Yes, You Need a Foundation Brush—These Are the Ones Makeup Artists Swear By (2025)

The IT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Complexion Brush

“The IT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Complexion Brush is my all-time favorite brush for applying foundation, especially when paired with the Estée Lauder Double Wear Foundation. This brush is renowned for its ultra-soft, densely packed bristles that effortlessly blend and buff the foundation into the skin, providing a flawless and airbrushed finish. Its unique shape and size allow for precise application and seamless blending, ensuring a natural and long-lasting coverage that Estée Lauder Double Wear Foundation is known for. With its luxurious feel and exceptional performance, this brush is a must-have for achieving a flawless complexion.” — Elizabeth Seropian, Makeup Artist

Customer Review: "Love this blush for blending out concealer and foundation. The brush itself is lightweight and easy to clean. I use it daily!" — Sephora

Real Techniques Expert Face Makeup Brush

“It’s unfair to call this brush just a foundation brush in my collection—It’s more of an everything brush. Never in my life have I used a tool that blends my foundation, concealer, and cream products as quickly as this one does. The bristles are densely packed so it’s better for medium to full coverage looks, but the super soft synthetic brushes have lasted me years and years. This is also fairly specific, but the handle isn’t super long, so it fits into every single makeup bag I have, so it’s basically with me at all times.” — Julia Marzovilla, E-Commerce Editor

Customer Review: "This brush is so good at blending your foundation in and it doesn’t take too much of the product. 10/10 recommend" — Target

Kevyn Aucoin Beauty The Duet Foundation Brush

“I own several brushes from Kevyn Aucoin, but this foundation brush is a strong favorite. The bristles are short and dense enough to buff the thickest formulas, yet gentle enough to evenly blend without creating unnecessary streaks. It’s also dual-ended (one side is angled, the other is pointed) which is perfect for creating multiple looks at a time.” — Deena Campbell, Beauty Director

Sisley Paris Foundation Brush

“I love the Sisley Foundation Brush on my clients, as it’s flat packed and synthetic but it has a flexible and soft bend to the bristles which means it moves with the skin and not the other way round. I can apply a light or medium coverage without the brush getting weighed down and I find it to be the best of all the traditional style foundation brushes for me.”— Jo Baker, Celebrity Makeup Artist and Co-Founder of Bakeup Beauty

Customer Review: "I have been using this foundation brush for quite some time now and just recently bought a new one when the first one went missing ( and later found). I have foundation brushes from other high end cosmetic companies but, really, nothing compares to this. These days I primarily use tinted moisturizers as foundation and this brush makes everything come out so smooth and beautiful. The brush head is so soft but also because the bristles are so tightly packed that it provides the perfect balance to apply product. Also love the short handle which give so much control." — Nordstrom

e.l.f. Cosmetics Buffing Foundation Brush

“I stole this brush from my sister and never looked back—it’s perfect for going over any lines or creasing that pops up over the course of the day because it’s so small. I prefer using this when I want a lighter-coverage look because its size makes it perfect for blending over specific areas of my face, like around my nose or on my chin. I’ve had this brush for years and it’s never shed on me, even with constant cleaning.” — Julia Marzovilla, E-Commerce Editor

Customer Review: "This brush blends my foundation soooo good and makes it look so blurred! Definitely recommend if your looking for affordable brushes!" — Ulta

Colourpop Medium Foundation Brush

“One of my personal faves is the ColourPop Medium Foundation brush because it’s a flat brush that gives you a really smooth, streak-free application, and has a nice precise shape. Also—it’s only $9 so you can stock up on a few at a time.” — Melissa Murdick, Celebrity Makeup Artist

Customer Review: "Really good quality brush, especially for the price. Applied my foundation perfectly without streaks and the design let me reach those hard areas like around the nose." — Colourpop

Chantecaille Buff and Blur Brush

“The key to any beauty look, whether minimal or glammed up, is blending. This brush’s flat shape and soft but densely packed bristles let me buff close to the skin, allowing my base makeup to sink in, whether I’m using a tinted moisturizer or a heavier formula. It allows for even distribution of products and the handle is thick and substantial so I can really put power behind it. Perfect for when I need to leave the house quickly!” — Brittany Holloway—Brown, Art Director

Jenny Patinkin Sustainable Luxury Complexion Brush

“After using my fingers to apply my tinted moisturizer for years, I finally leveled up my makeup game when I got this foundation brush. The bristles are extra soft and dense, making it my go-to for buffing out any splotchy areas. Since switching to this brush, I've noticed my makeup looks so much more seamless and blended than using my fingers (lesson learned). You can also feel good about buying it because it's made from recycled plastic and aluminum!” — Brooke Knappenberger, Editorial Fellow

ANISA Pinnacle Foundation Brush

"I've always been a beauty blender girl—until I tried this densely-packed brush. It sinks my foundation into my skin like nothing I've ever tried, doesn't eat up my product, and creates the smoothest, softest finish. I love how weighted it is in my hand and find that the unique shape genuinely fits into every crevice and contour of my face. Depending on the angle at which I hold the brush, it buffs or paints." — Samantha Holender, Beauty Editor

Customer Review: "Plush, dense, even application of cream and liquids. Doesn’t absorb product." — ANISA

MelissaMurdick(she/her) is a celebrity makeup artist and educator based in Los Angeles, California. Her work spans everything from red carpets to music videos, and major magazine covers to makeup campaigns. Aside from working with some of Hollywood’s leading ladies like Selena Gomez, she has also become a viral sensation on TikTok, where her practical makeup hacks & tutorials have brought in tens of millions of views and over 1.2 million followers (and counting).Melissaalso shares her over 20+ years of makeup experience teaching classes at the LA LGBT+ center, and running a first-of-its-kind website calledwww.theprettyfix.comdedicated specifically to educating transgender women who are brand new to makeup.Melissabelieves makeup should be easy, fun,andempowering, and is passionate about making sure others have the tools they need to feel that way, too.

Born and raised in London, Jo Baker ingeniously translated her passion for fine art into an obsession with the makeup medium. Her innate understanding of crafting unique hues and creating magic-hour glows has influenced her foundational understanding of color and texture.

With a high-fashion London-based editorial background, the 20-year industry artist always had a knack for exploring and experimenting with makeup, and constantly looked for opportunities in her work to channel her wildly expressive imagination.

“To me, the beauty rules are made to be broken, or ignored altogether,” says Jo. “I always start a makeup look by asking the person in my chair how they are feeling because I create based on their truth, which can be different one day to the next. My artistry is inspired by honesty, and I love seeing where that takes me.”

After joining Usher on his 2004 Confessions tour, the natural-born artist quickly became the go-to for men’s grooming, working with the likes of 50 Cent and Eminem. Since then, Jo captivated the world with a new perception of Hollywood glamor, defining it less as classic and more as bold and adventurous. She has gone on to create daring looks for Hollywood superstars, including Lucy Boyton (who she joined on the Bohemian Rhapsody world tour), Sharon Stone, Bella Hadid, Jennifer Lawrence and Salma Hayek.