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Feb 23, 2025

The 16 Best Foundation Brushes, Tested and Reviewed

We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Uneven, streaky coverage? We don’t know her. In This Article InStyle Makeup brushes

We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.

Uneven, streaky coverage? We don’t know her.

In This Article

InStyle

Makeup brushes can, in our experience, incite unnecessary levels of beauty-related anxiety. (Why are there so many? Do I need all of them?) The good news is that plenty of options are available—particularly for applying foundation—to keep your makeup looking its best. “There’s a wide variety of foundation brushes to choose from, depending on the product you’re using and the kind of finish you want your foundation to have,” says Lauren Wolborsky, a New York-based makeup artist and aesthetician. “A denser brush allows for easier layer-building coverage, while a fluffier brush applies foundation more naturally to the skin. Changing your tool will always affect the result and performance of your products.”

If this sounds like a lot of info, don’t panic—we’re here to help you find the best tool for your unique beauty needs. We spoke to four makeup artists to help us cut through the noise and select the most popular foundation brushes to test on our skin with our favorite makeup. We judged each one on design, durability, and bristle quality, including how easily and smoothly it blended foundation on our skin. Read on to discover the best foundation brushes to take your look from all right to amazing.

Why We Love It: Until someone invents an all-purpose foundation brush tool, the Smashbox Blurring Foundation Brush is your next best bet. It works well on light, medium, and full-coverage foundations, utilizing flexible bristles and a large, round brush head to make our foundation appear like a second skin. InStyle tester Chelsea found that the brush works well with both full-coverage foundation and lighter skin tints. If you want a high-glam look, however, you may need a brush with denser bristles.

Who It’s For: This brush is perfect for those looking to achieve "a blurring effect for a natural makeup look without requiring too much product,” says Chelsea. Additionally, the bristles are soft, so you won’t feel like you’re stabbing yourself every time you buff it into your skin, but they’re dense enough to blend the product without much effort.

Head Shape: Dome | Brush Material: Synthetic | Designed For: Natural coverage

Chelsea, tester: “The brush blended the foundation perfectly and didn't make it look like I had caked on a ton of makeup.”

Why We Love It: The e.l.f blending brush was a bit of a sleeper hit until we learned that the large round head and thick handle made the perfect buffing brush for sheer to light coverage. These design features allowed us to expertly make those small circles required to blend the product into the skin for a diffused finish rather than smearing the product across it. Although not everyone will love the lush, round brush head or the airy feel of the bristles (versus a firm touch), InStyle tester Jill was surprised by how much she enjoyed using it. Plus, it did the job faster than any other brush she tested since the large brush head covered a lot of real estate at once.

Who It’s For: Anyone looking for a small but sturdy amount of coverage (and has a pet peeve for smudge marks) would do well to choose this pick. One thing to keep in mind: This brush is here for a good time, not a long time. By the end of testing, Jill noticed it lost a few bristles and saw chips of paint flaking off the handle.

Head Shape: Dome | Brush Material: Synthetic | Designed For: Buildable coverage

Jill, tester: “The bristles on this brush are soft and not too densely packed, which causes it to glide nicely and evenly deposit product.”

Why We Love It: We’re tempted to label this glossy tortoiseshell brush as a decorative tchotchke, particularly with the included pedestal that also prevents it from picking up nightstand debris. However, the brush performs as well as it looks. It has a short handle that allows for precise application and maneuverability and compact bristles. InStyle tester Chantia describes it as a “combination of a Beauty Blender and a standard foundation brush.” These features allow her to roll on the liquid foundation for a diffused, natural look while applying more product at a time.

Who It’s For: Those who prefer the ultimate precision when applying their foundation will appreciate this detail-oriented foundation brush. Although the wide, round brush head makes application go by in seconds, Chantia did have to rely on the tool with a more pointed tip to reach the smaller corners of her face, like under her eyes.

Head Shape: Teardrop | Brush Material: Synthetic | Designed For: Full coverage

Chantia, tester: “This product gave me the smoothest feeling I have ever felt from a foundation brush.”

Why We Love It: Stick foundation is a different beauty beast. Yes, its convenient vessel means you can apply it directly to your skin, but blending out the creamy formulas requires an artist’s eye. That’s why InStyle tester Ciara appreciated that she could pat the foundation onto the skin using the brush’s flat top. Plus, if you don’t want full coverage, the flat head is a great tool for picking up product and spot-treating blemishes and dark spots. Case in point: when Ciara applied lighter formulas with the brush, the results were heaven—diffused, natural coverage.

Who It’s For: Those who prefer the versatility of a stick foundation (but hate the streaks that can sometimes come with) will enjoy this brush. Do note that for heavier formulas, a brush with a rounded dome-shaped head is still best.

Head Shape: Dome | Brush Material: Synthetic | Designed For: Medium to full coverage

Ciara, tester: “The bristles are short on this brush, so you have a lot of control.”

Why We Love It: Like anything designed by Patrick Ta, the golden Dual Ended Complexion Brush is easy on the eyes, and so is its coverage. The side meant for foundation effortlessly packed on the product, while the powder side allowed InStyle tester Julia to coat her face evenly in the finely milled product. Plus, the dual-ended makeup weapon is a phenomenal partner when you break out the contour palette.

Who It’s For: Among its many talents, this brush is perfect for those who regularly apply lighter setting powders. Do note that the bristles may not be dense enough to pack on a heavier powder foundation formula.

Head Shape: Dome, tulip shape (tapered) | Brush Material: Synthetic | Designed For: Buildable coverage

Julia, tester: “I only had to apply about two coats of product to achieve full coverage, and the bristles on this brush hold the perfect amount of foundation.”

Why We Love It: While one of the benefits of skin tints or tinted moisturizer is the ability to smear it on thoughtlessly with our hands, sometimes this results in uneven, streaky coverage. The Tarte Face Tape Foundation Brush has bristles that expertly pick up lighter-weight formulas and deposit them onto the skin without leaving the moisturizer stuck between bristles. While InStyle tester Paige typically “gets nervous about blending” her thicker, tinted moisturizer, she “had no problem doing so with this brush.”

Who It’s For: The diamond-shaped head’s curved edges are helpful for anyone who needs extra coverage around the creases of the nose and under-eyes. One more note: The brush head is relatively small, so it may take more time to cover large areas of your face.

Head Shape: Triangle | Brush Material: Synthetic | Designed For: Full coverage

Paige, tester: “The bristles are very dense and don't move often when in use, which prevented the product from appearing patchy.”

Why We Love It: We become gleeful whenever we spy Saie’s trademark lavender-hued logo and lithe typeface, and once again, the brand didn’t leave us wanting. It was easy for InStyle tester Stacey to wrap her fingers around the chubby handle and maneuver the brush. The bristles picked up enough foundation to hide things that lighter foundations normally wouldn’t, like bright acne scars, taking the coverage up a notch from light to a more moderate base with just a few swipes. Moreover, the slightly rounded brush head seemed to move with our skin and blended the light liquid foundation evenly across the curves of our forehead, cheeks, and chin, rather than simply slathering the product in one flat layer across our face.

Who It’s For: Anyone who typically runs late in the morning will appreciate this brush’s ability to cover many areas of the face quickly and evenly.

Head Shape: Tapered | Brush Material: Synthetic | Designed For: Buildable coverage

Stacey, tester: “Since the bristles are dense and compact, it holds the product well and is great for both gliding and dabbing on the skin.”

Why We Love It: In the same way that Charlotte Tilbury’s skin tints give our redness-prone complexions a natural glow, this aptly coined Magic Complexion Brush worked like, well, magic. This time, it’s the tapered brush design and soft natural bristles on the Complexion Brush that have us raving. Unlike most other foundation brushes, this has a looser, fluffier-feeling brush head that isn’t quite as densely packed. This surprising feature, along with the plush bristles, required a buffing technique rather than a painted-on approach. InStyle tester Jane says the flat shape “glided the foundation on my face,” giving her a totally natural, diffused base.

Who It’s For: Those who prefer a light-handed application and a second-skin-like finish will love this brush. Keep in mind that it may require some patience to perfect a full-coverage or high-drama finish while using it.

Head Shape: Round | Brush Material: Synthetic | Designed For: Buildable coverage

Jane, tester: “I like that this brush is thin on top and gets slightly thicker approaching the brush head, so I can adjust my grip as necessary.”

Why We Love It: On a good day, liquid foundation makes our skin glow with a smooth, balanced wash, but on a bad day leaves a complexion riddled with streaks and stamp marks. However, the Laura Mercier Foundation Brush always left us with a good foundation day. Despite the smaller size of the brush head, InStyle tester Mandy’s routine didn’t take any longer than it normally would with a larger brush head, simply because it gave her complexion a smooth, uniform appearance right from the start. “I didn't see streaks that I had to keep blending,” says Mandy. However, the bristles felt so silky and smooth that she wouldn’t have minded more buffing or blending.

Who It’s For: Those who regularly use liquid formula foundations will appreciate this brush’s streak-free coverage. All in all, if the branded label hadn't worn off the brush so easily, the brush would be flawless—but considering this didn’t impact its effectiveness, we’ll let it slide.

Head Shape: Teardrop | Brush Material: Synthetic | Designed For: Full coverage, contouring

Mandy, tester: “This brush head is slanted and shaped like a teardrop to effectively cover the curves of my face.”

Why We Love It: Those of us with large pores are all too familiar with the dread that comes with applying foundation and just hoping for the best with crossed fingers. According to the professionals we chatted with, this large, fluffy brush from Real Techniques was designed specifically with uneven texture in mind. Its round shape lightly buffed the product onto the skin and gave it an even look, according to InStyle tester Michelle. She also found that the bristles were spaced far enough apart to deposit just the right amount of liquid foundation over her textured complexion, saying, “It held onto a very small amount of the foundation and transferred the rest nicely onto the skin.”

Who It’s For: Those with texture skin or large pores will be able to apply foundation flawlessly with this brush designed specifically to enhance their skin type. Do note that we had to use some muscle to rinse out all the foundation caught between tightly packed bristles.

Head Shape: Dome | Brush Material: Synthetic | Designed For: Medium to full coverage

Michelle, tester: “This brush was the perfect size and gave my skin a smooth finish.”

Why We Love It: Clé de Peau knows how to take a seemingly simple product, like our favorite makeup remover wipes, and breathe an air of luxury into it. Limber like a ballerina, the gold-accented, sleek tapered brush handle lent it an artistic appearance that simply felt more grown-up. Featuring an old-school tapered brush head, the pointed tip allowed InStyle tester Nikki to reach tight corners of her face. Although the bristles were densely packed, giving the brush a full, lush appearance, they were very soft and just flexible enough while still providing the moderately firm-feeling application we needed to get the lighter coverage we wanted. It distributed foundation “in an even, streak-free layer,” says Nikki.

Who It’s For: Like a foundation for mature skin, the bendy bristles move in the direction of creases and crepey areas instead of catching on these textured areas, making it a great choice for those with fine lines. Except for the fact that some of the bristles clumped together after cleaning, it was difficult to find another fault in this brush.

Head Shape: Angled | Brush Material: Synthetic | Designed For: Full coverage

Nikki, tester: “I could easily apply product around my eyes and in the creases near my nose and other smaller areas of my face like my forehead and chin.”

Why We Love It: After being scarred (almost literally) in the past by scratchy brush bristles that rub abrasively against our sensitive skin, there’s a good reason we sometimes prefer using our fingertips. However, when we don’t want to make a mess, the next best, arguably better option, is to take advantage of the Hourglass Glow Foundation Brush. The impossibly soft bristles, which are “so soft to the touch that it reminds me of animal fur,” says InStyle tester Amy, and “leave minimal to no streaking,” on her face. (Have no fear: the brushes are cruelty-free.)

Who It’s For: This brush’s thick handle allows for a tight grip and the same level of control as rubbing in foundation with your fingers, making this a good pick for those who prefer a more polished version of that method. Even though the bristles were a little more loosely packed and tended to soak up product, Amy’s final look never appeared too heavy.

Head Shape: Angled | Brush Material: Synthetic | Designed For: Buildable coverage

Amy, tester: “The small size and the oval shape of the brush allowed for an even application and distribution of foundation.”

Why We Love It: In our never-ending quest to banish flakage, we try to set ourselves up for cake-free success by slathering the richest moisturizers onto our skin before using foundation—but it wasn’t until we tried the IT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Flat Top that we finally got the natural-looking finish of dreams. Although flat-topped brushes can be intimidating to beginners due to their unique design, this one was a cinch to use. InStyle tester Stacey only needed a few swipes to cover her whole face so evenly and fully that she didn’t even need to go back over any streaky spots (because there were none). Additionally, the flexible, lightweight bristles maneuvered easily around her nose and cheeks. In fact, their texture was so lovely that she says, “I felt comfortable wiping this brush above my eyes.”

Who It’s For: Anyone seeking to camouflage imperfections evenly would do well to choose this pick. Keep in mind that since the bristles are jam-packed, we had to rub the brush head a bit more aggressively when cleaning to get it all out.

Head Shape: Flat | Brush Material: Synthetic | Designed For: Buildable coverage

Stacey, tester: “It's easy to get a good grip on this brush since it is slightly hourglass shaped.”

Why We Love It: Sometimes, simplicity works best, and this Morphe brush is a prime example. With basic but very well-constructed features, InStyle tester Cristina used this brush to paint foundation onto her face like a paintbrush on canvas. Long, lightweight bristles paired with a flat, firm brush head made for an extremely easy and effortless full-coverage application that still looked natural. Although it took her a few tries to become acquainted with the handle (it was longer than the ones she was used to working with), once she got the hang of it, this brush basically did all the work for her.

Who It’s For: Anyone who likes to work in light layers and create buildable, natural-looking coverage will be a fan of this brush. Though the bristles came out a little clumpy after a rinse under water, since this brush performed so well (and is a bit more affordable compared several others we tested), it's easier to forgive this one flaw.

Head Shape: Oval | Brush Material: Synthetic | Designed For: Full coverage

Cristina, tester: “This brush is a smaller size, so it's easier to make the foundation buildable.”

Why We Love It: Makeup brushes are notoriously pricey products (and admittedly less fun to purchase than the actual makeup itself), so we hipped and hoorayed that the e.l.f. Complexion Duo Brush outperformed some of the more expensive options we tried. The handle is dual-ended, so InStyle tester Stephanie could dexterously flip from sweeping foundation across her forehead and cheeks with the large brush end to honing in with the small-bristled end to reach tight spaces around her nose. These user-friendly features meant that she finished her final look in no time, noting that “using the smaller brush head on my brow bone and under eyes made the application process even faster.”

Who It’s For: The spaced-apart bristles blend liquid foundation in sheer layers, making it a stellar pick for anyone who uses this technique to build their look. Some of the foundation stained the bristles for Stephanie, but this didn’t seem to affect the brush’s effectiveness.

Head Shape: Round | Brush Material: Synthetic | Designed For: Buildable coverage, concealing

Stephanie, tester: “This brush provided very clear and defined coverage.”

Why We Love It: InStyle tester Stephanie couldn’t stop raving about the cat paw shape of the Sephora Collection #7 Foundation Brush. Combined with its tapered bristles it became one of the closest options she tested that felt near-identical to applying foundation with her fingertips. Its bristles, which she says “feel like a plush velvet,” nestled nicely into the smaller areas of her face and helped to seamlessly blend around tricky areas, like between the jawline and neck.

Who It’s For: Those who love a softer than, well, soft foundation brush will adore this option. Although the densely packed bristles held onto a little more product than we would’ve liked, instead of immediately transferring the foundation to her skin, Stephanie still quickly finished her look.

Head Shape: Tapered | Brush Material: Synthetic | Designed for: Medium coverage

Stephanie, tester: “The round but fan-like shape makes the application process seamless, and I only needed a few strokes and one to two layers of the product to achieve full coverage.”

Generally, says Barad, you’d use the same technique for a liquid or cream foundation, starting with placing a small amount on the back of your hand and “stippling it onto skin gradually” in order to build coverage. “I like to work in thin layers for a more flawless look to make the skin look as natural as possible and add more layers to areas that require more coverage,” she adds.

Barad says that she primarily only uses powder foundations if she’s “working on a skin that requires full coverage,” in which case she’ll layer a powder foundation over a liquid one. In this instance, Barad always uses a “press and roll” technique. She says, “I never swipe powder across the skin because it causes the liquids and creams underneath to move, causing you to lose the coverage you’ve built.”

Additionally, Adetunji also recommends applying powder foundations after any liquid products and using a loosely packed bristled brush to work in light layers over your other makeup. “If you want to maximize the coverage or use the powder foundation on its own, you can use a buffer brush, which is large and flat, but a little denser than a powder brush,” she says.

As Barad explains, flat and domed brushes are better tools for melting liquid formulas into the skin for a natural-looking finish. West also adds that “while a flat foundation brush can help you layer on product and pat it in, I personally like an angled and full foundation brush for applying and blending. It is condensed, which is helpful to apply with, but it has a soft texture to buff or sheer out the finish.”

However, our experts agree that with the right technique, any brush can work for a liquid formula. “There are no set rules,” says West. “Sometimes, I’ll use a loose brush made for powders to apply my liquid foundation for a sheer look.”

Cleaning your foundation brushes is essential; otherwise, you’re inviting bacteria and grime to clog your pores. It’s good to give brushes you use regularly, like foundation brushes, a thorough rinse at least once a week. According to our pros, you don’t need anything fancy to get the job done; just warm water and antibacterial, fragrance-free soap should do the trick.

If regular soap doesn’t appeal to you or if you splurged on a brush and want to be extra gentle with it, West recommends a brush cleaner, and you’ll always lay them flat to dry so they retain their shape.

During the summer months, you’ll want to clean more often because sweat is now in the mix, and for times when your social calendar is packed with event after event, Barad suggests spritzing them with a spray cleaner so you don’t have to let them dry overnight (and they’re never fully dry after just one night).

“Playing with brushes of different density levels and application methods will create different results. For clients looking to build a full-coverage look, I recommend using a brush with a bit more density—whether it’s a kabuki or flat-top brush—to stipple or tap coverage onto the skin. For those wanting something more natural with light coverage, I suggest a mixture of buffing and tapping motions with a fluffier foundation brush. This method allows you to control the coverage you apply and will only deposit product in the areas you want to fully cover," says Wolborsky.

Irene Richardson is a beauty and fashion writer for InStyle. For this story, she compiled insights from our in-house testers, read dozens of online reviews, and rounded up our top picks. She also spoke with the following highly sought-after makeup artists:

Allison Lax, a fellow InStyle writer, also interviewed New York-based makeup artist and aesthetician Lauren Wolborsky for additional insights.