For anything like tinted moisturizer, I prefer fingers. For most liquid foundations, I prefer a brush (I usually use MAC’s 109).
— Christine
- MAC Cosmetics — 15% off with code THANKS15, ends 9/25.
- Macy's — 15% off beauty purchase with code VIP, ends 9/25.
- Nordstrom — 15% off major beauty brands, ends 9/25.
- Ulta — 40% off Sleek Makeup for Platinum members through this link, ends 9/25.
Do you have a question idea? Submit yours here.
We hope you'll consider supporting Temptalia by shopping through our links below. Thanks!
72 Comments
Discussion and debate are highly encouraged, and we expect community members to participate respectfully. When asking a question, please check the post above for information regarding pricing, availability, dupes, and availability, and keep discussion on-topic. If you have general feedback, an off-topic question, or need technical support, please contact us.
Comments that include advertisements, self-promotion, insults, etc. may be in violation of our comment policy and subject to deletion. Please see our comment policy for more information.
Comments on this post are closed.
If you don't see your comment yet, it's still in our moderation queue. We try our best to approve comments within 24 hours (and reply to them within 72 hours) but can sometimes get behind. Thank you for your patience!
Any of these: Sigma F80, Studio Tools foundation brush (big basic paddle foundation brush from Target), or my fingers.
My favorite is MAC’s 130.
Absolutely! I used to use basic paddle brushes, but the MAC 130 has totally changed my application. Less product, less time, airbrushed finish… what is there not to love?!
Sponge for cream foundations or just straight up airbrushing
My favorites depend on the day or whatever I’m using. For a tinted moisturizer I reach for my 188. For face and body I use my fingers. For foundation I will usually use the 187 or my beauty blender. It all depends on the look I am going for.
the Beauty Blender!
Either my fingers or a stippling brush depending on the product. More full coverage ones revlon colorstay or mac studio fix I use the brush. For sheerer ones like loreal truematch I prefer my fingers. I really don’t like regular foudation brushes at all! They make even the best foundation look streaky at least in my experience.
¡¡ fingers !!
A kabuki brush. I use my MUFE HD kabuki for liquid foundations.
I use a soft, domed duo fibre brush.
Beauty Blender FTW!
Yes, I use my beauty blender also…Love it
You bet! Only my Beauty Blender will do!
For liquid foundation I love using Sonia Kashuk’s “Synthetic Flat Top Multipurpose Brush” or Sigma’s “F84” for my NARS Sheer Glow Foundation 🙂
Sigma F84? Interesting, I haven’t tried that one with my liquid foundie. What technique are you using and is there any difference with the F80?
Even though the F84 is for ‘cheek products’ I feel like it works with foundation too. I just start from my forehead and then go down from there. I feel like the F84 works better around the nose than the F80.
Right now, I am obsessing over the look of my Nars Sheer Glow foundation when I put it on with my Sephora Brand “Beauty Blender!” I barely need concealer when I use that sponge!!
My favorite tool with which to apply foundation is the Ecotools Foundation Brush. It keeps my fingers clean and it applies the foundation smoothly! However, my fingers are much quicker than my brush, so I may use my fingers sometime soon.
Fingers almost always due to fast blending, I’m less likely to glob into pores and easy light layer. Otherwise, duo fiber stippling brush for a bit more coverage and “airbrushed” finish.
liquid foundation- fingers, creamy powder foundation- cle de peau sponge (such good quality), powder foundation- brush
I have all brushes mac sigma and nars! But I was not liking how the mac body and face foundation was applying with any I went to target and saw the elf powder brush I was like ah $3 bucks I have nothing to lose and omg it’s AMAZING better than my high end brushes! It works so good with that foundation i still love my high end brushes my second best is 109 and the 187! But I do wish I would not have been such a snob and checked out this amazing brush out!!!
fingers are only for tinted moisturizer for me, or if im using a foundation as a concealer, just where needed. for a flawless finish, i use either a brush, usually angled foundation such as the Sephora platinum slanted foundation brush [relatively pricey but worth it!], or a stippling brush such as the 187 or another Sephora platinum brush, their stippling, which i actually find to be the best stippling brush ive ever used because of its stiffness and the number of bristles [i feel like the mac ones have too few of the white synthetic fibres, causing me to waste product]. other days, however, i prefer a damp sponge for a very quick yet pretty layer. i hate fingers-never blends well, bacteria, etc. i also like the small duo fibre one that mac has for swirling it onto the face, both for myself and clients. its like a great mix between a stippling brush and a regular foundation brush, with the airbrush finish of the stippling and the coverage of the regular brush.
whoa. that was long. i need to sleep!
I’m not sure what I prefer.
I either use a brush or my fingers..
Louise Young foundation brush.
I love using the Louise Young LY34 and LY02, the Sigma F80 or the Beauty Blender – it all depends of my mood, of the result I’m looking for and how quick I want to apply my foundation! lol
A combination of fingers and a very small foundation brush. though I’m experimenting with wedges.
Jane Iredale Handi brush (I only use pressed mineral foundation)
any flat top brush.
For me it’s the Essence of Beauty foundation/concealer brush. I keep one in my pro kit and one in my personal kit.
It depends on the foundation – some work better with a sponge, some with fingers and others with a brush. My favourite brushes are MAC’s 130 or Sephora’s #55 Platinum Professional.
I use F80 from Sigma makeup. I am addicted I confess I cant imagine my life withoout this brush
I second this. I am obsessed with sigma F80 too. I have three as back up, just in case they discontinue it.
I use my Sigma f80.
depends on the look im going for… most days I wear a BB cream, origins vitazing, or caudalie dayperfecting fluid (my easy face!) so I just use my fingers. If its for a special occasion and I want to look nice, I go through the whole gamut of using a brush (just a plain old ELF foundation brush) and then go over it with my ulta beauty blender.
For my Pür pressed mineral foundation, I’ve been using my Mac 187. Gets the job done until I can find something else 🙂
I prefer my MAC 190 or the larger of the Real Techniques foundation brushes. For MAC Mineralize foundation, which is a cream compact, I use a MAC 130.
I have a few in regular rotation but Sonia Kashuk Flat top synthetic brush is my favorite for applying foundation. I prefer my fingers though if I am using a heavier foundation, like EL Double Wear
Sephora airbrush foundation brush – amazing!
a damp sponge 🙂
gooo shu uemura pentagon shaped sponges!!!
For my Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer and NARS Sheer Matte, I like to use my fingers to apply it. For my MAC Mineralize Satin Finish liquid foundation, I like the Sonia Kashuk flat top blusher brush.
Mac 187 brush or my fingers.
mac’s 168 brush…i’ve tried fingers, beauty blender, regular sponges, regular foundation brushes…168 will always be my preferred brush!
I find I can blend in foundation better with a sponge. I used to use my fingers but hated cleaning out under my nails and all after.
M.A.C 187 brush is the best! I can use it with any foundation and it applies on evenly!! Also good to apply blush highlighter, and all over powder.
Depends on the foundation. For mousse and more viscous liquid foundations, fingers! For most liquid foundations when I want a really clean and polished look I like a good stippling brush, and sometimes in addition something like a kabuki is nice for buffing.
I always use my fingers, so the foundation look natural and not heavy .. ^^
By far, CocoBeau Big, Fat, Firm Foundation Brush! It is absolutely amazing! It gives any foundation a flawless, airbrushed look with minimal effort!
Always my fingers. I find it looks more natural, and I have more control over where the foundation goes and how it blends.
Well it depends on the foundation formula 🙂 For liquids I like to use a smaller stippling brush (MAC 188 or 131) as it applies foundation in light, sheer layers. This way you can really control your coverage and you end up using less foundation overall. I used to like to use powder/flat top brushes for liquids but I think they absorb and waste too much product :/ They are great for powder foundation however!
Either a Beautyblender or my Sonia Kashuk flat top brush.
Fingers. Easier to wash off.
I use my MAC 190 brush, but you have to keep it very clean otherwise it’s streaky. After I have applied my foundation, I buff it in using an Ecotools stippling brush. I find that this definitely gives it the most natural look. With tinted moisturizer, I use my fingers.
ELF powder brush!! cheap and good!! good use for wet or dry. looks like a flat top kabuki brush
ELF Studio Powder Brush or a regular foundation brush like Sigma F60.
Either fingers (if I’m lazy) or the Everyday Minerals Flat Top Kabuki. It buffs the foundation in like a champ!
• Tinted moisturizer » Fingers
• Sheer or medium coverage liquid foundation » Sigma F80
• High coverage liquid foundation » BeautyBlender
• Cream foundation » M·A·C 190
• Powder foundation » Sigma F82
I am really loving the Beauty Blender these days for my liquid foundation.
I use a tinted moisturizer and I used to apply with my fingers or sponge.
But then I finally got a foundation brush (Ecotools) which helped me apply less on my face. I’m happy about that. ^^
MAC 187
liquid foundation – my beauty blender! i hated it at first, but now it just makes makeup melt into my skin 🙂
powder/mineral – i use bareMinerals FULL flawless face brush (not just ‘flawless face’ (apparently there was a difference ha)
Back in the day, I used a natural sponge, but I can’t seem to find them anymore. It used to be, Max Factor and other big drugstore brands sold them. If anyone can tell me where to purchase one, I’d be thrilled.
a damp sponge. my makeup seriously never looks better than with a damp sponge.
I generally use my fingers for my BB creams.
For very fluid/liquid foundations I prefer a stippling brush (MAC 188 or Sigma duo fibre)
For slightly thicker foundations I use my Beauty Blender sponge.
For liquid foundations, I fluctuate between MAC’s duo fiber stippling brushes and the 190 and 193.
Years ago I only used the fingers,than I found Beauty blender,and is really great,but is boring wash it,but now I’m really happy with my MAC 190_
Depends on the foundation. For EL DoubleWear I use the MAC 187, but for my second, the Dior Forever which dries super-quick, I usually go with my fingers. It requires another pump of product if I go with the stippling brush.
I most often use my sigma F80
I much prefer my fingers for most foundations, although a stippling-type brush is quite nice as well for getting that even, air brushed look.
I use my 190 and 187 MAC brushes depending on the foundation I apply. For final touches I use my fingers to blend
Fingers for liquids, sponge/fingers for creams and a kabuki for powder foundations.
Definitely the MAC 130. I hated the MAC 187 too flimsy. I used to use the Estee Lauder paddle brush. The MAC 130 changed my life forever. If I am in a hurry I use the Sigma F80. To set my foundation, I use the Estee Lauder Foundation Powder Brush by pressing, not sweeping, the powder on.
for cream foundation what do you prefer?