Foundation sticks are the unsung heroes of makeup

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This article was published 22/07/2021 (1887 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Everything is better in stick form, no? A corn dog, a frozen treat … (In researching this story, I learned there’s a national “Something on a Stick” day, which I duly intend to observe from here on out.) I’d say this is also true of foundation.

The thing is, stick foundation gets a bad rap. “Seems like it would be thick,” a colleague said when I recently raved about it. That’s what I thought, too — for years, actually. But not so. I mean, I’m sure some are, but there are so many newer, more sophisticated formulas on the market that are anything but.

Instead, they weightlessly glide onto skin, blending in seconds with the dab of a finger or a few strokes of a brush. I’ve personally never achieved such a polished complexion in so little time. In less than a minute, I go from zombie to Zoom filter.

They can also double as concealer if you want a more targeted approach. I find the texture and finish look more natural than many actual concealers, which is especially great for covering things like dark spots or breakouts or broken capillaries. You can’t tell where the foundation ends and your skin begins.

Finally, there’s the staying power. These babies don’t move until you say so, even if you’re prone to oil or in the midst of a heat wave. I like to really slather on the sunscreen, especially in the summer, which can cause my makeup to slip and slide overtop. Not the case with a good stick foundation. It’s got enough grip to stay put and won’t be halfway down your face come 3 o’clock.

I’ll stop rhapsodizing about foundation sticks now, but if you’re interested in experiencing their wonders for yourself, here are the 10 I consider to be the best of the best.

Merit The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Foundation and Concealer Stick, $49, sephora.ca

The buzzy one

Katherine Power, Merit’s founder, describes it as “not a foundation, not a concealer, but it’ll replace both in your makeup bag.” That’s exactly what it does. Some days, I apply it only over my dark spots and on the redness around my nose, and then on others, I go ham and use it pretty much all over. (I highly recommend trying Merit’s brush. It makes blending a dream.) The finish is dewy but not shiny and the product never settles into pores or lines. I’m obsessed.

Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Stick, $61, sephora.ca

The full-coverage one

I took this on vacation with me once when I didn’t want to check a bag and needed to limit the liquids in my toiletry bag. I’ve been using it ever since. I love that I can’t feel it on my face, but can be sure it’s there, doing its thing, even if I’m sweaty or dancing the night away somewhere in Sayulita (it’s actually waterproof!). It’s quite high-coverage, so I tend to use it more in the evening if I want to make my skin look super silky and flawless, but it also works great for spot-concealing.

Make Up For Ever UltraHD Invisible Cover Stick Foundation, $56, sephora.ca

The makeup-artist-approved one

The thinness-to-coverage ratio of this product is mind-blowing. It’s even lighter than a lot of tinted moisturizers I’ve tried, but actually makes your skin look even and gorgeous. (Let’s face it, tinted moisturizers tend to only be for people with already perfect skin. If that’s you, congratulations. If not, I’ve got you.) I’ve heard many makeup artists rave about this stick and I totally get why.

Maybelline Shine-Free+ Balance Stick Foundation, $11, shoppersdrugmart.ca

The drugstore one

So many reviews for this product start with “Please don’t ever discontinue this foundation!” I fully understand the fervour. It’s $11 and does a stellar job evening out skin and nixing excess oil. The texture is actually closer to a gel than a cream, which feels wonderful on skin. Plus, there’s a special “powder core” (that’s why the middle is clear) that keeps shine in check for a full 10 hours.

Westman Atelier VitalSkin Foundation Stick, $88, sephora.ca

The celeb-favourite one

Gucci Westman is a legend, best friends with her longtime clients like Cameron Diaz and Gwyneth Paltrow. I love every single one of her Westman Atelier products (her highlight stick makes you look like your whole life consists of going to Pilates and drinking green juice) and her foundation stick is no different. In keeping with the makeup pro’s esthetic, it’s super dewy and creamy. I’d say the coverage falls somewhere around the medium mark. It won’t camouflage everything, but it will even you out and make you look really fresh and radiant.

Yves Saint Laurent All Hours Foundation Stick, $48, yslbeauty.ca

The extra-long-wear one

If staying power is what you’re after, you’ll love this. It boasts 24-hour wear. (I don’t know in what context you’d have makeup on for 24 hours straight, but I wish us all a life that exciting.) You can build the coverage from medium to full, and it never gets cakey or mask-like. The finish is more on the velvety matte side, so it’s particularly well-suited to anyone wanting to control shine. It’ll keep you looking fresh all day (like, literally all day).

Milk Makeup Flex Foundation Stick, $48, sephora.ca

The super-lightweight one

It’s called Flex Foundation because it’s designed to move with your face without creasing or cracking. You’ll truly forget you have it on — that’s how featherweight it is. The coverage lands on the lighter side of medium, which makes it ideal if you’re not looking to conceal much but just want to give your complexion that little extra something. It makes everything seem smoother and more luminous.

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick, $62, bobbibrowncosmetics.ca

The cult classic one

You can’t go wrong with Bobbi Brown. An oldie but a goodie, this beautifully creamy formula is a godsend for anyone on the drier side. It’s laced with emollients like shea butter and olive extract to leave skin nice and moisturized. In trials, 96 per cent of participants found it mimicked the look of a healthy skin tone. No wonder it’s a bestseller.

Tom Ford Traceless Foundation Stick, $110, sephora.ca

The splurgy one

You know how in Say Yes to the Dress, the consultants never let brides try on a dress outside of their price range because they know they’ll fall in love and be heartbroken? That’s what this foundation stick is like. It’s $110, it’s Tom Ford and it’s incredible, truly living up to its “Traceless” moniker. You’ll almost wish it wasn’t so good.

Nudestix Nudies Tinted Blur Stick, $37, sephora.ca

The blurring one

Nudestix, as the brand name suggests, is all about the magic of a stick. (Apologies, if you’ve now got that 50 Cent tune stuck in your head. I did not, of course, mean it that way.) So it comes as no surprise they’ve mastered stick foundation. This guy boasts soft-focus technology to blur the look of pores, lines, texture and blemishes. You can use it as a foundation or concealer or even play with different shades to contour and highlight. A true multitasker.

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Katherine Lalancette is the beauty director of The Kit, based in Toronto. She writes about beauty and trends. Reach her on email at kl@thekit.ca or follow her on Twitter: @kik_tweets