The 11 Best Foundation Brushes, Tested and Reviewed

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 InStyle tester Jill 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, our tester 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. It also works with liquid, cream, and powder formulas, making it a great choice for those who like to switch up their look.

Anyone looking for light coverage (and with a pet peeve for smudge marks) would do well to choose this pick. That said, by the end of testing, Jill noticed it lost a few bristles and saw chips of paint flaking off the handle. Still, at the price, it’s an easy entry point for anyone who wants smooth, quick blending without spending much.

Head Shape: Dome | Brush Material: Synthetic | Designed For: Buildable coverage | Best With: Liquid, cream, and powder formulas | Special Features: Vegan, cruelty-free bristles

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

Merit’s entire brand ethos is centered around “makeup you can’t mess up,” and this incredible blending brush is no exception. With incredibly soft yet dense bristles, it glides against the skin, easily and evenly blending liquid foundation for a smooth, streak-free finish. It’s easy to use for beginners and pros alike. Our tester Jayne loved how the short, tiny brush head helped reach tricky areas like the crevices of the nose or jawline. The best part: It doesn’t absorb any product, so you can be sure you’re getting the most from your application. The tapered shape also gives you more precision than larger buffing brushes, especially around smaller areas of the face.

Anyone who wants a versatile brush that provides a seamless look will appreciate this pick—this brush can easily blend foundation, creamy contour and bronzer, blush formulas, and more. It’s simple and intuitive to use, so beginners will have luck with it. Because the bristles are so light-colored, stains will show up easily. Regular washing will help keep the brush looking fresh and performing at its best.

Head Shape: Dome | Brush Material: Synthetic | Designed For: Natural coverage | Best With: Liquid and cream formulas | Special Features: Tapered precision head, low product absorption

Jayne, tester: “The bristles were extremely soft. I even made other people feel it because it is softer than most brushes I have used for foundation before. The brush really did not absorb any of the liquid foundation so I got an even distribution across my face.”

On a good day, a liquid foundation makes our skin glow with a smooth, balanced finish, but on a bad day, it leaves a complexion riddled with streaks and stamp marks. Despite the flat, round shape of the brush head and long, tapered wood handle, InStyle tester Jayne felt the brush was very easy to hold and maneuver while applying foundation. It gave her complexion a smooth, uniform finish right from the start and didn’t absorb any product, so she achieved an even, full-coverage look every time. The curved shape also helps hug the contours of the face for more seamless blending.

Those who regularly use liquid foundation will appreciate this brush’s smooth, streak-free coverage. Because of its unique brush head, our tester Jayne recommends this to anyone who is specifically looking to apply foundation. If you’re looking for a multipurpose brush, this option may not be the best choice. Its denser bristles are better suited for precise foundation application than softer, more flexible multitasking brushes.

Head Shape: Flat, round | Brush Material: Synthetic | Designed For: Full coverage | Best With: Liquid foundation | Special Features: Curved contouring head, minimal product absorption

Jayne, tester: “The foundation spread smoothly along my skin and blended very well, leaving a natural-looking, full-coverage finish. The soft bristles are a plus, too.” 

Clé de Peau knows how to take a seemingly simple product, like our favorite makeup remover wipes, and add an air of luxury to it. The gold-accented, tapered brush handle has a sleek design that just looks special on our makeup vanities. The pointed tip allowed our tester, Nikki, to reach the 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 and firm enough to get the lighter coverage she wanted. It distributes foundation in an even, streak-free layer. The angled head also helps the brush sit closely against the skin for seamless blending around contours like the jawline and nose.

If you’re applying a foundation for mature skin, you’ll want to use a brush like this one that has bendy bristles that won’t catch on textured areas, giving a smooth finish. Some of the bristles clumped together after cleaning. Regular washing and reshaping the bristles while damp may help maintain its full shape.

Head Shape: Angled | Brush Material: Synthetic | Designed For: Full coverage | Best With: Liquid and cream foundation | Special Features: Precision tapered tip, luxe weighted handle, contour-hugging angled head

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.”

In the same way that Charlotte Tilbury’s skin tints give our redness-prone complexions a natural glow, the Magic Complexion Brush works like, well, magic. This time, it’s the tapered brush design and soft, natural bristles on the brush that have us raving. Unlike most other foundation brushes, this one has a looser, fluffier 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 allowed the foundation to glide on, giving her a totally natural, diffused base. The softer, airy shape also helps create a more skin-like finish than denser buffing brushes.

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 with it. It works especially well with cream or liquid formulas that benefit from gradual, seamless blending.

Head Shape: Round | Brush Material: Synthetic | Designed For: Buildable coverage | Best With: Liquid and cream foundation | Special Features: Fluffy diffusing head, airbrushed finish, handcrafted design

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.”

We get 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, amping up the coverage from light to medium with just a few swipes. The slightly rounded brush head seemed to move with our tester’s skin. It blended the light liquid foundation evenly across the curves of her forehead, cheeks, and chin rather than simply slathering the product in one flat layer across the face. The ultra-soft bristles also dispersed product smoothly without leaving streaks or lines behind.

Anyone who typically runs late in the morning will appreciate this brush’s ability to cover many areas of the face quickly and evenly. Because the tapered shape is still precise, it can also work around smaller areas like the eye orbit or sides of the nose. And if you have deep acne scars or marks you’d like to blur, this also helps provide ample coverage. It’s a fairly delicate brush, so you’ll need to wash and handle it gently.

Head Shape: Tapered | Brush Material: Synthetic | Designed For: Buildable coverage | Best With: Liquid foundation, skin tints, cream bronzer | Special Features: Tapered precision bristles, minimal product waste, oversized handle

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.”

Those of us with large pores are all too familiar with hoping for a smooth finish when applying foundation and ending up accentuating them even further. However, according to the professionals we chatted with, Real Techniques designed this large, fluffy brush specifically with uneven skin texture in mind. Its round shape lightly buffed the product onto the skin and gave it an even look, according to our 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. The domed shape also made it easy to blend quickly without overworking the skin.

Those with textured skin or large pores will be able to apply foundation smoothly and flawlessly. We had to use some muscle to rinse out all the foundation caught between tightly packed bristles. Still, the dense brush head helps create the kind of seamless, polished finish that can be worth the extra cleanup.

Head Shape: Dome | Brush Material: Synthetic | Designed For: Medium to full coverage | Best With: Liquid and cream foundation | Special Features: Dense buffing bristles, ergonomic handle, quick blending coverage

Michelle, tester: “This brush was the perfect size and gave my skin a smooth finish. It held onto a very small amount of the foundation and transferred the rest nicely onto the skin.”

In our never-ending quest to banish flakes, we try to set ourselves up for success by slathering the richest moisturizers onto our skin before using foundation. But it wasn’t until we tried this brush that we finally got the natural-looking finish of our dreams. Although flat-topped brushes can be intimidating, this one was a cinch to use. InStyle tester Stacey only needed a few swipes to cover her whole face, and the result was so even and free of streaks that she didn’t even need to go back over any spots. The flexible, lightweight bristles maneuvered easily around her nose and cheeks and felt so lovely that Stacey felt comfortable using the brush on her delicate eye area.

Anyone seeking to camouflage imperfections evenly, especially in tight areas like around the nose and cheeks, will appreciate this pick. Keep in mind that since the bristles are jam-packed, we had to clean the brush a bit more aggressively to get it all out. However, those same densely packed bristles are also what help create its smooth, streak-free finish with liquid formulas. As it’s buttery soft, it might not be the best option for pressed powder foundations or heavier coverage.

Head Shape: Flat | Brush Material: Synthetic | Designed For: Buildable coverage | Best With: Liquid, cream, and loose powder foundation | Special Features: Flat-top buffing head, pore-blurring finish, ergonomic handle

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

After using scratchy brushes on sensitive skin, you’d have a good reason to prefer using your fingertips instead. However, the Hourglass Glow Foundation Brush is a better option when you don’t want to make a mess. InStyle tester Amy said the impossibly soft bristles felt like animal fur (rest assured the brush is cruelty-free) and left minimal to no streaking on her face. The angled shape also made it especially easy to blend around contours like the nose and under-eye area.

If you like having a brush that’s easy to use, the thick handle on this option allows for a tight grip and control over the application. Our tester’s final look never appeared too heavy, so give it a try if you prefer light or medium coverage. The bristles were more loosely packed and tended to soak up product. Still, that softer density helps create a more natural, skin-like finish than firmer full-coverage brushes.

Head Shape: Angled | Brush Material: Synthetic | Designed For: Buildable coverage | Best With: Liquid and cream foundation | Special Features: Contour-friendly angled head, ergonomic handle, skin-like finish

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

With this dual-ended brush, our tester Kristin easily switched from applying liquid foundation across her forehead, cheeks, and under-eye area with the flat-angled end to blending and buffing with the larger, fluffier end. It was easy to hold and maneuver, so she was able to apply it quickly and achieve a smooth, streak-free result. She also found that the softer buffing end helped fix any streaky or patchy spots with minimal effort.

Great for anyone who struggles with a streaky or patchy foundation application. While our tester found it worked well with liquid foundation, she expects it to deliver just as amazing results with cream and powder foundations, too. The bristles may shed after extended use. Still, during testing, the brush felt sturdy, comfortable to use, and picked up just the right amount of product.

Head Shape: Angled, round | Brush Material: Synthetic and vegan fibers | Designed For: Buildable coverage, concealing | Best With: Liquid, cream, and powder foundation | Special Features: Dual-ended design, buffing + blending heads, soft bristles

Kristin, tester: “This is easily the best foundation brush I’ve used.” 

Our tester, Stephanie, couldn’t stop raving about the cat paw shape of this Sephora Collection foundation brush. With its tapered bristles, it became one of the closest options she tested, and it felt nearly identical to applying foundation with her fingertips. Its bristles, which she says feel like plush velvet, nestled nicely into the smaller areas of her face and helped seamlessly blend around tricky areas like the jawline and neck. The dense, smooth surface also helped deposit and blend foundation in one step.

Those who love a soft foundation brush will adore this option. Although the densely packed bristles held onto a little more product than we would’ve liked, rather than immediately transferring to the face, Stephanie could still quickly finish her look. It’s especially well suited for cream formulas, cream compacts, and stick foundations that benefit from a more pressing, fingertip-like application.

Head Shape: Tapered | Brush Material: Synthetic | Designed For: Medium coverage | Best With: Cream, stick, and liquid foundation | Special Features: Fingertip-like application, contour-hugging shape, sustainably sourced wood handle

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.”