10 Best Foundation Brushes In 2022

A foundation brush must be tailored to three things: what you use it for, how you use it, and the kind of foundation you use. We've factored in brushes that can buff out your foundation with ease, have precise edges for tricky corners, and work with powder or liquid foundations. These brushes also have garnered reputations across the internet as some of the best ones to add to cart, whether at Sephora or on Amazon. We've also included favorites from makeup artists and beauty editors, and they all come at various price points.

This curated list lets you choose without losing sleep over a poor purchase. However, it's still important to try these brushes out yourself and experiment with what works for you. "When choosing your makeup brushes, you should always go with what feels good, followed by the application test," makeup artist Janice Daoud advised Real Simple. "The application test will allow you to see how the color is picked up, deposited, and blended. If the bristles of the brushes do the job, then it's the right brush for you." 

Celebrity makeup artist Troy Surratt, who's worked with clients like Jennifer Lopez and Freida Pinto, told Allure, "I really believe that high-quality brushes are worth the price. They don't just perform the best; they also make applying makeup a pleasure. If a $60 blush brush still gives you sticker shock, consider that it can easily last 20 years with proper maintenance." Enter $60 foundation brush: Pat McGrath's Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection.

Promised to have been "rigorously tested backstage [and] on the runways," this brush gives you precise coverage that can be buffed into a naturally glowy finish. According to McGrath, "The foundation brush gives a beautiful, smooth finish, and then also the sponge gives you another level of build, so I love that it's versatile" (via Who What Wear). Reviewers agree, with one raving, "I've used many different foundation brushes from high end to low end.. but this brush paired with Pat's SkinFetish foundation applies so evenly and smooth.... I feel and look airbrushed! AAHHHHMAZING!"

Get the Pat McGrath Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection Foundation Brush for $41 at Pat McGrath.

NYX is a drugstore brand with many fans — its high-quality products and unmatched price tags will catch your eye in any aisle. Makeup artists like Allan Avendaño have recommended NYX brushes, per Allure, and the publication itself has awarded the brand numerous beauty and reader's choice awards. Essentially, you can be sure to pick something up from NYX and not have to worry about a return.

The brand's Can't Stop Won't Stop foundation brush is no different; the brush has over 10,000 reviews on Amazon with an aggregate of 4.3 out of 5 stars and 4.8 stars on the brand's website. Made with an angular design, this densely packed brush allows you to apply liquid and cream formulas with precision and ease as it moves with the contours of your face while buffing product. One reviewer offered, "I was excited to try this makeup brush since I had heard great things. I wanted to purchase a more expensive brush but did not want to spend the money. I was hoping this would be a good substitute and it did NOT let me down! This brush is fantastic when applying my CC cream! No streaks and perfect blending!!"

Get the NYX Can't Stop Won't Stop foundation brush on Amazon for $14.25.

Rihanna's Fenty Beauty has won many awards, including The List's Beauty Awards in the categories of lip gloss, primer, and lipstick. The brand's consistency with delivering covetable products extends to its foundation brush, a medium dense synthetic bristled brush that's perfect for liquid or cream foundations. "Because liquid foundation needs to be applied seamlessly without leaving streaks, using a synthetic fiber foundation brush to blend works every time," makeup artist Rudy Miles told Makeup.

This brush also has a unique shape that allows for precision and buffing. Beauty YouTuber Genevieve Fields tested out the brush in detail, using various products and techniques. After using it for foundation, contouring, and highlighting, she said, "I'm loving this [brush] because this means that I can use this one brush in one go for pretty much every liquid [or] cream highlight, contour type product on the face." Over 72,000 people on Sephora also have this brush favorited, and one reviewer said, "Easy to use, doesn't absorb too much product into the actual brush, and creates a flawless finish. My new go-to brush for my liquid foundation."

Get the Fenty Beauty Foundation Brush 110 for $34 at Sephora.

This foundation brush has been in every celebrity's vanity; it was featured in Kim Kardashian's Vogue beauty tutorial and also found it way into the makeup bags of Jessica Alba and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (via The Strategist). The IT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Foundation Brush #7 has since become a staple for makeup enthusiasts everywhere.

Over 2,000 reviewers give the dual-ended brush a 4.7 out of 5 stars on Amazon, where one reviewer said, "Love this brush, perfect for foundation and concealer. Totally worth buying a brush like this. I am a makeup artist and This is one of my favorite brushes that I have in my kit. I recommend this." The brush has extra soft bristles to give you an airbrushed look, and it comes with two sides – a larger side for foundation and a smaller side for concealer. It's easily an investment piece since you won't need to buy another brush.

Get the IT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Foundation Brush for $32.76 at Amazon.

Smith Cosmetics creates tools for professionals, and its brushes are mainstays in the bags of makeup artists as well as beauty editors. The brand's 202 Microliner brush already won two Allure Best of Beauty awards, but its foundation brush is what celebrity makeup artist Natalia Thomas recommends. "This brush is a blend of goat hair and synthetic fiber in a dense yet still fluffy shape that works well with powders, creams, liquids, and waxes," she told Allure. "I am all about keeping tools and products in my kit that are multipurpose to help lighten the load." 

The 131 Multi Task Buffing brush is made with an equal blend of natural goat hair and synthetic fibers, making it perfect for liquid and powder foundations. The natural fibers also allow for a more natural-looking finish, which you can always build on if you're looking for a more Instagram-filter look.

These brushes are especially popular among makeup artists because of the way they're crafted; Francesca Tolot (Beyonce's makeup artist) and Amber Dreadon (who works with Lorde) are a few of the many who carry the brand's tools with them, per Hollywood Reporter.

Get the 131 Multi Task Buffing brush for $36.50 at Smith Cosmetics.