11 Best Foundation Brushes, Approved by Makeup Artists & Glamour Editors
- Publication/Blog
- Oct 8, 2024
- 6 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
Makeup
11 Best Foundation Brushes, Approved by Makeup Artists & Glamour Editors
From no-makeup makeup to full coverage.
October 8, 2024
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Using one of the best foundation brushes for your makeup routine is the preferred application method for makeup artists, who swear by the smooth and even coverage. Why? A makeup brush works the product into the skin so much better than a sponge and gives you more control, says celebrity makeup artist Melissa Murdick. Foundation brushes also offer versatility. Whether you prefer a full-face beat or no-makeup makeup look, you can expect a seamless finish every time. “They provide streak-free coverage while achieving a natural to a full-coverage foundation finish,” says celebrity makeup Clarissa Luna.
What makes a foundation brush stand out from others like concealer brushes? They feature extra-soft, finely packed bristles designed for covering large areas of skin. Murdick likes applying foundation with the Anisa Pinnacle foundation brush because it’s a dense brush and doesn’t leave any streaks.
Ahead, professional makeup artists and Glamour editors share their favorite foundation brushes of all time.
The best foundation brushes, at a glance
Best Overall: Fenty Beauty Foundation Brush, $36
Most Popular: Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Liquid Touch Foundation Brush, $29
Best Full Coverage: Artis Fini Brush, $47
Best Natural Coverage: Hourglass Ambient Soft Glow Foundation Brush, $47
Best Travel: Merit Brush No. 1 Tapered Blending Brush, $32
Best for Mature Skin: Jones Road The Everything Brush, $55
Best Overall: Fenty Beauty Foundation Brush
Courtesy of brand
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Fenty Beauty Foundation Brush 145
Glamour senior beauty editor Ariana Yaptangco has swapped all her beauty blenders for this densely packed brush from Fenty Beauty. “It has the same seamless finish of a beauty blender without eating up all your product,” she says. “The bristles are so dense that product just sits on the brush instead of seeping in. The angled cut hugs the curves of your face so well, especially in the hard-to-reach places like your forehead. It easily sweeps around your eyebrows and under your eyes. The holy grail for everyday, fancy events, you name it.”
Most Popular: Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Liquid Touch Foundation Brush
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Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Liquid Touch Foundation Brush
Glamour associate beauty editor Danielle Sinay is a fan of Rare Beauty’s makeup brushes, which offer great coverage and flawless blending. “It’s so soft, and the brush is super easy to clean (which I try to do every time I use it). It seamlessly blends concealer, tinted moisturizer, blush, and more, eliminating streaks and any cakey finish,” she says.
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Best Natural Coverage: Hourglass Ambient Soft Glow Foundation Brush
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Hourglass Ambient Soft Glow Foundation Brush
“It’s buttery soft and great for blending, but has dense bristles that deposit products beautifully and create a smooth finish,” says celebrity makeup artist Gita Bass. “It’s also smaller than many foundation brushes, with a unique angled brush shape. The slightly slanted edge makes it ideal for buffing in hard-to-reach corners and along the jawline.”
Reviewers online agree. “Love how it applies and how it looks so natural on the skin,” writes one fan. “So easy to use, supersoft and does not leave behind weird brush strokes or marks. Definitely a bit more on the pricier side but worth the investment. Been using for a while now and still my go-to foundation brush!”
Best Travel: Merit Brush No. 1 Tapered Blending Brush
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MERIT Brush No. 1 Tapered Blending Brush
Glamour assistant fashion editor Tascha Berkowitz loves Merit’s multiuse brush for its “small size that fits in any purse.” The handle measures just 3½ inches, making it perfect for slipping into a cosmetics bag.
Reviewers online also praise the compact size, while others find it conveniently versatile. “You can literally use it for everything. Contour, blush, foundation, everything,” writers one user, while another echoes, “It’s the perfect size for travel and I use it to blend the Merit Sheer Bronzer and also my cream blush.”
Best Two-in-One: Makeup by Mario F4 Brush
Original image by Glamour reviewer Holly Carter
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Makeup By Mario F4 Brush
Two makeup artists and a Glamour editor are all fans of Makeup by Mario’s two-in-one brush. “This dual-ended brush applies foundation two ways,” says Luna. “The domed end is great for a natural coverage, while the tapered, angled end helps add foundation coverage.”
Celebrity makeup artist Rachel Goodwin recommends the tapered end for body makeup. “I can use it on larger areas and blend really well,” she adds. Meanwhile, Glamour’s Yaptangco likes using the angled end for contouring. “It perfectly hugs the cheekbone, making it ideal for sculpting and blending out contour.” Simply put: It has the range!
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Best Buildable Coverage: Laura Mercier Real Flawless Foundation Brush
Original image by Glamour reviewer Holly Carter
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Laura Mercier Real Flawless Foundation Brush
Laura Mercier’s foundation brush turned Glamour contributor Holly Carter into a convert. “I’ll admit it: Even though I’ve been a beauty editor for years with access to a bunch of amazing tools, I use my fingers to apply foundation—until I met this brush,” she says. “The first time I used it, I was surprised to see how much my skin glowed with just the right amount of coverage. I got compliments that night not for my foundation but for my healthy complexion because it looked so perfectly natural!”
Most Pro-Approved: Anisa Pinnacle Foundation Brush
Original image by Glamour tester Krista Bennett DeMaio
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Anisa Pinnacle Foundation Brush
“The Anisa Beauty Pinnacle Foundation Brush is a game-changer for more even, blended foundation coverage,” says Krista Bennett DeMaio, founder of Pretty Local, a website that links to local beauty experts. “Its triangle shape lets you get into tricky spots like the inner corners of the eyes and around the nose. And the domed, densely packed bristles are great for stippling the foundation into my skin, creating a seamless look.” Murdick agrees, adding that she loves the smooth finish.
Best Full Coverage: Artis Fini Brush
Original image by Glamour reviewer Holly Carter
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Artis Fini Brush
If you’re looking for flawless full coverage, Carter recommends this super-dense round brush. “It glides across my skin, and the ultrasoft fibers produce an airbrushed effect. It really is amazing—makes such a difference,” she says. “And as you can see, it’s large and in charge, so the 200,000 fibers ensure an efficient and effective (not to mention fast) application, whether you’re using it for foundation, blush, or body makeup.”
Best Blurring: Haus Labs by Lady Gaga Foundation Brush
Courtesy of brand
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Haus Labs by Lady Gaga Foundation Brush
Extra soft and gentle on skin, the Haus Labs Foundation Brush goes perfectly with its inclusive range of foundation shades. “This brush does a gorgeous job at blending and blurring with its perfectly angled bristles,” says Luna. “It was made to hug the contours of the face and leave a streak-free finish. The soft bristles make this a stand-out foundation brush.
Best Beginner: BK Beauty 101 Contoured Foundation Brush
Courtesy of brand
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BK Beauty 101 Contoured Foundation Brush
“If foundation brushes had a It girl, this brush would be it,” says Luna. “It’s an angled, domed, densely packed brush that buffs foundation into the skin, instantaneously. This brush will make you feel like a pro makeup artist the first time you use it.”
No matter your age or skin type, you’ll be able to use this brush. “I have tried so many foundation brushes, from high-end to drugstore brands, and this one is by far the best brush available,” says an online reviewer. “I have mature skin and most brushes just don’t work on my skin; however, this one is the exception! It is so soft on my face and blends makeup with minimal effort and leaves an airbrushed finish.”
Best for Mature Skin: Jones Road The Everything Brush
Courtesy of brand
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Jones Road The Everything Brush
Made with hypoallergenic fibers, Jones Road’s foundation brush is ideal for sensitive and mature skin types. “When I want light to medium coverage, I’ll pick up this Jones Road brush which gives me that diffused no-makeup makeup look,” says Glamour’s Yaptangco. The head is big and fluffy, which helps cover large areas quickly. It’s a great option for everyday, or if you just want a smooth and easy base that lets your natural skin peek through.”
Ariana Yaptangco is the senior beauty editor at Glamour. A New York native, Ariana began her career at Elle magazine, where she was the social media and beauty editor for four years and published the viral feature “Racism Against the AAPI Community Is a Beauty Industry Problem." At Glamour,... Read more
Senior Beauty Editor
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