5 affordable brush sets to start your collection for newbies and the money-conscious

One of the first things I would recommend a makeup newbie get is an affordable set of makeup brushes. Equating price with quality is the mistake a lot of people make when they start out. They go for the most expensive brushes in their price range without understanding what type of brush they like for each makeup process. This leads to them wasting funds of items they may never get full use out of.

More expensive brushes regarded to be the best due to the fact they are made from animal hair. Natural fibres were much softer than the nylon fibres used in the less expensive synthetic brushes. However, time and technology have come to the rescue. These days’ affordable brush sets use synthetic fibres which are made from tackelon fibres. These fibres are so soft they mimic the feel of natural fibre and more abuse than natural fibre brushes.

To that end here is a list of 5 affordable brush sets to help you build your collection

Real techniques

Real Techniques is the brain child of the popular YouTubers Sam and Nikki Chapman of Pixiwoo fame. The original brush sets are colour coded based on its function which makes it easy to mix and match so you can get started.

With Real Techniques, I would recommend getting the Flawless base set and the Enhanced eye kit which have 5 and 4 brushes respectively and give you all the brushes you need to start out.

Each set costs just under $20 dollars so you get a full collection that you can use for years for $40. The good thing about this brand is that if you find that you like a specific brush in a set you can double up by buying singles which are also available.

Alternatively, you can buy the everyday essential kit which has both face and eye brushes and can serve as a very lean start on your brush journey.

Zoeva

Zoeva is another internet-based brand that burst onto the scene years ago but is a staple in most collections. The primary reason is their makeup brushes, which are of great quality and price. A great collection to start with is the Rose Golden Luxury set which has 8 face and eye brushes. Like some other brands, this brush set comes with a carrying case for the brushes.

Like Real Techniques, Zoeva has separate brush collections targeted specifically for face or eye. So if you decided you want a more robust collection you are spoiled with choice. The only downside is that this is one of the more expensive brush sets on the list. Is it worth the price? It depends on you entirely.

Makeup Geek

Everyone knows Makeup Geek, or at least used to. It is one of the most well-known quintessential YouTube brands although it is slightly less popular than it used to be in the past. This decline in popularity does not prevent it from having a pretty good brush collection that is perfect if you are starting out.

Currently, Makeup Geek does not have a full brush set that gives you a full set. However, it makes up for this by having a face and eye brush bundle which can be combined to make the perfect brush set.

The face brush bundle has 5 brushes and the eye bundle has 6 brushes giving you a total of 11 brushes, which is much more than any of the other brands.  The combined original price of both bundles is $125 which is more than all the others but there is currently a sale so you can get both for $80 which is an absolute steal

Juvia’s Place

Juvia’s place is another internet-famous brand best known for its eye-catching eye shadow palettes. In addition, they have pretty good and colourful brush sets to start your collection. Unlike real techniques where you need to combine two sets to get a full collection, Juvias place gives you the whole 9 yards in one collection. Here you get a 9 piece brush set with both face and eye brushes, basically everything you need to get started.

The price point is great as well as the whole set costs only $40 and there is the option of paying in 4 instalments!  Even better the sets are available in multiple colours so if red is not your thing you have others to choose from.

Morphe Brushes

Morphe is another brand that is well known for its extensive inexpensive eye shadow palettes, which have branched out into brushes.  

From Morphe there are 2 brush sets which will work for a beginner. There is a classic black 7 piece rose gold set with both face and eye brushes. This Gold set comes with an added bonus of a leather storage /carrying case making it a great start for your collection.

Alternatively, you have the option of a blinged-out 8 piece brush set. If you are someone who likes things bright and shiny then this is the brush set for you. It also comes with a carrying case for the brushes with the same bling as the brushes. The original price of the sets is mid-range but it is currently on sale making it a steal if you have fast fingers.

My recommendations

I am sure you are keen to know which of these I would recommend. I have used only 2 of the brands Real Techniques and Zoeva. Although both of them are well made and work really well, the clear winner for me is Real Techniques. Real Techniques brushes are sturdy, and dense and apply makeup exactly how you want it.

Based solely on price alone the most affordable brush set is the morphe 7 piece rose gold set. The cost per brush of $3.6 with or without sales.
 The next affordable brush set is Real Techniques and Juvia’s Place at about $ 4 each. The priciest is Zoeva and Makeup Geek at $ 11 per brush. With the sales prices, Makeup Geek drops to $8 making the Zoeva the most expensive of the bunch.

So since they all have really good reviews so your choice will solely depend on your budget and aesthetic wants.

What is your favourite brush set amongst the ones I have listed? Do you plan to buy a full set or build your collection by mixing and matching? Let me know in the comments and follow me on social media for much more interaction and tips.  

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