There’s an art to creating the perfect foundation, and the best foundation brushes can take your skills from beginner to pro. Quality tools make a huge difference between a striped base and a seamless, blurry finish. Plus, with a little TLC (regular cleaning), a good brush can last for years. And once you finally find your perfect shade, you need a brush to blend it beautifully. It’s not a brush that absorbs all the product or leaves behind streaks.
So what makes a good foundation brush?According to Doni Davey, Head Makeup Artist, euphoria The Half Magic co-founder says, “It depends on how you do it, but if you want to stamp-buff like I do, your buffing brush should be very soft and dense, preferably round or semi-circular.” To help you better understand your options and help you on your journey to flawless makeup, we’ve rounded up the best foundation brushes below.
Our top foundation brushes
Best overall: Hourglass Ambient Soft Glow Foundation Brush
Why it’s worth it: In 2022, allure The Hourglass Ambient Soft Glow Foundation Brush takes the ultimate crown: Best Foundation Brush. And it has held that title ever since. That’s because it’s designed to mimic fingertip control for a natural-looking finish, and vegan fiber technology ensures a flawless base. The tips of the bristles are slightly angled to ensure coverage in hard-to-reach areas such as under the eyes and inner corners of the eyes for a buttery smooth finish. Even if you forget to wash it regularly (sinful!), it will still give you solid results.
“I’ve never really used brushes for foundation or concealer (I’m a loyal makeup sponge girl here), but that changed the moment I tried this one. It’s small enough to get into every nook and cranny, but it glides effortlessly all over your face, unlike other small brushes that take forever. I use it for both foundation and concealer, so I’m killing two birds with one stone.” —Lily Wallner, Commerce Writer
- Hair type: synthesis
- Perfect for: liquid and cream
Perfect for liquid foundation: Saie the base foundation brush
Why it’s worth it: Saie’s The Base Foundation Brush offers both flexibility and precision for flawless blending, especially in tricky areas like around the nose and under the eyes. The dome-shaped brush is filled with super soft bristles that evenly distribute liquid milk without soaking it (a rare feat, we know). I’ve also used it with a cream bronzer and the color absorbs seamlessly into the skin. Easily creates a skin-like finish without any stripes or harsh lines.
Feedback from testers allure Contributed by Commerce Editor Deanna Pai
- Hair type: synthetic and vegan fibers
- Perfect for: liquid and cream
Best drugstore: Real Technics Expert Face Makeup Brush
Why it’s worth it: Real Techniques won the Allure Best of Beauty Award for its tools. This proves you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg on solid brushes. Super soft, tightly packed bristles pick up just the right amount of product and blend it into your skin, leaving a silky, seamless finish. No matter how many times you wash it, the bristles always recover without fraying or drying out. It also glides smoothly over foundation (unlike the dense Kabuki brush) and works beautifully as a brush for cream bronzer, blush, and even highlight.
Tester feedback from Wohlner
“This is one of my favorite foundation brushes. Coming from someone who loves a full-coverage base speaks volumes. I use it to apply foundation, of course, but I also use it to buff all my base products together. After layering bronzer, blush, and highlighter, this brush blends any leftover foundation over everything to create a flawless, skin-friendly finish that I prefer over something matte or cakey.”—Lily Wallner, Commerce Writer
- Hair type: synthesis
- Perfect for: liquid and cream
Best Kabuki Award: Danessa Mylix Beauty Yummy Face 2.0 Teardrop Kabuki Complexion Brush
Why it’s worth it: For the uninitiated, Kabuki brushes have dense, round bristles that can handle liquids, creams, and and Apply the powder (yes!) product to your skin for a seamless finish. Unlike most brushes, this brush blends powder like a liquid, smoothing the skin and never leaving a sticky feeling. What’s the standout piece we can’t stop raving about? Danessa Myricks Yummy Face 2.0 Teardrop Kabuki Brush. As the name suggests, this teardrop-shaped tool is designed to snugly fit every curve and contour of your face (even those awkward areas under your eyes). The ultra-soft, tightly packed bristles create an airbrushed, skin-like finish without swallowing foundation or concealer. And for the lazy ones, it covers large areas in just a few operations and achieves a perfectly even base in record time.
Feedback from testers allure Commerce Editor Sarah Han
“All my brushes are usually tucked away in plastic containers, so I love how Danessa Myrick’s adorable stand literally stands out. Thanks to the generously sized head, Yummy Face 2.0 Personally, I like to pat the liquid foundation on with my fingers first before buffing it all out with a brush. I get super smooth and even coverage with just a few swipes on my cheekbones, jawline, and forehead. ” —Sarah Han
- Hair type: synthesis
- Perfect for: liquid, cream, balm, powder
Best dual ended: Makeup with Mario F4 dual-end foundation and face brush
Why it’s worth it: Once you get the Best of Beauty award-winning makeup with Mario F4 Dual-Ended Foundation and Face Brush, there’s no going back. (Some editors have more than one, and that’s a good thing.) Its magic lies in its double-beveled tip, which glides seamlessly over every curve of your face, leaving a flawless, streak-free finish. Whether you use creams, powders, or liquids (foundation, blush, bronzer, etc.), the fluffy side is perfect for blending, buffing, and applying products over large areas. On the other hand, the smaller side is suitable for applying cream products (concealer, blush, or highlighter) to small areas such as under the eyes or upper cheeks.
“Spending over $30 for a foundation brush may seem like a lot, but Makeup by Mario’s F4 Dual-Ended Brush is an all-purpose brush in my makeup bag and is worth every penny. You can apply foundation smoothly and evenly in minutes.The other compact brush tip is great for blending into your hairline because it allows you to apply it more precisely and get it closer without getting product in your hair.”When I don’t have the space or time, I use the compact end for things like contour, creamy bronzer, and liquid blush. I’ve never been disappointed in a seamless application. ” —Cassidy Silva, Social Director
Feedback from testers allure Beauty Closet Associate Edward Hogan
“This brush is so versatile that it’s gradually replacing three different brushes in my collection. I use it for almost every cream or liquid-based product, and it always blends easily. The smaller side is more precise for sharp contours or perfectly placed cheeks, and the larger side helps smoothly diffuse foundation and bronzer into the skin with just a few taps.” —Edward Hogan, Beauty Closet Associate
- Hair type: synthetic and vegan fibers
- Perfect for: liquid, cream, powder
Best dome: laura mercier real flawless foundation brush
Laura Mercier
Real flawless foundation brush
Why it’s worth it: Laura Mercier’s Real Flawless Foundation Brush has a teardrop shape that we think is absolutely genius. Use the domed surface to apply your favorite foundation onto your skin, then use the tapered tip to reach the contours of your face and finish with a stippling technique to achieve your desired coverage. Soft and gentle bristles remove lines and oiliness around small areas of the face that are often forgotten, such as the nose, chin, and hairline. The handle is also very durable and easy to hold.
- Hair type: synthetic hair
- Perfect for: liquid and cream
Best buffing: MAC 130S Short Duo Fiber Brush
Mac
130S Short Duo Fiber Brush
Why it’s worth it: tobi hennyThe bicoastal makeup artist says her brush lineup wouldn’t be complete without the MAC 130 Short Duo Fiber Brush. She calls it Kit’s “truly masterpiece.” She swears by using it to make her liquid foundation look completely natural and even better. The short, flat bristles are perfect for seamlessly swirling product around tricky areas like the nose and mouth, and also work as a dream tool for creamy blush and highlighter. Basically, it’s such a multitasker that you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it.
- Hair type: synthetic hair
- Perfect for: liquid and cream
Beauty tool details:
Source: Allure – www.allure.com
