Since its 1999 launch, NYX has been a standout brand not just in the drugstore makeup category but in the entire cosmetics industry. Founder Toni Ko named it after Nyx, Greek goddess of the night, but the product selection spans far beyond evening glam. According to makeup artist Analisa Marie, NYX has many excellent go-tos for every step of your makeup routine, from primer and concealer to mascara and lip color. Plus, she says, “They’re cruelty-free!”
We conducted hours of research on the best NYX products to complete your stash, evaluating them on results and performance, as well as any cool, fun features that make them makeup artist-worthy picks. We tried out a couple top-rated, fan favorites, our testers trying products weeks at a time and noting a product’s wear, finish, coverage, ease of application, and any extra features. So, what are the holy grails? You’ll find them all here.
Ahead, find the best NYX Professional Makeup Products.
NYX Angel Veil Lightweight Skin Perfecting Vegan Primer
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/Untitleddesign33-2e38c966541a49fd84adde2d73c59de3.jpg)
Marie gives Angel Veil her stamp of approval. This lightweight primer hydrates your skin without adding shine, delivering a smooth, uniform canvas and leaving a stunning satin finish in its wake.
Price at time of publish: $17
Finish: Satin | Size: 1 ounce | Byrdie Clean: Yes
NYX Professional Makeup Bare With Me Concealer Serum
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/Untitleddesign34-aa5b2099a2174a789976ed1145d827b3.jpg)
We love a good hybrid product, and this concealer-serum combo doesn’t disappoint. A favorite of Marie’s, it can be used all over your body to cover redness, hide imperfections, and create more even-toned skin. The hydrating formula is also great for dry patches.
Price at time of publish: $11 for Sand
Coverage: Medium | Finish: Natural | Shades: 13 | Byrdie Clean: Yes
NYX Professional Makeup Total Control Drop Foundation
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/NYX-Total-Control-Drop-Foundation-2169b1f637ad4782998e19421b87634e.jpg)
This affordable foundation earned a 4.5 out of 5 overall score from our home tester, who liked the buildable formula and natural-looking satin finish. Available in a diverse range of 30 shades, the liquid is super easy to blend and stays put for up to 12 hours.
Price at time of publish: $7.53
Coverage: Buildable | Finish: Natural/satin | Shades: 30 | Byrdie Clean: No
NYX Professional Makeup HD Photogenic Concealer Wand
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/2215595-3a98030076a847b19f31670e0a545334.jpg)
NYX makes one of the best budget-friendly concealers. Available in 22 shades, including a few color-correctors, HD Studio is an easy-to-blend cream offering medium-to-full coverage. The lightweight formula is also oil-free and non-comedogenic, meaning it won’t clog your pores.
Price at time of publish: $6
Coverage: Medium-to-full | Finish: Natural | Shades: 22 | Byrdie Clean: Yes
NYX Professional Makeup Highlight & Contour Cream Pro Palette
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/nyx-17c5dedbc7d24a609a0fe812ef4f57d2.jpg)
This multi-use palette comes with eight shades for contouring, highlighting, bronzing, brightening, shading, and sculpting. Though it’s not the longest-lasting, we like that the powder offers buildable pigment and blends beautifully on its own or over cream makeup. The pans are also removable and refillable, so you can mix and match with singles.
Price at time of publish: $25
Type: Powder | Shades: 8 | Byrdie Clean: Yes
NYX Professional Makeup Can’t Stop Won’t Stop Mattifying Powder
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/Untitleddesign35-d8c06bf5d57a43ff8300cf7a06f13d41.jpg)
Marie is a fan of Can’t Stop Won’t Stop, and it’s easy to see the appeal. This mattifying pressed powder addresses uneven texture while instantly soaking up oil and grease from your T-zone and anywhere else you want to reduce shine. The super-fine formula promises not to dry out your skin and leaves you with a smooth, non-cakey finish.
Price at time of publish: $9.25 for Caramel
Coverage: Sheer | Shades: 12 | Byrdie Clean: Yes
NYX Professional Makeup Sweet Cheeks Soft Cheek Tint
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/NYXProfessionalMakeupSweetCheeksSoftCheekTint-6b6b1cbfbb7b48b283e81d531f5a7c22.jpeg)
Sweet Cheeks is one of our favorite drugstore cream blushes. A little of the highly pigmented mousse goes a long way, so it’s easy to overdo it. But if you start with just a dot or two, you’ll see how beautifully it blends into a soft flush of color.
Price at time of publish: $9.50
Type: Cream | Coverage: Buildable | Shades: 6 | Byrdie Clean: Yes
NYX Professional Makeup Tame & Frame Tinted Eyebrow Pomade
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/Untitleddesign36-c6440770f802406cbc055feb9f42c6dc.jpg)
A budget-friendly product to rival the famous Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow, this eyebrow pomade deposits natural-looking color right where you need it while helping shape your arches. The waxy formula goes on smooth and won’t clump within your hairs, plus it’s waterproof and smudge-resistant for several hours.
Price at time of publish: $8.50 for Black
Shades: 5 | Waterproof: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
NYX Professional Makeup Bare With Me Multitasking Spray
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/Untitleddesign37-a9ac3540eff4491084e537cfb942ad3c.jpg)
Marie also likes Bare With Me. This multitasking spray can be used to prime your skin for glam, set your makeup, and refresh your look throughout the day. The fine mist helps reduce the appearance of pores, offering a dewy glow and long-lasting hydration.
Price at time of publish: $10
Amount: 4.4 ounces | Finish: Dewy | Byrdie Clean: Yes
NYX Professional Makeup Setting Spray Matte
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/NYXProfessionalMakeupSettingSprayMatte-c53a9c6b834741038ed160ceeb82e7d2.jpg)
NYX’s Matte Finish setting spray was a hit with our home tester, who liked that the oil-regulating formula controls shine without drying out the skin. And considering the generously sized bottle, this wallet-friendly product is a total steal.
Price at time of publish: $9.50
Finish: Matte | Amount: 0.6–6.1 ounces | Byrdie Clean: Yes
NYX Professional Makeup Epic Ink Vegan Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/711.EpicInkVeganWaterproofLiquidEyeliner-22ca5978c9a6445f9297d6fba1a515fc.jpg)
Epic Ink Liner clocked a 4.5 out of 5 overall score from our tester, who appreciated the user-friendly precision tip and high color payoff. She also liked that the waterproof formula lasts up to 24 hours without running, smearing, or transferring.
Price at time of publish: $10
Type: Liquid | Shades: Black, brown | Byrdie Clean: No
NYX Worth The Hype Mascara
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/NYXWorthTheHypeMascara-51d8244db4284276b46133740127f84d.jpeg)
Marie stands behind this volumizing mascara, and we’re here for it. The jet-black formula adds thickness and length, and the tapered brush allows you to access your tiniest, finest upper and lower lashes. It’s not waterproof, but unlike many mascaras, it’s conveniently buildable and comes off without a fuss.
Price at time of publish: $9
Shades: Black | Waterproof: No | Byrdie Clean: No
NYX Professional Makeup Shine Loud Vegan High Shine Long-Lasting Liquid Lip Color
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/NYXProfessionalMakeupShineLoudVeganHighShineLong-LastingLiquidLipColor-34752b7a3d8f4708b2ae2bbdd316de12.jpg)
NYX’s Shine Loud Lip Color went viral on TikTok and now has a well-deserved loyal following. It was an all-around hit with our in-house testers, who raved about the high color payoff, comfortable wear, and long-lasting pigment. She also liked the dual-ended design, which has matte color with a doe-foot applicator on one side and a clear gloss with a small brush on the other.
Price at time of publish: $11.49 for Magic Maker
NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/NYXProfessionalMakeupSoftMatteLipCream-190936e8da6a4f69a51b80ac7ebcdade.jpg)
For matte lip loyalists, we recommend NYX’s Soft Matte Cream. This wallet-friendly product has a light mousse-like texture that spreads like silk and leaves you with a supremely velvety finish. As with most other matte lipsticks, you have to commit to a dry feel, but the highly pigmented colors last all day without smudging or transferring.
Price at time of publish: $6.49 for Prague
Finish: Matte/velvet | Shades: 21 | Byrdie Clean: Yes
NYX Professional Makeup Butter Gloss
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/NYXProfessionalMakeupButterGloss-cb7749f8dc844564b0a6891c5e6c81cb.jpg)
Butter Gloss was a doozy with our home tester. Beyond the super-affordable price tag, she loved that it softens and conditions your lips, offering intense shine without feeling sticky or goopy. Available in 32 shades, including sheer, tinted, and more pigmented options, there’s something for everyone.
Price at time of publish: $5 for Cinnamon Roll
Finish: Sheer/glossy | Shades: 32 | Byrdie Clean: No
Final Verdict
Our best overall pick is NYX Professional Makeup Angel Veil Skin Perfecting Primer, which contains hydrating ingredients for a smooth and satin finish. We also love NYX Professional Makeup Bare With Me Concealer Serum, a hybrid serum-skin tint that nourishes skin while concealing any imperfections.
What To Look For in NYX Professional Makeup
Versatility
As NYX makeup is created for professional use, its high-quality formulations lend themselves to a variety of uses. Case-in-point: its famous concealer, a highly pigmented wand-of-all-trades with the ability to brighten, highlight, and conceal, even doubling as a contouring product.
Matte Lipstick to the Max
One of NYX’s most famous offerings is its Soft Matte Lip Cream. Available in a staggering 40 shade range, this lip icon easily glides on mess-free and stays in place for as long as you need it to.
High Intensity Eyes
Those who like to dramateyes (see what we did there?) with intense eye color will find no shortage of highly-pigmented eye shadows that make achieving super impactful looks easy and fun.