Will Wet n Wild’s budget-friendly brushes sweep away makeup woes?

Despite its launch early this year, it was only this week that I finally got my hands on Wet n Wild’s popular new line of vegan-friendly makeup brushes.

Thanks to strong word of mouth from the online beauty community, the low-cost brushes have sold out more than once on the Wet n Wild website, and they are highly sought after, thanks to limited availability in stores.

Lucky for me, on a recent trip to Walgreens, I came across a few of the brushes. There are 17 makeup brushes and one brow-and-lash comb in the line.

I picked up the foundation brush, the small concealer brush, the angled liner brush, the flat-top brush and the large eyeshadow brush. They were priced between 99 cents and $2.99, and by using my Walgreens rewards card, I was able to score all five brushes for less than $10 (or less than half the price of my beloved beautyblender).

First impression

Wet n Wild’s two-toned makeup brushes are made with synthetic Polymax fibers that are incredibly soft and almost mimic the consistency of natural hair (all of the line’s brushes are cruelty-free).

Although the brushes are not as densely packed as some of the Sigma Beauty brushes I own, they appeared to be of much higher quality than the equally-priced e.l.f. Cosmetics brushes I’ve tried

Each brush features a lightweight, ergonomic handle that allows for total control when applying makeup. The brushes can be cleaned with normal brush cleaner.

Fab or flub?

Fab-ish.

While they might not be a complete dupe for your favorite M.A.C. brushes, Wet n Wild’s vegan-friendly makeup brushes still hold their own as one of the best drugstore options on the market.

The trendy brushes are extremely affordable, and they perform better than other budget-friendly brands I’ve tried. As with most inexpensive makeup brushes, I was concerned that the brushes might not hold up over time, and there would be shedding. However, I am happy to report I have not run into problems.

Though I would equally recommend all five of the brushes I tried, I found the flat-top brush to be the real standout. Used to apply powder, the brush did a wonderful job of creating a smooth, natural finish.

Overall, I think the brushes are a great fit for young girls who are starting to use makeup or anyone looking for a budget-friendly option for their makeup kit.

As I mentioned earlier, the brushes are hard to find, and most stores do not carry the full line.

If you decide to purchase the brushes, I recommend checking the Wet n Wild website first.

Currently, all 18 brushes and the brow and lash comb are in stock (four brushes are online exclusives) and U.S. customers receive free shipping with orders of $35 or more.

This story was originally published August 12, 2016 at 3:45 PM with the headline "Will Wet n Wild’s budget-friendly brushes sweep away makeup woes?."