Rated 4.9 out of 5 from 278 reviews
cruelty-free
- cruelty-free
- travel-size
Best Makeup Brushes Under £20
A brush set is judged on bristle type and shape far more than on the number of brushes included. Synthetic bristles are non-porous, which makes them the better choice for liquid and cream products — foundation, concealer, cream blush — because they do not absorb product the way natural hair does. Natural hair bristles, usually from goat or squirrel, have a finer, more textured surface that picks up and blends powder more effectively. Buying a large set with the wrong bristle type for the products you actually use is a common way to end up with brushes that sit unused. The picks below are brush sets available on Amazon UK, ranked on customer rating weighted by review volume.
17 productsFrom £5.24 to £17.04
Top picks
8 products
- Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 745 reviews
vegan
- vegan
- Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 150 reviews
cruelty-free
- cruelty-free
- Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 586 reviews
- Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 98 reviews
cruelty-free
- cruelty-free
- travel-size
- Rated 4.7 out of 5 from 352 reviews
vegan
- vegan
- Rated 4.6 out of 5 from 1,394 reviews
- Rated 4.5 out of 5 from 165 reviews
vegan
- vegan
Best Makeup Brushes Under £20
9 products
- Rated 4.4 out of 5 from 188 reviews
vegan
- vegan
- Rated 4.3 out of 5 from 486 reviews
- Rated 4.1 out of 5 from 1,521 reviews
- Rated 4.1 out of 5 from 104 reviews
travel-size
- travel-size
- Rated 4 out of 5 from 162 reviews
- Rated 4 out of 5 from 993 reviews
- Rated 4 out of 5 from 1,077 reviews
How we picked these
We compare every product in this category on customer rating, review volume, price and listed ingredients. We do not accept payment for placement, and we do not test products ourselves — the ranking reflects what Amazon UK shoppers actually rated.
Prices and availability are accurate as of the date shown and are subject to change on Amazon.
What to look for
Match bristle type to product type
Synthetic bristles suit liquid and cream products because they do not soak up product. Natural hair bristles suit powder products, where their texture helps pick up and diffuse pigment more evenly.
Density and shape matter more than the brush count
A dense, flat-top brush buffs liquid foundation into skin; a fluffy, tapered brush blends powder softly. A 24-piece set with poorly shaped brushes is less useful than a well-chosen set of six that each does a distinct job.
Handle length affects control
Shorter handles give more precision for detail work like eyeliner and concealer. Longer handles suit broader strokes like blush and bronzer application, where a wider sweeping motion is the goal.
Cheap glue is where budget sets usually fail first
Bristles shedding after a handful of washes is typically a sign of poor-quality adhesive holding the ferrule together, not necessarily poor bristle quality itself. It is worth checking reviews specifically for shedding over time, not just first impressions.
Wash brushes regularly, not just when visibly dirty
Brushes used on the face accumulate oil, dead skin and bacteria that get reapplied on every use. A weekly clean with a gentle soap or dedicated cleanser keeps both hygiene and brush lifespan in check.
A small, well-chosen set outperforms a large mismatched one
For most routines, a foundation brush, a powder brush, a blending brush, a small eyeshadow brush and a couple of detail brushes cover almost everything. Extra brushes beyond that mostly duplicate a job another brush already does.
Frequently asked questions
- Synthetic or natural hair brushes — which should I buy?
- Synthetic for liquid and cream products, since the bristles do not absorb product. Natural hair for powder products, where the texture helps pick up and blend pigment more effectively.
- How often should I wash my makeup brushes?
- Around once a week for brushes used daily, more often for anything used with liquid foundation or concealer, since those build up product residue faster than powder brushes.
- Do I need a large brush set?
- Not necessarily. A handful of well-shaped brushes covering foundation, powder, blending and detail work does most of what a routine needs. A large set is convenient but often duplicates jobs across several brushes.
- Why do my brushes shed bristles?
- Usually poor-quality adhesive in the ferrule rather than the bristles themselves, particularly in budget sets. Gentle washing and avoiding pulling on bristles when cleaning helps, but persistent shedding from new brushes points to the build quality.
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Last updated 6 September 2026
Makeup Brushes Under £20: top 5 compared
Price, rating and reviews for the highest-scoring products in this list, side by side.
| Attribute | | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £8.47 | £8.89 | £14.20 | £11.07 | £14.06 |
| Rating | 4.9 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 |
| Reviews | 278 | 745 | 150 | 586 | 98 |
| Brand | Maybelline | Rimmel London | Maybelline | Rimmel London | NYX Professional Makeup |
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