e.l.f. Cosmetics vs NARS:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, e.l.f. Cosmetics had more branded searches than NARS among makeup brands in the United Kingdom. e.l.f. Cosmetics had about 22,500 branded searches, while NARS had 18,100. e.l.f. Cosmetics made up 3.6% of all makeup brand searches we track, and NARS accounted for 2.9%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about makeup brands, e.l.f. Cosmetics and NARS each appeared in three of the five answers. e.l.f. Cosmetics and NARS were each mentioned first in two of the four answers.
Who do people search for more?
e.l.f. Cosmetics, about 24% more searches than NARS
Who does AI mention more?
Both were mentioned in 3 of 5 answers.
Who does AI recommend more?
Each is named first in 2 of 4 answers.
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Top makeup brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, e.l.f. Cosmetics and NARS were each mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. e.l.f. Cosmetics and NARS were each listed first in two of the four 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.
Maybelline4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Charlotte Tilbury3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
MAC3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Rare Beauty3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers- e.l.f. Cosmetics3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
NARS3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Fenty Beauty2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
NYX Professional Makeup2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Huda Beauty1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Urban Decay1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about makeup brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which makeup brands are best in the UK?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best makeup brands?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What is the best foundation?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“makeup”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“makeup brands”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United Kingdom on October 26, 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 16 makeup brands we track, month by month, from searches in United Kingdom.
Share of searches by month for e.l.f. Cosmetics, NARS. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Charlotte Tilbury | MAC | Huda Beauty | Fenty Beauty | Maybelline | Rare Beauty | Sculpted by Aimee | e.l.f. Cosmetics | Bobbi Brown | NARS | NYX Professional Makeup | No7 | Iconic London | Too Faced | Urban Decay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 43.3% | 6.2% | 10.6% | 5.8% | 3.9% | 5.8% | 3.2% | 3.6% | 5.8% | 3.2% | 2.6% | 1.2% | 1.7% | 1.2% | 1.2% |
| Nov 2025 | 52.6% | 4.1% | 19.4% | 3.2% | 1.7% | 3.9% | 1.4% | 2.4% | 2.6% | 2.6% | 1.4% | 0.68% | 1.7% | 0.95% | 0.78% |
| Dec 2025 | 59.3% | 4.9% | 7.9% | 3.6% | 2.4% | 4.4% | 1.6% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 1.6% | 0.89% | 2.4% | 1.1% | 0.87% |
| Jan 2026 | 42.8% | 6.1% | 12.9% | 4.7% | 4.7% | 5.8% | 2.6% | 2.9% | 3.9% | 3.2% | 3.2% | 1.5% | 2.6% | 1.4% | 1.4% |
| Feb 2026 | 46% | 6.6% | 11.3% | 5.1% | 4.1% | 5.1% | 2.8% | 3.1% | 3.4% | 3.4% | 2.8% | 1.5% | 1.8% | 1.2% | 1.2% |
| Mar 2026 | 49.6% | 6.8% | 8.2% | 4.5% | 4.5% | 4.5% | 3% | 3.1% | 3.7% | 3.7% | 2.4% | 1.5% | 1.6% | 1.1% | 1.3% |
| Apr 2026 | 45.8% | 7.7% | 9.2% | 4.1% | 4.1% | 5% | 4.1% | 3.3% | 4.1% | 3.4% | 2.8% | 1.5% | 1.8% | 1.2% | 1.2% |
| May 2026 | 44.7% | 7.5% | 9% | 4.9% | 4% | 4% | 4.9% | 3.3% | 4% | 4% | 3.3% | 1.4% | 1.8% | 1.2% | 1.2% |
| Jun 2026 | 49% | 7.9% | 8.1% | 3.6% | 4.4% | 3.6% | 4.4% | 3% | 3.6% | 3.6% | 2.9% | 1.3% | 1.6% | 0.88% | 1.3% |
| Jul 2026 | 48.5% | 7.8% | 8% | 3.6% | 4.4% | 5.3% | 3.6% | 3.6% | 3.6% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 1.3% | 1.6% | 1.1% | 1.1% |
| Aug 2026 | 42.6% | 8.4% | 8.6% | 4.7% | 4.7% | 5.7% | 4.7% | 3.9% | 3.8% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 1.7% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 1.4% |
| Sep 2026 | 47.5% | 8% | 7.8% | 5.2% | 4.3% | 4.3% | 4.3% | 3.6% | 3.5% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 1.4% | 1.3% | 1.3% | 1.3% |
How has the e.l.f. Cosmetics and NARS comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- The lead changed hands 2 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: NARS took it in November 2025, e.l.f. Cosmetics took it in July 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, e.l.f. Cosmetics’ share of searches among makeup brands in the United Kingdom held steady at 3.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 30.3K to 22.5K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, NARS’s share of searches among makeup brands in the United Kingdom moved from 3.2% to 2.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 27.1K to 18.1K.
How did search popularity change for United Kingdom makeup brands in September 2026?
2 changes
Estimated monthly branded searches for NARS in the United Kingdom fell 33.2% over 12 measured months, from 27.1K to 18.1K in September 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for e.l.f. Cosmetics in the United Kingdom fell 25.7% over 12 measured months, from 30.3K to 22.5K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
3 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
2 branded search terms
- elf cosmetics
- elf makeup
NARS
1 branded search term
- nars
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