The Best Cheap Makeup Brushes

Updated June 21, 2018

As much as I love luxury makeup, I really love finding great affordable beauty products. Who doesn’t love finding something they love for a great price? NOBODY, that’s who. Makeup brushes are no exception to this, in my opinion. Having a great makeup brush makes all the difference in the application of your products. Trust me, there are a lot of mediocre makeup brushes out there. I have tested so many. I own brushes of all price points, from MAC and Sigma, to Real Techniques and Coastal Scents. I have over 80 makeup brushes. I know, it’s ridiculous. But I have an obsession with good cheap makeup brushes. Okay, let’s be real… I just have a makeup problem in general.

The point is, I have picked out my absolute favorite cheap makeup brushes. Cheap makeup Brushes that do not sacrifice quality. Brushes I reach for on a daily basis. Brushes I know you’ll love. I know it’s so overwhelming when you don’t own any beauty tools and you’re not sure where to start… and you don’t want to spend a lot of money. I would consider this list a complete makeup brush wardrobe! You can thank me later.

: I would compare this brush to the likes of the MAC 217 or Sigma E25. It’s not quite as soft, but it’s absolutely a wonderful brush and one that I constantly reach for. If you get one eye brush, you need something like this in your collection.  Trust me!

E.L.F. Studio Contouring Brush: I adore this brush for any smoky eye look. Be warned, not all E.L.F. brushes are created equal. I have picked the very best ones for this list, and they are so good.

Coastal Scents Classic Blender Crease Natural: I really love using this brush for deepening out the outer-v in my eye makeup. It can help create more precision. I use this all the time. I own nothing else like it in my collection, therefore I think it’s definitely worth mentioning!

Real Techniques Setting Brush: I absolutely love this brush to set my undereye concealer with a powder, or for highlighting my cheekbones. Real Techniques is a great, affordable brand that you can find at Ulta or various places online. I will say, though, I believe their face brushes are far better than their eye brushes.

Real Techniques Expert Face Brush: This brush is a fantastic alternative to the ever popular Sigma F80 flat top kabuki. It’s a bit smaller, but it’s very dense. It’s wonderful for applying and blending out liquid foundation. It gives a lovely, airbrushed effect.

E.L.F. Studio Complexion Brush: I use this brush every single day. In fact, I own two of them so I know I will always have one on hand (spoken like a true addict). I love to use this for  bronzer to warm up the perimeters of my face. I also use it with setting powder. I just adore this dang brush.

E.L.F. Studio Kabuki Brush: I also adore this brush. This is great to use with powder foundations, or even to get a fuller coverage with any powder. It’s sooooo soft!

E.L.F. Studio Small Stipple Brush: I thoroughly enjoy this brush for my cream products, such as my cream blushes or highlighters. It makes blending out cream products a breeze.

Coastal Scents Bent Liner Brush: This is probably my favorite eyeliner brush. I don’t know why, but the bent tip makes it really easy to apply gel liners. And it’s under $2?! Can’t be beat.

Happy cheap makeup brush collecting! What are your favorite budget-friendly makeup brushes?