Bobbi Brown, Laura Mercier, François Nars: before their cosmetic lines made them household names, they were all working makeup artists. And all that experience wielding blush brushes and mascara wands gave each of them a unique perspective on what types of products really work, as well as what’s missing from the market.

 

This fall, the next generation of makeup artist-created cosmetic lines is debuting at a beauty counter near you. Will the next Orgasm blush be in the mix? You’ll have to try the products to find out.

We’ve been eagerly awaiting the U.S. launch of Charlotte Tilbury’s makeup line since it debuted in the UK and Europe last year. Now the products are finally available, and they’re good — really good. Her inky eyeliners, color coordinated blush duos and rich lipsticks are already on heavy rotation in our makeup bags. And we love how the line is curated for 10 “types,” from the Sophisticate to the Vintage Vamp to the Rock Chick. 

Famous clients: Kate Moss, Jennifer Lopez, Penelope Cruz, Sienna Miller and many more

 

Beauty philosophy: “Beauty is not an exclusive club – there are no unattractive women, just some that don’t know the power of make-up.” 

 

Star product: Tilbury has been whipping up her Magic Cream ($95) to prep skin on shoots for years, but you had to be one of her supermodel or celebrity clients to get your hands on it — until now. 

 

Makeup artist Troy Surratt spent nearly a decade researching Japanese beauty products and methods to inspire his detail-oriented cosmetics line. The result is a collection of gorgeously packaged, expertly formulated products that includes everything from a hand-calibrated eyelash curler to liquid liner modeled after a Japanese calligraphy brush. 

 

Artist résumé: Surratt trained as an assistant to legendary makeup artist Kevyn Aucoin, helped to create the Tarte beauty line, and served as Maybelline’s Global Consulting Makeup Artist before launching his own line.

 

Beauty philosophy: “I’m a perfectionist when it comes to products. I knew that if I were going to create my own line, it had to be something unlike anything I’d ever seen.”  

 

Star product: The Smokey Eye Baton ($35), a double-sided liner that comes in five shades, is all you need to create a smoldering eye look in a matter of seconds. It features a cream liner on one end and shadow on the other end, which makes getting an artfully smudgy look utterly foolproof.  

Sometimes one great product is all you need to start a budding beauty empire (just ask Bobbi Brown, whose makeup line launched with 10 lipstick shades). For Jillian Dempsey, that product is her Natural Khôl Eyeliner ($20). “I needed a kohl eyeliner that was waterproof, with just the right amount of glide. My favorite makeup look is a smoky eye and I am a perfectionist when it comes to delivering that just-right, sultry eye,” Dempsey says. These silky pencils — which come in black and brown — are smudgeable for a few seconds before they set, which makes creating a perfect smoky eye utterly simple. They’re free of parabens, preservatives and synthetic fragrances and dyes, too. Look for the rest of Dempsey’s line to launch in 2015.

 

Famous clients: Jennifer Lawrence, Kristen Stewart, Kirsten Dunst, Chloë Sevigny, and Kate Winslet

 

Beauty philosophy: “As a makeup artist, I am constantly on the hunt for new products that can keep up with my clients. When I send an actress down the red carpet, her makeup has to be invincible.”