry oil and hyaluronic acid? You can’t get that level of glam anywhere else. I would have also put the viral Rouge Dior Forever Liquid Sequin Lipstick on my list, but it sold out!
Anna Sui has been one of my favorite fashion designers forever, and I’ve used her beauty products in the past. The liquid eyeliner was my favorite back in the day. I haven’t tried the perfumes yet, but every time I see one, I wonder why I haven’t. Look how cute these are! Better yet, I want the set of minis.
When it comes to big and bold eye makeup looks, I always turn to Half Magic. These Chromaddiction eye paints are super pigmented and come in gorgeous lavender, green, teal, and periwinkle hues.
A lush, Bambi-like eye adorned with faux lashes is already a higher level of glam, but these Gossamers from at-home lash-extension brand Lashify come in royal blue for a pretty touch of color on the eye.
These eye shadows come in three heavily saturated shades that are meant to deposit vivid color in just one swipe. They’re so sparkly that it will look like straight-up outer space on your lids.
If you like maximizing your lips via a pretty gloss, Duck Plump by Nyx is a must-have. Available in 16 shades, the gloss contains a spicy ginger extract that gets your pucker plumped without having to make a filler appointment. You can also pair it with the Line Loud Lip Liner for an extra-fierce look.
My Black Honey obsession continues thanks to this limited-edition crystal case. Honestly, I want all of my beauty products embellished with rhinestones. Is that too much to ask?
Let’s get one thing straight: I’m a forever Juicy Couture girl. The brand has always helped me feel glam, especially when I choose a bedazzled tracksuit over boring ol’ sweats for airport uniforms and at-home leisure ’fits. Obviously, I need my makeup bag to turn heads as well, and this pink checkered one does just the trick.
There is something about a hot-pink blush that makes the kid in me so happy. Maybe it’s because I remember having a pink powder blush as a kid (one of my first-ever beauty products), but I’ll always reach for this kind of shade over more subtle ones. Patrick Ta’s cream-and-blush duo in She’s a Doll is my absolute favorite. I literally took it everywhere with me when I first got it.
While jade and rose quartz gua sha tools are already beautiful, I have to admit this is truly the most luxurious face massager I’ve ever seen. I feel like a leprechaun—give me the gold! You can heat it up or cool it in the fridge to boost your skin benefits.
When I’m in need of a really fierce makeup look, I always reach for my Danessa Myricks Lightwork IV palette. The shades are always unreal. This newest version of the famous Lightwork palette is on my wish list. It has 18 shade options, plus seven finishes to create tons of otherworldly color-shifting looks.
Beauty lovers always need good lighting, so you should keep a mini light in your purse at all times. Who knows when an impromptu photo sesh might occur? This LED-lighted mirror and power bank comes in a Mean Girls pink, and I’m obsessed.
One thing’s for sure: Starface brought some long-overdue fun to the beauty world. Remember when we used to do anything to conceal and hide the fact that we had a zit? Now, we can just slap on a cute hydrocolloid sticker that helps heal and protect them. Starface has me over here prayin’ for a pimple!
Do you know what’s better than a shiny, glossy lip product? One that’s packed with hydrating ingredients, like Tarte’s famous maracuja oil and superfruit complex. Even better, the cult-loved lippie now comes in a glitter version that’s been lighting up TikTok. I dare you to choose just one.
As I’m someone who applies a red lip before 8 a.m., I had to include a red lipstick on this list. These creamy, never-drying lipsticks bring the perfect pop of color, and they’re comfortable to wear.
I’m new to this beauty brand, but you can imagine the excitement I felt when I first saw these gorgeous liquid eye shadows. They come in a whole spectrum of colors and are less than $10.
When it comes to non-gel nail polish, Dazzle Dry is my go-to. It dries super fast, and I don’t have to worry about smudging—a real lifesaver. This color took me back. It literally reminds me of this blue velvet bell-sleeve top I had as a teen and took mall pictures in. It’s so gloriously cosmic.
These shadows by Victoria Beckham are pure magic, literally. They’re infused with crystals, so you get good vibes and a stunning eye look. The gold shade, Starlight, features 24k gold infused with jasper, which is a protection stone and absorbs negative energy.
ColourPop is clearly for maximalists—it’s all in the name. I love the creamy gel liner, which comes in every single color you could imagine. Plus, they’re just $8, so you can grab a few in your favorite colors without bruising your bank account.
LimeCrime is another beauty brand that’s made for the non-neutral babes. Bring some sparkle to your lids and brows easily with this shimmery topper.
