The 8 Best Foundation Brushes, Tested by Byrdie Editors and MUAs

Best Overall

BK Beauty 101 Contoured Foundation Brush

View On Bkbeauty.com

Bristle Type: Synthetic | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you frequent BeautyTok, chances are you’re familiar with this beloved foundation brush. Not only is it a fan-favorite and an editor-favorite, but it also received extremely high praise during our test. The ergonomic design features a rounded and slightly angled brush head that works to buff and blend foundation across the skin quickly, whether it's liquid, cream, or powder. It’s relatively large compared to others we tested, so while it’s not ideal for targeting small crevices on the face, it does a fantastic job of creating a smooth veil of coverage in just a minute or two. 

The synthetic bristles are incredibly soft to the touch and they’re packed with the perfect density. They’re not so loosely packed that they create streaks on the skin, but they’re also not so dense that the brush feels hard or just moves the product around. Lastly, we were incredibly impressed that absolutely no brush hairs frayed or shed during application or while we were washing it.

Best Overall, Runner-Up

Saie The Base Brush

View On Sephora $26 View On Saiehello.com

Bristle Type: Synthetic | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Another, slightly more affordable, option that we were impressed by is this one from Saie. With a fairly short and chubby design, it’s compact, easy to control, and can even be stood up on your vanity. The bristles are soft and delicate on the skin, and the minimally rounded top makes for smooth buffing and blending. 

We noticed that it created very minor streakiness when swiping it across the skin or not taking a moment to thoroughly blend foundation, but this is easily avoidable by using circular motions to blend and taking your time. Aside from the nice design and super soft bristles, we love that it isn’t just great for applying foundation, it’s also excellent for subtly sculpting your cheekbones with cream bronzer or contour thanks to the medium size.

Best Budget

Real Techniques Expert Face Makeup Brush

View On Amazon View On Ulta $7 View On Target $9

Bristle Type: Synthetic | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Real Techniques has been making affordable and high-quality brushes we love for many years, and this one is among the best in their line. The handle is sturdy and easy to grip, and the bristles are soft and gentle on the skin. Because the bristles are tightly (but not too tightly) packed, they’re able to effectively buff in the foundation, creating a smooth, even finish. We also appreciated that the brush didn’t soak up a ton of foundation and the hairs didn’t fray or shed one bit. The brush head is relatively small, meaning that it takes a bit of time to blend across your entire face, but this also means that it’s excellent for applying liquid highlighter or contour in more targeted areas. 

Best for Powder Foundation

It Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Buffing Foundation Brush #6

View on Ulta View On Amazon $50 View On Nordstrom $43

Bristle Type: Synthetic | Cruelty-Free: Yes

A lot of brushes are best for applying liquids, others are best for applying powders, but some, like this one from IT Cosmetics, are great for both. With a large, dense, flat-top design, it works to pick up and buff powder formulas into the skin beautifully. We also loved how nicely it blended out liquids—just a few swipes allowed us to blend liquid foundation across the face with a smooth and streak-free finish. And because the brush head is pretty large, it gets the job done quickly. Although it’s pricey compared to other options on our list, the nice quality (think no shedding or fraying), and how well it works for multiple formulas make it a worthwhile investment—especially if you wear powder foundation consistently. Do note the white hairs can be difficult to keep clean.

Best Flat Brush

Sephora Collection PRO Foundation Brush #47

View On Sephora $34

Bristle Type: Synthetic | Cruelty-Free: No

“Flat foundation brushes are used like a classic paintbrush to get a good amount of product applied directly to the face, but really aren't designed to work the product into the skin,” says makeup artist Kasey Spickards. Because of this, flat foundations brushes have been used by makeup artists on models for television, photoshoots, and runways since they often yield sufficient coverage. 

Interestingly, we did find that this particular option soaked up quite a bit of the product, which isn’t typical for flat brushes. While this did make the brush a bit harder to clean, we still found that it delivered great coverage with a smooth and even finish. The bristles are very soft and a bit fluffier than a lot of flat foundation brushes, which helped to create a lighter more airbrushed finish. Though it’s not ideal for buffing product into the skin, the slightly fluffy bristles make it easier to blend than others with a similar design. We also appreciated that the shape of the brush allowed us to apply foundation in hard-to-reach areas, like the crease of the nose and around the eyes. 

Best Design

Laura Mercier Real Flawless Foundation Brush

View On Revolve $46 View On Lauramercier.com View On Harveynichols.com

Bristle Type: Synthetic | Cruelty-Free: No

This brush thoroughly impressed us during our test for a variety of reasons, the main one being how great the design is. The handle is extremely sturdy and comfortable to hold, but it’s the teardrop-shaped brush head that sets it apart. The top is pointed, which makes it easy to blend foundation into crevices on the face, and the bottom portion is larger and rounded, allowing you to blend larger areas of the face efficiently. And because the entire brush-head has a rounded, dome-like shape, it helps you achieve a smooth, streak-free finish.

The bristles feel super soft and gentle on the skin, and we didn’t experience any fraying or shedding during the test. While this brush did soak up quite a bit of the foundation which made cleaning it a bit of a pain, this also means that it prevents you from over-applying and ending up with a cakey finish.