Why you'll love it: Real Techniques makes high-quality brushes at drugstore prices, and the Expert Face Brush is your ideal foundation application tool.
Even though the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush is the top drugstore foundation brush on this list, it really is one of the best options out there, period. If you’re not interested in dropping $30+ on a brush, I urge you to check this one out.
This is a basic dome-shaped foundation brush that’s super densely packed to pick up and blend both thicker cream formulas and liquidy ones. The bristles are widely distributed, so you can move product around your skin quickly before it dries down.
It has close to 2,000 5-star ratings on Ulta and over 4,500 ratings on Influenster. Reviewers on both sites give the brush an overall 4.7-star rating.
"I normally use mineral powder foundation and this works great for that - but was curious how this would work with a heavy cream. Result: you TRULY can multitask with it! I have NEVER been able to do this with one brush before ... I applied, one after the other with no wiping or cleaning between," reads the most helpful 5-star review on Ulta.
As Rank and Style points out, the brush actually stands on its base, so you technically don’t need to store it in a cup or drawer between uses.
Pros: Affordable, dense, works with multiple formulation formulas, stands on its base, cruelty-free
Cons: Some reviewers complained about shedding over time
Buy the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush at Ulta for $8.99