What are the building blocks of your makeup routine? Starting with one of the best powder foundations can help to create a flawless look. Foundation can smooth out those skin imperfections, for a more even tone and smooth base to build upon. They are also especially helpful for those with oily skin in mattifying any unwanted sheen and disguising pores.
Skin blemishes can often make us feel less confident in social situations. In fact, a recent poll of 1,000 Millennials and 1,000 Gen X’ers notes they’ve missed life events such as birthday parties (37%), family dinners (36%), meetups with friends (36%), office parties (36%) and weddings (36%) due to skin problems. Additionally, skin woes have caused people to avoid restaurants (50%), offices (49%), shops (47%) and even going to the doctor (40%).
So how about posting that selfie on social media? Nearly half of respondents (45%) have filtered a photo of themselves to add special effects, while 43 percent have done so to hide skin imperfections or alter the background. On average, 52 percent of all selfies shared online are filtered.
A whopping 73 percent of people are focused on hiding their imperfections from others, with uneven skin tone (37%) being at the top, along with certain body parts they’re self-conscious of (35%). Millennials were found to be more obsessed with hiding their flaws than Gen X, particularly unclear speech (37% vs. 27%) and vision impediments (35% vs. 27%).
Whether your skin is oily, dry, or spotty, there is a powder foundation for you. So, what are the best ones to add to your makeup bag? StudyFinds compiled a list of the top makeup brands from ten expert websites to find the best powder foundation. As always, we’d like to see your own recommendations in the comments below!
The List: Best Powder Foundation, According to Makeup Experts
1. L’Oréal Paris Infallible Fresh Wear Up To 24H Foundation in a Powder
This powder foundation from L’Oréal Paris boasts long-lasting, lightweight coverage. Plus, it’s budget-friendly. “The buttery-soft long-wear formula of this best drugstore compact foundation is comfortable on the skin and has excellent staying power for full day-to-night wear. Available in 20 shades, it’s oil-free, non-comedogenic, waterproof, transfer-proof, and sweatproof,” according to Haul of Fame.
If you are switching from liquid to powder, this product offers similar coverage: “This lightweight foundation covers like a liquid and mattifies like a powder with no cakey look,” adds Makeup.com.
Do you have dry skin? College Fashion points out, “this foundation actually works well on drier skin types. The key is to blend, blend, blend to avoid caking.”
2. bareMinerals ORIGINAL Loose Powder Foundation SPF 15
If a mineral foundation is what you seek, check out this best-selling foundation from bareMinerals. “It provides buildable, sheer to medium coverage with lightweight, skin-improving minerals that leave a natural luminous finish,” according to Who What Wear.
Byrdie notes, “bareMinerals does a really great job of giving you clear instructions for how to apply the Original Loose Powder Foundation—you collect the product by swirling your brush into the powder, tap off any excess product, and then use circular motions to buff it into your skin. These straightforward instructions leave little-to-no room for error, which means anyone can apply this product and achieve a filtered finish.”
However, BestReviews points out, it “can be a bit difficult to find the perfect matching color, especially if your skin tone is light. May feel dry if you already have very dry skin.”
3. KVD Vegan Beauty Lock-It Powder Foundation
This affordable vegan powder foundation is a hit with style experts. IPSY calls it the ‘Best Powder Foundation for Oily Skin,’ adding “it’s packed with white kaolin clay, which is known for its oil-absorbing powers. So if you tend to get a bit shiny in the summer, know this powder formula will keep you matte for hours after application.”
“With just one layer, the rice powder in the formula blurs away pores and blemishes,” suggests Allure. You can find it at most beauty stores. “KVD has long been THE go-to brand for extremely high-coverage foundations and concealers. (One of their original concealers was designed to cover tattoos!) So it’s no surprise that the brand’s Lock-It Powder Foundation has amazing coverage,” notes College Fashion.
4. ONE / SIZE by Patrick Starrr Turn Up the Base Versatile Powder Foundation
With more than two dozen shades to choose from, this matte-finish powder foundation has something for everyone. “For an extremely pigmented finish, try this powder foundation that will leave your skin looking matte and smooth. We love that it helps cover up imperfections and rough skin texture with blurring technology,” according to Makeup.com.
IPSY calls ONE / SIZE the ‘Best Full-Coverage Powder Foundation’ adding, it “goes on buttery smooth, boasts a soft-matte finish, and lasts up to 12 hours, even in the dead of summer.”
“The buildable formula features a soft-matte finish that doesn’t leave a pore or fine line in sight. Plus, there are five color families in this shade range of 32: Fair, Light, Medium, Dark, and Deep,” points out Allure.
5. Wander Beauty Wanderlust Powder Foundation
Last but not least, is this offering from Wander Beauty. It’s great on dry skin. W Magazine notes, “this foundation boasts a laundry list of skincare benefits: it plumps and hydrates with hyaluronic acid, strengthens the skin barrier with allantoin, and protects against free radical damage with vitamin E.”
“Wander Beauty’s Wanderlust Powder Foundation is talc-free and formulated with hydrating ingredients like aloe leaf extract. That said, it isn’t overly mattifying, which makes it a good option for dry skin,” according to Essence.
While Makeup.com points out, it’s “a must-try for a medium, matte finish. It’s lightweight and absorbs excess oil with ease, but won’t make your skin appear dry or cracked.”
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Sources:
- Haul of Fame
- Makeup.com
- College Fashion
- Who What Wear
- Byrdie
- BestReviews
- IPSY
- Allure
- W Magazine
- Essence
Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations. This post may contain affiliate links.
I have tried most of these items and was not impressed. I changed to a tinted moisturizer with SPF and Laura Geller baked foundation. I see better results.