We Tested The Most Popular Foundation Sticks—These 10 Provided Flawless Coverage (2025)

TL;DR

Our Top Picks

Coverage: Medium/full | Shades: 32 | Finish: Natural | Size: 0.25 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

With 32 shades to match a variety of complexions, the Hourglass Vanish Foundation Stick came out on top after a month of testing. Stick foundations are often stiff or difficult to blend, but this one has a creamy, smooth consistency that makes it a dream to apply.

Our tester, Chelsea, was impressed by how well it neutralized her redness, and she found that it didn't emphasize her dry patches or feel heavy—a rare feat for any foundation. The medium (but buildable) coverage still looked skin-like on her complexion, and she loved that it easily created a cohesive, full-coverage look once she added concealer and bronzer. It has a natural, demi-matte finish, and we love that it’s waterproof and looks amazing—even after 12 hours of wear. The triangular shape made using it slightly messy when removing and replacing the cap—so we recommend paying extra attention while using it to minimize wasting product.

Chelsea, tester with combination skin: “Every stick foundation should have the consistency, glide, and coverage this one has. It negates any bad rep stick foundations get for not matching up to their liquid-based counterparts. It coats the complexion evenly and smoothly, feels lightweight, and promotes a perfect blend.”

Coverage: Medium | Shades: 16 | Finish: Natural | Size: 0.28 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Another stick foundation we adore is this one from Ami Colé. I’ve personally used this product for almost a year now, and I can attest that it’s just as great as everyone claims. The texture is what makes it so special—it’s buttery and smooth, gliding easily across the skin and blending effortlessly for an even and weightless finish. While it provides medium coverage, it covers my hyperpigmentation and dark circles with just a few swipes. It also blurs skin texture while still looking natural, and it doesn’t cling to my dry spots or accentuate blemishes. I don’t usually wear foundation because I find it too sticky and heavy, but this one is the exact opposite. It feels comfortable on the complexion and doesn’t become too shiny as the day goes on.

Coverage: Light/medium | Shades: 25 | Finish: Natural | Size: 0.28 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Milani is one of our favorite affordable brands, so we weren’t surprised when this foundation met all of our expectations. For only $17, you get light, natural coverage that sits well on the skin and looks beautiful all day long. Byrdie Associate Editor Alyssa Kaplan was impressed by how easily the formula melted into her complexion, so it felt comfortable and wasn’t too shiny for her combination skin. It could only be built up to medium coverage, but it was still enough to hide discoloration and breakouts for a slightly blurred finish. She also appreciated that it lasted for several hours without getting patchy or oily.

Alyssa Kaplan, associate editor with combination skin: “This formula performs as well as some high-end options I've tested. I wore it for about six hours, and it looked just as good at the end as it did when I first applied it.”

Coverage: Medium | Shades: 18 | Finish: Natural | Size: 0.37 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

Searching for a foundation that looks like your skin, but better? You’ll want one that has a natural finish, like this option from Dior. It has a smooth, easily blendable consistency that settles into the complexion flawlessly. It’s a great pick for dry skin types since it has a hydrating formula—packed with ingredients like rapeseed oil and vitamin E to add moisture. Our tester, Alyssa, was a big fan of how easy the product was to spread across the skin and how the creamy texture didn’t leave a greasy feel behind. It paired well with other makeup products and had impressive lasting power.

Those who are sensitive to smell should keep in mind that it does have a fairly strong rose fragrance—but it faded after a few minutes on the skin and didn’t cause any irritation for our tester.

Alyssa Kaplan, associate editor: “This foundation pairs well with any makeup I apply on top. It wears beautifully throughout the day—I don't find that I get super oily as I wear this one.”

Coverage: Medium | Shades: 20 | Finish: Radiant | Size: 0.3 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

I also tested this one, and as a big fan of a glowy makeup look, this luminous stick foundation from Charlotte Tilbury was right up my alley. As the name suggests, it provides a subtle but pretty glow that gives the complexion a healthy look—not shiny or sweaty. The formula has a slight sparkle that catches the light beautifully, but I love that it’s not too noticeable once blended out. The formula is super smooth and creamy, easy to apply, and blends quickly without much effort. I also have dry skin, so I was elated that it didn’t cling to any of my dry patches or emphasize rough texture. The coverage was also impressive, hiding my blemishes and dark circles well without concealer. The lightweight feel on the skin is just another plus.

Coverage: Medium | Shades: 22 | Finish: Natural | Size: 0.3 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Some foundation formulas can emphasize rough patches or enlarged pores, which is a big no for textured skin types. We recommend an option that can create a blurred, airbrushed finish—like this one from LYS Beauty.

Our tester has dry, acne-prone skin, and she loved that it smoothed the appearance of her dry spots and pores without looking cakey or causing creasing. It has a creamy feel that’s easy to apply but feels light on the skin while providing buildable coverage. She found that it made her skin even more hydrated after applying, which is probably due to the rosehip oil and green tea in the formula. This pick might make oily skin types look slightly shiny, so we recommend using a mattifying primer beforehand or a setting powder after applying.

Avery, tester with dry skin: “I love that this foundation stick evened out my skin's tone and texture without ever feeling heavy or dry. I'd also say it blurred the appearance of my pores without any creasing; the overall vibe was a your-skin-but-better look.”

Coverage: Light/medium | Shades: 15 | Finish: Natural | Size: 0.28 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This option from Well People provides sheer, semi-buildable coverage and a natural finish—making it perfect for an everyday foundation. Its slightly rounded shape and buttery texture glides on the skin smoothly, blending easily with a brush or your fingers. While it doesn’t give a ton of coverage, it can easily cover imperfections and redness for a smooth base. We also found that it maintained its smooth appearance when other products were applied on top. It’s the perfect pick to swipe on when running errands or going to a casual brunch.

Alyssa Kaplan, associate editor: “I think this foundation stick is unique because it offers sheer, natural-looking coverage. It gives the skin a fresh finish and is great for an everyday makeup look.”

Coverage: Medium | Shades: 30 | Finish: Natural | Size: 0.23 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

A multistep makeup routine can become costly, so we’re always big fans of products that can multitask. This complexion stick from Merit is a great example; it works as both a foundation and spot concealer that provides medium coverage.

Our tester loved that she was able to blend the product out with her fingers for a natural finish. She used it to conceal redness and any blemishes, and it evened discoloration when used as a foundation. Since it did accentuate her dry spots, we recommend prepping the skin with plenty of moisturizer before using it for dry skin types.

Avery, tester: “I thought this product was effective as both a concealer and a foundation—I love a multi-use product. I'll absolutely use it for spot-coverage going forward, and would be open to using it as a foundation when I want a more medium-coverage look.

Coverage: Light/medium | Shades: 25 | Finish: Natural | Size: 0.32 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Dry skin types sometimes don’t play well with stick foundations, as some formulas can be stiff and hard to blend. If you’ve been having that problem, I recommend trying this one from Fenty Beauty. Even though it’s a stick, the consistency reminded me of a very fluid and easily blendable liquid foundation. Since my skin gets even drier this time of year, I often apply a hydrating primer before using any complexion products. I completely forgot to do so when I tried this for the first time, and I was impressed by how great it looked on my skin without it. It leaves a satin finish that makes the skin look hydrated and slightly glowy, and I loved that it didn’t transfer to my fingers when I touched my face. The best part is that it was so lightweight even though it provided full coverage—it was very comfortable on the skin.

One thing to note: Fenty complexion products are known to oxidize a bit (this one did on me), so I recommend choosing a shade that’s slightly lighter than your standard to account for it.

Coverage: Full | Shades: 40 | Finish: Natural/matte | Size: 0.22 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This foundation from Basma impressed our tester Chelsea, who noted that she wouldn’t change anything about the formula. It provided a soft matte finish that looked amazing even after a full day of wear, leaving what she described as a “nice, creamy coat” on the skin that didn’t feel thick or heavy. It initially has medium coverage that can be easily built up to full, and she loved that it covered her blemishes and redness—creating a smooth, airbrushed finish. While it can cling to some rough spots, using a hydrating primer or moisturizer beforehand can solve that easily.

Chelsea, tester: “This formula left a natural matte finish that held up nicely after eight hours of wear. I love that it neutralizes my rosacea and general redness and that it doesn't accentuate blemishes or chin acne.”

FAQ

• What’s the best way to apply a foundation stick?

  “The best way to apply a stick foundation is directly on the skin,” says Allen. “I like to use a brush to blend it out and sometimes [use] my fingertips to warm the product and smooth it onto my skin.” If you prefer sheer, lightweight coverage, makeup artist Carmindy recommends buffing the product with a sponge instead of a foundation brush.

• Which skin type should use a foundation stick?

  While all skin types can use a stick foundation, it’s important to keep yours in mind when looking at the product’s formula and consistency. “Dry skin should look for hydrating, creamy stick foundations, and oily skin should look for a more matte option,” says Carmindy. Picking one that will sit well on your skin is key to a flawless base.

• Should you use a foundation stick or concealer first?

  Allen says the order in which you apply makeup is simply preference, but she recommends applying your stick foundation first to provide the initial layer of coverage and then applying a concealer after to cover lingering spots or dark marks. Since the majority of stick formulas offer medium to full coverage, you can apply less makeup overall if you use it first.