We updated this article in April 2022 to add more information about each featured product as well as expert commentary. Our original top-rated picks, selected by the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab experts, remain the same.
The first time I got my makeup professionally done with an airbrush tool, I was skeptical. You’re going to point a little hose at my face and it’s supposed to give me flawless skin? Suuuure. But to my surprise, I emerged from the experience with luminous, glowing skin that was seemingly devoid of pores.
Meet the Experts
Anabelle LaGuardia, a professional makeup artist based in New York City.
Joette Balsamo, a celebrity makeup artist based in Brooklyn, New York.
If you, like me before my transformative experience, are unsure of the difference between airbrush makeup and traditional foundation, you’re not alone. I asked pro makeup artist Anabelle LaGuardia to explain: “The difference really is in the application,” she says. “With airbrush you work with an applicator gun, which is a compressor with air, that delivers a very even stream of makeup.” The main benefit is that the airbrush tool delivers a level of control you can’t achieve with hand application, meaning you can layer on as much, or as little, as you’d like. “You can start off light and build it up,” LaGuardia explains. “Some people think that it’s going to be too heavy or not natural, but that is not the case.”
But airbrush foundation isn’t something that you can only get done professionally. There are lots of DIY products available that work just as well as the professional versions. With at-home airbrush kits, you simply load your makeup into a handheld device that will coat your face in a circular motion with a fine, even mist — and there are also easy-to-use aerosol cans that are great for beginners, too. Here, we’ve rounded up the best airbrush makeup kits and products you can buy, according to Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab testing and popular online picks vetted by our experts, including top-performing everyday use formulas designed for beginners and professionals alike.
Our top picks:
Best Overall Airbrush Makeup
Professional Airbrush Cosmetic Makeup System Art of Air
The Art of Air airbrush makeup system is widely loved by makeup pros, and has garnered almost 3,000 5-star reviews on Amazon. It comes with everything you need to try professional-quality airbrush makeup for the first time — an airbrush and compression system, six different foundations, makeup for contouring and cleanser to use when you finish. “Though reluctant to use it, I gave it a try and found I loved the way it made my skin feel,” a reviewer reported. “No heavy liquid makeup mask, just a thin moist spray of color.”
• Coverage: Sheer • Number of Shades: 6 • Size: 5 oz. per foundation bottle
Best Value Airbrush Makeup
Perfection Mist Airbrush Foundation
Natural finish
Budget-friendly
Some reviewers reported malfunctions with the spray nozzle
If you want to try out airbrush makeup but you’re not looking to splurge, this Sephora spray might be your best option. The coverage is buildable and you can customize it based on your needs. “I love that it is lightweight with the option to build coverage without looking cakey or feeling heavy,” a reviewer says. “I felt pretty in my skin and almost forgot I was wearing foundation.”
• Coverage: Medium • Number of Shades: 5 • Size: 1.8 oz.
Best Cordless Airbrush Makeup Kit
Air Cordless Professional Airbrush Makeup System
Lightweight, semi-matte finish
Water-resistant
Wide shade range
While this Temptu airbrush foundation starter kit comes with a hefty price tag, it is loved by many who say it’s well worth the splurge, including GH’s own experts. It also boasts a large shade range. “I thought it was super easy to use and I love the versatility — that it offers foundation, blush, highlighter and more,” says GH beauty editor Dori Price. “It was also surprisingly lightweight. I didn’t feel like I was wearing heavy, caked on makeup and it had a natural, glowy finish.”
• Coverage: Medium • Number of Shades: 24 • Size: 8.96 oz.
Best Professional-Grade Airbrush Makeup Kit
Basic Airbrush System
Long-lasting
Includes primer, blush and highlighter
Long drying time
Limited shade range
The Luminess Air airbrush makeup kit is professional-level quality, stays on all day without budging and includes four foundation shades plus a primer, blush and highlighter . “Luminess delivers on their promise of luminous looking skin using very little makeup, and the coverage truly is flawless,” one reviewer noted. Another said that her makeup looks exactly the same at the end of the day as it does right after being applied in the morning — a serious game-changer.
• Coverage: Sheer to full • Number of Shades: 5 • Size: 0.25 oz. per cartridge
Best Airbrush Makeup for Older Skin
Deluxe AirBrush Foundation Set
Contains anti-aging ingredients
Buildable and lightweight
Some reviewers noted the setting spray wasn’t that effective
Strongly scented
If you’re hoping to diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, look no further than MagicMinerals.”It doesn’t get in the grooves of my wrinkles and it literally makes my fine lines a lot less noticeable,” one reviewer remarked. “It also makes skin look dewy and glowy.”
• Coverage: Full • Number of Shades: 12 • Size: 1.8 oz per bottle
Best Airbrush Makeup Kit for Beginners
Cosmetic Airbrush Makeup Kit
Infused with hydrating aloe
Offers three adjustable air pressures
Not waterproof
Limited shades
For truly natural-looking airbrush makeup that’s almost effortless to use, the Tickled Pink Airbrush kit delivers. “It truly is wonderful and looks so natural,” says one reviewer. “It has a dewiness to it, but is not oily and stays put.” It comes with detailed instructions in a handy guide to make it easy for beginners.
• Coverage: Full • Number of Shades: 4 • Size: 0.5 oz per foundation bottle
Best Airbrush Makeup for Body
Airbrush Legs
Water-resistant
Non-greasy
Must let dry before getting dressed
Airbrush makeup isn’t just for your face; this Sally Hansen spray formula created for legs can be used for coverage all over your body. Applying airbrush makeup to exposed skin, like legs and arms, can help camouflage any problem spots and create an all-over even, glowing skin tone. “I wore this all day and it never rubbed off, even when I sweated,” one reviewer marveled.
• Coverage: Medium • Number of Shades: 6 • Size: 4.4 oz
Best Airbrush Makeup for Everyday Use
Professional Beauty Airbrush Cosmetic Makeup System
Easily conceals spots
Fragrance-free
Some reviewers noted difficulty with the compressor
The Belloccio airbrush system has some reviewers so impressed with their results that they’re ditching their concealer, which is why it’s a great go-to option for everyday use. “I decided to try this because I’ve noticed I’ve had problems hiding dark circles and settling makeup in the eye area,” a reviewer commented. “I’ve been able to wear just the Belloccio foundation instead of two types of concealer plus foundation. I’m still amazed!”
• Coverage: Sheer to full • Number of Shades: 17 • Size: 0.25 oz. per foundation bottle
Best Airbrush Makeup for Oily Skin
Airbrush Starter Kit
Long-lasting
Good for oily skin types
Some report compressor clogging
This Aeroblend airbrush makeup kit includes multiple shades so that you can customize your perfect mix. It also lasts all day without exacerbating oiliness and breakouts. “I have been simply amazed by the results,” one reviewer writes. “Not only has it improved my appearance after application, all while feeling like I’m not wearing makeup at all, but Aeroblend has also had the added bonus of helping to clear up my complexion.”
• Coverage: Sheer • Number of Shades: 5 • Size: .20 oz.
Best Airbrush Makeup for Black Skin
Airflash Spray Foundation
Large shade selection
Options include radiant or matte finish
With two dozen shades available, Dior’s airbrush foundation is perfect for a wide range of skin tones, especially deeper colors. While it’s certainly a splurge for foundation, reviewers say that it’s well worth it. “Nothing hides my pores better than this,” one raved. “I have huge pores and this floats over them, lasts all day, stays flawless, and feels like absolutely nothing on your skin yet covers everything including blemishes. It’s like red carpet-flawless daily and takes 60 seconds to apply.”
• Coverage: Full • Number of Shades: 24 • Size: 2.3 oz
How we chose the best airbrush makeup
While the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab hasn’t yet run a formal test of airbrush makeup products, our GH Beauty Lab scientists are constantly testing the newest makeup products, including foundations, concealers, blushes, bronzers, eye shadows and more. We relied on their decades of beauty product expertise and knowledge of the best beauty brands, as well as recommendations from professional makeup artist and online reviewers to put together this list.
What to look for when shopping for the best airbrush makeup
The only real difference between airbrush makeup and other foundation is the way in which it is applied. “You want to pick a foundation based on your skin type, a rule that applies to airbrush makeup too,” explains Joette Balsamo, a makeup artist in New York City. Here are some additional guidelines to know:
Radiant finishes may be better. Airbrush foundation formulas are typically drier than traditional ones, as they must be pushed through the compressor. (The more hydrating the foundation, the more likely it will get stuck in the apparatus.) For this reason, Balsamo recommends choosing “luminous” airbrush foundation finishes, which will be less likely t0 accentuate dryness and wrinkles.
Go for a full kit. Airbrush makeup compressors and foundations are sometimes sold separately, but pros say the best foundation for airbrush makeup is the one that comes with the set. “I think it’s always better to go with the foundation that comes with the technology because they’ve been created to function together,” Balsamo advises, so there’s less likelihood of error in use.
Finish with a face mist. Whichever airbrush makeup you choose, top off your look with a spritz of facial mist. “To make the look more supple, spray a hydrating rosewater or glycerin mist all over to bring some moisture into the makeup, so it looks more like skin,” she advises.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Marielle Marlysis a freelance writer who specializes in covering the beauty market, including frequently writing about makeup products. She is a former Good Housekeeping beauty intern, with a degree in Journalism from New York University. For this article, she worked closely with Good Housekeeping‘s beauty director April Franzino, who has over 15 years of experience researching, writing and editing makeup-related content utilizing the expertise of the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab scientists and top industry professionals, such as makeup artists and cosmetic chemists.
Marielle Marlys Freelance Writer Marielle Marlys is a freelance writer at Good Housekeeping and Cosmopolitan who graduated from New York University with a degree in Journalism and Global Liberal Studies, and with a Master of Arts in International Relations and Affairs.
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