Category AI Visibility Report
Makeup Primer AI Visibility Report 2026: Top Brands & Buyer Topics in AI Search
Data updated 2026-08-27 · 30-day window · ChatGPT · Google AI Mode · Google AI Overviews
≈5,825
Est. AI queries / month
21
Buyer topics monitored
10
Brands on the AI shelf
Key insights
- Over the last 30 days, GEOly monitored 21 buyer topics in Makeup Primer across ChatGPT, Google AI Mode, Google AI Overviews — an estimated 5,825 AI queries per month.
- Milk Makeup leads the AI shelf with 10.4% of brand mentions, followed by Smashbox (9.9%) and NYX (6.2%). The top three hold 26.5% combined — a shelf that has not consolidated yet, leaving a clear window for challengers.
- The highest-demand topic is “waterproof makeup primer” (top keyword “waterproof makeup primer”, ~260 searches/mo).
- AI answers lean on allure.com most (25.4% of citations) — earning presence on these sources is the shortest path to being recommended.
Brands AI recommends most
Share of brand mentions across AI answers in the last 30 days (Share of Model).
| # | Brand | AI mentions | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Milk Makeup | 934 | 10.4% |
| 2 | Smashbox | 892 | 9.9% |
| 3 | NYX | 556 | 6.2% |
| 4 | Benefit | 522 | 5.8% |
| 5 | Hourglass Cosmetics | 498 | 5.5% |
| 6 | Maybelline | 421 | 4.7% |
| 7 | NARS | 367 | 4.1% |
| 8 | ONE/SIZE | 297 | 3.3% |
| 9 | Tatcha | 293 | 3.3% |
| 10 | Fenty Beauty | 278 | 3.1% |
What shoppers ask AI
Buyer topics monitored in this category, with estimated monthly AI queries and the top Google keyword behind each topic.
| Topic | Est. AI queries / mo | Top keyword | Search volume / mo |
|---|---|---|---|
| waterproof makeup primer | ≈2,930 | waterproof makeup primer | 260 |
| pore-minimizing makeup primer | ≈2,895 | green primer makeup | 1,600 |
| mascara primer | — | mascara primer | 5,400 |
| drugstore makeup primer | — | affordable makeup | 49,500 |
| non-toxic makeup primer | — | clean makeup brands | 33,100 |
| makeup primer educational content | — | makeup what is primer | 22,200 |
| makeup primer for mature skin | — | best makeup primer for mature skin | 8,100 |
| makeup primer for oily skin | — | makeup primer for oily skin | 8,100 |
| blurring makeup primer | — | blur makeup primer | 3,600 |
| foundation primer | — | primer makeup | 22,200 |
| luxury makeup primer | — | high end makeup | 40,500 |
| silicone-based makeup primer | — | silicone-based primer makeup | 12,100 |
| hypoallergenic makeup primer | — | hypoallergenic makeup | 9,900 |
| long-lasting makeup primer | — | high performance makeup products | 9,900 |
| mattifying makeup primer | — | mattifying primer for oily skin | 4,400 |
| makeup primer for dry skin | — | hydrating primer for dry skin | 3,600 |
Sources AI cites in this category
Root domains AI engines cited most when answering category queries in the last 30 days.
| Domain | Citations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| allure.com | 333 | 25.4% |
| reddit.com | 229 | 17.5% |
| ulta.com | 110 | 8.4% |
| whowhatwear.com | 104 | 7.9% |
| goodhousekeeping.com | 69 | 5.3% |
| vogue.com | 60 | 4.6% |
| people.com | 41 | 3.1% |
| glamour.com | 34 | 2.6% |
FAQ
Which brands do AI assistants recommend most for makeup primer?
Over the last 30 days the top brands by AI mention share are: Milk Makeup (10.4%), Smashbox (9.9%), NYX (6.2%), Benefit (5.8%), Hourglass Cosmetics (5.5%). Data from GEOly's continuous monitoring across ChatGPT, Google AI Mode, Google AI Overviews.
How many people ask AI about makeup primer?
GEOly estimates ~5,825 AI queries per month in this category across 21 buyer topics, led by “waterproof makeup primer”.
Which sources do AI engines cite for makeup primer?
The most-cited domains are: allure.com, reddit.com, ulta.com, whowhatwear.com, goodhousekeeping.com. Building brand presence on these sources is the most direct way to win AI recommendations.
Methodology
GEOly continuously runs category buyer prompts across ChatGPT, Google AI Mode, Google AI Overviews and records which brands are mentioned and which sources are cited. Figures aggregate a 30-day window; AI query volumes are modeled estimates from keyword demand and AI-adoption share. Data: GEOly MCP Server, updated 2026-08-27.
See your brand inside this category
GEOly tracks how ChatGPT, Google AI Mode and Google AI Overviews mention, rank and cite your brand against every competitor above — and what to fix to win the AI shelf.