NYX has always sat in an interesting spot for me. It is no longer truly cheap, yet it never pretends to be luxury either — and that quiet confidence is exactly why it holds one of the most stable reputations in the drugstore world. So I put it to the test the only way that really counts: a full face, start to finish, using nothing but NYX.
Bestsellers, a few brand-new launches I had been dying to try, and — most importantly — an honest wear test at the end of the day. Below is everything that earned its place in my kit, and everything I would happily leave on the shelf.
Watch the full test on my channel (spoken in Ukrainian). The written breakdown, verdicts and all-day wear test are below — no sound required.
How I tested it: I applied a complete look on camera — from skin prep through to setting spray — then wore it through a full working day and checked it again that night, and once more the next day. For reference, my skin is normal-to-combination.
*Brilliant longevity, but unforgiving — best for confident hands.
This is the brand's hero of the moment — a light, gel-emulsion that promises to be serum and primer in one, with a pleasant, neutral scent. On me it turned tacky very quickly and the tight feeling only built through the day. That stickiness can actually help foundation grip, so I would happily recommend it for combination or oily skin — but on dry or flaky skin it will not smooth those dry patches, and the pulled feeling is not for everyone. Not quite the universal hero the label suggests.
Surprisingly dense and full-coverage for something sold as a "serum" concealer. It stays put, does not slide, and the slim tube means you will actually use every last drop. It leans slightly drying, and my shade ran a touch warmer than a true cool vanilla, so check your undertone. For targeted coverage it is excellent; over the whole face the usage adds up fast. Pro move: mix a little into your serum or moisturiser to turn it into a sheer tint.
The pencils are genuinely good: consistent, easy to work with and very wearable. One thing to watch — a couple of the taupe-leaning shades can oxidise slightly green on me over time, so I have switched to the cooler blond shade, which also draws beautifully even over the brow glue. The glue itself gives serious, laminated hold, perfect if you love that brushed-up, locked-in look. I personally prefer a softer, more natural shape these days, so I used it with a lighter hand. Tip: set your brows before foundation for the cleanest finish.
A deserved classic. Only the warm shade was in stock, so my face ran a little golden — but the formula is the real story. It smells like a chocolate-vanilla dessert, it is not baked, and yet it still does not go patchy, which is rare at this price (un-baked budget bronzers usually streak no matter your technique). Around 10–15 €, easy top marks. I pressed it into place rather than buffing, because the skin underneath was a touch tacky.
For blush I reached for a powder I have owned since long before I became a makeup artist — and that is something to flag, not to copy. Powders carry a period-after-opening for a reason. My honest advice as a professional is to respect those dates and replace anything well past them. Your skin will thank you.
It lives up to the hype. It sets the base and controls shine without clinging to dry patches or exaggerating texture — the exact failure point of so many heavier budget powders. One of my favourite finds of the whole haul.
A very on-trend warm-neutral palette with a few cooler, pinky tones. The shades are pretty, but pigmentation sits on the softer side — especially layered over powder, which sheered them further. The look still came together nicely; next time I would skip powdering the lid first.
Honestly, a wow. It is intensely long-wearing and does not budge or transfer once it sets — which is also the catch: there is almost no room for error, so it is not the most forgiving choice for beginners. I built a soft winged shape and loved how crisp it stayed all day.
Fresh from the tube it applied cleanly with a classic brush, adding volume rather than just length — my preference. Pending a proper flake test over a few wears, this is one I would repurchase.
The lip liner is a long-standing favourite, though a reformulation made it noticeably warmer — it reads quite orange-warm on me now, so it suited today's warm look but will not be everyone's everyday. The matte "whip" balm gives a soft tint with a comfortable, slightly slippery feel and a lovely sweet scent; I also dabbed it on the cheeks as a quick cream blush to tie the whole look together.
Last year's much-hyped spray (mine had settled, so it is clearly powder-infused — shake well). The applicator is punchy and it genuinely locks everything down. For a true matte finish it is great; on drier skin, combined with the primer, it was simply too much fixation for me.
Swatches and first impressions are easy. What separates a good product from a great one is how it looks after hours of real life, so here is the honest timeline.
NYX is exactly what its reputation suggests — a confident, dependable brand that has quietly graduated from pure drugstore into the lower mid-range. The pieces I would happily keep in a working kit: the bronzer, the pressed powder, the brow glue, the mascara, the long-wear liner (for confident hands) and the concealer for targeted coverage. The plumping primer and setting spray are skin-type dependent — wonderful for combination and oily skin, a lot for dry skin. The matte palette is pretty but worth swatching for pigment first. Match the right pieces to your skin, and NYX absolutely earns its place.
1. A product is only as good as its fit for your skin. My primer struggle was not a "bad product" — it was the wrong product for my skin that day. Learning to read your own skin is half of great makeup.
2. Placement beats pigment. Whether you powder before shadow, press versus buff your bronzer, or sheer out a dense concealer — technique decides the result far more than price does.
3. Build for the day you will actually have. For events and weddings I lean on the long-wear pieces — powder, a locking liner, brow gel — and adjust fixation to the skin in front of me.
These are exactly the skills we work through, one-on-one, in my personalised makeup courses — using your own face, your own skin type, and products that genuinely suit you.
Whether you want flawless, long-lasting makeup for your wedding or a special event, or you would like to learn these techniques yourself, I would love to help.
Absolutely. A working kit is a mix of price points — what matters is how a product performs, not its label. Several NYX products, including the bronzer, powder, mascara and long-wear liner, hold their own next to far pricier options.
The cult bronzer, the pressed powder, the brow glue, the mascara, the long-wear eyeliner, and the concealer for targeted spot coverage.
The long-wear pieces — powder, setting spray, locking liner and brow glue — can last impressively well. For your wedding day I would still recommend a professional application and a trial first. You can see what that involves on my wedding makeup page.
The plumping primer can feel tight on dry or flaky skin, and the matte eyeshadows are lovely but lower in pigment — swatch them in store first.
Yes — that is exactly what my one-on-one makeup courses are for, tailored to your skin type and goals, from everyday looks to professional techniques.
I am an English-speaking makeup artist based in Prague, and I travel across the Czech Republic and Europe for weddings, shoots and events. Get in touch here.
Nikol Pavlova
Makeup Artist · Prague
Bridal, evening and editorial makeup artist based in Prague, offering personalised services and one-on-one courses. Designing looks that enhance your natural features and your own distinctive style. @nikol__mua