e.l.f. Cosmetics vs NYX Professional Makeup:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, e.l.f. Cosmetics had more branded searches than NYX Professional Makeup among makeup brands in the United Kingdom. e.l.f. Cosmetics had about 22,500 branded searches, while NYX Professional Makeup had 18,100. e.l.f. Cosmetics made up 3.6% of all makeup brand searches we track, and NYX Professional Makeup accounted for 2.9%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about makeup brands, e.l.f. Cosmetics appeared in three of the five answers and NYX Professional Makeup in two. e.l.f. Cosmetics was mentioned before NYX Professional Makeup in every answer that named either.
Who do people search for more?
e.l.f. Cosmetics, about 24% more searches than NYX Professional Makeup
Who does AI mention more?
e.l.f. Cosmetics, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, NYX Professional Makeup in 2
Who does AI recommend more?
e.l.f. Cosmetics, named ahead of NYX Professional Makeup in 3 of 3 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 was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. NYX Professional Makeup 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 NYX Professional Makeup in every answer 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.
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 NYX Professional Makeup more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for e.l.f. Cosmetics and NYX Professional Makeup 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, NYX Professional Makeup. 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 NYX Professional Makeup comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- The lead changed hands 2 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: NYX Professional Makeup took it in January 2026, e.l.f. Cosmetics took it in February 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, NYX Professional Makeup’s share of searches among makeup brands in the United Kingdom moved from 2.6% to 2.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 22.2K to 18.1K.
How did search popularity change for United Kingdom makeup brands in September 2026?
2 changes

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.

Estimated monthly branded searches for NYX Professional Makeup in the United Kingdom fell 18.5% over 12 measured months, from 22.2K to 18.1K 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 NYX Professional Makeup’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
NYX Professional Makeup
1 branded search term
- nyx
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