VoxVib

Updated on Feb 16, 2024

Makeup brushes are essential items when it comes to getting the best result out of your makeup products. Well, if you ask me what makes my makeup look flawless and professional-like, I would say it's the tools that I use. That's why for my loving readers, I have come up with a list of the best drugstore makeup brushes that are going to fulfill all your needs when it comes to makeup application and blendability. While they ensure not to burn a hole in your pockets, the below-mentioned brands also promise to deliver quality products without compromising on their ethics toward the environment or animals. Featuring premium synthetic or nylon bristles, these brushes give you the desired results just like high-end ones. 

Most of the products that I have recommended from my beauty arsenal are brush sets that are equipped to fulfill all your needs. The single brushes that I have recommended are some of the top sellers for their compact design and soft bristles that give you the best outcome! Drawing from my experience, these are best for first-time users or for people who travel a lot. Professional makeup artists can also get one or two to practice their skill sets even more. So without wasting time further, let's take a look at my top recommendations—

Our top picks

13 Best Drugstore Makeup Brushes

Will you believe me if I say that this is the first brush set I had invested in when I was a budding makeup enthusiast? Well, I did and absolutely fell in love with it! The drugstore brush set comes with 14 units of products consisting of foundation brush, blush brush, contour brush, oval brush, pencil brush, blending brush, loose powder brush, and different shapes of eyeshadow brushes to fulfill all your needs! Made of premium synthetic material, the brush set promises soft bristles that won't cause harm to your skin as you work with it. And oh, you also get a rose gold case to keep the brushes safely and in an organized manner.

Pros

• Sturdy wooden handle
• Durable
• Easy to hold
• Fluffy bristles
• Made of environmentally friendly material
• Best for beginners

Cons

• Has a chemical smell

2

Best for Eyeshadow Blending

wet n wild Crease Brush

Wet n wild offers you a crease brush that you will require for the utmost precision while applying transition shades! Along with an ergonomic handle, I love how classy and unique its packaging is! The soft bristles ensure that the product glides over your eyelid smoothly without causing patchy deposits or hurting your sensitive skin. Made of synthetic polymax fibers, the brushes promise a premium look that mimics natural hair. And I think every makeup enthusiast must have this one in his/her arsenal!

Pros

• Ergonomic handle
• Promises precise application
• Not made of animal hair
• Gluten-free
• Ensures ease of application
• Promises seamless blend

Cons

• Not durable bristles

3

Best Premium-looking Design

EmaxDesign Makeup Brush Set- Set of 12

EmaxDesign provides you with 12 pieces of brushes in a set to fulfill all your needs! Be it eyeshadow brushes, eyebrow brushes, or foundation brushes, you name it, and the set has it! The premium brushes are made of synthetic bristles compacted with aluminum and durable bamboo handles for a classy look. These handcrafted brushes are soft and easy to glide over the skin for the desired finish! Furthermore, this is one of the best drugstore makeup brush sets that is ideal to use for various product formulations, including powder, liquid, and cream.

Pros

• All-in-one kit
• Come in a pouch
• Easy to work with
• Deposit right amount of product
• Premium finish
• Soft bristles

Cons

• Could be more durable

Quick Tip

Clean your brushes with a makeup-removing wipe right after using them to avoid wear and tear in the long run.

4

Best All-in-one Set

Niré Beauty Professional Makeup Brush Set- Set of 15

Nire Beauty offers you a 15-piece set that consists of makeup brushes, sponges, and brush cleaners for an overall great experience! The professional-friendly makeup brushes come with a premium box to help you carry them everywhere with ease. Made of synthetic bristles, the brushes offer awesome blendability while helping you deposit the right amount of product at the right places. On the other hand, the sponges are super soft to work with as you apply your foundation or concealer with them.

Pros

• Proven quality
• Offers awesome blendability
• Synthetic bristles
• Super soft sponges
• Professional-friendly
• Comes with carry-on case

Cons

• Handles could be more durable

5

Best Travel-friendly Brush

KINGMAS Makeup Brush

I mean, who doesn't need a perfect angular brush to ace their contouring game? Because I do! Well, this makeup brush from Kingmas comes with a dual-ended design. While the angular end helps to blend contouring products, the fluffier round end helps in blending blushes and loose powder. Made of synthetic hair, the brush deposits the right amount of product while offering awesome buildability as you work with it. Plus, the size and design are absolutely good for traveling.

Pros

• Smooth bristles
• Travel-friendly
• Double-ended design
• Silky touch
• Helps to create flawless base
• Looks premium

Cons

• Could have a more compact design

6

Best Skin-friendly Brush Set

Jessup Professional Makeup Brush Set- Set of 25

Let's admit that every budding makeup enthusiast has at least one set similar to this consisting of all types of makeup brushes to fulfill all your needs, in their vanity! Made of synthetic bristles, the brushes blend the makeup products like a dream without any lag. From different types of eyeshadow brushes to face brushes, the brand ensures you have it all in one pack. It also goes a step ahead and ensures that it fulfills your eyebrow needs as well. Last but not least, all the brushes come with wooden handles for a premium and durable finish.

Pros

• Budget-friendly
• All-in-one brush set
• Aluminum ferrules
• Ultra-soft
• Skin-friendly
• Premium look

Cons

• Hair falls after some time

7

Best for Dense Coverage

Matto Makeup Brushes- Set of 9

Matto offers a set of 9 brushes that I adore for their simple yet classy look! Adorned in bamboo handles, the compact makeup brushes are best for applying your foundation, loose powder, blush, contour, and eyeshadows! For overall protection, they come with a pouch where you can keep all your tools and safely travel with ‘em. The ultra-soft bristles glide like a dream without causing any patchy finish or sheer coverages. Plus, they are easy to clean and maintain as well!

Pros

• Gives airbrushed finish
• Travel-friendly
• Promises dense coverage
• Soft to touch
• Premium look
• Easy to store

8

Best Vegan-friendly Brushes

Docolor Double Sided Makeup Brushes- Set of 6

I remember purchasing this makeup brush set and immediately falling in love with it! The set consists of 6 pieces of double-ended brushes to fulfill your requirements regarding makeup application and blending. It is also a great travel-friendly kit considering how much space it helps to save. Made of cruelty-free bristles, these are some of the best drugstore makeup brushes that are compacted in aluminum ferrule and have long-lasting wooden handles for the desired outcome every time you use them. So, why wait? Grab yours!

Pros

• Two-in-one brushes
• Easy to store
• Vegan-friendly
• Eco-friendly
• Travel-friendly
• Long-lasting

Cons

• Could be softer

9

Best Cruelty-free Brushes

DUcare Makeup Brushes- Set of 10

The set comes with 10 pieces of makeup brushes that will be enough to address all your makeup application-related issues. I love how the budget-friendly kabuki brushes have a synthetic yet soft head that provides awesome blendability. You can use the brushes for applying blushes, contours, face powders, foundations, and eyeshadows. Furthermore, the brand offers a bag where you can keep all your brushes safely and even travel with them. Let me tell you that they are hypoallergenic as well!

Pros

• Classy design
• Vegan-friendly
• Suits sensitive skin
• Easy-to-carry leather case
• Ergonomic handles
• Cruelty-free

Cons

• Small in size

10

Best Fluffy Brushes

LUXBRU Makeup Brush Set- Set of 20

The set by LUXBRU not only contains makeup brushes but also two powder puffs, a spoolie, an eyelash comb, and a travel case so that you can keep everything in one place. Addedly, the various kinds of brushes take the upper hand at evenly applying the makeup over your face for a flawless outcome. Apart from blendability, these tools ensure awesome buildability without making your makeup look patchy! What’s more? The fluffy brushes are soft to the touch and do not cause any irritation, even for sensitive skin beauties.

Pros

• High quality
• Durable
• Multifunctional
• Soft to touch
• Easy to store
• Travel-friendly

Cons

• Smells bad

11

BESTOPE Makeup Brushes- Set of 20

Bestope provides you with a set of 16 pieces of makeup brushes, 4 pieces of beauty blenders, and 1 brush cleaner for an overall great experience. The compact design of the brushes features aluminum ferrule and wooden handles that offer excellent grip while ensuring top-notch durability. Furthermore, the eyeshadow brushes are dense enough to deposit the right amount of colors on your eyelids. Lastly, the latex-free sponges are specially crafted to give you that Insta-worthy makeup finish!

Pros

• Premium synthetic fibers
• High-quality ferrule
• Super affordable
• Dense bristles
• Soft to touch
• Skin-friendly

Cons

• Construction could be better

12

BEASOFEE Makeup Brushes- Set of 5

These makeup brushes from Beasofee look no less than high-end ones! The brand offers dual-ended brushes for your ease of traveling or packing. They also come with a cosmetic pouch where you can keep ‘em safe when you are in transit. I am in love with the fact that the soft and fine bristles grab powders evenly while the compact design of the ferrule ensures the desired firmness in the bristles which further helps in applying your liquid products. Adding to that, the easy-to-use brushes come with an ergonomic handle for better grip as you use them.

Pros

• Beginner-friendly
• Easy to carry
• Ergonomically-designed
• Giftable
• Value for money
• Easy to store

Cons

• Could be more durable

13

UNIMEIX Double Ended Makeup Foundation Brush

Unimeix comes with one of the best drugstore foundation brushes that blends your base makeup like a dream. The ergonomically-designed handle makes it easier for you to use the brush while the soft bristles promise no harsh touch to your delicate skin. Furthermore, the highly dense and finely textured bristles of the makeup brush deposit just the right amount of product on your face to avoid a cakey finish. The best part? The brush is lightweight and perfect for long hours of use.

Pros

• Premium finish
• Silky touch
• Made of synthetic fibers
• High density
• Ergonomic handle
• Long-lasting

Cons

• Quality could be better

Budget-friendly makeup brushes are in everyone's search, however, finding the right set can be a bit tricky. But fret not, I'm here to help you with this!

How to Choose the Best Drugstore Makeup Brush?

Here are the parameters to keep in mind before picking up the best drugstore makeup brush - 

a) Bristles- It is the bristles that are of utmost importance when it comes to brushes. You have to keep in mind that firm bristles are excellent for liquid products like foundation, concealer, and cream contour, while soft bristles are best for powder products like blushes, loose powder, and bronzers. Choose according to your needs and wants.

b) Type- Do your research before getting your hands on a makeup brush set. You might not want to use a brush that is made of animal hair. In that case, you can get a cruelty-free brush set. You may go a step ahead and pick a vegan-friendly brush set that is made of synthetic bristles and wooden handles.

c) Design- Make sure the handles are ergonomically designed so that you have the firmest grip as you work with your makeup brushes. Additionally, the bristles must be soft and not harm your skin during makeup blending or application.

How to Keep Your Makeup Brushes in Good Condition?

It is of utmost importance to clean the brushes regularly, at least once a week, to avoid gunk, dirt, and bacteria buildup.

Step 1- First thing first, take your makeup brushes and run them through lukewarm water keeping their heads down. Make sure that water doesn't go under the aluminum ferrule and hamper the binding so that the bristles remain in place and don't fall off.

Step 2- Take a small amount of gentle shampoo and mix it with half a mug of lukewarm water. And later, soak your brushes in it for 10-15 minutes.

Step 3- Take the textured side of your brush cleaner, and move your brushes over it to see the dirt and colors washing away.

Step 4- Now wash your brushes thoroughly under clean and cold water.

Step 5- Soak your brushes in a clean towel before using.

Tada! You are all set!

Conclusion

So there you go! You now have plenty of recommendations for the best drugstore makeup brushes that I have curated based on my experience. They are super skin-friendly and feature an ergonomic design to ensure you have the best time while working with them. Having said that, my final words would be, if you are a beginner, BS-MALL Premium Synthetic Brushes could be your answer. Similarly, for travel enthusiasts, KINGMAS Foundation Makeup Brush is the perfect pick, and for mindful beauty lovers, Docolor Double Sided Makeup Brushes can be the ideal one! So, rush already to grab yours!

FAQ's

Are drugstore makeup brushes suitable for professional use?

Yes, absolutely! Why do we need to take a look at the price tag if a product provides top-notch results without burning a hole in your pockets? Plus, drugstore makeup brushes are super versatile, and come with soft bristles and ergonomic designs to provide the best result.

Can drugstore makeup brushes deliver the same results as high-end brushes?

Yes, if the drugstore makeup brushes are designed carefully with premium bristles, they can deliver the same results as the high-end ones.

Are there specific drugstore brands known for quality makeup brushes?

BS-Mall, wet n wild, e.l.f. are known to provide the best quality drugstore makeup brushes.

Can drugstore brushes be used with both powder and liquid makeup?

Yes, drugstore makeup brushes can be used for both powder and liquid makeup. However, it is to be kept in mind that firm bristles are required to apply liquid products while soft bristles are ideal for powder-based ones.

Are synthetic or natural bristle brushes better for beginners?

The only difference between synthetic and natural bristles is the source from which the brush head is made. If the design looks perfect and gives the desired result, it is better to start your journey with synthetic ones.

Why Trust Pinkvilla

Our beauty expert, Sayantani Deb, likes to spend hours on research when it comes to makeup tools and products. For this article, Sayantani has endlessly searched for the perfect makeup brushes for her readers. She has also recommended a few brushes from her own beauty arsenal. Before coming to a verdict, she considered parameters like design, bristles, handles, and durability among the best brushes available in the market. C’mon now, grab yours today!

Our product experts study the specifications of every product we suggest and try them out to bring what’s proven to be worthy of your money, time, and energy. We also have subject matter experts from various fields like Fashion, Skincare, Haircare, Home Decor, and Health & Fitness on board to make sure our suggestions are credible and trustworthy. You can trust select to be your faithful shopping guide for all the right reasons!

Author BIO

Sayantani is a certified hair and makeup professional turned writer with 2+ years of experience in the same genre. Ap More

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