e.l.f. Cosmetics vs NARS:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, NARS had more branded searches than e.l.f. Cosmetics among makeup and cosmetics brands worldwide. NARS had about 301,000 branded searches, while e.l.f. Cosmetics had 165,000. NARS made up 3.3% of all makeup and cosmetics brand searches we track, and e.l.f. Cosmetics accounted for 1.8%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about makeup and cosmetics brands, e.l.f. Cosmetics appeared in four of the five answers and NARS in two. e.l.f. Cosmetics was mentioned before NARS in three out of four answers that named either.
Who do people search for more?
NARS, about 82% more searches than e.l.f. Cosmetics
Who does AI mention more?
e.l.f. Cosmetics, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, NARS in 2
Who does AI recommend more?
e.l.f. Cosmetics, named ahead of NARS in 3 of 4 answers
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Top makeup and cosmetics brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, e.l.f. Cosmetics was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. NARS was mentioned in two out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. e.l.f. Cosmetics was listed before NARS in three out of four answers that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
Rare Beauty5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Maybelline4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Fenty Beauty4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers- e.l.f. Cosmetics4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Charlotte Tilbury3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Clinique2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
NYX Professional Makeup2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
L'Oréal Paris2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers- NARS2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Makeup by Mario2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about makeup and cosmetics brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which makeup and cosmetics brand should I buy?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best makeup and cosmetics brands?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best makeup and cosmetics brand for everyday wear?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“makeup brands”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“cosmetics brands”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 19, 2026.
Is e.l.f. Cosmetics or NARS more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for e.l.f. Cosmetics and NARS by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 28 makeup and cosmetics brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for NARS, e.l.f. Cosmetics. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Charlotte Tilbury | Estée Lauder | Maybelline | Clinique | Huda Beauty | NYX Professional Makeup | Rare Beauty | Fenty Beauty | Morphe | L'Oréal Paris | NARS | Bobbi Brown | Makeup by Mario | Tarte | ColourPop | e.l.f. Cosmetics |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 13.1% | 10.6% | 8.7% | 7.2% | 8.7% | 6.5% | 7.2% | 5.9% | 1.4% | 2.6% | 3.2% | 3.2% | 2.1% | 3.2% | 2.1% | 1.7% |
| Nov 2025 | 17.3% | 9.5% | 5.2% | 6.3% | 21.1% | 5.6% | 6.3% | 4.3% | 1.3% | 1.6% | 3.5% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 1.6% | 1% |
| Dec 2025 | 20% | 10.9% | 7.3% | 7.3% | 7.3% | 6.7% | 7.3% | 4.9% | 1.8% | 2.2% | 3.3% | 2.7% | 2.2% | 2.7% | 2.2% | 1.5% |
| Jan 2026 | 12.9% | 8.6% | 7.1% | 7.1% | 10.5% | 7.9% | 7.1% | 4.7% | 2.1% | 3.2% | 3.2% | 3.2% | 2.1% | 2.6% | 2.6% | 1.4% |
| Feb 2026 | 12.7% | 10.4% | 8.6% | 7% | 8.6% | 7.8% | 7% | 5.7% | 2.1% | 2.6% | 3.1% | 2.6% | 2.1% | 2.6% | 2.1% | 1.4% |
| Mar 2026 | 14.5% | 11.8% | 7.9% | 7.9% | 6.5% | 7.2% | 6.5% | 5.3% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 3.5% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 2.4% | 1.6% |
| Apr 2026 | 13% | 10.7% | 8.8% | 8.8% | 7.2% | 8% | 7.2% | 5.9% | 3.2% | 2.6% | 3.2% | 2.6% | 2.6% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 1.8% |
| May 2026 | 12.3% | 10.1% | 8.3% | 8.3% | 6.8% | 7.5% | 5.5% | 4.5% | 3% | 2.5% | 3.7% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 6.8% | 2% | 2% |
| Jun 2026 | 14.1% | 9.5% | 9.5% | 7.8% | 6.4% | 8.6% | 5.2% | 4.3% | 3.5% | 2.9% | 3.5% | 2.9% | 2.3% | 2.9% | 2.3% | 1.9% |
| Jul 2026 | 16.3% | 8.9% | 8.9% | 7.3% | 7.3% | 8.1% | 7.3% | 4.9% | 3.3% | 2.7% | 3.3% | 2.7% | 2.2% | 2.7% | 2.7% | 1.8% |
| Aug 2026 | 16.1% | 8.8% | 8.8% | 7.2% | 8.8% | 8% | 5.9% | 4.8% | 3.9% | 2.6% | 3.2% | 2.6% | 2.6% | 2.6% | 2.2% | 1.8% |
| Sep 2026 | 16.3% | 9% | 9% | 7.3% | 7.3% | 6.8% | 6% | 4.9% | 4.9% | 3.3% | 3.3% | 2.7% | 2.7% | 2.7% | 2.2% | 1.8% |
How has the e.l.f. Cosmetics and NARS comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- NARS was ahead of e.l.f. Cosmetics in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, e.l.f. Cosmetics’ share of searches among makeup and cosmetics brands worldwide moved from 1.7% to 1.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 201K to 165K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, NARS’s share of searches among makeup and cosmetics brands worldwide moved from 3.2% to 3.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 368K to 301K.
How did search popularity change for makeup and cosmetics brands worldwide in September 2026?
3 changes
In September 2026, L'Oréal Paris overtook NARS and Bobbi Brown to rank 10th among makeup and cosmetics brands worldwide, with 3.3% of the searches.
Estimated monthly branded searches for NARS worldwide fell 18.2% over 12 measured months, from 368K to 301K in September 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for e.l.f. Cosmetics worldwide fell 17.9% over 12 measured months, from 201K to 165K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using e.l.f. Cosmetics’ and NARS’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
e.l.f. Cosmetics
1 branded search term
- e l f cosmetics
NARS
1 branded search term
- nars
Other head-to-heads among makeup and cosmetics brands
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