
TL;DR
The best airbrush makeup kit we recommend trying is the Temptu Air Perfect Canvas Starter Kit. It’s cordless, features a long-lasting rechargeable battery, and feels ultralight. For an extra affordable find, we recommend the OPHIR Airbrush Makeup System Kit, which comes with everything you need for a full face beat, ranging from liquid eyeshadows to highlighter and lipstick.
On first impressions, the idea of airbrushed makeup is intimidating. But thanks to innovations in beauty technology, it’s gaining popularity as a DIY option outside of bridal and red carpet looks. “Airbrushed makeup isn’t my usual method, but with the right tools and techniques, it can deliver really beautiful, long-lasting results,” explains makeup artist Jasmin Lo. “In fact, the way it layers onto the skin—as opposed to being pressed in—can result in a soft-focused, perfected look that’s tricky to emulate with creams and liquids.” Granted, it can take some getting used to maneuvering an airbrush tool, but if you like the look of super smooth skin, an airbrush makeup kit might be worth a try.
We dedicated our time to evaluating how manageable each airbrush tool is and whether the components included in each kit are easy to assemble. We also consulted three makeup artists who shared their best airbrush makeup kit selections and broke down what exactly makes airbrushed makeup notoriously long-lasting. Lastly, our team of editors researched the type of coverage and shade range each kit offers. Pointing out the skin-nourishing ingredients that make these airbrush liquid pigments and kits exceptional.
What We Like
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Cordless
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Compact
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Long-lasting
Number of Pieces: 2 | Coverage Level: Buildable | Shades: 24 | Cruelty-Free: No
Temptu is our clear winner for a few key reasons. Firstly, it’s cordless and relatively streamlined, so it’s great for daily (or at least regular) use. Lo also points out that the 24-strong shade range looks as if it would work across a varied and diverse variety of skin tones. Its signatory air compressor is designed with airflow settings at three different speeds, from light to medium and full air, with each speed tailored to the type of area you’re airbrushing and the type of product you are applying. Overall, we gravitated to Temptu’s ability to provide a sheer finish, just as it could provide a full coverage finish, further demonstrating that it’s customizable and practical.
Number of Pieces: 6 | Coverage Level: Buildable | Shades: 6
If you want to create a glamorous, contoured makeup look, go for this bestselling kit from Art of Air. Not only does it come with complexion shades, but also blush, bronzer, and shimmer shades to contour and illuminate your face. The airbrush tool itself is also quite precise, affording great control around tricky spots (like the cheeks, eyes, and nose). This kit includes an impressive amount, considering its price—we’re talking a makeup primer, an airbrush cleaner, and a variety of pigments. Additionally, the portable pouch that comes with it allows you to store everything in one place when traveling.
What We Like
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Long-lasting pigments are great for bridal occasions
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Blush and highlighter shades included
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Includes a complimentary virtual class
Number of Pieces: 9 | Coverage Level: Buildable | Shades: 24 | Cruelty-Free: Yes
If you want to invest in an airbrush kit that’s going to deliver amazing bridal beauty results, the Kett Cosmetics Airbrush Starter Kit is the one to buy. The foundations themselves are silicone-based, so you get great longevity for special occasions. You’ll also receive 24 versatile shades across foundation, blush, and highlighter. It’s a splurge for sure, but consider it a splurge with foundation shades that range from fair to dark, pigments made for contoured goodness, blush color that moves through the seasons with their bright or berry tones, and highlighting pigments that showcase their true reflective nature.
Number of Pieces: 5 | Coverage Level: Full | Shades: 12 | Cruelty-Free: Yes
This handy kit comes with a primer, foundation, and setting spray—plus two types of Kabuki brushes (both stiff and angled), for beautiful skin in minutes. As opposed to a machine-operated option, you can mist this formula right onto either your face or the brushes. There are even peptides and hyaluronic acid in the blend for a plump, fresh finish. This kit may not offer an airbrush machine, which is known to precisely control the amount of pigment dispensed, but the complementary brushes allow you to blend away excess product from the face if you prefer a medium-coverage look.
What We Like
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Can be used all over the body, especially on the legs
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Gives skin a nice glowy-looking sheen
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Water-resistant formula
Number of Pieces: 1 | Coverage Level: Light | Shades: 6 | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Airbrushing isn’t just for your face, which is why Sally Hansen’s Airbrush Glow body makeup is such an iconic formula that’s stood the test of time. Lo has used it on clients before and suggests applying a “light layer and setting with powder for a flawless, transfer-proof finish.” Whether you want to soften the look of scars and uneven tone or simply can’t be bothered to self-tan, this quick and easy mist has you covered.
What We Like
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Lipstick, eyeshadow, and foundation included
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Deep pigmented shades
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Adjustable speed settings
Number of Pieces: 13 | Coverage Level: Full | Shades: 3 | Cruelty-Free: Yes
If you’re looking to airbrush your entire face—including cheeks and eyes—look no further than this kit from OPHIR. It comes with liquid eyeshadows, blush, bronzer, and highlighter so you can paint your entire makeup look. And as if that wasn’t enough, you can finish it off with the included lipstick and concealer.
What We Like
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Compact
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Easy to assemble
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Fair to deep shade range
Number of Pieces: 5 | Coverage Level: Medium | Shades: 8 | Cruelty-Free: Yes
This kit cuts the time in half you’d spend on assembling your airbrush machine and instead features a compact airbrush device that shapes into the size of the dominant hand you’ll mist with. Free of synthetic dyes and fragrance, the foundation comes in eight shades and is formulated to prime and deliver fair, tan, or deep-toned pigment, resulting in a long-lasting satin finish. The only hard part about using Mineral Air’s airbrush kit is adding just enough drops of the foundation into the device’s detachable reservoir without the potential of spillage. That’s it.
What We Like
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Designed to support full face, body makeup, tanning, and hair coloring
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Mini compressor machine
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Rich pigmented shades
Number of Pieces: 12 | Coverage Level: Medium to full coverage | Shades: 4 | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Every component within this airbrush kit will prove itself useful for the beginner and the airbrush makeup acquainted alike. If you’re unsure of exactly how far or how close you should hold your airbrush tool when misting product onto the skin, the sleek distance tool included in this kit can be attached to the airbrush stylus to help guide you. It has its traditional features as well: a makeup cup (to pour pigment into), a (long) cord that connects the compressor machine to the airbrush, and a bevy of foundation, blush, and bronzing shades. What we appreciate most about Dinair’s Personal Pro airbrush kit is that it includes black eyeliner pigment and the Airbrush Moist and Dewy Moisturizer, allowing you to achieve either a matte or glowy look.
Number of Pieces: 8 | Coverage Level: Medium | Shades: 4 | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Just as we paid close attention to the quality of Aeroblend’s airbrush stylus, we also took note of the mineral and water-based pigments in this kit, a combination that imparts a softening effect. The foundation is formulated with avocado and lavender, and each shade (light, medium, tan, dark, and deep) has a custom set of eight pigments that tailor to a variety of undertones. We can also get behind the fact that these formulas are fragrance-, silicone-, mineral oil-, and cruelty-free, as well as noncomedogenic and vegan, making them great for all skin types, even sensitive.
What to Look for When Buying Airbrush Makeup Kits
- Silicone-Based: According to makeup artist Stephanie Cinque, any type of silicone-based formula is best when it comes to long-lasting staying power. They’re also usually innately more water-resistant, ideal for withstanding things such as humidity, sweat, and even tears.
- Foundation Shades: Most kits come with several foundation shades, though the variety is largely not that of what you’d find in traditional foundation formulas. So, keep in mind that it may be slightly harder to find your ideal match.
- Starter Kit Features: While some kits come with everything you need to get started, others may require you to purchase additional makeup or tools separately. We recommend looking for kits that include at least a compressor, an airbrush stylus, and a few shades of foundation or makeup.
Meet Our Experts
Byrdie interviewed three makeup artists for this story on everything there is to know about airbrush makeup kits.
- Stephanie Cinque is a makeup artist specializing in bridal beauty in the Tri-State area.
- Steve Kassajikian is Urban Decay’s Head of Global Artistry.
- Jasmin Lo is a makeup artist based in Sydney, Australia.
Why Trust Byrdie
Byrdie contributor Emily Algar has been a writer and journalist (specializing in skincare, makeup, and wellness) for over six years. During that time, she has tried tons of products and interviewed numerous industry insiders.
Chelsea Avila reports on the beauty and fashion market and scopes out the best of what hair, skin, and cosmetic products have to offer. To help update this article, Chelsea kept in mind the learning curve that often comes with experimenting with airbrush makeup. She researched each and every airbrush makeup kit featured to deliver candid insight on a pigment’s finish, a kit’s airbrushing tools, and the qualities that make them unique to the buyer, keeping in mind the type of coverage and shade range each kit offers.