I Tried Thrive Causemetics — These Are My Honest Thoughts (2025)

Touting the tagline “Bigger Than Beauty,” Thrive Causemetics has made its mark by promoting cosmetics that make a difference. Not only does the brand feature a wide array of skincare and makeup products that are promoted as cruelty-free and vegan, it also upholds the promise to donate to various charities for every product purchased, which range in price from from $22 to $56.

But it wasn’t just the brand’s wholesome mission that piqued my interest; it also has a loyal customer base that swears by its products, specifically the Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara, which has even garnered praise from the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab (it was named the best tubing mascara for defined lashes). With all of the hype surrounding Thrive Causemetics, I knew I had to try it out for myself.

EmpowerMatte Precision Lipstick Crayon

With claims that it is sweat-proof and waterproof and can last up to 12 hours of wear, the EmpowerMatte Precision Lipstick Crayon had a lot to live up to. Upon my first application of the shade Ghizlan, a plum mauve hue that retails for $28, I immediately noticed that it glided onto my lips smoothly and left them feeling plump and hydrated. I was also impressed with the color payoff, which was bold and opaque with a velvet-matte finish that didn't dry my lips.

I wore it for a full day and the color did not fade through drinking and eating. It did transfer a bit when I wiped my mouth, but a significant amount of pigment did not come off. By the end of the day, the pigment was only slightly faded.

Lip Mate High Shine Reviving Topper

A lightweight, sheer gloss that features silver shimmer, the Lip Mate High Shine Reviving Topper is described by the Thrive website as a "ultra-hydrating lip topper [that] instantly smoothes and revives lips with a high-shine, sparkly finish," and the brand claims it can be worn alone or layered. It includes ingredients like peptides and sodium hyaluronate, which the brand says help to hydrate and plump the skin.

I tried Charlotte, a berry mauve shimmer that retails for $26. When worn by itself, I did not notice any significant plumping in my lips. In fact, my lips didn't even feel very hydrated. I then tried it layered over the Sheer Strength Hydrating Lip Tint and found it to be a better option to add shine to an already hydrated pout. Though, after wearing it throughout a full work day and after a few applications it began to feel sticky on my lips. I also noticed the product pilling around the corners of my mouth.

I wouldn't recommend it if you happen to be someone who really likes to layer on a lot of gloss.

Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara

Before I decided to try Thrive for myself, the Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara was the one product I heard the most about. It's marketed as a tubing mascara that "won't clump, flake or smudge." On top of that, it's also billed to be sweat-proof and water-resistant.

The mascara comes in six shades including a deep blue, green and pink, which I found to be creative and innovative as many brands will stick to your typical black and brown. I tried the mascara in both the black shade (Brynn) and the berry brown shade (Elena). My initial reaction was that the mascara does deliver on all that it claims. It effectively lengthened each of my lashes without causing clumping or smudging. I loved how the short, densely packed bristles on the wand made it easy to separate each lash and get them fully coated with product.

At $26, some may argue that it's a bit pricey, but I have personally tried a few dupes of this mascara and I have not found any that compare. I would definitely say it's worth the splurge.

Brilliant Eye Brightener Sparkling Liquid Eyeliner

I'm not typically someone who trusts myself enough to execute liquid eyeliner that doesn't come in a pen, but my experience with the newly released Brilliant Eye Brightener Sparkling Liquid Eyeliner wasn't as daunting as I anticipated.

The wand, which is slim with packaging that almost mimics an eyeliner pen, was easy to use and maneuver. With one dip into the pot of product, it delivered the perfect swipe of eyeliner that didn't smear or smudge and wasn't super runny — a feature that has typically led to me making a mess with other liquid eyeliners.

I tried the shade Dominique, which is described as black with silver shimmer and retails for $24. While glitter is included in the product, it was so subtle that it was not super noticeable, which is something I was wary of as I tried it on for an everyday look. Instead of heavy flecks of glitter, the liner appeared to have a slight of sheen that could easily be worn day or night.

Triple Threat Color Stick

According to the Thrive website, consumers can use the Triple Threat Color Stick for three different parts of their makeup routine (hence the name), specifically as a blush, highlighter, and bronzer and contour stick. It comes in 22 shades, which you can select based on your intended use.

I used shade Joy, a gold shimmer balm, as a highlighter on the high points of my cheekbones. The stick can either be applied directly onto skin and then buffed out with the included brush or applied with fingers. I opted to apply it directly onto my face on top of my foundation and was surprised to see that it didn't move my base around. Instead, it provided a sheer and subtle shine, which I appreciated given that it looked super glittery in the package.

It is a bit pricey at $36, but I believe its performance is comparable to other high-end products, like the Fenty Match Stix or Nars The Multiple.

Sheer Strength Hydrating Lip Tint

As someone who loves lip balms and glosses, I was excited to try the hydrating lip tint. Thrive offers a selection of eight shades that promise "a wash of balmy color" with 24-hour hydration. I tried the shade Ragan, which is described as a "warm plum" hue and retails for $26.

Despite appearing as a deep berry shade in the packaging, I found the flush of color that the balm offered to be very natural looking. I wore it for a full work day and it kept my lips feeling moisturized and hydrated without needing multiple reapplications.

Impact-FULL Smoothing Lipstick

I also enlisted some of my coworkers to test out Thrive, and they reported back on this smoothing lipstick, which retails for $26, that promises weightless, bold color with lasting moisture throughout the day. (It also won a Beauty Award in 2024.) It comes in 13 shades, ranging from berry to reds to nudes.

Five GH staffers and one tester tried this lipstick, finding it to have smooth application. They also noted that it did not feather into fine lines. "It is easily one of the smoothest lipstick applications I have experienced," said Beauty Lab Director Sabina Wizemann. "I like the balmy but not tacky texture that feels satiny on lips."

Another staffer, Updates Editor Elizabeth Berry, found the lipstick to be hydrating and said that it had great color payoff. "My lips felt hydrated and soft and it didn't feel like I had lipstick on my lips (a big pet peeve of mine!). I felt that it lasted a good amount of time and didn't smudge."

The cons of the lipstick for both of my colleagues included that the lipstick tube was a bit difficult to twist up and the product transferred, requiring touchups after eating and throughout the day. "The pigment did not wear off evenly and the pigment clung on to drier parts of my lips looking like pigmented spotted flakes," said Senior Chemist, Danusia Wnek.

Instant Brow Fix Semipermanent Eyebrow Gel

Thrive's eyebrow gel, which comes in eight shades (Light Blonde, Taupe, Auburn, Medium Brown, Cool Brown, Charcoal, Deep Brown and Soft Black), is made to tint brows, giving them a fuller appearance. It includes a short spoolie brush, which helps users apply the product and define each brow hair.

After testing it for herself for Good Housekeeping's Beauty Awards, former Beauty Lab lead Birnur Aral found that the tint made her brows look arched and full with just a few swipes. "I love this: It gives subtle color and helps hold my brow shape," she said. GH Beauty and Style Director April Franzino happens to also be an avid user and proponent of the gel as well.

Overall, I think Thrive Causemetics has some products that are definitely worth the purchase. I can see myself buying the mascara and color stick multiple times over, just because I loved how they worked with my existing makeup routine. I also really liked that the brand offers a wide range of color shades that are unique and innovative, like the berry brown mascara for example.

While the products are pricey, I think they more than compensate with their performance. Out of the six I tried, I only found fault with the High Shine Reviving Topper, while the other lip and eye products delivered on their claims.

If you are looking for a brand with a mission to give back and products that actually work, I would say give Thrive Causemetics a try.