What LLMs cite
Best affordable makeup for college students
From recent prompt runs · United States · Updated September 11, 2026
GEOGrow tested this high-intent customer question across Gemini, ChatGPT, and Perplexity. Rankings below show which companies appeared most often in those responses — not who is independently the best.
Top brand
Maybelline
Leads across all key metrics
AI engines mentioning
3 of 3
Maybelline appears in 3 of 3 AI engines
#1 recommendations
1
Maybelline was the #1 recommendation once.
AI answer share
100%
Maybelline appears in 100% of answers in our tests
Top AI Answers
Which companies appear most often in AI responses?
Updated September 11, 2026
| # | Company | AI engines mentioning | #1 recommendations | AI answer share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maybelline Claim your company | 3 of 3 | 1 | 100% |
| 2 | e.l.f. Cosmetics Claim | 2 of 3 | 1 | 67% |
| 3 | e.l.f. Power Grip Primer Claim | 1 of 3 | 0 | 33% |
| 4 | NYX Professional Makeup Claim | 2 of 3 | 0 | 67% |
| 5 | NYX Fat Oil Lip Drip Claim | 1 of 3 | 0 | 33% |
| 6 | L'Oréal Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara Claim | 1 of 3 | 0 | 33% |
| 7 | e.l.f. Halo Glow Skin Tint Claim | 1 of 3 | 0 | 33% |
| 8 | Milani Baked Blush Claim | 1 of 3 | 0 | 33% |
What Each AI Recommended
Recent answer snapshots by engine.
ChatGPT
- 1. Maybelline
- 2. e.l.f. Power Grip Primer
- 3. NYX Fat Oil Lip Drip
- 5. L'Oréal Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara
- 6. e.l.f. Halo Glow Skin Tint
- 7. NYX Professional Makeup
+3 more in this answer
Gemini
- 20. Maybelline
Perplexity
What LLMs cite
Sources cited in the most recent prompt runs for this question. The mix varies by engine.
- benable.com Best Affordable Makeup for College Students – Budget Beauty Essentials 2026
- makeupbrands.org 15 Best Affordable Makeup Brands You Need to Know in 2026
- onlinemakeupacademy.com Best Affordable Makeup Brands for Your Pro Kit (2026 ...
- rankandstyle.com 16 Top Makeup Brands for Every Budget - Rank & Style
- wishdeck.com 20 Affordable Everyday Makeup Essentials for Students (2026): Drugstore Picks
- reddit.com Any good affordable makeup brands for teens?
- beautybay.com Best Affordable Makeup Brands to Shop in 2026
- facebook.com what makeup products should a beginner start with?
Who's Winning in AI?
AI Leaderboard · Based on this buyer question
Maybelline currently leads this conversation. AI visibility leadership is valuable — but competitive markets shift fast.
Maybelline currently leads this conversation.
- #1 Maybelline 100%
- #2 e.l.f. Cosmetics 67%
- #3
- #4
- #5
- #6
- #7
- #8
Get ahead of the competition
Defend this answer before competitors close the gap.
Multiple businesses already appear in this answer set. Claim your company, improve your visibility, and compete for the recommendations students and institutions will actually see.
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How We Measure AI Answer Share
AI Answer Tracker by GEOGrow measures how companies appear when high-intent customer questions are asked across supported AI platforms. Results are observational snapshots and can vary by model, location, personalization, source availability, and date.
AI Answer Share is weighted recommendation appearances divided by all possible recommendation opportunities. Rankings shown here represent the responses collected during the stated research period and are not endorsements by GEOGrow. Method: 3 independent AI observations.
- Question tested
- Best affordable makeup for college students
- Market
- United States
- AI engines
- Gemini, ChatGPT, and Perplexity
- Research date
- September 11, 2026