Top 15 Best Makeup Affiliate Programs to Earn From Your Beauty Content

According to Civic Science, 52% of US adults wear makeup occasionally, and 29% use it daily or weekly. Affiliate marketers can tap into this trend to earn extra income.

Here’s a list of the top 15 makeup affiliate programs featuring high-quality, trendy products. We’ve researched commissions, cookie durations, payments, and more, so you don’t have to.

Let’s dive right in to find the best makeup items to refer to your audience.

Besides makeup, we have collected the best beauty affiliate programs for each niche like skincare, perfume, nail, and hair products. See which program brings you the most benefits.

TL;DR

Want to make money by sharing your love for makeup? Check our list features the best affiliate programs for makeup items.

• Mommy Makeup (Commission: 10%, Cookie: 60 days)
• Mac Cosmetics (Commission: 10%, Cookie: 7 days)
• Benefit Cosmetics (Commission: 0-4%, Cookie: 10 days)
• Elizabeth Arden Makeup (Commission: 8%, Cookie: 45 days)
• Yves Rocher Cosmetics (Commission: 6%, Cookie: 30 days)
• ILIA Beauty (Commission: 10%, Cookie: 30 days)
• Fresh Beauty Co. (Commission: 8,5%, Cookie: 30 days)
• Avon Cosmetics (Commission: Up to 10%, Cookie: 30 days)

With over 3,000 Shopify reviews, UpPromote is a top affiliate software choice for makeup brands. Set up your basic program in 5 minutes and leverage advanced features to create the best affiliate marketing strategies.

15 Best Makeup Affiliate Programs for Beginners

No time for the whole list? Take a quick look at the table below for the best makeup affiliate programs.

1. Mommy Makeup

Mommy Makeup is for busy women’s daily beauty routines. The brand offers clean beauty with talc-free, PFAS-free, paraben-free, and cruelty-free multitasking products.

The Mommy Makeup affiliate program is managed through ShareASale. This program lets you earn a 10% commission on each sale with a 60-day cookie period.

Mommy Makeup provides additional benefits to their partners upon joining their programs. Partners can access exclusive newsletters, promotions, and receive assistance from their dedicated affiliate team.

2. Mac cosmetics

MAC Cosmetics (Makeup Art Cosmetics) was established in 1984 in Toronto, Canada, by Frank Toskan and Frank Angelo. They are rapidly famous within the professional makeup artist community for their wide range of colors and high-quality formulation products.

You can sign up for the Mac Cosmetic affiliate program through the FlexOffers affiliate platform. Mac offers affiliates a 10% commission rate per sale with a 7-day cookie duration.

FlexOffers pays affiliates monthly commissions on NET 60 terms. This means if you earn commissions in March, you’ll be paid on May 31st. Payments are issued between June 1-7 during the NET 60 grace period.

You’ll get paid once your account reaches the minimum threshold of $25 to $1,000, depending on the payment method. The minimum is $25 for checks, local bank transfers, and international ACH, while it’s $1,000 for wire transfers. Processing fees range from $1 to $26 per payment.

3. Ulta Beauty

Ulta Beauty stands as a premier destination for beauty enthusiasts across the United States. Founded in 1990, this retail giant has offered a unique, all-encompassing approach to cosmetics, skincare, haircare, and fragrance.

Ulta Beauty affiliate program on Impact offers a 2% commission on each sale you generate. The program features a 30-day cookie duration, giving you a month-long window to earn from your affiliate link.

4. Benefit Cosmetics

Benefit is well-known for its brow products, mascaras, and cheek tints. The brand offers innovative products with retro packaging, targeting a playful and youthful audience.

The Benefit affiliate program is managed via Awin, offering a 4% commission on each sale. However, you will not earn any commissions on sales made via coupon codes from the “Benefit Promo Code Exclusion” list.

The Benefits affiliate program offers a 10-day cookie duration for affiliates. This means you’ll earn a commission on any sale made within 10 days after a visitor clicks your affiliate link.

5. Elizabeth Arden Makeup

Elizabeth Arden is a global beauty leader. Founded in 1910, Elizabeth Arden is a well-known beauty brand. They offer a mix of high-end anti-aging skincare, trendy makeup, and iconic fragrances.

You can sign up for the Elizabeth Arden Makeup affiliate program on the CJ platform. The brand offers you an 8% commission on each sale with a 45-day cookie life. Successful affiliates have the opportunity to earn higher commissions and bonuses based on their sales performance.

However, this program isn’t listed on the website. So you have to reach out to their customer support for more information.

6. Yves Rocher Cosmetics

Yves Rocher started creating plant-based beauty products in 1959. Over 65 years, they are now France’s leading beauty brand and a trailblazer in plant-based cosmetics.

You can sign up to be a Yves Rocher affiliate on the CJ network Publisher. You will earn a 6% commission on every generated sale within a 30-day cookie.

Additionally, Yves Rocher affiliates can receive exclusive management and support from their Gen3 Marketing agency. Plus, you can access their product catalog to find out the most suitable products to promote.

7. ILIA Beauty

ILIA Beauty is a clean beauty brand offering a range of natural and organic makeup products, from foundation to mascara. Their products are formulated with nourishing ingredients and provide superior color.

You can earn a 10% commission on each sale you generate, excluding gift cards. Their 30-day cookie duration gives you a generous window to earn from your affiliate link. This affiliate program is managed by Impact, so you can apply through this platform.

ILIA Beauty offers exclusive deals for your followers. Select partners can also receive free samples and products, enabling them to experience and showcase ILIA Beauty items firsthand.

8. Fresh Beauty Co.

Founded in 2004 in Australia, Fresh Beauty Co. has since become a renowned curator of over 900 highly sought-after beauty brands. They are the go-to destination for high-performance makeup and beauty products.

The Fresh Beauty affiliate program offers an 8.5% commission per sale. However, your commission rates may be lower if your referrers use a coupon code. So, you have to check the “view merchant” page for further commission rules.

Fresh Beauty affiliate has a 30-day cookie duration for your customers to buy products from their first click.

9. Avon Cosmetics

Avon has been around since 1886, and it is a name recognized for selling directly to customers. They’re famous for their beauty, skincare, makeup, and personal care products.

Avon Cosmetics affiliates can earn an 8% commission on purchases from existing customers and 10% on new customer sales. This makeup brand offers a 30-day cookie window.

Avon offers affiliates numerous perks, including free beauty products and dedicated support. Plus, you’ll receive early access to upcoming product launches, giving you an advantage in promoting Avon’s newest innovations.

10. Estée Lauder

Estée Lauder has been crafting makeup products since 1946, founded by the visionary Estée Lauder herself. Today, Estee Lauder continues to inspire women with their commitment to innovation, quality, and timeless elegance productions.

The Estée Lauder affiliate program allows you to earn a 4% commission on each sale you generate. The cookie duration is 30 days from buyers’ first click. Estée Lauder affiliate program is powered by Rakuten Affiliate, so you can apply through this platform.

This program offers you even more benefits to engage your audience. You’ll gain access to exclusive product launches and special offers each month. Also, people will get free delivery and two free samples with every order (four on orders over £60) when buying through your affiliate link.

11. Olive Young

• Commission rate: 13%
• Cookie duration: 30 days

Olive Young started in 1999 with the opening of their first store in Seoul, South Korea. Founded by CJ Group, they offer a wide range of high-quality cosmetics, skincare, and beauty tools.

12. Bobbi Brown

• Commission rate: 6%
• Cookie duration: 7 days

Bobbi Brown is known for their philosophy of enhancing natural beauty with simple, effective makeup and skincare. The brand offers high-quality, accessible products designed to suit a variety of skin types and tones.

13. Clinique

• Commission rate: 7.2%
• Cookie duration: 7 days

Clinique is a pioneering brand in the field of makeup. This brand is well known for their dermatologically tested products.

14. Stila Cosmetics

• Commission rate: 6 %
• Cookie duration: Not Mentioned

Stila Cosmetics, founded in 1994, is an American company created by makeup artist Jeanine Lobell. They are famous for their Stay All Day liquid lipstick and trendy color palette products.

15. Charlotte Tilbury

• Commission rate: 10 %
• Cookie duration: Not mentioned

Charlotte Tilbury launched her eponymous brand in 2013 in London. The brand is famous for their innovative formula, stunning colors, and bold lipsticks.

How to Build a Makeup Affiliate Program for your Shopify Brand?

Are you looking for a way to make your Shopify makeup brand more appealing to online buyers?

In today’s crowded beauty market, quality products alone won’t guarantee success.

Modern customers crave authenticity and seek validation from real people before making purchases.

This is where affiliate marketing shines. It allows you to partner with makeup enthusiasts and content creators in your niche.

These people share your products with their followers, and you pay them a small commission only when they generate sales.

A recommendation from a beauty influencer feels like advice from a trusted friend, instantly building credibility for your brand.

Affiliate marketing is also a low-risk growth strategy.

Instead of spending money on clicks or views that may not convert, you invest in a team of real fans who genuinely love and promote your makeup products.

This guide will walk you through every step of creating a successful makeup affiliate program, from setup to scaling.

Established a foundation for your makeup affiliate program

An effective affiliate program starts with a strong foundation. You need to make it clear about your goals and establish the basic things.

Define your program’s goals & KPIs

Before starting your affiliate program, it’s essential to know what you’re aiming for. You should look at the realistic situation of your Shopify brand and determine what matters most.

If your brand’s goal is to make more money, your goal can be “Increase monthly sales by 15% within the next 3 months.”

But perhaps you want to extend the brand’s awareness among the target audience and find new customers. In that case, you can aim for acquiring 500 new customers each quarter from affiliate referrals.

For some Shopify makeup brands, their goal is simply to increase clicks and traffic for their website.

If then, you should make it realistic, like seeing a 20% increase in traffic from our affiliate partners.

Once you decide on the main goals, you need to track the progress with Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

Monitoring KPIs like conversion rate, average order value (AOV), and overall program ROI can help you visualize how your program is performing.

Choose the right affiliate management app

Running an affiliate program on your own sounds possible when there are just around 5 to 10 affiliates.

But when your affiliate program grows bigger with over 50 affiliates, everything can get out of control.

You work with various types of affiliates, including beauty bloggers, TikTok creators, and even your loyal customers.

Tracking commission and clicks simply can’t be done with just spreadsheets. You’ll soon struggle with calculating commission and face delayed payouts.

At that point, affiliates seemingly lose trust in your brands and are unsure about their payment.

You don’t want that to happen. Your right solution here is to use a top-recommended Shopify affiliate management app like UpPromote.

Our system can seamlessly track all clicks, sales, traffic, and commissions of all affiliates within a single analytics dashboard.

Additionally, you can enable auto-payout via PayPal or with store credit to save countless hand-calculating time every month.

Moreover, UpPromote’s support team is available in every time zone. So, you can reach out 24/7 for advice or detailed guidance,

You can test it out with our 14-day free trial for all available plans. That means you’ll get to experience other robust features before committing.

Design a competitive commission structure

The commission is what your future affiliates care about most, so it’s the number one tool for recruiting high-quality affiliates.

However, you might wonder how to set up a compelling rate for your brand.

That’s why we’ve analyzed over 130 makeup brands to help you out.

When it comes to cosmetic products, we suggest setting a competitive commission of 8% to 12%.

Foundations, lipsticks, and mascaras are typically lower-priced ($10-50) and are often impulse buys for customers.

Big brands like MAC Cosmetics and ILIA Beauty also offer 10% commission on their high-quality makeup products.

If affiliates successfully bring over 30 sales on a $40 MAC Blush during Black Friday weekend, that means they earn $120.

For skincare products, a higher commission rate of 10 to 20% is ideal. 

Unlike cosmetic products, skincare items are a much more considered purchase. Customers need to trust the product before they spend money.

Selling a $70 serum takes more work from an affiliate than selling a lipstick.

They need to create in-depth content, explain the ingredients, and build trust with their audience.

For example, famous makeup retailer ILIA Beauty also set up a 10% commission on their natural-based skincare and makeup items.

Besides, if your Shopify makeup brand sells perfumes and body mists, a commission rate of 5% to 10% is suitable.

A great example is Elizabeth Arden, a well-known makeup company. They offer an 8% commission on their high-quality fragrances.

That means if affiliates bring sales for an $83 White Tea spray, they can earn around $7.

Recruiting and onboarding the right affiliates for your makeup affiliate program

Getting the right affiliates to join your affiliate program can significantly boost sales.

If you’re unsure about who they are, we’re here to help. This section will show you some potential names and how to reach out to them.

Identify the right makeup affiliates

Working with a few qualified partners is always better than a hundred mediocre ones.

At the top of our mind, we think beauty influencers and bloggers can be your ideal partners.

First, influencers and makeup artists (MUAs) is your visual storytellers.

They are masters on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, and their power lies in creating desire.

They know how to show your makeup products in action in a “Get Ready With Me” video, a quick tutorial, or an exciting unboxing.

When an influencer swatches your new lip gloss and shows how plump it makes their lips look, they are selling a feeling and a result.

Their audience trusts their taste and wants to replicate that look.

For example, you can see TikToker @ashleychee posted her “GRWM” video.

Within just a 1-minute video, she can showcase different makeup products and how they apply to her face amazingly.

Beauty bloggers, on the other hand, build trust through their words.

They are the researchers whose audience is dedicatedly to looking for the most suitable makeup product.

A beauty blogger can compare your makeup products to others on the market and post detailed photos of how they wear over several hours.

For example, they create the “Top 5 Vitamin C Serums for Oily Skin” content that people find on Google for months or even years.

Recruiting your desired affiliates

1. Reaching out manually

A strong and long-term partnership always starts with a personal connection. When a creator genuinely loves your brand, their audience can tell, and that authenticity is what drives sales.

But how do you build that relationship?

First, you need to find potential partners where they’re already talking about makeup.

Instead of randomly searching, spend time in online communities like the r/MakeupAddiction subreddit or “Makeup Obsessed” Facebook groups.

You need to become a helpful member of the community by answering questions or complimenting a look you find impressive.

You should avoid spamming links everywhere since that is the fastest way to get ignored.

Or, you can also follow relevant hashtags on Instagram and TikTok, like #makeuptutorial or #cleanbeauty.

Once you’ve identified someone who seems like a great fit, it’s time to reach out personally.

You need to show them you’ve actually paid attention. You can mention a specific video or post you enjoyed.

Then, you can briefly explain why you believe your Shopify makeup brand would be a great fit for their unique style.

Here is a simple template you can get started:

2. Create an attractive affiliate registration page

The affiliate registration page is like the front door of your affiliate program. It sets up the first impression of affiliates about your brand and the program’s offers.

With UpPromote, you can add a registration page to your Shopify site with no coding required.

We have 3 pre-designed templates with different styles ( Basic, Trendy, Modern) for you to choose from.

Moreover, you can add your own logo, brand colors, and product images, which instantly makes the page look professional and trustworthy.

You can also write a clear description of your commission rates and perks, turning your page into a sales pitch that attracts top affiliates.

A registration page also works as your program’s filter. You can learn more about applicants to know the most suitable one with some key questions:

• What type of content do you create?
• Have you worked with beauty or makeup brands before?
• How many monthly views/visitors do you get on your website or social media?
• How do you plan to promote our makeup products?

These questions help you know who gets the real audience and understand more about their promotional approach.

Onboarding new affiliates seamlessly

After getting new affiliates to your affiliate program, onboarding them seamlessly is crucial.

Your new partner is excited and ready to go. If you leave them waiting or confused about what to do next, that excitement will quickly fade.

The best way to keep that momentum going is to give them a warm and helpful welcome email.

This isn’t just a polite “hello.” It should be a complete onboarding kit that gives them everything they need to start promoting your brand immediately.

You should think about what a new partner needs. First, they need their unique affiliate link so they can start earning commissions right away.

They also need to know the rules of your program, so they don’t make any mistakes. Finally, a simple quick-start guide can give them ideas on how to make their first sale.

But trying to send every email to every single new partner would be a huge waste of time. You’d be stuck copying and pasting the same message over and over again.

But you can automate this process with UpPromote.

You only need to write one perfect welcome email, and the app will automatically send it out when a new affiliate is approved.

Equip your affiliates with high-quality marketing assets

Don’t just provide marketing kits for affiliates when they first join your program. You need to consistently support them with updated assets for better promotional quality.

In the makeup industry, visuals are everything. A high-quality and appealing product image can level up affiliates’ content quality.

You should give them assets that are truly useful, like professional swatches of your lipsticks or eyeshadows on multiple skin tones.

Moreover, high-resolution images help their followers see what the colors actually look like in real life.

Also, you can include lifestyle images like a model with glowing skin using your highlighter, so customers can visualize the result.

Beyond images, you need to think about other content formats.

In the world of TikTok and Instagram, short and eye-catching videos are top-notch. You can provide brief clips, like a close-up of a single drop of serum falling, that partners can easily insert in videos.

One more thing, you should also provide pre-written text that explains key product benefits.

This ensures they share accurate information and saves them time when writing their post captions.

But how do you deliver all these great assets effectively? Sending them in an email would be a disorganized mess, and the files might be too large.

Inside UpPromote, you can set up and organize a central library of all marketing materials.

You can upload your images, videos, and documents to one place.

Then, your affiliates can log in to their dashboard anytime, find exactly what they need, and start their promotions.

Manage and motivate affiliates for better performance

Affiliates need motivation to put more effort into bringing in sales. They need a clear path of growth following their performance.

Some of the most realistic rewards include tiered commissions and cash bonuses.

Drive long-term growth with tiered commissions

A tiered commission structure will help you fairly reward affiliates based on their performance.

You can easily create one with UpPromote based on affiliates’ numbers of sales, commission, or overall referrals’ revenue.

Then, the app will track your affiliates’ progress and automatically move them to a higher commission tier.

Imagine your Shopify makeup store sells lipsticks and foundation. You can set a base 10% commission on each sale.

You can set the three levels of commission as below. Following the number of sales, affiliates will move to a higher level.

• Beginner (0-30 sales): 10% commission
• Intermediate (31-100 sales): 12% commission
• Advanced (101+ sales): 15% commission

Create excitement with bonuses

A tiered structure is for long-term goal. Sometimes, your affiliates need a reason to push hard instantly, especially during peak seasons.

And that is what bonuses can do. You can think of them as fun and short-term challenges to a burst of energy in your program.

For example, during Valentine’s week, you could offer a $100 cash bonus to any affiliate who sells 20 of your “Date Night” lipstick kits.

With UpPromote’s Bonuses feature, you don’t need to constantly check affiliates’ performance to know when to reward them.

You only need to set up rules like the bonus amount ($100) and the sales target (20 sales).

Our app will track everything automatically and send bonuses to affiliates when they achieve the goal.

Conclusion

After reading this guide, we hope you’re ready to start your affiliate marketing journey for your Shopify makeup brand.

It’s not just about increasing sales, it’s about building a loyal makeup community of passionate people to promote your products over time.

You can build your own affiliate program without any burden with UpPromote. We simplify and automate all the complex tasks for you.

Let’s get in and find out about our pricing plans to know the best option for your brands.

FAQs

1) What is a makeup affiliate program?

A partnership where you promote a beauty brand’s products and earn a commission on sales tracked through your unique link or coupon.

2) How much commission do makeup programs usually pay?

Common ranges are 5–20% per sale. Luxury or DTC indie brands may go higher; marketplace rates are often lower.

3) What content converts best for makeup?

Shade matching guides, before/after photos, routine stacks (cleanser–serum–SPF–base), dupes vs. high-end, and short tutorials.

4) Which affiliate app/software fits a makeup store?

Look for: coupon tracking, influencer-friendly attribution, link + code parity, SKU-level rules, subscription support, PayPal/Stripe payouts, fraud controls, and creator portals. Native Shopify/Shopware/BigCommerce integrations help.

5) What KPIs should I track for a makeup affiliate program?

Active affiliates, clicks, CR, AOV, EPC, net new customers, content share of voice, UGC output, and ROAS after refunds.

6) What’s a good cookie duration in beauty?

30–60 days is typical. Skincare often benefits from longer cookies (repeat purchase cycles).

7) What commission structure works for beauty?

Start with 10–20% base; add tiered bumps for sales milestones, higher rates for new launches, and first-order bonuses for UGC creators.

8) Can I run an affiliate-only program without influencers?

Yes, but beauty thrives on creator trust. Blend influencers, review sites, email partners, and communities for balanced growth.