Laura Mercier vs Smashbox:Which is more popular?
In October 2026, Smashbox had more branded searches than Laura Mercier among makeup primer brands worldwide. Smashbox had about 41,900 branded searches, while Laura Mercier had 5,400. Smashbox made up 10.3% of all makeup primer brand searches we track, and Laura Mercier accounted for 1.3%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about makeup primer brands, Smashbox appeared in four of the five answers and Laura Mercier in none.
Who do people search for more?
Smashbox, about 8 searches for every 1 for Laura Mercier
Who does AI mention more?
Smashbox, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Laura Mercier in 0
Who does AI recommend more?
Smashbox, the only one of the two named
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Top makeup primer brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Smashbox was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Laura Mercier did not appear in any of the five answers.
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.
Smashbox4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Milk Makeup3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
e.l.f. Cosmetics2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Benefit Cosmetics2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
NYX Professional Makeup1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Hourglass1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
MAC0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Charlotte Tilbury0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Laura Mercier0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Fenty Beauty0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about makeup primer brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which makeup primer should I buy?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best makeup primers?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best makeup primer for oily skin?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“makeup primer”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best primer”
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 25, 2026.
Is Laura Mercier or Smashbox more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Laura Mercier and Smashbox by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 12 makeup primer brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Smashbox, Laura Mercier. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | e.l.f. Cosmetics | Benefit Cosmetics | Smashbox | Milk Makeup | NYX Professional Makeup | MAC | Hourglass | Charlotte Tilbury | Laura Mercier | Fenty Beauty | Rare Beauty | Too Faced |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2025 | 44.4% | 12.1% | 8.7% | 11.3% | 8.4% | 5.6% | 2.8% | 2.5% | 1.7% | 1.1% | 0.91% | 0.5% |
| Dec 2025 | 45.7% | 11.8% | 8.6% | 11.7% | 8.6% | 4.7% | 2.3% | 2.6% | 1.7% | 0.94% | 0.77% | 0.62% |
| Jan 2026 | 41% | 16.5% | 9.8% | 10.9% | 8.1% | 4.4% | 2.7% | 2.4% | 1.6% | 0.88% | 0.88% | 0.71% |
| Feb 2026 | 42.5% | 13.4% | 9.8% | 13% | 8% | 4.4% | 2.7% | 2.4% | 1.6% | 0.86% | 0.71% | 0.71% |
| Mar 2026 | 44.1% | 13.9% | 9.3% | 11.1% | 8.3% | 4.6% | 2.3% | 2.5% | 1.7% | 0.91% | 0.73% | 0.6% |
| Apr 2026 | 41.2% | 12.4% | 11.5% | 12.9% | 7.4% | 5% | 3% | 2.7% | 1.5% | 0.98% | 0.79% | 0.79% |
| May 2026 | 43% | 11.1% | 12.1% | 11.7% | 8.1% | 4.4% | 2.9% | 2.4% | 1.6% | 1.1% | 0.87% | 0.57% |
| Jun 2026 | 44.8% | 11.6% | 11.3% | 11.3% | 7% | 4.6% | 3% | 2.5% | 1.7% | 0.91% | 0.75% | 0.5% |
| Jul 2026 | 45.9% | 11.3% | 11.1% | 11.9% | 6.8% | 3.7% | 2.9% | 2.5% | 1.6% | 0.89% | 0.89% | 0.58% |
| Aug 2026 | 49.7% | 10.5% | 9.3% | 10.2% | 7.7% | 4.2% | 2.5% | 2.3% | 1.5% | 0.82% | 0.82% | 0.54% |
| Sep 2026 | 49.7% | 10.9% | 10.1% | 10% | 6.6% | 4.4% | 2.7% | 2% | 1.6% | 0.86% | 0.71% | 0.56% |
| Oct 2026 | 50.6% | 11.1% | 10.3% | 8.9% | 6.7% | 4.5% | 2.6% | 2% | 1.3% | 0.89% | 0.71% | 0.39% |
Smashbox and Laura Mercier sell other things too, so only their searches that name this product count here, like “smashbox primer”.
How has branded search for Laura Mercier and Smashbox changed worldwide over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Smashbox was ahead of Laura Mercier in every measured month of the 12 months ending October 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Laura Mercier’s share of searches among makeup primer brands worldwide moved from 1.7% to 1.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 8.1K to 5.4K.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Smashbox’s share of searches among makeup primer brands worldwide moved from 8.7% to 10.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 41.9K.
How did search popularity change for makeup primer brands worldwide in October 2026?
1 change

Estimated monthly branded searches for Laura Mercier worldwide fell 33.3% over 12 measured months, from 8.1K to 5.4K in October 2026.
How are Laura Mercier’s and Smashbox’s branded searches counted?
3 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Laura Mercier’s and Smashbox’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.
Laura Mercier
1 branded search term
- laura mercier primer
Smashbox
2 branded search terms
- smashbox photo finish primer
- smashbox primer
Other head-to-heads among makeup primer brands

e.l.f. Cosmetics vs Benefit Cosmetics: compare popularity
e.l.f. Cosmetics vs Smashbox: compare popularity
e.l.f. Cosmetics vs Milk Makeup: compare popularity
e.l.f. Cosmetics vs NYX Professional Makeup: compare popularity
Benefit Cosmetics vs Smashbox: compare popularity
Benefit Cosmetics vs Milk Makeup: compare popularity

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