12 Best Powder Foundations For A Flawless Look

Powder foundations have come a long way in recent years.

The new formulas and ultra-fine finishes make them a great option for all skin types but work especially well for those with oily skin.

Powder foundations work to conceal imperfections, whilst subtly adding a matte finish to your skin, leaving you with an even and flawless finish. 

Powder foundations are great for everyday wear, offering the option to build up the coverage by using a wet sponge, or a powder brush for more light coverage.

They also work great as an alternative to setting powder, and the compact nature of powder foundations means it’s easy and convenient to bring them with you for touch-ups when you’re out and about.

Before applying your makeup ensure your face is prepped, check out our reviews for the Best Milk Cleansers and the Best Face Toners for your skin type.

To give your face a real treat, check our reviews for the Best Facial Steamers, they are a vital part of any professional facial treatment which you can do at home. They are the ultimate skin decongestant tool, allowing any active ingredients you use on your face afterwards to more effectively sink into your skin.

Best Powder Foundations

To help you choose the best option for you, we’ve compiled this list of our 12 best powder foundations. 

NARS All Day Luminous Powder Foundation

First up, we have the All Day Luminous Powder Foundation by NARS. This is a good powder foundation option for all skin types.

It features a unique luminous technology that works to smooth and even out the complexion. It’s long-lasting and humidity resistant.

This foundation controls shine whilst maintaining a gorgeous radiant finish.

Use this product if you want to avoid adding a matte, or caked look to your foundation.

It’s super easy to achieve the perfect amount of coverage with this product, thanks to the weightless feeling formula. 

Neutrogena Mineral Sheers Foundation

This powder foundation by Neutrogena is a really great affordable option.

This foundation has a breathable formula and is designed to enhance your natural skin tone, so this is an excellent choice if you’re someone who prefers a more natural look. 

This powder foundation has been made with a mineral-based formula containing vitamins A, C & E, so if you have sensitive skin, this is a fantastic product for you.

This powder foundation covers the appearance of redness and imperfections and gives a sheer, to medium buildable coverage. 

Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Powder Foundation

Fenty Beauty has taken the cosmetics world by storm since its launch in 2017, and for good reason. The Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Powder Foundation comes in an impressively large and inclusive shade range, boasting 50 shades to choose from.

In addition to this, the powder foundation from Fenty is 100% cruelty-free and vegan. 

This powder foundation has been created to be buildable and performs very well when layered, so whether you want light coverage or full coverage, this product will work for you.

The formula is incredibly lightweight, long-wearing, and has been created with no flashback, making it great for photos!

It’s also a good option for a night out as it’s sweat, humidity, and crease-resistant. 

bareMinerals Original Loose Mineral Foundation

If you have oily type skin, this is the product for you.

The Original Loose Mineral Foundation by bareMinerals is one of the most beloved powder foundations out there.

This ultra-lightweight foundation is great if you suffer from breakouts and contains only five mineral ingredients, making this product super kind to your skin. 

This powder foundation leaves you with a flawless and radiant complexion and is a lightweight formula meaning it doesn’t settle into any fine lines or wrinkles you may have.

This powder foundation also features SPF 15, giving you light protection from the sun. 

KAT VON D Lock-It Powder Foundation

This powder foundation by Kat Von D leaves you with a flawless, perfect finish.

This is a great option if you’re looking for a more full-coverage option to hide the appearance of any imperfections.

If you have trouble with uneven skin tone or redness this product does a great job of covering this.

Another great feature of this powder foundation is that it’s the only refillable option on our list.

In addition to this, the Kat Von D Lock-It Powder Foundation is also vegan and available in 13 different shades. 

Wander Beauty Wanderlust Powder Foundation

If enlarged pores or blackheads are something you’re trying to hide, then this is the powder foundation for you.

This product is formulated with aloe leaf and hibiscus flower extracts, which work to moisturize your skin at the same time as working to even out your skin tone and covering your imperfections.

Not only is it loaded full of natural ingredients, but it’s also vegan and cruelty-free.

This product has been designed to last for hours, meaning you can wear it on a night out, without fear of any budging or smudging.

It’s also great if you have fine lines as it works to diffuse fine lines, whilst creating a perfect airbrush texture. 

Bobbi Brown Skin Weightless Powder Foundation

This is another powder foundation that has mastered the art of natural-looking coverage.

Bobbi Brown’s Skin Weightless Powder Foundation was inspired by the best-selling Skin Foundation to provide a natural but flawless look.

Although this is a powder foundation, this foundation is formulated with a creamy texture, which helps to deliver the perfect, smooth texture to your skin.

This is also a long-lasting foundation, which allows your skin to stay fresh despite any humidity or heat.

MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation

MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation provides an instantly flawless base.

It’s a long-lasting foundation and gives the sense of a full-coverage liquid foundation whilst having the lightweight feel of a powder.

This powder foundation creates a stunning airbrush finish on your skin, whilst combatting shine, and avoids setting into any fine lines or creasing. 

This powder foundation comes in a vast variety of 53 shades, so it’s very inclusive to people of all skin tones.

Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundations boasts an impressive wear time of up to 8 hours and is a great option for those who are new to powder foundation, as it’s incredibly easy to apply and achieve an even and flawless finish. 

Laura Mercier Smooth Finish Foundation Powder

This powder foundation from Laura Mercier is super versatile and acts like two products in one.

You can apply this foundation either wet or dry, depending on whether you want light or full coverage, with both options giving impressive results.

This product is a little expensive, so may not be the best choice if you’re on a budget.

It also comes in only 7 shades, so it might be a bit harder to find your perfect shade in this product, compared to some of the other powder foundations mentioned on this list. 

LAURA GELLER NEW YORK Baked Balance-N-Brighten Color Correcting Powder Foundationra Geller Baked Balance-N-Brighten Foundation

If you have dry skin, don’t let that deter you from trying powder foundations.

Yes, it’s true most powder foundations work best on oily skin, but this Baked Balance-N-Brighten Foundation by Laura Geller is different. 

This product provides light coverage and is actually formulated with a baked cream formula, meaning this product applies the same way a conventional powder does, but is full of hydrating skincare ingredients like tiger grass and white tea extract.

This is the key to this foundation making your skin look hydrated and radiant. 

Lancôme Dual Finish Versatile Multi-tasking Powder and Foundation Makeup

This matte-finish and mineral formula is a holy-grail product for those with oily skin.

It’s super easy to apply either wet or dry, but unlike a liquid foundation, this product actually works to make your skin look matte without leaving a greasy finish. 

You can also use this product by Lancôme as a setting powder, in combination with your regular liquid foundation.

To do this, it’s recommended to use a small brush and apply it only to the necessary areas such as under your eyes and your T-zone.

This multi-tasking powder foundation also has a fantastic formula, and settles into the skin really well, avoiding settling into fine lines or looking too “cakey.”

SEPHORA COLLECTION Matte Perfection Powder Foundation

The Sephora Collection Matte Perfection Powder Foundation is a fantastic budget-friendly option.

This ultra-lightweight powder foundation works to give your skin a beautiful, natural finish. This product is available in 35 shades.

It has been designed for long-wear and features Sephora’s FlexMatte technology, to guarantee that your foundation doesn’t congest your pores, crack, or cake.

This makes it a great option if you have any blemishes or breakouts, as this product manages to subtly cover any imperfections whilst maintaining your natural beauty.