If you don’t own anything by an indie makeup brand, you, my friend, are missing out.

Indie makeup brands, unlike their corporate-owned counterparts, are great for finding niche, quality products that are often quite affordable, while getting personalized, one-on-one service without any corporate interference. Many of the big makeup brands you see today started out as small companies but grew to become the names of the game.

Although there are countless indie makeup brands out there, below are three of the best (and most affordable) indie makeup brands for college girls:

Table of Contents

Best Sparkly Makeup: Fyrinnae

Fyrinnae Cosmetics has been around for years and is one of the most popular indie makeup brands around. 

Based in the Pacific Northwest, they have a wide variety of products ranging from some of the best loose eyeshadows out there to metallic liquid lip lustres in any color imaginable, all made in the US and completely vegan and cruelty-free. 

On their Etsy shop, they even sell pizza-scented perfume oil! Yessss!

One of Fyrinnae Cosmetics’ best known products is their Pixie Epoxy, an adhesive for sparkly eyeshadows that you apply over your usual eyeshadow primer. While it works for non-matte shadows from any brand, fans know that when you pair it with their duochrome or Arcane Magic eyeshadows, the effect is showstopping. 

Most of Fyrinnae’s items are under $10, and their website has free shipping over $40, so go wild!

Best Indie Makeup for Women of Color: Juvia’s Place

Founded in around 2013, Juvia’s Place became popular through the power of social media. 

Originally selling only brushes, they are now best known for their richly pigmented eyeshadow singles and palettes, notable for their artwork of ancient Egyptian Queen Nefertiti on them.