I Almost Returned These Makeup Brushes… Then I tried them.
A $13 pink brush set that started with a strange smell — but ended up surprising me.
I wasn’t planning to buy new makeup brushes.
A few years ago, I had picked up a small set of brushes from SHEIN, and they were still sitting in my makeup drawer. They weren’t exactly terrible, but after deciding to get back into makeup, I realized I wanted something that felt a little nicer to use.
And honestly, sometimes a pretty makeup brush is enough to convince me to try it.
I started looking around for an affordable set when I came across the BS-MALL brushes. The simple black-and-white set caught my attention first, but then I saw the pink version.
That was it.
I wanted the pink ones.
The reviews made the brushes look soft, sturdy, and a decent size for everyday makeup. I did notice a few people mentioning that the brushes had a strong smell when they first opened the package.
Normally, that might have made me think twice.
But at around $13, I figured they were inexpensive enough to take a chance on.
And then they arrived.
The First Thing I Noticed Wasn’t the Brushes
When I opened the package, I immediately noticed a strong chemical-like smell.
It reminded me of acetone or something similar.
For a moment, I wondered if I’d made a mistake.
Instead of putting them straight into my makeup bag, I laid the brushes out on my desk and left them there overnight.
By the next day, the smell had almost completely disappeared.
You could still notice the slightest scent if you put your nose directly against the brushes, but it wasn’t something I could smell during normal use anymore.
So, thankfully, my first concern didn’t turn into a deal-breaker.
And once I got past that, I started paying attention to how the brushes actually looked.
They Looked More Expensive Than I Expected
This was probably my favorite surprise.
The pink and black design looked much nicer in person than I expected for a brush set in this price range.
Get The Trend Journal’s stories in your inbox
Join Medium for free to get updates from this writer.
They had that clean, polished appearance that made them look more like high-end makeup brushes than an inexpensive set.
Of course, pretty brushes don’t mean much if they don’t actually work.
So I decided to put them to the test.
Then I Actually Used Them
After taking a few photos, I finally put the brushes to work.
The brushes picked up my makeup products well, and the smaller fluffy brushes were particularly useful for blending eyeshadow.
That was one of the things I was most curious about.
I’ve used inexpensive eye brushes before that looked perfectly fine but felt rough against the skin. These didn’t give me that problem.
None of the brushes poked or jabbed my face while I was applying makeup, and they felt comfortable when I was patting and blending product.
I also didn’t notice any major shedding.
I did find one loose bristle sticking out from one of the larger brushes, but that was about it.
For the price, I was pleasantly surprised.
Are They Perfect?
No — and I wouldn’t expect a budget-friendly brush set to be perfect.
The initial smell was definitely something I didn’t love, although leaving the brushes out overnight made a big difference.
But once that was out of the way, I found the brushes easy and comfortable to use.
For someone who is rebuilding their makeup collection, experimenting with makeup for the first time, or simply looking for an affordable everyday brush set, I think they make a lot of sense.
You don’t necessarily need to spend a fortune just to have brushes that feel good in your hand and work well enough for everyday makeup.
Would I Buy Them Again?
Honestly, for around $13, I think these brushes offer a pretty good balance between appearance, comfort, and performance.
The pink color was what initially convinced me to click on them, but their actual performance is what made me happy that I bought them.
If you’re curious about the exact set I tried, you can take a look here:
See the BS-MALL Makeup Brush Set on Amazon →
Sometimes a makeup purchase turns out to be exactly what you expected.
And sometimes the thing you almost didn’t buy ends up being the little upgrade your makeup routine needed.
Disclosure: This post contains an affiliate link. If you make a purchase through the link, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
