Top 10 Foundation Sticks

WHAT TO LOVE: Tom Ford’s Traceless Foundation Stick delivers convenient access to their cream foundation anytime. Apply it all over your face for a flawless, soft matte base, or use it sparingly as a concealer for blemishes. The best part? It’s available in a wide range of (40) shades.

FORMULA HIGHLIGHTS: Because of its mineral oil-free formula, this is one of the best stick foundations for oily skin. It’s also free of parabens, peroxide, and gluten.

WHAT TO LOVE: Have you ever wanted a creamy foundation that melts into your skin upon application, but is also (miraculously) non-comedogenic? If your answer is yes, then the #FauxFilter Skin Finish Buildable Coverage Foundation Stick is for you. 

HOW TO USE IT: This foundation stick has buildable coverage, so if you’re looking for a light amount of coverage, apply this product directly to your face, then use a brush or sponge to blend it in. For heavier coverage, swipe the foundation on a dense, flat brush, then use the brush to apply it to your face, adding more product to the brush as needed.

WHAT TO LOVE: One of the best things about this foundation stick is its drugstore-tier price tag. At just under $10, the Fast Base Stick Foundation is designed to give you a fresh and dewy finish. Plus, it comes in nine shades that are made to match your skin’s undertones (in addition to your regular skin tone).

WHAT THE REVIEWS SAY: This foundation stick has nearly 500 five-star reviews, and the majority of them are summed up in this sentence: “This blends into my skin like magic and lasts all dang day!”

WHAT TO LOVE: Make Up For Ever’s Ultra HD Liquid Foundation has won awards for the natural, satin finish it provides, which is why we’re thrilled to see that they’ve made a foundation stick that offers the same benefits. Meant to glide on like a second skin, this creamy foundation offers long-lasting, full coverage that may mean you can finally make it through a workday without needing a touch-up. 

FORMULA HIGHLIGHTS: While it will work for all skin types, those with normal to dry skin will see the best results from this foundation stick.

WHAT TO LOVE: Here are the facts: this foundation stick is dermatologist-approved, allergy tested, non-comedogenic, and fragrance-free. Essentially, it’s super safe for those with sensitive skin, and it’ll leave you with a flawless, natural-looking finish.

FORMULA HIGHLIGHTS: If you came here in search of a stick foundation that's good for oily skin, this is it. Aside from the fact it literally has “Shine-Free” in the name, this product combines a lightweight gel foundation with a powder core for an oil-absorbing, matte finish.

WHAT TO LOVE: Bobbi Brown’s Skin Foundation Stick is designed to be undetectable to anyone but the wearer. Its award-winning formula features a unique transparent base that evens out your complexion with a single swipe. The results? A natural finish we weren’t sure foundation sticks were capable of.

WHAT THE REVIEWS SAY: Let’s hear from a professional: “I’m a model, and I wear the Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick literally anytime I put on makeup. I don’t even have to use a concealer for areas of my face where I have blemishes from old breakouts. It goes on perfectly smooth and reminds me of a gentle matte. It feels really light as if I had no makeup on, which I love!”

WHAT TO LOVE: One of the best stick foundations for dry skin, the BareMinerals Complexion Rescue Hydrating Foundation Stick is a water-based liquid foundation that hydrates your skin while concealing your flaws. Bonus: it has SPF 25, so it’s perfect for summer.

HOW TO USE IT: Apply this foundation stick directly to your face, starting from the center of your forehead and swiping down your nose and chin. Use your fingers or a makeup sponge to blend it in. Or, if you’d like to use this product to contour, select a shade that’s two to three times darker than your skin tone, then apply it directly on the hollows of your face.

WHAT TO LOVE: We’re all chasing after two things when it comes to foundation: 1) a natural finish and 2) easy application. The Nudestix Tinted Blur Stick achieves both of those things, giving you a lightweight yet long-lasting natural finish with just a few swipes.

FORMULA HIGHLIGHTS: The Tinted Blur Foundation Stick features a non-drying formula made from coconut and green tea emollients. It has a notably lightweight texture for a cream foundation, which is due to it having less wax (which is sensitive to heat and pressure) than traditional foundation sticks.

WHAT TO LOVE: While Lancôme’s Teint Idole Ultra Longwear Foundation Stick isn’t the most affordable pick on our list, it does have one of the best formulas for oily skin. Claiming to offer 24 hours of coverage, this foundation stick has an oil-free formula that controls shine with silky coverage. It also comes with a built-in kabuki brush for convenient application. 

WHAT THE REVIEWS SAY: A couple themes from the “pros” column of the reviews section for this product are that it feels lightweight (but still provides ample coverage), and that it is a good option for mature skin. 

WHAT TO LOVE: Makeup that benefits your skin? Yep, you read that right. The Vital Skin Foundation Stick is one of the rare skincare products that’s formulated to hydrate and soothe your skin, all while providing a flawless finish.

FORMULA HIGHLIGHTS: This natural foundation skin features a formula of vegetable-derived squalane, berry flux vita, camellia seed oil, and coconut oil. A team of clean ingredients, the result is a combo that works together to combat redness, calm irritation, and boost moisture.