Thrive Makeup Reviews: What to Expect from This Do-Good Brand

This is one of those Thrive makeup reviews you are not gonna want to rush through! I go in-depth on all of the products I’ve tested thus far. Some I think are great, and others I could probably do without.  

I actually met with the Thrive Causemetics founder, Karissa Bodnar, via Zoom a few months ago. We were discussing the brand’s latest launches, including the new Sheer Strength Lip Plumping Peptide Gloss, new shade extensions in the Sheer Strength Hydrating Lip Tint, and new shades in the Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara. I was really impressed with her beauty brand, her beauty knowledge, and her approach to giving back to the community, which is a huge part of Thrive Causemetics brand ethos.

I had heard of Thrive Causemetics, but I had never tried the products before meeting with Bodnar. The brand sent me the below products to test for potential editorial consideration in the media outlets I write for regularly. And now I am writing an honest review about them for my blog!   

Thrive Makeup Reviews

I have not been using this cruelty-free brand for very long. Even though I’ve been working in the beauty industry for a long time, I just tried Thrive for the first time over the last month or so. I didn’t really know what to expect with this brand. I knew the brand was heavily focused on giving back. But I didn’t really expect their formulas to be as impressive as they actually are. Below, I go over my thoughts on each product that the brand sent me to test, from favorite to least favorite. Some of the other products I hear good things about, but haven’t been able to try yet, are the Buildable Blur CC Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 40 and the Infinity Waterproof Eyeliner. 

Best Thrive Makeup Products

Thrive Causemetics Brilliant Eye Brightener

I’m actually really impressed with this product. It reminds me of the Kajal Longwear Eyeliner from Laura Geller makeup. And it’s one of Thrive’s best-sellers for a reason—the formula is smooth and it lasts all day. This pick comes in 16 flattering shades (Stella, a champagne shimmer, and Aurora, a rose gold shimmer, are some of their best-sellers) and blends into my lids so nicely. I like to swipe it across my lids and then use my fingers to blend it out. You could also use an eyeshadow brush to blend out the formula, but I think fingers are easier. 

This is one of those products that you can easily swipe on your lids and hop out the door. It makes makeup application a lot easier and a lot faster. You can also apply it to just your lash line and wear it as a chunky eyeliner. Also, I love that it elevates any makeup look I have, without looking like too much. You can get a lighter shade for a more natural look, or a darker shade for a little bit of drama. I’ve tried this stick with and without my regular eyeshadow primer, and each time, it stays put for a long time without creasing. I really love this pick and hope to get more soon!

Available at Thrive Causemetics ($26)

Thrive Causemetics Sheer Strength Hydrating Lip Tint

There’s nothing I love more than a hydrating lip tint. I hate matte lipsticks or any type of liquid lipsticks—I don’t like the look or the feeling of either. These lip products from Thrive, on the other hand, are wonderfully hydrating, add the nicest wash of color, and don’t feel particularly sticky or uncomfortable. I have the shade Rowan and love to swipe it on throughout the day. 

Because these lip tints aren’t long-wearing, don’t expect them to last all day. You will have to reapply throughout the day, especially after you eat and drink. I wish these came in more colors, but other than that, I really like the one that I have! 

Available at Thrive Causemetics ($26)

Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara

Believe it or not, I haven’t really used tubing mascaras before testing out this pick from Thrive. I’m pretty sure this mascara is what really put this brand on the map for everyone. At the time this came out, there weren’t a ton of tubing mascaras on the market. Folks loved that they could apply this mascara and then easily get it off at the end of the day. 

Tubing mascara is a type of formulation that’s made with water-soluble polymers to create a “tube” around your lash. Once you’re finished with the day and ready to remove your makeup, you can just use water and a washcloth to swipe the mascara off your lashes. 

Obviously, there are pros and cons to this method. The pros are that it’s hella easy to remove. If you really hate using a mascara because it’s a pain to remove, and you don’t want to have to bother with eye makeup remover or using a cleanser a bunch of times to remove the mascara, this is the pick for you. I definitely recommend this product is you have really sensitive eyes and they get irritated every time you apply and/or remove mascara.

The cons with this formula are that I find that it flakes easier than your standard mascara. I’ve never gone underwater wearing this. But, I can imagine it’s not going to look pretty once my head pops up out of the water haha. 

Another thing I don’t love about this product is that it doesn’t give the lift and volume that I like. For context, my two favorite mascaras are Too Faced’s Better Than Sex Mascara and the L’Oreal Lash Paradise Mascara. If you haven’t tried these before, they offer really big, thick, full, long lashes and are not for someone who likes a more natural, subdued lash look. I think that the Thrive mascara gives a more natural look that doesn’t offer a ton of lift. To me, the mascara is a little lackluster. But for folks who prefer a minimal mascara look, I would recommend this one.  

Available at Thrive Causemetics ($26)

Thrive Causemetics Triple Threat Color Stick

I love a good cream blush and highlighter, and I think these are a great option. I have one called Isabella, and it’s a coral golden shimmer shade. This shade does have a decent amount of shimmer in it. So I don’t like to layer a highlighter on top, as I think it would be too much. 

I love that this stick comes in 22 shades, including blushes, highlighters, and bronzers. One thing I noticed about this formula is that it’s not as hydrating or creamy as my beloved Ogee makeup sticks. I really love the hydrating, dewy effect that my Ogee sticks give me, and I don’t see the same dewiness from the Thrive Color Sticks. That being said, a lot of folks don’t actually like a dewy-looking cheek. 

If you have oilier skin, or you just prefer a little bit of a more matte blush, bronzer, and highlighter look, I think these sticks are perfect for you. I wouldn’t call them super matte or anything, but they definitely give off more of a powdery feeling/finish compared to the Ogee sticks, which feel a tiny bit sticky.  

Available at Thrive Causemetics ($36)

Thrive Causemetics Sheer Strength Lip-Plumping Peptide Gloss

To be honest, I’m not a huge lip gloss gal. So I haven’t used these glossy lip-hydrating serums too too much. I like that this lip gloss comes in a ton of shades, and has a doe-foot applicator for easy application. I also appreciate that this lip gloss isn’t sticky like a lot of glosses I’ve tried in the past. However, I don’t wear gloss often, so I can’t comment on these too much. 

Available at Thrive Causemetics ($26)

Is Thrive Makeup Worth It?

Yes, I think Thrive makeup is worth it. Yes, the prices are higher than your average drugstore makeup product. But you’re paying for high-quality ingredients, and high-performing products that also come in nice packaging, too. 

I like that most of these products from Thrive Causemetics are safe for acne-prone and sensitive skin. You don’t need to worry about breakouts or bad skin reactions when applying these products to your face and eyes. I haven’t tried the whole line, obviously, but from the products that I have tested, my favorites are the Brilliant Eye Brightener and the Lip Tint. I would love to try out more of their Color Sticks in different shades. 

Where To Buy Thrive Makeup

Interestingly, there is only one place you can purchase these vegan makeup products, and that’s on their website! You can find them at ThriveCausemetics.com. 

I hope you found these Thrive makeup reviews helpful! If you’ve tried any of these products, or are interested in some that I haven’t tested, I would love to hear from you in the comments!

Need a great skincare routine to use underneath these Thrive makeup products? Check out my Tula skincare review to add a few to your lineup for a great makeup base.