Image via Besame Cosmetics x I Love Lucy
Makeup wasn’t always the collector’s item it is today. The makeup obsessed collect memorabilia and sometimes shop for excitement rather than practicality. Since makeup has become more of a culture than a necessity for some, beauty brands have decided to take things up a notch.
You’ll see spring collections and holiday launches, but almost every brand at every price point has released a pop culture collaboration. Colourpop has launched multiple Disney collaborations over the last few years and Hot Topic always has their finger on the pulse of the latest tween obsession, but there are even more obscure and unique pop culture makeup collaborations you may not know about.
1. Besame Cosmetics x I Love Lucy (click here)
Besame Cosmetics was made to do pop culture collaborations. They began as a lipstick brand that based their shades on historically popular lipsticks from years past. They do their research, and everything from their product to their packaging makes you feel like you are on a trip to the past.
They have multiple collaborations, but one of their most underrated—and wearable—is with I Love Lucy. Lucille Ball was an iconic woman in history. She broke barriers for female actors, and this timeless collection honors her legacy with two shades of lipstick and a soft-toned eyeshadow palette.
2. Juno & Co. x Spongebob (click here)
Juno & Co. got their start with a hybrid makeup sponge. It had all the ease of a beauty blender but was also soft like a brush and didn’t absorb as much product. This must-have product kicked the brand into high gear with a number of launches, none as exciting as their latest.
Juno & Co. x Spongebob is one of the most appropriate makeup collaborations we have ever seen. Juno’s sense of fun and play fits perfectly with the Spongebob franchise. This makeup sponge collection includes two full-size sponges featuring Spongebob and Patrick, a mini Gary duo, and a Bubble soap bar. The collection is full of childlike fun without being too juvenile. It is actually a very practical set for makeup sponge diehards.
3. Urban Decay x Game of Thrones (click here)
To celebrate the grand finale of Game of Thrones, Urban Decay released a special edition, over-the-top eyeshadow palette. The collaboration seems like it would work: the show and the brand have similar vibes, but this palette didn’t quite meet the mark for makeup lovers.
It is certainly a collector’s piece, but loses all practicality in the packaging. It is big and bulky and, as many reviewers noted, more time and money went into the packaging than the product.
4. Pat McGrath Labs x Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (click here)
Pat McGrath Labs is one of the priciest and most luxurious makeup brands around, so it is only right that their pop culture collaboration would be with such a beloved saga. When The Rise of Skywalker, the final film of the nine-episode saga was released last year, Pat McGrath Labs turned an entire cinematic universe into makeup. This collection wasn’t just eye-catching and glamorous, it felt like makeup that would actually be used by the characters.
A few years earlier, another huge name in makeup, CoverGirl, launched a makeup collection with the release of The Force Awakens.
5. Sola Look Cosmetics (click here)
Sola Look Cosmetics is a brand built entirely on pop culture collaborations. They’ve released palettes inspired by Dirty Dancing, Beverly Hills 90210, and more. Their latest launch was a Charmed palette based on the hit series that revolved around sister witches, their love lives, and world-saving drama.
Sola Look Cosmetics is a small company with big ideas. They know what the fans want when it comes to the look and feel of their products because they themselves are pop culture fans.