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Struggling With Sleep? This Rechargeable Sound Machine Is A Total Game-Changer
I love a good no-makeup makeup look, but skin makeup is a must.
For me, that’s a couple quick swipes of concealer and/or foundation. I’ve been using the same Smooth Finish Foundation powder for the past decade, and I don’t think I’m ever going back to liquid foundation. Liquid is great for a natural look and dewy finish, but I prefer stick or powder because it’s easy to apply and you can build on it for your desired coverage. Plus, I love the blurred, quasi-airbrushed look that it gives you!
With that in mind, I’ve rounded up 7 of the best affordable foundation sticks. It’s not just me, either—these are tried-and-true, consumer-loved products, and you literally can’t go wrong with any of them.
Get your shopping carts ready!
Thread Face It Complexion Stick ($8)
This weightless, cream complexion stick gives you light foundation, contouring, and concealer coverage, depending on what you need. It also comes in 24 different soft-matte shades to help you find your perfect match, but best of all, it’s incredibly portable. Throw it in your purse, don’t worry about leakage, and use it for those horrible moments when a pimple pops up out of nowhere, or your makeup gets wiped off/smeared.
Milani Conceal + Perfect Blur Out Skin Tint ($15.99)
Easy-to-use? Check. Perfect for all your on-the-go needs? Duh. I also love the Milani Conceal + Perfect Blur Out Skin Tint because it’s makeup cosplaying as skincare. Infused with Murumuru Butter, Vitamin C-rich Guava Fruit Extract & antioxidant Vitamin E, it’s designed to moisturize, support natural barrier function, and flatter your natural skin tone. Hooray!
Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Instant Perfector 4-in-1 Glow Foundation ($10.99)
Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Instant Perfector 4-in-1 Glow Foundation went viral after TikTokers discovered it’s actually a dupe for other high-end foundations. Its lightweight formula pulls major multi-tasking duty and works to prime, conceal, highlight and even out skin tone. This do-it-all makeup stick is about to be your new secret weapon!
Black Opal True Color Skin Perfecting Stick Foundation with SPF 15 ($13.69)
This foundation stick gives you neither a dewy nor a true matte finish; instead, it somehow gives you the best of both worlds. It works great as concealer or full foundation, and you can layer it if you need more coverage. Oh, and did I mention it’s enriched with antioxidants like Vitamins C & E, plus with SPF 15?
P.S. TikTok agrees it’s one of the best foundation stick choices for women of color.
Maybelline Lifter Stix Multi-Use Face Makeup Stick ($9.99)
Maybelline Lifter Stix’s whole thing is its ability to contour and define. Yes, it gives you great natural coverage, but it’s also formulated with cranberry seed oil for a smooth glide to help those cheekbones pop! You don’t need a million different contouring tools when you can sculpt with just this one.
Black Radiance Color Perfect Foundation Stick ($9.39)
Contouring on-the-go? No problem. With a pigment-rich foundation stick on one side and a soft brush applicator on the other, it’s never been easier to add gorgeous dimension to your face.
As with the Black Opal True Color Skin Perfecting Stick Foundation, this brand is especially geared towards women of color, and features a variety of shades to suit all skin tones.
ColourPop Pretty Fresh Tinted Foundation Balm ($14)
Hydrating, ultra-creamy, and infused with peptides, Hyaluronic Acid, and Niacinamide, ColourPop’s foundation is a great choice for the skincare-obsessed person. It looks like your skin, only better. It’s buildable for light to medium coverage, but feels like you’re wearing nothing.
Each of these foundation sticks can be blended either with a brush, makeup sponge, or quite simply, your fingers.
