Which one is best stick foundation?

So if you want an easy, mess-free, do-it-all coverage product, look no further than our exhaustive edit below. We've spent hours researching the best options on the market and taking our editor's experiences into consideration to bring to you the very best foundation sticks, evaluating them on coverage, shade range, and finish. After considering dozens of formulas, we landed on the following best in show.

Foundation sticks are the unsung heroes of the multi-tasking makeup world. Not only do they function as an overall base product, but they can do double duty as a concealer or a contouring stick, all in a super compact size that doesn’t take up much room in your makeup bag. It also doesn't hurt that they've come a long way in recent years. Rather than just glue stick-like, drying formulas, there are now tons of options on the market that vary in terms of texture, coverage, and finish.

Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Stick Foundation at Amazon ($50)

Best Overall

Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Stick Foundation

Amazon

View On Amazon

$50

View On Sephora

$43

What We Like

• Lightweight

• Long-wearing

• Doesn't look cakey

• Buildable

What We Don't Like

• May not be ideal for oily skin

A creamy formula that glides on like a second skin and imparts a gorgeous natural finish? Check and check. This Make Up For Ever product is all your foundation dreams realized. Designed for all skin types, the full-coverage formula helps conceal everything from redness and blemishes to scarring and dark circles. But the best part is that although it does some heavy-duty masking, the finish doesn’t look cakey. Plus, you can apply just a stroke or two for a more natural-looking, medium coverage. While it features a natural finish, beware that it does get a bit dewier as you wear it, so we recommend that those with oily skin apply just a lightweight moisturizer before application.

Coverage: Medium to full | Shade Range: 18 | Finish: Natural satin | Size: 0.44 ounces | Cruelty-Free: No

Best Budget

Wet n Wild PhotoFocus Stick Foundation

Amazon

View On Amazon

$7

View On Ulta

$7

View On Target

$6

What We Like

• Buildable coverage

• Lightweight

• Hydrating

What We Don't Like

• Not the most long-wearing

We love an affordable makeup gem, and this budget buy from Wet n Wild is one of the best. It offers full coverage that's really buildable but in a way that’s not too thick or mask-like. Infused with argan and sunflower seed oils, the product feels hydrating on the skin but still dries down to a soft, matte finish. It's easy to blend out with a brush or makeup sponge, and once applied, it gives the complexion an even, blurred effect. While it's not the most long-wearing pick on this list, it looks beautiful for around six hours before signs of fading start to appear.

Coverage: Medium to full | Shade Range: 21 | Finish: Semi-matte | Size: 0.42 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Splurge

Tom Ford Traceless Foundation Stick

Sephora

View On Sephora

$45

View On Walmart

$75

View On Tomford.com

What We Like

• Buildable

• Long-wearing

• Skin-like finish

What We Don't Like

• Formula could be a bit rich for oily skin

Read Full Review: Tom Ford's Traceless Foundation Stick Feels Like a Second Skin

Creamy and malleable, this formula is easy to tailor to your desired coverage but building it up. Spot-apply it and blend with a damp sponge for a sheer look, or swipe and buff in for a full face. It's very quick and easy to blend across the face, and once applied, it creates the most stunning, skin-like finish. Though it feels really comfortable as you wear it, it does have a rich texture, so it does get more luminous throughout the day—keep this in mind if you have oily skin. It's a great pick for mature skin. While there's no denying how pricey it is, the luxurious finish and the amount of product in the stick make it a fair value.

Coverage: Medium to full | Shade Range: 37 | Finish: Natural| Size: 0.5 ounces | Cruelty-Free: No

Byrdie / Khera Alexander

What Our Testers Say

“The Tom Ford Traceless Foundation Stick will give you smooth, natural-looking skin in a matter of minutes. Its easy-to-blend formula and weightless feel creates the appearance of healthy skin while lasting for hours without any caking or fading.” —Khera Alexander, Product Tester

Best Medium-Coverage

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick

Sephora

View On Amazon

$26

View On Sephora

$54

View On Walmart

$40

What We Like

• Lightweight

• Buildable

• Hydrating

• Skin-like finish

What We Don't Like

• Can cling to texture

Read Full Review: I Only Wore Liquid Foundations Until This Stick Formula Won Me Over

If you're looking for a foundation stick that will give you significant coverage but still let your complexion show through just a bit, this is the one for you. It’s not thick like other stick formulations—instead, it glides on easily and almost melts, resulting in a complexion that looks even and satin-like. It's a great option for people with oily skin, but it's also really nice if you have dry skin and don't want something too glowy—just know that it can emphasize dry texture, so be sure to exfoliate and moisturize first.

Coverage: Medium | Shade Range: 43 | Finish: Natural | Size: 0.31 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Byrdie / Khera Alexander

What Our Testers Say

"A soft, smooth, and creamy product, this foundation stick was really easy to use and apply to my skin." —Khera Alexander, Product Tester

Best Full-Coverage

Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Wear Foundation Stick

Nordstrom

View On Amazon

$50

View On Sephora

$25

View On Ulta

$50

What We Like

• Oil-free

• Transfer-resistant

• Contains SPF

• Full-coverage and skin-like

What We Don't Like

• Attached brush isn't effective and adds bulk to packaging

Want bulletproof coverage that won’t budge? Lancôme has got you covered. This handy stick ticks all the boxes: It's full-coverage, long-wearing, transfer-proof, and buildable. There’s a lightweight SPF in there too, but we suggest layering over your regular sunscreen for adequate protection (can’t have too much of a good thing). Though it provides excellent, full coverage, it manages to maintain a blurred, natural-looking finish on the skin. It's a great option for special events, but it's also totally wearable for every day.

Coverage: Full | Shade Range: 22 | Finish: Natural matte | Size: 0.33 ounces | Cruelty-Free: No

Best Long-Wearing

Hourglass Cosmetics Vanish Foundation Stick

Amazon

View On Amazon

$49

View On Sephora

$49

View On Ulta

$49

What We Like

• Waterproof

• Long-wearing

• Easy to blend

What We Don't Like

• Can feel heavy on the skin

Byrdie’s resident foundation expert Holly Rhue loves this Hourglass offering for a multitude of reasons. First, it’s waterproof and long-wearing, meaning it can withstand whatever your day wants to throw at you. While it’s heavy in pigment (three times the amount found in regular foundation), the warmth of your skin will ensure it blends like a dream. Expensive, yes, but it's worth it—trust.

Coverage: Full | Shade Range: 32 | Finish: Natural | Size: 0.25 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Shade Range

Huda Beauty Skin Finish Buildable Foundation Stick

Sephora

View On Amazon

$65

View On Sephora

$23

View On Kohls.com

$39

What We Like

• Easy to blend

• Fragrance-free

• Buildable coverage

What We Don't Like

• Can emphasize pores and texture

Want super fresh skin on the go? Makeup guru Huda Kattan’s FauxFilter stick is seriously amazing stuff. The tapered, triangular tip makes it easy to spot apply in tricky areas, while the creamy finish makes blending easy. It does give skin a filtered look, but in a natural, believable way. And if you struggle to find foundations that match your skin tone, this one is worth trying, as it has a diverse shade range that features tons of different depths and undertones. Call it magic or just really good makeup, but take our money regardless.

Coverage: Medium to full | Shade Range: 39 | Finish: Natural | Size: 0.44 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best for Contouring

Fenty Beauty Match Stix Matte Contour Skinstick

Sephora

View On Sephora

$32

View On Ulta

$32

View On Kohls.com

$32

What We Like

• Lightweight

• Long-wearing

What We Don't Like

• Can be hard to blend

If you want a foundation stick that doubles as a contour, this is a fantastic option. The texture is lightweight but super matte, so carving out facial contours is surprisingly easy—all you need is a dense face brush and a little patience. If you’re new to the game, we suggest tracing the product along the underside of your cheekbones, across the top of the forehead (almost in the hairline), and along the jaw. Blend until it’s undetectable, and marvel at your bone structure.

Coverage: Medium | Shade Range: 8 | Finish: Matte | Size: 0.25 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best for Fair to Medium Skin

Nudestix Nudies Tinted Blur Stick

Sephora

View On Amazon

$32

View On Sephora

$32

View On Ulta

$32

What We Like

• Hydrating

• Lightweight

• Paraben-free

What We Don't Like

• Some may prefer more coverage

This innovative product is like a tinted moisturizer in stick form. Unlike more pigment-heavy options, this goes on quite sheer, blurring the look of pores, blemishes, and uneven skin tone. If you’re someone who prefers CC creams and barely-there coverage, you’ll love this. The line contains a great mix of warm- and cool-toned shades for lighter skin hues, so if you struggle to find shades that are fair enough for your complexion, this is a great option.

Coverage: Sheer | Shade Range: 10 | Finish: Natural matte | Size: 0.22 ounces | Cruelty-Free: No

Best for Dark Skin

Blk/Opl True Color Stick Foundation

Ulta

View On Amazon

$14

View On Ulta

$15

View On Target

$11

What We Like

• Contains SPF

• Long-wearing

• Affordable

What We Don't Like

• Can be drying

The BLK/OPL line is formulated specifically for deeper skin tones, so the shade offering here is excellent if you have deep or dark skin and struggle to find shades that match your skin's depth and undertones. The coverage is second to none, so it works well on hard-to-conceal blemishes and dark spots. It's quick and easy to blend, looks excellent on skin, and wears beautifully.

Coverage: Full | Shade Range: 24 | Finish: Velvet matte | Size: 0.5 ounce | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best for Oily Skin

Milk Makeup Flex Foundation Stick

Sephora

View On Amazon

$19

View On Sephora

$36

View On Walmart

$32

What We Like

• Long-wearing

• A little goes a long way

• Buildable

What We Don't Like

• Can feel heavy on the skin

Occasionally, oily skin and matte finishes don’t mix—the oil just causes the product to settle or separate. Milk Makeup offers a solution with Flex, a workable but mattifying option that won’t crack or crease when midday shine appears. The secret ingredient is marshmallow root, an extract that gives the product bounce and freedom to move with your facial contours (rather than against them).

Coverage: Medium | Shade Range: 36 | Finish: Natural | Size: 0.35 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best for Dry Skin

Westman Atelier Vital Skin

Violet Grey

View On Sephora

$68

View On Nordstrom

$68

View On Cosbar.com

What We Like

• Hydrating

• Easy to blend

• Provides antioxidant protection

What We Don't Like

• Can feel a bit greasy on the skin after a few hours

If you typically don’t like stick foundations because you don't find them to be emollient enough, this product will convert you. The texture is light and blendable, and the stick itself is full of skin-loving ingredients like vegetable-derived squalane, camellia seed oil, and coconut. It's also a great pick for sensitive skin. The texture is heavenly, and working it into the skin hardly takes any effort. Best of all, it provides lasting hydration for dry skin types.

Coverage: Medium | Shade Range: 21 | Finish: Natural and radiant | Size: 0.31 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best for Body Makeup

Dermablend Body Foundation Stick

Ulta

View On Amazon

$32

View On Ulta

$30

View On Dermstore

$32

What We Like

• Very long-wearing

• Easy to blend

• Creamy texture

What We Don't Like

• Contains mineral oil

Stick formulas can be a great choice for covering scars, acne marks, tattoos, and other markings that are notoriously difficult to conceal, and this heavy-duty stick designed for the body covers them all. With a long-wearing formula, it resists transferring and smudging, yet blends in easily into skin with a creamy, emollient feel. You can also build up the coverage by tapping it layer by layer onto your skin.

Coverage: Full | Shade Range: 10 | Finish: Matte | Size: 0.4 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best for Sensitive Skin

Merit The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Foundation and Concealer Stick

Sephora

View On Amazon

$62

View On Sephora

$38

View On Meritbeauty.com

What We Like

• Doubles as concealer

• Moisturizing formula

• Feels lightweight on skin

What We Don't Like

• Contains BHT

The last thing you want if you have sensitive, reactive skin is a product that feels heavy and cakey. Merit's The Minimalist Foundation and Concealer Stick feels light and looks extremely natural on the skin, providing light-to-medium coverage. With fatty acids and sea daffodil extract, it feels nourishing and smooth and helps keep skin soft as it blurs imperfections. And it's free of mineral oil and other irritants that can aggravate sensitive skin or cause breakouts.

Coverage: Medium | Shade Range: 20 | Finish: Natural | Size: 0.2 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes

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 Sephora

Spickard 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 Nordstrom

Henney 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 Amazon

Spickard 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 Sephora

Westman 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 Sephora

The 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 Nudestix

With 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 Sephora

Available 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 Sephora

A 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 Sephora

An 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

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Celebrity Makeup Artist

Renée 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

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Celebrity Makeup Artist

Tobi 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

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Celebrity Makeup Artist

Kasey 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

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Esthetician and Founder, EM Skin

Skin 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.