OOH! I like NYX brushes, and they just added 11 new ones to their already extensive 24-piece makeup brush line (for a total of 35!).
Some use bristles made from pony hair and others bristles made from synthetic fibers, and all are reasonably priced from $4 – $15 each.
I used four of the new eye brushes and one of the brushes for face to do my makeup yesterday, and I came away with a good impression. I’d say these are on par with Sonia Kashuk brushes, and you know that’s saying a lot.
All of the brush heads feel soft in all the right ways, meaning neither too soft nor too rigid, and I like how the mid-length, lightweight handles fit my smallish hands (and most makeup bags).
I think NYX also deserves extra credit for printing the numbers and names on the side of each brush. It’s a small thing but surprisingly helpful sometimes.
I plan to use the B30 Shadow/Point and B31 Shadow/Smokie-Small brushes often. The brush heads are tiny, making them great for intricate detail work on the lids, and/or if you have a small crease.
I haven’t used them long enough to tell how well they’ll hold up over time, but I hope they don’t shed too much, too fast. That always bums me out when it happens.
Based on price, performance, handle size (for my hands) and bristles, I think these brushes are great. In fact, I like ’em much more than the mini-brushes in the MAC holiday kits. Those things have been scratching and shedding like cray-cray!
PRICE: $5-12 apiece
AVAILABILITY: Ulta stores, many drugstores and online
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
OOoooooh, thanks for this! I’m such a sucker for cheap brushes (well, all brushes, but cheap is always nice).
Hi Principessa Grassa,
You’re welcome! There are a lot of bargain lines who make great tools these days. Have you tried any of Sonia Kashuk’s brushes? Her $6 bent liner is the shiz!
I have tried them! I have two eyeshadow brushes and I luuuuuuuv them both! I also bought a couple of e.l.f. ones not too long ago, and they’re not half bad for a dollar!
I like the look of those brushes, although i would only go for the natural fiber brushes as opposed to synthetic. I’ve just had too many synthetic brush nightmares.
Hi Trisha,
The bristles can get hella stiff after repeated washing! But for ladies who like cruelty free makeup tools it’s still a great option.
I still haven’t broken down and bought new brushes. I’m such a slacker! If you’re using powder shadow to line your lower lash, do you use a brush like the B30 (size wise) or use one for liquid/gel liners? Your lower lash lines always look great, much unlike mine! 🙂
Heya Kim,
It depends on the look I want. If I want something more smudgier, I’ll use something like the B30, which is what I did here.
For more crisp lines I like a brush with a head similar to the MAC 214 Short Shader:
MAC 214 Short Shader Brush
This also comes in handy when I want to do line clean up — I just wet a clean brush head with some eye makeup remover and then brush it along the edge of my liner for a super crisp line.
Thanks! I like the smudgier look and have trouble with that. Probably because I’m relying on my pinkie finger to smudge. I’ll check out the B30 size and see if that helps. 🙂
Hi Karen,
Where do you buy these brushes?
Jen
Hi Jen,
You can get them online here: NYX Brushes.
Speaking of brushes….what’s the best way to clean them? (I clean my foundation brush with shampoo, but I’m not sure if I’m supposed to treat all my brushes the same?)
Love your blog and it’s so inspiring…great work!
Thanks so much for the post…I find myself addicted to brushes! I actually wanted the Tartan Tale Holiday MAC Travel set but since you mention these NYX,,,,I think I will actually purchase them!!Ur right on time with this post….I saw them at Cherry Culture and the price is very affordable……Ur the Bestest!!!
These look so great! Especially those smokie(love how they spell that) shadow ones. Must haul these on my next trip to the US!
Those look great! I may have to get that duo fiber brush!
those sound and look good! I need some new ones anyway 🙂 good review!
What face brush do you use for liquid foundation? I’ve tried several of them (the flat, synthetic ones), but they tend to streak my foundation instead of applying it smoothly. And I’m not a big fan of the stippling brushes… Any help would be great!
These look really good………thanks for the update. I was about to order some stuff from ULTA so it’s perfect timing! 🙂
helloooo thurrrr karen! 🙂
im alive – we have internet back, and ive unpacked and put away maybe 70% of our house and belongings.
im sitting here reading stuff on the web with a purring kitty in my lap (napoleon is an indoor cat now) … heaven! 🙂
ohh yay I’m always looking for new affordable brushes, I’ll add these onto my list.
hey karen, sorry maybe this is a stupid question, but i wanted to know where to buy nyx products in usa. drugstores?… because i’m italian and i’m going to usa soon so i wanted to try them…
opss sorry, it was written right there but i haven’t read it 🙂
These are really nice brushes!! it’s funny how cheaper brushes can be better than expensive brushes, haha.
Hi Karen
Im think to buy that big flat shader brush. In your opinion, do you like it ? is it a must-have?let me know so weather I want to get it or not . Thanks!
I purchased the B30 and B31 on this recommendation. I am asian, with a small crease and you completely sold me on them. I had to order them online though because I can’t find them in Vancouver. I also got their Blush Brush, but now I’m having second thoughts and think I should have gotten an angled one, like the B25.
What are you thoughts on blush brushes (for powder blushes)? Do you prefer a certain shape?
Also, how are your NYX brushes holding up?
I’m new to makeup and brushes so I want to make sure that I get what I “need” first.
(ps. I have already the MAC 266 and NYX angle brush for my eyebrows, and in my NYX order I also got the Crease brush. I should have gotten the large eye shadow brush too. I don’t have a “standard” shadow brush [MAC 239-esque] yet.)
I found some of your posts where you talk about blush brushes, but you don’t talk about the shape of blush brushes. I’m just curious about whether an angled brush might be easier to use. I haven’t been able to find anything online. 🙁 Unless I’m a google dingbat. heh heh.
e.g.
https://www.makeupandbeautyblog.com/makeup-tipshow-to/how-do-you-apply-blush-do-you-bounce-or-swirl-or-do-you-have-a-different-way/#more-79750
Thanks for that post!
I really think about buying the “smokie” one – that’s something, I’m still missing in my collection.
Is it more soft or can you really create definition with it?
Greets from Austria