Being a makeup lover without breaking the bank can be a tough line to walk. Each new trend, each new makeup line can be enticing to indulge but impossible to afford. There is simply never enough money to spend at Ulta (@ my roommate, yes this is me calling you out). This is when affordable drugstore brands need to be acknowledged for coming through for us. As someone who enjoys makeup and tries to have a reasonable collection without going overboard, I often find myself googling the best drugstore or best affordable products of whatever I’m looking for. Over time, this has led to my makeup collection comprising of more than a few NYX products.
Named after the Greek goddess of the night, NYX Professional Makeup has been around for more than 20 years. Now a subsidiary of L’Oréal, the company sells its products worldwide at thousands of retailers. NYX’s popularity is not without reason. Their best-selling products have been going viral on TikTok for their easy to wear formulas and staying power and their suitability for a wide range of skin tones. As a brown girl myself, I can attest to NYX having makeup that I am comfortable wearing on my dark skin without apprehension. To top it off, they have a wide range of vegan products and are certified cruelty-free so you can consume without guilt!
With that in mind, here are my top picks ranging from eyes to lips from NYX:
- epic ink liner
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Often cited as a dupe for the Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner, NYX’s Epic Ink Liner has been a staple of my makeup collection for a couple of years now. It goes on smoothly and the precision tip of the pen allows for more control and flexibility so you can create the sharp winged liner look of your dreams.
- epic wear Liner Sticks
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The Epic Wear Liner Sticks are a new favorite following the resurgence of the colored eyeliner trends. Available in a staggering 24 colors, these pencils have a creamy and pigmented formula that can be blended out or built upon depending on the type of look you’re going for.
- lip lingerie xxl matte liquid lipstick
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Having seen the Lip Lingerie XXL all over makeup TikTok, I knew what product I was going to get when I decided to add a brown liquid lipstick to my collection. NYX boasts the product has a 16-hour wear time with no cracks or transfer. While I don’t think it quite lives up to that claim, it is extremely comfortable to wear, having more of a cream than a matte feel, and the 16 colors available make it easy to find a color and tone match.
- butter gloss
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Another internet favorite, the Butter Gloss has been brown girl certified. I recently got it in Brownie Drip, and it is my go-to when I want an understated nude lip. With 31 shades ranging from nudes to bright blue, this product provides an easy to wear, non-sticky glossy lip (and if you want to combine your gloss purchase with a lip liner, the NYX website provides a helpful graphic to figure out your match).
- ultimate shadow palette
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For under $20, the Ultimate Shadow palettes provide 16 colors from glittery to matte in each palette, and the line features seven different palettes: Cool Neutral, Warm Neutral, Smokey & Highlight, Brights, Phoenix, Utopia and Festival. While these shadows are not super pigmented, they are buildable and easy to blend. With the range of colors available in a single palette, you can play around and create an eye shadow combination that feels right to you!
- nyx matte setting spray
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The Matte Finish Setting Spray has been growing in popularity. If you’re looking for a more affordable alternative for the Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray, NYX has got you with this product. For less than $10, this setting spray will help with oiliness and the durability of your makeup.
Makeup is meant to be fun and help you realize your best self on the outside as well as on the inside. Shout out to NYX for letting us explore different sides of ourselves and feel our best without breaking our banks.