Hey beauty lover! Today, we‘re diving deep into one of my all-time favorite affordable makeup brands: NYX Cosmetics. If you‘ve ever found yourself drooling over the latest prestige makeup launches but cringing at the price tags, NYX is here to save your look and your wallet. Their massive range of professional-quality products has something for everyone – no matter your style, skin type, or budget.
As a self-proclaimed makeup addict who has tried everything from drugstore to luxury brands, I‘m always on the hunt for the best bang for my buck. And let me tell you, NYX consistently delivers. After years of testing and playing with nearly every product they offer, I‘m excited to share my in-depth thoughts on this cult-favorite brand.
So grab a snack, get cozy, and let‘s dive into the colorful world of NYX Cosmetics together! By the end of this review, you‘ll know exactly which NYX products are worth snagging on your next beauty haul.
The Story Behind NYX: From Indie Startup to Industry Icon
You might be surprised to learn that NYX hasn‘t always been the global beauty powerhouse it is today. The brand actually has pretty humble beginnings, starting with one woman‘s dream to democratize professional-quality makeup.
Meet Toni Ko, the Brains Behind the Brand
NYX Cosmetics was founded in 1999 by Korean-American entrepreneur Toni Ko. At just 25 years old, Ko was already a cosmetics industry veteran, having grown up working in her family‘s wholesale beauty business. But she was frustrated by the huge gap she saw in the market:
You could either shell out big bucks for high-end makeup brands or settle for cheap, low-quality drugstore options. There was nothing in between for the average makeup lover on a budget.
Ko set out to change that with NYX Cosmetics (named after the Greek goddess of the night). Her mission? To offer "professional makeup for all" – super pigmented, on-trend, high-performance products at a price point real people could actually afford.
And boy, did it work. NYX was a smash hit right out of the gate, raking in $2 million in sales in its very first year. The brand quickly gained a reputation for high-quality, innovative products that rivaled prestige brands, minus the sticker shock.
From Indie Darling to L‘Oreal‘s Latest Acquisition
Over the next decade, NYX‘s popularity exploded as more and more beauty lovers discovered the brand‘s unbeatable combo of quality and value. By 2014, NYX caught the eye of beauty behemoth L‘Oreal, who scooped up the company for a cool $500 million.
But even after the acquisition, NYX hasn‘t strayed from its original mission and indie ethos. The brand is still all about serving up the latest trends and delivering major pigment payoff at prices that won‘t make you cry when you check your bank balance.
Today, NYX is the go-to brand for millions of makeup lovers around the world, boasting a massive global fanbase of over 14 million Instagram followers. From their humble roots to their current status as a household name, it‘s clear that NYX is here to stay – and thank god for that!
The Best of NYX: Iconic Products and Must-Haves
One of the things I love most about NYX is how freaking HUGE their product range is. No matter what kind of makeup you‘re into, chances are NYX has not just one but several options for you to choose from.
They‘ve got all the basics covered, of course – think foundations, concealers, mascaras, and so on. But they also offer a ton of unique, trendy products you won‘t find from every brand, like prismatic highlighters, two-toned lipsticks, and shimmery liquid liners in every color of the rainbow.
As someone who loves bold, creative makeup looks, I‘m like a kid in a candy store whenever I visit an NYX display. The hardest part is narrowing down my shopping list!
To help you get started, here are a few of NYX‘s most iconic, bestselling, and top-rated products that are 100% worth the hype:
| Product | Category | Why It‘s Amazing |
|---|---|---|
| Can‘t Stop Won‘t Stop Foundation | Face | Full coverage, 45 shades, stays put through sweat and oil |
| Soft Matte Lip Cream | Lips | Pigmented but non-drying, 35 stunning shades |
| Epic Ink Liner | Eyes | Precise brush tip, inky black, smudge-proof |
| Butter Gloss | Lips | Sheer to buildable color, non-sticky, delicious scent |
| Jumbo Eye Pencil | Eyes | Pigmented, blendable, doesn‘t crease |
| Micro Brow Pencil | Brows | Skinny tip for hair-like strokes, natural finish |
| Born to Glow Liquid Illuminator | Face | Buildable glow, lightweight, 4 flattering shades |
Of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to NYX‘s greatest hits. I could honestly go on forever about how obsessed I am with their Vivid Brights eyeliners, the Dewy Finish Setting Spray, the 3 Steps to Sculpt Contouring Palette…the list goes on.
The other awesome thing about NYX‘s product range? They drop new releases and limited-edition collections all the time, so there‘s always something fresh and exciting to play with. From collabs with beauty influencers like Alissa Ashley to themed mini-collections for holidays and special occasions, they really keep us on our toes!
Some of my favorite limited-edition NYX collections from the past include:
- Machinist: Steampunk-inspired chromes and metallics
- Love You So Mochi: Pastel shimmers inspired by Japanese mochi candy
- In Your Element: Six elemental palettes based on fire, metal, earth, air, water, and wind
- Luv Out Loud: Super-saturated liquid lipsticks and pigmented glosses in unique shades
But even the core, permanent collection is constantly growing as NYX adds new categories and innovations to their line-up. Recent additions like their Bare With Me Skin Veil and Dip, Shape, Go Brow Pomade have quickly earned their place in my everyday routine.
So whether you‘re hunting for a perfect shade match, looking to experiment with a daring new color, or just want reliable, high-performance basics, NYX has totally got you covered. Their product range is truly second to none in the affordable makeup space.
Getting Personal: My NYX Cosmetics Experience
Confession time: I actually used to be a bit of a makeup snob. I bought into the idea that you had to spend a ton of cash to get decent quality, so I stuck to mainly high-end brands for years. Drugstore makeup? Forget it.
Fast-forward to my broke college days, when I could barely scrape together enough cash for ramen, let alone luxury lipstick. That‘s when my bestie finally convinced me to get over myself and give NYX a try.
And let me tell you, that first NYX haul was a revelation. As I eagerly swatched my new goodies on the back of my hand, I kept muttering, "No way. No freaking way! How is this so good?"
The pigmentation, the blendability, the finish – it was all on par with my fancy department store faves. And the price tags? An absolute dream.
From that first Ultra-Soft Lip Cream (a dead ringer for my beloved Nars Audacious Lipsticks) to my newest obsession, the Marshmellow Soothing Primer, I‘ve consistently been blown away by NYX‘s quality. Sure, I‘ve had a few duds over the years (looking at you, Glitter Goals liquid lipsticks), but my overall experience has been crazy positive.
The more I explored the brand, the more I fell in love. I was especially impressed by the wide shade ranges for products like the Can‘t Stop Won‘t Stop foundation (45 shades) and the Born to Glow concealer (24 shades). As someone with golden olive undertones, I know firsthand how frustrating it is when brands launch complexion products in only a handful of shades. Major props to NYX for stepping up to the plate in terms of inclusivity.
Another key selling point for me is the fact that all NYX products are certified cruelty-free. As I‘ve become more conscious about the ethics behind my makeup, it‘s great to know I can shop their range without compromising my values. While not everything is vegan (some products contain beeswax or carmine), NYX makes it easy to shop their vegan-friendly offerings both in-store and online.
So how do I feel about NYX after all these years? Honestly, I‘m as ride-or-die as it gets. While I still treat myself to the occasional luxury product, NYX remains one of my most-purchased, most-loved brands to this day. The price-to-quality ratio is simply unmatched!
But Don‘t Just Take My Word for It: What Other NYX Fans Are Saying
Of course, no matter how much I personally stan for NYX, my opinion is just one data point. So let‘s take a look at what other makeup lovers have to say about the brand!
A quick scan of beauty forums like Reddit‘s r/MakeupAddiction and review sites like Makeupalley and Influenster shows that I‘m far from alone in my NYX obsession. The brand has a fiercely loyal following, with fan-favorite products often racking up thousands of glowing reviews.
For example, the iconic Micro Brow Pencil currently boasts:
- 4.3 out of 5 stars and 10.6K reviews on Ulta
- 4.27 out of 5 stars and 600+ reviews on Makeupalley
- 4.4 out of 5 stars and nearly 5K reviews on Influenster
And that‘s just one product! Other top-rated fan faves like the Matte Setting Spray, the Pore Filler Primer, and the Slim Lip Pencils show similarly impressive stats.
But it‘s not just about the numbers – the actual content of the reviews speaks volumes about how much NYX has earned customers‘ trust and admiration over the years. Some common themes that come up again and again:
- Big ups for the "insanely good" pigmentation and color payoff, especially for eyeshadows and lipsticks
- Amazement at the long-wearing, budge-proof formulas of base products like the Total Control Drop Foundation
- Appreciation for the inclusive shade ranges that cater to a wide variety of skin tones
- Comparisons to similar high-end products, often with NYX coming out on top in terms of value
- Gratefulness for cruelty-free, vegan-friendly options
And then there are the stanalone rave reviews that are practically love letters to the brand. Here are a few of my faves:
"I‘ve been using NYX products for about 6 years now and I‘m never disappointed. The quality is great, they‘re cruelty-free, and the price point is unbeatable. I recommend them to all my friends who are getting into makeup." – Rae L. on Influenster
"NYX is hands down my favorite drugstore brand. I‘ve never been let down by their products. The Micro Brow Pencil is my holy grail. I‘ve tried so many high end brow products but nothing compares to this. It‘s so easy to use and the price is unbeatable." – @glamgirl21 on Makeupalley
"I am OBSESSED with Nyx cosmetics. I have been using them for years and they never disappoint. The products are high quality, pigmented, and long lasting. They are also cruelty free which is a huge plus. Every time I wear Nyx makeup I get compliments. 10/10 recommend Nyx to anyone looking for affordable, high quality makeup." – u/PixieDust on Reddit
Seeing so many other people gush about NYX the same way I do is seriously heartwarming. This brand has built up so much goodwill and loyalty from fans around the world, and it‘s 100% deserved!
NYX Cosmetics: The Final Verdict
Whew, we‘ve covered a lot of ground in this review! From the brand‘s inspiring origin story to their ever-growing product range to my own years of experience as an NYX fangirl, I hope I‘ve painted a clear picture of what this brand is all about and why they‘re so beloved.
To sum it all up: NYX Cosmetics is hands-down one of the best affordable makeup brands on the market today, offering a huge selection of professional-quality products at unbeatable prices. By putting innovation, inclusivity, and cruelty-free beauty within reach for the masses, NYX has earned its place as an industry icon and a true game-changer.
In my book, the pros of shopping with NYX far outweigh the cons. While no brand is completely perfect, the rave reviews and cult-favorite status of NYX‘s top products speak for themselves.
And on a personal note, I can confidently say that NYX has made me a better makeup artist and a savvier shopper. I‘m forever grateful to this brand for showing me that amazing, Holy Grail-worthy products don‘t have to cost an arm and a leg.
So, is NYX Cosmetics worth the hype? In this makeup lover‘s humble opinion, HECK YES! Whether you‘re looking to dip your toe into the world of makeup, build a pro-level kit on a budget, or just treat yourself to some fun new goodies, you cannot go wrong with NYX.
Trust me on this one – your face and your wallet will thank you.
Now, I want to hear from you! Are you already a card-carrying member of the NYX fan club? Which products stole your heart and earned their place in your ride-or-die routine? Or, if you‘re new to the brand, which items are you most excited to try out for yourself?
Head to the comments and let‘s keep the NYX love fest going! And if you found this review helpful, be sure to share it with a friend and spread the gospel of pro-quality makeup at a price that can‘t be beat.
Until next time, my fellow makeup lovers – stay bold, stay beautiful, and long live NYX!
