You’ve built a stunning website and stocked it with high-quality products—but your makeup brand isn’t showing up on Google for the keywords you want to rank for. Meanwhile, major makeup brands dominate those coveted first-page rankings. Sound familiar?
In the fast-evolving world of makeup, staying visible online is harder than ever. Trends shift overnight, competition is fierce, and finding the right keywords to attract customers feels like chasing the perfect shade match.
That’s why I analyzed 19,187 makeup keywords from enterprise SEO tools (SEMRush and Ahrefs), representing over 5.8 million monthly searches, and distilled them into 90 high-impact opportunities (including 22 low-competition keywords) across 9 critical categories.
Whether you’re a growing cosmetics brand, professional makeup artist, or beauty retailer, this keyword data provides a comprehensive view of the makeup search landscape.
Now, let’s dive into the most valuable makeup keywords shaping today’s beauty industry.
1. Face Makeup
Keyword | Monthly Search Volume | Competition |
foundation makeup | 110,000 | High |
best foundation | 74,000 | High |
concealer | 71,000 | High |
powder foundation | 60,500 | Moderate |
liquid foundation | 49,500 | Moderate |
full coverage foundation | 40,500 | High |
cream blush | 38,000 | Moderate |
contour makeup | 33,000 | High |
bronzer makeup | 32,000 | Moderate |
setting powder | 27,000 | Moderate |
makeup primer | 25,000 | Moderate |
bb cream | 22,000 | Moderate |
face powder | 18,500 | Moderate |
highlighting powder | 12,500 | Easy |
2. Eye Makeup
Keyword | Monthly Search Volume | Competition |
mascara | 165,000 | High |
eyeliner | 135,000 | High |
eyeshadow palette | 74,000 | High |
waterproof mascara | 49,500 | Moderate |
liquid eyeliner | 40,500 | Moderate |
eyebrow pencil | 38,000 | Moderate |
false eyelashes | 33,000 | Moderate |
brow gel | 27,000 | Moderate |
eye primer | 22,000 | Easy |
pencil eyeliner | 18,500 | Easy |
glitter eyeshadow | 16,500 | Easy |
magnetic eyelashes | 15,000 | Moderate |
📍 IMPORTANT
This makeup keyword data provides valuable search insights into the current search market landscape. However, it’s crucial to adapt it to your specific makeup brand context. Generic keyword lists can’t account for your:
- Current Rankings – Whether you’re starting from scratch, have some keyword rankings, or already rank for hundreds of terms will determine your keyword strategy. New websites need a different approach than established ones ranking for competitive terms
- Marketing Resources – Your available budget, team size, content creation, and link-building capabilities directly impact which keywords you can realistically target and how quickly you can build rankings
- Target Market – Your ideal customer profile shapes keyword selection. Are you targeting makeup artists, everyday consumers, luxury shoppers, or specific demographics? Each requires unique keyword strategies
- Product Focus– Your product range shapes your keyword strategy, but only you know which products are your money-makers. Whether it’s your bestselling foundation or high-margin lipstick line, your understanding of revenue-driving products should guide which keywords get priority attention
- Competition Level – Understanding who you’re competing against in search results—whether it’s major beauty brands, independent makers, or local makeup artists—influences keyword selection
Every brand has unique strengths, market positions, and goals that demand specific keyword targeting.
While these keywords provide a strong foundation for your makeup brand’s SEO strategy, achieving meaningful rankings requires a deeper, customized approach.
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3. Lip Products
Keyword | Monthly Search Volume | Competition |
lipstick | 201,000 | High |
lip gloss | 165,000 | High |
matte lipstick | 74,000 | High |
lip liner | 49,500 | Moderate |
liquid lipstick | 40,500 | Moderate |
lip balm | 38,000 | Moderate |
lip plumper | 33,000 | Moderate |
lip stain | 27,000 | Moderate |
clear lip gloss | 22,000 | Easy |
tinted lip balm | 18,500 | Easy |
4. Makeup Tools
Keyword | Monthly Search Volume | Competition |
makeup brushes | 90,500 | High |
beauty blender | 74,000 | High |
makeup sponge | 49,500 | Moderate |
makeup brush set | 40,500 | Moderate |
makeup organizer | 33,000 | Moderate |
makeup mirror | 27,000 | Moderate |
brush cleaner | 22,000 | Easy |
makeup bag | 18,500 | Easy |
makeup brush holder | 12,500 | Easy |
5. Makeup Looks and Tutorials
Keyword | Monthly Search Volume | Competition |
natural makeup look | 165,000 | High |
everyday makeup | 110,000 | High |
smokey eye tutorial | 74,000 | High |
wedding makeup | 49,500 | High |
halloween makeup | 40,500 | Moderate |
glam makeup | 33,000 | Moderate |
no makeup makeup | 27,000 | Moderate |
makeup for beginners | 22,000 | Moderate |
prom makeup | 18,500 | Easy |
date night makeup | 12,500 | Easy |
6. Makeup Brands and Categories
Keyword | Monthly Search Volume | Competition |
mac makeup | 165,000 | High |
fenty beauty | 135,000 | High |
charlotte tilbury | 90,500 | High |
rare beauty | 74,000 | High |
nyx makeup | 49,500 | Moderate |
drugstore makeup | 40,500 | Moderate |
luxury makeup | 33,000 | Moderate |
makeup dupes | 27,000 | Moderate |
affordable makeup | 22,000 | Easy |
high end makeup | 18,500 | Easy |
7. Skin Type and Concerns
Keyword | Monthly Search Volume | Competition |
makeup for oily skin | 74,000 | High |
waterproof makeup | 49,500 | High |
makeup for dry skin | 40,500 | Moderate |
acne coverage makeup | 33,000 | Moderate |
makeup for sensitive skin | 27,000 | Moderate |
hypoallergenic makeup | 22,000 | Moderate |
non comedogenic makeup | 18,500 | Easy |
makeup for mature skin | 12,500 | Easy |
makeup for rosacea | 9,900 | Easy |
8. Seasonal and Occasion-specific
Keyword | Monthly Search Volume | Competition |
summer makeup | 49,500 | High |
bridal makeup | 40,500 | High |
beach makeup | 33,000 | Moderate |
winter makeup | 27,000 | Moderate |
festival makeup | 22,000 | Moderate |
photoshoot makeup | 18,500 | Easy |
graduation makeup | 12,500 | Easy |
makeup for photos | 9,900 | Easy |
9. Professional Services
Keyword | Monthly Search Volume | Competition |
makeup artist near me | 165,000 | High |
wedding makeup artist | 74,000 | High |
makeup classes | 40,500 | Moderate |
professional makeup | 33,000 | Moderate |
makeup consultation | 27,000 | Moderate |
makeup lesson | 22,000 | Easy |
group makeup class | 12,500 | Easy |
virtual makeup lesson | 9,900 | Easy |
Skip the Costly Trial-and-Error Approach
Get personalized keyword research for your makeup brand to drive targeted traffic and sales.
Unlimited Keywords
All keywords across the entire customer buying lifecycle
Custom Strategy
SEO roadmap built on your keyword rankings & revenue potential
Save Time & Money
120+ hrs. and $300+/mo on DIY keyword research saved
Prioritized Action Plan
Prioritized list of pages and target keywords
Includes: Video Walkthrough + Step-by-Step PDF Guide
Starting at
$99
⏰
Only
slots remaining this week
Final Thoughts
Here’s what twenty years of keyword research has taught me:
- Raw search volume only tells half the story
- The most successful brands don’t just chase high-volume keywords—they build strategic visibility around their strengths.
Looking at our data:
- 22 of these keywords have surprisingly low competition despite solid search volume
- Face and eye makeup categories consistently show higher commercial intent
- Professional and seasonal terms often convert better despite lower volume
- Branded searches make up a significant portion of high-volume terms
The real opportunity? Finding the sweet spot between search volume, competition, and your brand’s unique position.
A new clean beauty brand with limited resources shouldn’t compete head-on with Sephora for “best foundation.” Instead, start with those lower-competition terms while building authority in your niche.
My advice? Start with keywords that match your current capabilities.
- If you’re new, focus on building content around those easy-win terms.
- Already seeing some traffic? Look for gaps in those moderate-competition keywords.
- And if you’re an established brand, use this data to uncover untapped opportunities your competitors have missed.
Remember, these keywords paint a picture of what makeup enthusiasts are searching for today. But the beauty industry moves fast—keep an eye on emerging trends and adjust your strategy accordingly.