By Erin Jahns
last updated
in Buying Guides
(Image credit: @tobimakeup)
Although powder foundations are one of the absolute best antidotes forshine-prone complexions (especially come summer!), they get kind of a bad rap. It's no secret that powders can be notoriously unflattering, and the wrong shade or formula can quickly veer ashy, cakey, or mask-like, which is the complete opposite of what they're supposed to achieve—sheer, matte, lightweight coverage.
Part of the problem here is the lack of inclusivity. If, for instance, a brand only offers five colors to choose from, it's not surprising that results won't be satisfactory. Additionally, I personally still feel scarred from my MTV-obsessed middle school years when every other infomercial seemed to be selling a different brand of powder foundation. (Just me?)
That being said, brands have come a long way, and while improvements can always be made on the inclusivity and shade-range front, most powder formulas these days provide us with many more options to choose from. Bothdrugstore andhigher-end beauty brands now make powder foundation formulas with 20 to 40 hues, and their technology, finish, and application methods have also improved.
Fast-forward to winter 2021, powder foundations have officially become one of the best and most strategic ways to curb shine and enhance your complexion with an airbrushed-like finish. Below,I'm sharing 19 of the best powder formulas money can buy for every single budget. Keep scrolling!
The "Save" Set: $7 to $25
Milani
Conceal + Perfect Smooth Finish Cream-to-Powder Foundation
Milani's best-selling powder foundation is great for anyone who wants the sheer dusting of coverage that powder foundations are known foras well as the easy-to-blend application of a cream or liquid. It glides effortlessly onto the skin and is formulated with key ingredients like lily and bamboo extracts, which control oil production along with other antioxidant-rich fares like green tea and vitamins A and E.
J.Cat Beauty
Aquasurance Compact Foundation
One of the trickiest aspects of finding the perfect powder foundation is toeing the line between "mattifying" and "hydrating."I never wantmy complexion to look chalky or cakey, which is whyI love J.Cat Beauty's brilliant formula. The packaging has a unique water-locking system to help preserve the moisture within the powder, and the actual foundation formula is hydratingand non-clogging. So even congestion-prone pores will be left happy.
L'Oréal
True Match Super Blendable Powder
Regardless of its very palatable price, this powder foundation from L'Oréal is one of the best options on the makeup market. Not only does it have an impressive shade range (something many powder foundations severely lack), but it's also oil-free, noncomedogenic, and boosted with skin-flattering pearl pigments to naturally enhance your complexion.
Neutrogena
SkinClearing Mineral Powder Foundation
As someone with acne-prone skin, I never thought I could wear powder foundations until I tried this highly sought-after option from Neutrogena. It's oil-free and noncomedogenic (meaning it won't clog pores), yet the coverage is satisfyingly buildable. Plus, the brand's signature MicroClean Technology tackles oil and breakouts to actually help expedite the healing process.
Maybelline
SuperStay Full Coverage Powder Foundation
If you're someone who likes to apply their makeup without having to worry about midday touch-ups, this long-wearing powder foundation from Maybelline is a great match. The full-coverage formula yields a durable matte finish that will look fresh on your face for up to 16 hours.
Revlon
New Complexion One-Step Compact Makeup
The demi-matte finish of this multitasking powder foundation makes it a good fit for anyone looking to curb oil and grease without having to sacrifice hydration. In other words, dry-skin peeps, this one is for you! The sweat-resistant formula makes it especially perfect for summer wear.
Burt's Bees
Mattifying Powder Foundation
Burt's Bees lacks the inclusive shade range we look for in the best powder foundations, but if you have fair or light skin, the brand's mattifying, naturally derived formula is a highly rated option that helps blur away imperfections while simultaneously keeping sneaky oil at bay.
Black Opal
True Color Pore Perfecting Powder Foundation SPF 15
Black Opal's top-rated powder foundation not only features an ultra-clean ingredient profile but also boasts Shade ID technology, which, according to the brand, features balanced multicolored chromatic pigments that adjust to your unique skin tone all while keeping skin grease-free and looking airbrushed. Oh, and didI mention the addeddoseof SPF?
Iman Cosmetics
Second to None Powder Foundation
Iman is a beauty icon, and honestly, so is her namesake makeup line. Designed with medium to deep skin tones top of mind (it doesn't contain frost- or ash-inducing mica), this nutrient-packed mineral formula offers a flattering, sheer finish that can offer any kind of coverage depending on how you apply it. For lighter coverage, dab it on with a dry sponge, and for fuller coverage, use your fingers to blend and work it into your complexion.
The "Splurge" Set: $32 to $64
BareMinerals
Original Loose Powder Mineral Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 15
BareMinerals instantly comes to mind the secondI think of powder foundation. It's famous for a reason, and on Sephora alone, this cult-loved loose-powder foundation formula has nearly 20,000 reviewsand a near five-star rating (4.6 if you must know specifics). It's fortified with SPF 15 and will actually help improve the health and look of your skin over time to boot.
MAC
Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation
It does not get any more iconic than this holy-grail, forever-beloved powder foundation from MAC. Of course, since it's MAC, the shade range is super inclusive, and it's so foolproof as far as application goes. In one fast and easy step, you'll get a smooth, even matte finish that can be built from medium to full coverage.
Tarte
Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Airbrush Foundation
Talc-free, this favorite pick houses Tarte's hero ingredient, Amazonian clay, and yields a medium-coverage application that's easy to customize and build, and it will stay on your face for a full 12 hours. It's so lightweight that you'll forget you're wearing makeup.
Make Up For Ever
Matte Velvet Skin Blurring Powder Foundation
Innovative in its formulation, this powder foundation from Make Up For Ever gives you 30 different shade options and boasts a Flexi-Fit Puzzle Complex, which delivers a featherlight feel in addition to flexible, buildable coverage. The complexion is left looking expertly airbrushed and practically poreless.
Too Faced
Born This Way Pressed Powder Foundation
I've been abeen longtime lover of Too Faced's Born This Way collection, and if you're in the market for a great powder foundation, this is definitely at the top of our lists. It comes with a two-in-one sponge to cater to different coverage levels, and the ingredient list is filled with lush additionssuch as hydrating hyaluronic acid, coconut water, and alpine rose.
Estée Lauder
Double Wear Stay-in-Place Matte Powder Foundation
Folks, this top-rated powder foundation has over 40 shades to choose from to pretty much ensure you get your most flattering color match. Not only that, but the skin-enhancing finish stays true to color, lasts all day (or night), and delivers an oil-curbing matte result that looks great IRL or in photos.
Lancôme
Dual Finish Multi-tasking Longwear Powder Foundation
Whether or not you want sheer or full coverage, this popular powder foundation from Lancôme totally has your back. Choose from more than 20 inclusive shades, and you need not worry about cakey-ness or dehydration. It's safe for all skin types and lasts all day without ever settling into fine lines.
Shiseido
Synchro Skin Self-Refreshing Custom Finish Powder Foundation
This dreamy powder foundation is so luxe and hydrating that you'd never guess the finish didn't come from a bottle. It boasts specialized technology that "synchronizes" with your skin and even self-refreshes so you have a perpetual "I just woke up like this" result for up to 24 hours.
Laura Mercier
Smooth Finish Foundation Powder
Oil-free and lightweight in texture, this is one of Sephora's best-selling powder foundations, and it's no wonder considering all of its touted benefits. It reduces the appearance of shine-inducing grease, evens out skin tone, tops up the skin's hydration levels, and minimizes the look of fine lines and pores. Plus, the color stays true and won't shift throughout the day.
Giorgio Armani
Luminous Silk Compact Powder Foundation
Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation stans, this one is for you. If you're looking for something a little lighter (but just ask skin-enhancing) for summer, this dual-use powder foundation will come in handy. Use it alone as a natural-looking powder foundation or as a setting powder for your favorite liquid or cream foundation.
This story was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.Next:These Are the Only Products We'd Buy From 20 Top-Selling Skincare Brands
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Erin Jahns
Beauty Director
Erin has been writing a mix of beauty and wellness content for Who What Wear for over four years. Prior to that, she spent two and half years writing for Byrdie. She now calls Santa Monica home but grew up in Minnetonka, Minnesota, and studied writing, rhetoric, and communication at University of Wisconsin, La Crosse. She studied abroad in Galway, Ireland, and spent a summer in L.A. interning with the Byrdie and Who What Wear family. After graduating from UW, she spent one year in San Francisco, where she worked as a writer for Pottery Barn Kids and PBteen before moving down to L.A. to begin her career as a beauty editor. She considers her day-to-day beauty aesthetic very low-maintenance and relies on staples like clear brow serum (from Kimiko!), Lawless's Lip Plumping Mask in Cherry Vanilla, and an eyelash curler. For special occasions or days when she's taking more meetings or has an event, she'll wear anything and everything from Charlotte Tilbury (the foundations are game-changing), some shimmer on her lids (Stila and Róen do it best), and a few coats of the best mascara-type product on earth, Surratt's Noir Lash Tint.
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