Powder foundation is an indispensable asset in your makeup arsenal, providing light or full coverage when necessary. It can serve as an independent product, setting powder for liquid foundation, or as an anti-shine blotting powder to keep shine at bay.
The best powder foundations are finely milled and breathable, offering shade-inclusive products that are lightweight and buildable. Many also come in matte finishes to absorb excess oil and help prevent future breakouts.
L’Oreal Paris Infallible Pro-Matte Powder Foundation
Long-wearing powder that provides demi-matte coverage for up to 24 hours. It was specifically created to cover imperfections for an even complexion, and its air-light texture blends naturally into the skin without chunky or cakey textures – Plus, its preservative-free formula includes minerals to promote healthy skin!
This sweater is sweat and heat-proof to withstand even the harshest of environments – perfect for those who tend to sweat heavily or live in hot climates.
Contrary to other powder foundations, this one doesn’t feature chalky or dry skin tones; it glides on smoothly while staying lightweight and oil-free – perfect for acne-prone skin or blemishes! Wear it alone as an additional setting powder over a liquid foundation or a setting powder over a liquid foundation.
One of the most outstanding features of this foundation is that it caters to all skin types, even those with sensitive skin. With its long-wear formula that won’t fade or flake throughout the day and is designed not to clog pores – one thing this product excels at.
It comes in various shades to cater to multiple skin tones, making it easy for most people to find their ideal shade. Furthermore, its small, travel-friendly size makes it convenient for those who like alternating between powder and liquid makeup applications. Unfortunately, powder foundation does not last as long and may need regular touch-ups for maximum coverage.
Elizabeth Arden Skin Iconic Liquid Foundation
Elizabeth Arden has long been associated with heritage and elegance. Since its inaugural Red Door salon on Fifth Avenue, New York, in 1910, this legendary skincare, cosmetics, and fragrance brand has become one of the most acclaimed globally.
Elizabeth Arden has long been recognized for their high-performance skincare and makeup products, such as their Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant that soothes and restores dry, chapped skin; their groundbreaking PREVAGE Anti-Aging Foundation powered by Idebenone and Vitamin C, which work together to fight signs of aging; they even boast their signature Eye Makeup Remover Stick! With such an extensive lineup, Elizabeth Arden remains renowned as an influential beauty staple.
Elizabeth Arden Skin Iconic Liquid Foundation has been specially formulated with light-reflecting mica and pearl pigments to amplify the complexion and skin-softening silica and chamomile to calm, soothe and moisturize skin. As a result, its velvety, soft powder texture with natural matte color offers maximum coverage without unwanted shine or glitter – ideal for daily wear or layering over foundation for an added dose of luminosity. When worn alongside the award-winning Benefit Hoola Powder Bronzer, this combination creates an instant sun-kissed glow all year!
e.l.f. Camo Powder Foundation
Powder foundations may have earned themselves a bad rep of late, but they’re invaluable in creating a uniform complexion. Not only are they lightweight and natural looking, but some pressed-powder formulas also contain ingredients to combat shine and absorb oil for a soft matte finish.
One such product is the e.l.f. Camo Powder Foundation ($11) delivers medium to full coverage with a soft matte finish when applied using patting or sweeping motions with its included sponge. The formula contains high percentages of Mica for an easy blend and smooth foundation application.
This versatile product can also serve as a setting powder for liquid or cream-based foundation or be lightly applied over concealer to help erase dark spots and uneven skin tone. Plus, it’s perfect for blotting away excess oil throughout the day!
Use the included sponge to apply foundation powder directly onto your face, particularly areas prone to shine. Reapply as necessary until the makeup looks fresh and flawless. This powder foundation is free from phthalates, parabens, nonylphenol ethoxylates, triclosan, and triclocarban – plus, its vegan and cruelty-free status makes it the perfect foundation choice! It comes in 30 shades to cover every complexion. Synthetic Fluorphlogopite is its principal constituent (less prone to impurities with lower heavy metal content than Mica), offering unparalleled coverage compared with its counterpart, Mica counterpart in terms of coverage!
Bobbi Brown Skin Weightless Powder Foundation
Bobbi Brown Skin Weightless Powder Foundation is a long-wearing, lightweight foundation with a natural finish. Crafted with finely milled ingredients and featuring an oil-free formula to reduce shine. Perfect for normal to oily skin types. It is packed with vitamins and skin-nourishing extracts such as apricot kernel oil and rosemarinus extract for extra care and nourishment.
This brand’s shade range and selection cover skin tones from pale to dark. While not as extensive as MAC’s selection, the field still impresses and includes many yellow-toned hues explicitly tailored for Indian women.
This foundation is perfect for anyone wanting a light matte look and is easy to take for touch-ups. Formulated with non-comedogenic ingredients that won’t clog pores, making it suitable for sensitive and acne-prone skin as well.
Apply this product onto freshly cleansed skin with a puff or dry sponge (included with the compact) for medium to full coverage, or dust it on using Westman Atelier’s Powder Brush ($85). For sheer coverage, lightly dust using a powder brush such as Westman Atelier’s ($85). Before applying foundation, concealer should be applied first to conceal any blemishes, veins, or scars.
Chantecaille Compact Makeup Foundation
This foundation provides a natural-looking matte finish. It is formulated without fragrance or animal by-products and is free from lanolin, petrochemicals, parabens, mineral oil, or other irritants for an oil-free and photo-ready complexion. Plus, it protects against signs of aging with Green Apple Extract’s antioxidant benefits while controlling shine and mattifying oily skin – while blurring discolorations! Plus, it’s vegan-friendly, cruelty-free, gluten-free, lanolin-free, and free from fragrance, as well as being vegan-certified cruelty-free gluten-free, cruelty-free, vegan-formulated without a fragrance as being Vegan cruelty-free, gluten-free, lanolin-free, petrochemical free paraben free mineral oil free!
Before applying other makeup products such as contour, highlighter, and blush, you should apply this product for a flawless base. For optimal results, choose a shade that perfectly complements your complexion – then use either a sponge applicator or face brush to softly apply powder over the face and neck area for a seamless finish.
Chantecaille’s Ultra-Smooth Compact Makeup Foundation features a soft, lightweight formula that effortlessly glides on and blends imperceptibly. It is packed with broad-spectrum sun filters to protect against environmental UV damage and help diminish dark spots, wrinkles, fine lines, and hyperpigmentation, as well as natural ingredients like Licorice root, and Rhubarb extract for soothing complexion support; dermatologist tested and safe on sensitive skin types – Chantecaille offers this unique foundation!
Provides sheer to medium coverage, perfect for minimalist makeup looks or those who prefer light to medium coverage. Apply after applying color-correcting primer and concealer; it can also be used as a touch-up throughout the day.
Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Powder Foundation
Rihanna introduced one of the most inclusive foundation lines ever with her Fenty Beauty launch in 2017, featuring 50 shades that cater to all skin types and tones. Recently, she launched a powder formula that is soft, blurred, long-wearing, and ideal for layering; no fine lines or pores need to be settled into while its sweat, humidity, and crease-resistant features come packaged in an attractive compact.
Formulated with polymers, pure pigments, and diamond core powder for a non-cakey matte finish without cakey or stiff texture. It is packed with aloe vera and shea butter to provide moisture and nourishment; it is dermatologist dermatologist-tested and oil-free; you can use this powder alone or layer it onto liquid foundation (to add coverage) as a setting powder to lock in makeup and reduce shine.
Fenty Beauty products contain talc, which may pose sensitive or eczema-prone skin issues. But it is important to remember that while asbestos has been detected in talc-based cosmetics, no proof exists that any Fenty Beauty product contains asbestos contamination in any form or is unsafe. A leading independent laboratory conducted exhaustive tests on them before certification – plus, you don’t need much to get adequate coverage!
