There’s an art to makeup application. First, you need the right products: a foundation that perfectly matches your skin tone, a deep bronzer to warm up your face, a rosy blush to give you a bashful glow, and so on. But once you’ve found your tried-and-true beauty products, it becomes a matter of skill and makeup tools — including the best foundation brushes.
The right products can only go so far, and the last thing you want is for your pricey foundation to get soaked up in a makeup sponge or applied streakily to your face. A good makeup brush, while often an investment, can make a huge impact on the final outcome of your makeup look. And they’re worth it because, with proper maintenance and cleaning, they can last you a long time.
So, what makes for a good foundation brush? According to Donni Davy, the head makeup artist at Euphoria and co-founder of Half Magic, “It totally depends on your method, but if you want to stamp-buff like I do, the buffing brush has to be super soft, dense, and preferably have a rounded or semi-round shape.”
We’ve gathered some of Davy’s recommendations, along with makeup artist Tobi Henney’s picks, and, of course, some Allure Best of Beauty Award winners. Whether you’re a beginner learning how to properly apply makeup via TikTok tutorials or you’ve been in the industry for some time, these 14 foundation brushes — and, quite frankly, some of the best makeup brushes we’ve come across, period — can help you achieve the filtered skin look you’re after.
Our Top Picks
- Best Overall: Bdellium Tools Large Rounded Double Dome Blender 972, $20
- Best Rounded Brush: Chanel Touch Up Face Brush N°104, $50
- Best Value: EcoTools Wonder Cover Complexion Brush, $10
- Best Dual-Ended Brush: Patrick Ta Dual-Ended Complexion Brush, $45
- A Flawless Finish for All Formulas: Dior Backstage Face Brush No. 18, $50
- Fingertip-Mimicking Brush: Hourglass Ambient Soft Glow Foundation Brush, $47
- Most Unique: Half Magic Baby Paw Brush, $40
- Best Sponge: Beautyblender Original Beautyblender, $20
- Best Overall: Bdellium Tools Large Rounded Double Dome Blender 972
- A Flawless Finish for All Formulas: Dior Backstage Face Brush No. 18
- Best Dual-Ended Brush: Patrick Ta Dual-Ended Complexion Brush
- Best Cream Foundation Brush: Tom Ford Foundation Brush 02
- Fingertip-Mimicking Brush: Hourglass Ambient Soft Glow Foundation Brush
- Best Buffing Foundation Brush: MAC 130S Short Duo Fibre Brush
- Best Value: EcoTools Wonder Cover Complexion Brush
- Best Rounded Brush: Chanel Touch Up Face Brush N°104
- Euphoria-Approved: Half Magic Baby Paw Brush
- A Hands-Free Alternative: Kevyn Aucoin Duet Foundation Brush
- Best Makeup Sponge: Beautyblender Original
- Silky-Soft Bristles: Rare Beauty Liquid Touch Foundation Brush
- Best Brush for Liquid Foundations: Saie The Base Foundation Brush
- Best Kabuki Brush: Real Techniques Foundation Blender
- Best Dense Brush: Trademark Beauty Foundation Brush