There’s an art to makeup application. First, you would like the proper products: a foundation that completely matches your skin tone, a deep bronzer to warm up your face, a rosy blush to offer you a bashful glow, and so forth. But once you’ve got found your tried-and-true beauty products, it becomes a matter of skill and makeup tools — including the best foundation brushes.

The suitable products can only go up to now, and the last item you wish is on your pricey foundation to get soaked up in a makeup sponge or applied streakily to your face. A very good makeup brush, while often an investment, could make a big impact on the ultimate end result of your makeup look. And so they’re price it because, with proper maintenance and cleansing, they’ll last you a protracted time.

So, what makes for a very good foundation brush? Based on Donnie Davythe top makeup artist at Euphoria and co-founder of Half Magic, “It totally relies on your method, but when you wish to stamp-buff like I do, the buffing brush must be super soft, dense, and preferably have a rounded or semi-round shape.”

We have gathered a few of Davy’s recommendations, together with makeup artist Tobi Henney’s picks, and, in fact, some Allure Better of Beauty Award winners. Whether you are a beginner learning easy methods to properly apply makeup via TikTok tutorials otherwise you’ve been within the industry for a while, these 14 foundation brushes — and, quite frankly, a few of the very best makeup brushes we’ve come across, period — can assist you achieve the filtered skin look you are after.

Our Top Picks

1. Best Overall: Bdellium Tools Large Rounded Double Dome Blender 972$20
2. Best Rounded Brush: Chanel Touch Up Face Brush N°104$50
3. Best Value: EcoTools Wonder Cover Complexion Brush$10
4. Best Dual-Ended Brush: Patrick Ta Dual-Ended Complexion Brush$45
5. A Flawless Finish for All Formulas: Dior Backstage Face Brush No. 18$50
6. Fingertip-Mimicking Brush: Hourglass Ambient Soft Glow Foundation Brush$47
7. Most Unique: Half Magic Baby Paw Brush$40
8. Best Sponge: Beauty Blender Original Beauty Blender$20

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Best Overall: Bdellium Tools Large Rounded Double Dome Blender 972

When applying foundation, Davy prefers using a flat paddle-type brush on the predominant parts of the face. She considers this Bdellium Tools brush a staple in her makeup bag since it’s durable, well-made, and available in lots of cute colours. “I’ll use big strokes and treat this brush like a serving utensil to swipe the product on the face,” she says.

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A Flawless Finish for All Formulas: Dior Backstage Face Brush No. 18

Henney loves this uniquely-shaped No. 18 Backstage Face Brush since the shorter handle allows for circular motions to mix foundation in easily. Pick your poison, err, form of foundation: loose powders, fluid, compact foundations, or spray foundation — this brush can handle all of it.

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Best Dual-Ended Brush: Patrick Ta Dual-Ended Complexion Brush

If you happen to’re seeking to get essentially the most bang on your buck, might we recommend this carefully-crafted synthetic brush from makeup artist Patrick Ta? Two-faced in a very good way, one end includes a rounded dome brush for mixing creams into the skin while the opposite end has a fluffy powder brush for flawless powder application.

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Best Cream Foundation Brush: Tom Ford Foundation Brush 02

Henney raves about this “beautiful high-end foundation brush” by Tom Ford, because it feels super luxurious and applies foundation seamlessly. While it’s quite the splurge, this brush’s synthetic bristles are designed specifically for cream foundation application — blotchiness be damned.

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Fingertip-Mimicking Brush: Hourglass Ambient Soft Glow Foundation Brush

In 2022, Allure awarded this ultra-chic tool the last word crown: best foundation brush. Its vegan fiber bristles mimic fingertips, so whether you are working with liquid or cream foundation, you are guaranteed a natural-looking finish each time. For best results, apply liquid foundation in dots and use this brush for a natural, soft-focus finish via stippling.

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Best Buffing Foundation Brush: MAC 130S Short Duo Fibre Brush

Henney’s brush collection would not be complete without the MAC 130 Short Duo Fibre Brush, which she relies on for expertly buffing in liquid foundation. Its flat-topped shape also makes it excellent for mixing across the nose and mouth. We can even see this brush as a terrific highlight applicator as well.

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Best Value: EcoTools Wonder Cover Complexion Brush

If you happen to desire something you may easily pick up at the pharmacy, consider this Wonder Cover Complexion Brush from EcoTools. Priced at lower than $10, this brush is designed for full-coverage foundation, meaning rosacea, hyperpigmentation, and blemishes won’t ever get their time within the highlight.

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Best Rounded Brush: Chanel Touch Up Face Brush N°104

Also often called Les Pinceaux De Chanel (what would your French nickname be?), Chanel’s Touch Up Face Brush N°104 is right for on a regular basis makeup application. Based on Henney, it “pairs beautifully with each cream and powder foundations” — a multifaceted queen.

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Euphoria-Approved: Half Magic Baby Paw Brush

What’s special about Half Magic’s Baby Paw Brush is that Davy designed it to have a one-of-a-kind round brush head, different from the standard buffing-brush shape. It’s great for stamp-buffing, which is a term she coined for the strategy of stamping and buffing foundation with the intention to get a pleasant, even coat.

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A Hands-Free Alternative: Kevyn Aucoin Duet Foundation Brush

We like to think about the Duet Foundation Brush as a BOGO deal. For many who prefer using their hands to use makeup, this brush offers a less messy alternative. One side of the comb mimics the form of a finger for foundation application, while the opposite side buffs and blends every thing effortlessly — the precise shape of this side may also be used to use and mix concealer.

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Best Makeup Sponge: Beauty Blender Original

Although not technically a brush (but definitely a Better of Beauty Award winner), the unique Beautyblender is what Davy all the time finishes her foundation application with. When used clean and damp, it ensures a smooth and seamless finish. “I like that the Beautyblender, when used as a final step, can pick up excess foundation and help create a more natural finish,” she says. “If I would like so as to add more product to certain areas, I dip the sponge directly into the inspiration on a palette and press and stamp it onto the face.”

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Silky-Soft Bristles: Rare Beauty Liquid Touch Foundation Brush

Once you’re ready come and get it — it being the Liquid Touch Foundation Brush from Rare Fantastic thing about course. Its soft, silky bristles make sure you’ll never look cakey or — heaven forbid — streaky. It’s best paired with the brand’s complementary Liquid Touch Weightless Foundation, so yes, Selener is coming on your wallet.

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Best Brush for Liquid Foundations: Saie The Base Foundation Brush

Saie it ain’t so! The Base Foundation Brush gives you the pliability and precision you have to mix in liquid or cream formulas, even in hard-to-reach areas resembling across the nose and under the eyes. The dome-shaped brush is made up of cruelty-free, ultra-soft bristles that’ll disperse foundation evenly without soaking all of it up.

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Best Kabuki Brush: Real Techniques Foundation Blender

The fantastic thing about this Real Techniques kabuki brush is the handle-less design, which provides you more control and precision. The bristles themselves are densely packed yet nonporous, so that they won’t pick up excess product — also making them easier to wash. Use this to mix and buff liquid, cream, or powder foundations — whatever you like any given day.

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Best Dense Brush: Trademark Beauty Foundation Brush

There’s a typical misconception that the costlier a brush is, the higher it functions. Trademark Beauty challenges that notion with an inexpensive foundation brush that, in accordance with Henney, “means that you can apply foundation to a full face very quickly,” due to its flat brush top and dense bristles. Editor’s note: This particular brush is an element of Henney’s collaboration with Trademark Beauty.