Ulta Beauty Collection (UBC) Brushes. Have you tried them? What about Japonesque, ELF, BK Beauty?
Why comparisons are worth looking at for makeup brushes?
Simply because you spend your hard earned money on them. How long with those dollars spend go? In other words, are they worth the money. Yes, they are your tools and you use them probably every day or most days.
So, let’s get into it.
Ulta Beauty Collection vs. BK Beauty Concealer Brushes
Minimalist beauty isn’t about deprivation. It’s about discernment.
It’s choosing one concealer that always works. One fragrance you finish entirely. One brush that makes your makeup look better—without requiring effort, precision, or patience you don’t have before coffee.
When it comes to concealer brushes, two options dominate the conversation (not that they are the only ones out there). Ulta Beauty Collection (UBC) and BK Beauty. One is understated, accessible, and practical. The other is softer, more sculptural, and undeniably cult‑famous.
Here’s how they compare—without the noise.
Both are very similar, right now to their weight
Ulta Beauty Collection: The Understated Essential
This is not the Ulta Beauty Collection Precision Concealer Brush 118. This is the Contoured Foundation Brush 102, which is easy to overlook—and that’s exactly its appeal. It’s quiet. It’s functional. It does a great job. It has 4.8 stars but only 6 reviews. In my opinion, this brush is underrated.
Price & Value
At $16, this brush sits firmly in the “no overthinking required” category. It’s affordable, widely available, and often discounted. It was $8.00 on the recent 50% sale, which puts it right in the price point of ELF —making it one of Ulta’s most accessible tools. [ulta.com]
Softness & Feel
Made with synthetic, vegan bristles, the brush is soft enough for under‑eye use without feeling too much for that area. If that makes sense. As in, it doesn’t overwhelm delicate skin, and it maintains just enough structure to stay precise. [ulta.com]
Ease of Use
The tapered shape at the sides and in the front of the brush is intuitive. I don’t know if this designed for the eye area was first introduced by Bk Beauty or not. It certainly isn’t the first for the beauty industry. It works best for targeted concealing—dark circles, redness, blemishes—without demanding technique. You don’t need to “learn” this brush. You just use it. I have to admit this is exactly the same for BK Beauty 109.
BK Beauty: The Elevated “Upgrade”?
BK Beauty’s concealer brushes 109 advertising feel like the opposite philosophy. This is the brush you buy deliberately, after seeing it praised repeatedly. Wondering if softness really makes that much difference.
Once again, this is called the mini contoured foundation brush in their line. I use it for concealer under the eye. Or around the nose, mouth or where need to apply a bit more.
Price & Positioning
Retailing at $32, the 109 costs twice as much as the Ulta option. Positioning it clearly in the “considered purchase” category. Which means I would consider getting it again, if I hadn’t found similar brushes for less.
Softness & Bristle Quality
This is where BK Beauty earns its reputation. They have soft brushes no doubt. But UBC has come up in this category as well.
Verdict:
Sorry, BK Beauty. As with everything when you are popular and do a great job. Someone is going to sneaky up behind you and do a great job as well for a lower cost. Simply, Ulta Beauty Collection has bigger buying power and they didn’t collaborate with YouTubers. Which keeps their costs down.
That is not to say that one is extremely better than the other. There is not a clear winner here other than price point.
For the consumer. This means you don’t have to sacrifice luxury and quality for price.
This is not sponsored by anyone. Ulta Beauty Collection or BK Beauty do not know I am writing about their products. Or that I was even trying out their products. In fact, I have been trying out the UBC Beauty Collection line for about a year now. The BK Beauty line for about 3 or 4 months now. That has been time to wash these brushes and use them several times. I even purchased another one of the BK Beauty from a different retailer to see if the quality was different. It wasn’t.
Do you agree?
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