Thanks to their portability and seamless application, stick foundations are the ultimate travel makeup essential. The most beloved options on the market can create a smooth and airbrushed base that’s ready for any further makeup application (like our best stick foundation pick the Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Stick Foundation). “You can think of it as your concealer and foundation all in one,” says LA-based makeup artist Pati Dubroff. “It’s going to give you a little bit more denser coverage, so you can definitely use it with moderation.”
When narrowing down the best stick foundations, we considered coverage, shade range, skin type and ... [+] price point.
ILLUSTRATION: FORBES / PHOTO: RETAILERSWhen narrowing down the top options, we considered coverage, shade range, skin type and price point. “Everyone can use a stick foundation,” says NYC-based makeup artist Raisa Flowers. “And because it’s a cream formula, you can manipulate it.” From luxury versions to affordable formulas, here are our expert-approved picks for the best stick foundations.
Sephora
Shades: 17 | Coverage: Medium to full | Finish: Satin
A stick version of its liquid counterpart (Ultra HD Liquid Foundation), this lightweight, super creamy and satin finish product is one of Flowers’ go-to stick foundations. And no wonder: It delivers a smooth base and covers any texture expertly. “It has a dry down with a medium coverage,” she says, “and it creates more of a skin-like effect.”
Wet N Wild Beauty
Shades: 21 | Coverage: Full | Finish: Semi-matte
Just as the name implies, the Wet N Wild Photo Focus Foundation Stick delivers an airbrushed, semi-matte finish to make it look as if you’ve applied a filter. It provides instant hydration due to its blend of argan and sunflower seed oil, and for a very affordable price it contains just as much product as its luxury counterparts.
MOST POPULAR
Westman Atelier
Shades: 21 | Coverage: Light to medium | Finish: Natural
Created by veteran makeup artist Gucci Westman, who has worked on celebrities like Jennifer Aniston, Anne Hathaway and Reese Witherspoon, our luxury go-to stick foundation pick is rich in antioxidants to soothe redness and boost hydration. This unique formula delivers a natural finish and includes vegetable-derived squalane, berryflux vita extract, camellia seed oil and coconut oil. Westman’s makeup technique is best described as a second-skin finish, and this stick foundation delivers just that.
Bobbi Brown Cosmetics
Shades: 43 | Coverage: Medium | Finish: Natural
Perfect for parched complexions and infused with olive extract and shea butter, this emollient formula is hydrating upon contact and delivers a natural, radiant finish. Weightless yet buildable, Bobbi Brown’s stick foundation iteration melts into skin. And because of its weightless texture, it’s a great undereye concealer and doesn’t get cakey or crease.
Hourglass Cosmetics
Shades: 33 | Coverage: Full | Finish: Natural
Long-wearing and budge-proof, this sleek stick foundation—which has a unique angular shape to reach all areas of the face—glides on like a liquid with concentrated pigments and a natural finish. Pro tip: Pick a darker shade than your go-to base and use the jagged applicator to contour and carve out your jawline and cheekbones.
Amazon
Shades: 22 | Coverage: Medium to full | Finish: Matte
Lancôme’s dual-sided stick includes foundation on one end and a kabuki buffing brush on the other. Teint Idole Ultra Wear Foundation Stick is perfect for oily skin since its formula is free of oil and delivers medium-to-full coverage with a powder-like matte finish. And thanks to the convenient brush, it’s also a boon for the avid traveler looking for excellent portability.
Merit Beauty
Shades: 20 | Coverage: Light to medium | Finish: Natural
Perfect for on-the-go touch-ups due to its versatile circular applicator (it conceals and contours, too), Merit’s stick blends fatty acids to lock in moisture and sea daffodil extract to help diminish the appearance of pigmentation and dark spots. The formula was created in partnership with Los Angeles-based acne expert and aesthetician Biba de Sousa, so blemish-prone complexions were top of mind.
Sephora
Shades: 40 | Coverage: Light to full | Finish: Natural
Basma Beauty’s one and only product, a stick foundation, was created when the founder, Basma Hameed, turned to makeup after surviving third-degree burns. She was disappointed by the lack of shade ranges and cakey textures. Her solution? An extremely buildable foundation that glides on thanks to its hydrating properties, including ingredients like vitamin E, aloe vera extract and apricot butter.
Fenty Beauty
Shades: 25 | Coverage: Light | Finish: Dewy
Think of this stick foundation as a tinted moisturizer. Blended with skincare ingredients like murumuru butter and sodium hyaluronate, this blurring skin tint has a lightweight and dewy finish, unlike most of its makeup counterparts. “The Fenty Beauty foundation stick has great coverage and also has a skincare base,” says Flowers. “So it’s not too heavy.”
The Forbes Vetted team comprises makeup devotees and experts who know the research needed to determine the best stick foundations. Author of this story Jayme Cyk is a veteran beauty reporter with over a decade of experience. This story was edited by deputy editor Jane Sung, who has covered makeup and skincare topics for over 15 years. Cyk also tapped two experts to better inform her research: LA-based makeup artist Pati Dubroff and NYC-based creative and makeup artist Raisa Flowers. Both shared their stick foundation know-how on application and benefits.
When putting together this list, we considered price point, skin type and shade range. We also tested many versions featured on this list. We combed through customer testimonials and expert commentary via social media to determine the best of the best. To ensure we provided the most helpful information, our team considered makeup artists’ expert advice alongside diligent research around ingredients and versatility to help you make the most informed purchasing decision.
While there are many factors to consider when choosing a foundation (think creams, powders, and tinted moisturizers), the best stick foundations sometimes come out on top thanks to their ease of use and transportability. With the fear of spilling your precious pigments taken out of the equation, it's easy to pop your foundation into a bag and grab it whenever the need presents itself.
"Stick foundations are generally selected for convenience," confirms celebrity makeup artist Kasey Spickard. This type of packaging makes the product compact and easy to travel with and apply. Unlike liquid formulas, you can apply the stick formula directly to the face, which can be a bit messier." Also, stick foundations are versatile and, due to their format, can be used as concealers for convenient touchups.
They come in many different formulas and a variety of price points, but the common thread is pretty great coverage, making them ideal for people with acne, notes celebrity makeup artist Tobi Henney. "The creamy consistency makes breakouts easy to cover," she shares.
Ahead, these brilliant artists (and more!) will tell us about the best foundation sticks on the market.
The Best Stick Foundations
The Best Foundation Stick Overall
ILIA Skin Rewind Blurring Foundation and Concealer Complexion Stick
$48 at SephoraSpickard and Henney list ILIA's Skin Rewind Complexion Stick among their favorite foundation sticks, coupled with celebrity makeup artist Renée Loiz's approval, and it's a clear winner overall. While Spickard loves its good-for-skin ingredients and everyday wearability, Henney appreciates the creamy formula and how easy it is to blend. "Not only does it provide fantastic coverage, but it also doesn't clog pores or feel heavy on the skin. It's skincare-focused, helping to soften wrinkles and reduce redness over time. Plus, with 42 shades available, it's incredibly versatile," adds Loiz.
Pros: Makeup artist-approved; Beautiful finish; Extremely wide shade range
Cons: Some reviewers find it dry
The Best Luxury Foundation Stick
Tom Ford Traceless Foundation Stick
$90 at Nordstrom$39.99
at Amazon$76.50
at NordstromHenney loves Tom Ford's creamy and versatile Traceless Foundation Stick for its shade range (you have 13 options here) and coverage. "A lot of my model clients love the formula," she adds. Use it as a concealer for a flawless, soft-matte finish, or keep building for light, medium, or full coverage. The finish is also perfectly dewy.
Pros: Makeup artist-approved; Easy to apply; Moisturizing
Cons: More expensive than other options
The Best Waterproof Foundation Stick
Hourglass Vanish™ Seamless Finish Foundation Stick
$49 at Sephora$46
at NET-A-PORTER$49
at AmazonSpickard is a fan of Hourglass's Seamless Finish Foundation Stick, a medium-to-full coverage, waterproof option that he says gives skin "an airbrushed, flawless glow" with a straightforward application. "The shade range is also incredible, so you'll be able to find the perfect shade for your skin tone!" he adds. (Important to note: this just so happens to be Sofia Richie Grainge's "favorite, holy grail, can't live without" product, which is the ultimate seal of approval.)
Pros: Makeup artist-approved; Impressive shade range; Great coverage; Glowy finish
Cons: Some find it drying
The Best Nourishing Foundation Stick
Westman Atelier Vital Skin Full Coverage Foundation and Concealer Stick
$68 at SephoraWestman Atelier products rule my list of favorites time and time again for good reason. Besides the gorgeous packaging, founder Gucci Westman puts her heart into creating products that are both nourishing and high performing. Available in 21 shades, this richly pigmented foundation stick goes on like a cream and blends easily for a buildable coverage.
Pros: Skin-loving ingredients; Blends easily
Cons: More expensive than other options
The Best BB Cream Stick
Anastasia Beverly Hills Beauty Balm Serum Boosted Skin Tint
$42 at SephoraThe newest edition to Anastasia Beverly Hills' legendary lineup is famously not a stick foundation—but it still deserves a place on this list. Instead, it's a BB cream in stick format, and I officially can't live without its hydrating, blurring genius. Ever so silky in both its application and blending capabilities, it feels like nothing's on my skin while making my face look like a million bucks.
Pros: Skin-loving ingredients; Silky texture; Natural finish
Cons: Lighter coverage than some may prefer
Also Recommended
The Best Multi-Use Foundation Stick
NUDESTIX Tinted Blur Foundation Stick
$32 at NudestixWith a fascinating cream-to-powder, five-in-one formula, NUDESTIX's Tinted Blur Foundation Stick promises to work as a skin tint, blurring skin primer, setting powder, highlight, and contour—as long as you find the right shades (with 10 options, your choices aren't as wide as with some other products on this list, but it's absolutely possible). My only advice? Use a sponge for blending; blending it with my fingers is a little hard.
Pros: Lightweight; Nice coverage
Cons: Some reviewers find the formula too oily
The Best Long-Lasting Foundation Stick
HUDA BEAUTY #FauxFilter Skin Finish Buildable Coverage Foundation Stick
$39 at SephoraAvailable in 39 shades, HUDA BEAUTY's #FauxFilter Foundation Stick features a super creamy texture and is impressively blendable. Fragrance-free, transfer-proof, waterproof, and humidity- and sweat-resistant, it's the foundation stick for you if you want to put something on and forget about it until it's time to wash your face.
Pros: Long-lasting; Wide shade range; Goes on smoothly
Cons: Some find it too heavy
The Best Full-Coverage Foundation Stick
MAKE UP FOR EVER Ultra HD Invisible Cover Stick Foundation
$43 at SephoraA true savior when covering anything, MAKE UP FOR EVER's Ultra HD Invisible Cover Stick Foundation promises a long-lasting and buildable foundation effect. Unsurprisingly, reviewers can't stop talking about its coverage, noting that it feels like a second skin as it hides blemishes, redness, texture, and the like.
Pros: Great coverage; Long-lasting
Cons: Some find it too thick
The Best Foundation Stick for a Natural Finish
BASMA The Foundation Stick for Hydrating, Buildable Coverage and Natural Finish
$40 at SephoraAn excellent foundation for a natural finish, BASMA's aptly named The Foundation Stick comes in 40 shades and features a lightweight, buildable texture. It's also infused with skin-loving ingredients like aloe vera extract to visibly improve the skin's elasticity and vitamin E to facilitate hydration.
Pros: Impressive shade range; Skin-loving ingredients
Cons: Some reviewers report pilling
What Finish Does a Foundation Stick Offer?
"Stick foundations provide a satin-matte finish, making them suitable for oilier or acne-prone skin," shares Loiz. You can also find foundation sticks that dry down as a powder for a matte finish.
What Coverage Will I Get From a Foundation Stick?
Another stick foundation highlight? Their coverage. Loiz calls them a "great choice for those seeking a heavier coverage option," while Spickard notes that most supply medium-to-full coverage.
What Foundation Stick Should I Use for My Skin Type?
While plenty of people with sensitive skin love a stick foundation for its coverage, celebrity esthetician, Erica Marie Gatt suggests being very particular when making your product choice. "You should consider your skin's specific needs and select products that provide coverage while being gentle on sensitive skin," she shares. Also: always, always patch test.
How to Use Stick Foundation
Using a stick foundation is pretty straightforward. Spickard also recommends prepping your product by warming the foundation on the back of your hand before applying it to the face. "However, you can feel free to apply directly to the face," he adds. "I recommend starting at the center of the face and working outward. Buff it in with a damp beauty sponge or dense foundation brush."
For heavier coverage or to conceal blemishes and discoloration, Loiz recommends applying the stick directly to the face, then blending by tapping with a brush in a stippling motion.
Meet the Experts
Renée Loiz
Celebrity Makeup ArtistRenée Loiz is a Los Angeles-based makeup artist and groomer. Her industry expertise and artistry are regularly tapped by publications such as InStyle, Cosmopolitan, Essence, L’Officiel, Who What Wear, Vanity Fair, and Allure. Loiz’s celebrity clientele includes Quinta Brunson, Cynthia Erivo, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Sherry Cola, Adele, Chelsea Peretti, Uzo Aduba, Danai Gurira, Thuso Mbedu, and Jaylon Barron. Loiz has collaborated with global brands such as NARS, Beauty Blender, Charlotte Tilbury, Chanel, Sephora, J.Crew, Disney, Target, and Adidas. She is the founder of Color May Vary - the ultimate guide to the best black-owned brands for beauty enthusiasts. Color May Vary is recognized by Ulta Beauty in an initiative to celebrate inspirational Black voices and is a recipient of the Refinery29 Beauty Innovator Award.
Tobi Henney
Celebrity Makeup ArtistTobi Henney is a bicoastal makeup artist who originally hails from Sydney, where she was previously the L'Oréal Paris Makeup Director for Australia. She is known for flawless, glowing skin and signature red carpet looks created for clients such as Megan Fox, Ashley Graham, Charlotte Lawrence, Poppy Delevingne, Ellie Golding, Sara Bareilles, Bambi Northwood-Blyth, Barbara Palvin, Georgia Fowler, and Shanina Shaik. Henney’s worked with major brands including Diane Von Furstenberg, Victoria's Secret, Chanel, Dior, Louis Vuitton, Miu Miu, L'Oréal Paris, Clinique, Maybelline, Nike, Anthropology, and Coach, and her editorial talents can be seen in Vogue, L’Officiel, RUSSH, Elle, Grazia, Harper’s Bazaar, Schön! and more. Henney is a natural on camera, sharing tutorials and how-to videos frequently with outlets such as Byrdie Beauty and Who What Wear.
Kasey Spickard
Celebrity Makeup ArtistKasey Spickard is a New York based makeup artist. Kasey has a decade-long history in the beauty industry working with global beauty powerhouses L'Oreal, Shiseido, Estee Lauder, and COTY. His clients include comedian Heather McMahan, MTV’s Kamie Crawford and Ciara Miller from Bravo’s Summer House to name a few. You can see his work across your TV screens on Bravo, NBC's The Today Show, Good Morning America, and Watch What Happens Live. You can also see some of his campaign work for brands like Laneige, Maybelline, Milani, and Lelet NY!
Kasey also sits on the Reddit Beauty Council, and works with brands on product development, brand positioning, and strategy.
Erica Marie Gatt
Esthetician and Founder, EM SkinSkin health guru Erica Marie Gatt's decades worth of experience working as an aesthetician and makeup artist has shaped her foolproof, fuss-free beauty philosophy. She believes that curating thoughtful, streamlined skincare regimens for her clients is key to achieving effortless natural beauty and an overarching sense of empowerment, confidence and well-being. As someone who loves the outdoors and being active, Erica recognizes the link between health, wellness and beauty and embraces a holistic approach that puts equal emphasis on both an inner and outer glow.
Erica honed her talent and channeled her passion under the tutelage of celebrated Los Angeles esthetician Gina Mari after having spent years as a makeup artist.
In 2019, Erica launched her business EM SKIN, bringing a Beverly Hills medical spa sensibility to the South Bay.