The 5 Best Airbrush Makeup Kits 2020

If you’re passionate about cosmetics, you’ll already know how much the beauty industry loves airbrush makeup; and with good reason.

By mastering airbrush, you can create flawless results that are lighter on the skin than traditional makeup techniques. The finish that you can achieve lasts for up to 24 hours with little to no retouching, and will look much more natural and smooth than sponged-on or brushed-on makeup.

Once only available to professional makeup artists, the technology is now accessible and affordable for beauty aficionados to use at home. With so many brands offering airbrush, it’s important to choose a product that suits you.

• What’s in the kit – most kits will have an airbrush stylus (gun), a compressor unit, and some makeup. Kits aimed at professionals will have more makeup included, but if you only plan to use the kit on yourself you’ll need less variety.
  
  
• Skill level – are you a novice, or do you have prior experience using airbrush makeup? Some kits are designed with newbies in mind and will only offer continuous air pressure, whereas other machines would benefit from a skilled pair of hands. Don’t waste money buying a pro-level kit without first honing your skills on a more basic model. First you might want to look at some "How to airbrush makeup" videos too.
  
  
• Single-action or dual-action stylus – single-action gives simple spraying at a consistent level, whereas dual-action lets you ease up on the trigger for a lighter concentration of makeup. Decided whether you want basic control or whether you want to be able to better customize your coverage.
  
  
• Bottle-fed or gravity-fed – bottle-fed kits mean that you can simply attach bottles of makeup, whereas the gravity-fed versions mix makeup with air before spraying. Gravity-fed models are the better option if you want to apply bronzer, blush, and eye makeup, as well as foundation, as swapping out makeup is easier with this version.
  
  
• Silicone or water based makeup – silicone products have more staying power but can show imperfections if used incorrectly. Water-based makeup is lighter, easier to clean from the airbrush, and contain less allergens. This one is totally down to your personal preference.
  
  
• PSI – for cosmetics, you’ll need a PSI of anywhere between three and 20, but if you want to also do body painting or SFX makeup you’ll need 15+ PSI. As a basic rule, the higher the PSI the heavier the coverage.

There are 12 25 oz. long-lasting silicone-based foundations included, which aim to provide the perfect match for your entire client list: from yellow-based porcelain all the way through to rich brown espresso. This is especially handy for professional artists just starting out, as it makes a brilliant base for a growing makeup collection.

An ergonomic design means that you can use the airbrush gun for prolonged periods of time without your hand becoming sore, and when you’re between uses the included cradle keeps your workspace looking neat and tidy. Maintenance is necessary to keep the kit performing at its best, but the included cleaner and cleaning kit make the job nice and easy.

The only real downside of this kit is that it’s probably too advanced if you’ve never airbrushed before, but it’s a great model to work up to as your skills improve.
Aeroblend PRO Airbrush Makeup System is another good option for professionals. It’s cheaper than TEMPTU’s offering and comes with a lot more makeup, but this water-based model loses out against our winner’s superior versatility and long-lasting coverage.

We love that this kit comes with an instructional DVD which features a step-by-step guide. It’s literally painting by numbers: what could be easier? It’s also really easy to blend shades of foundation to get your perfect match, and the kit comes with three ¼ oz. bottles to get you started. There are also three additional multipurpose colors which can be used for blush, lips, highlighter, bronzer or eyeshadow once you get the hang of the machine.

Maintenance is simple with the included cleaning formula, and durability is another selling point of this Dinair model; there are no plastic parts on the gun, and the metal body feels high-quality in your hand. And, with over 30 years’ experience in the market, Dinair is a brand you can trust.

The power of this machine isn’t quite up to scratch when compared to some other professional-grade kits, but the very point of this model is ease of use, so you can always upgrade to a machine with more oomph when you’ve mastered your Dinair.

If Dinair doesn’t do it for you, Art of Air Cosmetic Airbrush System is another popular choice for anybody prioritizing ease of use in their kit. This model is nice and compact, so won’t feel bulky in your hands, and the adjustable airflow control setting has three levels that are simple to master. This budget option is a great choice, but the Dinair brand wins on their expertise and experience.

So, no matter how often you use the makeup, your skin will still be taken care of. The kit comes with three ½ oz. bottles of this foundation, as well as a bottle of moisturizer and a bottle of waterproof sealant, which is plenty for a beginner to get started with.

The carry case and stylus holder are handy extras, but if you’re going for this model you’ll need to remember that you’ll have to pay out more for extra makeup as soon as your samples run out (which won’t be long, considering the size).

Luminess is considered by some as the global leader in airbrush makeup technology, and their Air Legend Airbrush System is another good choice for novices. It’s as lightweight and easy to use as our beginner-winner, but its water-based makeup just doesn’t excite us as much as Tickled Pink’s aloe-infused formula. 

Five ½ oz. bottles of foundation is generous for a product as cheap as this, and the anti-aging primer, concealer, blush, and highlighter will save you money on additional products while you get to grips with this kit.

The finishing powder and delux carry bag are the icing on the cake, and will really make you feel like you’re being spoilt. But, if you fancy testing your eye makeup or contouring skills, additional makeup is completely affordable in Photo Finish’s range.

The only real downside to this kit is that it doesn’t include a cleaning formula, but if you’re looking for a low-cost kit whilst not detracting from features and reliability, you really can’t go wrong with Photo Finish.

Another cheap option is Aeroblend’s Personal Starter Kit. The one year warranty gives you confidence that the kit will last, and that you’ll get your money’s worth. There are nine 6 ml bottles of makeup included, which is a good amount for the price, and the dual-action gun gives greater control of how much makeup is applied to the skin. Our two picks for budget-buys measure up pretty evenly, so this is really down to personal preference.

This is a handy feature when contouring or applying body makeup, and the six-foot hose gives you plenty of maneuverability to get to hard to reach areas.

The kit also comes with four water-based hypoallergenic foundations, so you can mix your perfect shade, and the anti-aging moisturizing primer, blush, shimmer, bronzer, concealer, and finishing spray give you plenty of makeup to get you started. It’s also worth noting that all the makeup available from Belloccio is dermatologist recommended and made in the USA, which gives great peace of mind that the formulas will be safe on your skin.

The user guide DVD and manual is great for beginners, and setup and technique is covered in great detail. New users can quickly and easily learn how to cover any imperfection, including redness, dark spots, and acne, so you can get the most out of your airbrush kit. There’s also a carry bag, makeup blending sponge and cleaning formula, making this a truly comprehensive kit.

For the price, this is a brilliant kit designed for beginners and intermediate users. But, if you’re looking for a more professional-grade full-body kit, you’d be better going with our pick of the professional kits: TEMPTU Premier Airbrush Makeup Kit. You’ll pay significantly more, but if you have some experience using an airbrush kit, the results you’ll get will be far superior.

For all-round excellence, TEMPTU Premier Airbrush Makeup Kit cannot be beaten. We love it so much, we featured it in our top five twice! This dream kit will cover all your airbrushing needs, and the huge array of makeup included is perfect as a base to your growing airbrush cosmetics collection. TEMPTU is loved by many of the best artists in the game, and if it’s good enough for them, it’s good enough for us.