17 Best Face Powders to Achieve the Perfect Makeup Base

Written by Sayantani Deb, Makeup & Beauty Writer
Updated on Feb 12, 2024
Best Face Powders to Achieve the Perfect Makeup Base
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Most face powders provide a cakey finish and turn your skin gray or ashy with time. But with the best face powders, you can be sure to smoothen your skin’s texture and even out your tone. Face powders are a great way to achieve a radiant complexion. Not only do they help control shine caused by excess oil, but also keep your makeup in place. With the right face powder, you can attain the desirable makeup look while blurring out imperfections, if any.

Face powders can be categorized primarily into three types – loose powders, pressed powders, and mineral powders. When choosing a face powder, look for the one that suits your requirements the most and is lightweight, breathable, and easy to blend. It should provide just the right amount of coverage without appearing cakey or too heavy. Look for ingredients like silica, titanium dioxide, and kaolin, which are known to absorb excess oil and provide a velvety, natural finish. If you have dry skin, look for face powders that contain added moisturizing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, or shea butter.

A face powder is a must-have in your vanity as it conceals and blurs out imperfections, if any. So, why wait? Scroll down to find the suitable one for yourself.

17 Best Face Powders

Uncover flawless, and radiant skin with Coty’s Airspun Face Powder. This lightweight powder helps to hide fine lines and wrinkles on your face, whilst also covering acne scars, and blemishes to give you a smooth finish. It can also be used as a setting powder to help make your makeup last longer. Furthermore, it gives a natural airbrushed finish and provides an extra layer of coverage for a picture-perfect look.

Pros
  • Long-lasting
  • Ideal for sensitive skin
  • Non- Greasy
  • Inexpensive
Cons
  • Strong scent
  • Best Lean Formulation

    Jane Iredale Amazing Base Loose Mineral Powder

    Jane Iredale Amazing Base Loose Mineral Powder
  • Unlike drugstore face powders, this product by Jane Iredale has a very lean, no-BS formulation devoid of nasties such as phthalates, parabens, talc, etc. As active ingredients, the product contains titanium dioxide and zinc oxide which are excellent UV filters to protect your skin from photodamage. To prevent your skin from drying up, the fine-milled powder also contains botanical treats such as plankton and algae extract that keep it soft and supple. 

    Pros
    • Great coverage
    • Suits sensitive skin well
    • Doesn’t clog pores
    • Blurs our imperfections
    • A little goes a long way
    Cons
    • Expensive
  • Best for Acne-prone Skin

    Mario Badescu Special Healing Powder

    Mario Badescu Special Healing Powder
  • It wouldn’t be wrong to consider this product by Mario Badescu as a holy grail face powder for oily skin types. This product has a perfectly fine-milled consistency that absorbs excess sebum from the T-zone and other oily patches on the skin without overdrying the area. The formula contains a safe concentration of sulfur, which is an excellent ingredient that aids in treating breakouts while also gently blurring their appearance. All in all, it is an excellent choice for oily, dry, and acne-prone skin. 

    Pros
    • Great for all skin tones
    • A little goes a long way
    • Anti-inflammatory properties
    • Cruelty-free
    • Paraben-free
    Cons
    • A bit drying around the eyes
    • Not for mature skin
  • Best Budget-friendly Face Powder

    MAYBELLINE FIT Me Matte + Poreless Face Powder

    MAYBELLINE FIT Me Matte + Poreless Face Powder
  • Every woman is on a lookout for a face powder that can fit her unique complexion and give her a flawless, natural-looking finish. And, this pressed face powder by Maybelline is the perfect solution! It is a lightweight powder that provides coverage for a wide array of skin tones from Ivory to Mocha. This powder makes your skin look poreless and minimizes shine for a smooth, natural-looking finish. It is long-lasting and won’t need to be reapplied throughout the day.

    Pros
    • Different Shades
    • Suitable for all skin types
    • Mineral-based powder
    • Budget-friendly
    • Non-comedogenic
    Cons
    • Last only 6-7 hours
  • Best Pressed Powder for Oily skin

    RIMMEL LONDON STAY MATTE POWDER

    RIMMEL LONDON STAY MATTE POWDER
  • Rimmel’s Stay Matte Pressed Powder is, without a doubt, one of the best face powders that provides long-lasting shine control for up to 5 hours. Being lightweight yet pigmented, it gives high coverage and allows you to stay looking your best all day. The natural minerals in the powder also help minimize the appearance of pores, giving you a smooth, and even-toned complexion.

    Pros
    • Lightweight
    • Provides natural shine
    • Inexpensive
    • Suitable for all skin tones
    Cons
    • Delicate Packaging
  • Best Setting Powder

    SACHA BUTTERCUP SETTING POWDER

    SACHA BUTTERCUP SETTING POWDER
  • Sacha’s Setting Powder is an amazing face powder that helps achieve a flawless look. It has a soft yellow color, which easily melts into your skin and helps brighten your complexion. The fineness of this powder makes it incredibly easy to blur fine lines, and other imperfections, delivering an airbrushed finish. It also provides long-lasting wear, keeping your face matte for many hours.

    Pros
    • Cruelty-free
    • Lightweight
    • Provides matte finish
    • Blurs out fine lines
    Cons
    • Expensive
  • Best Pigmented Face Powder

    L'OREAL PARIS true match super-blendable powder

    L'OREAL PARIS true match super-blendable powder
  • This face powder has micronized pigments that provide undetectable coverage while helping to blur and soften the appearance of imperfections. The powder is enriched with pearl pigments which add an amazing luminescent finish. With its perfect blend of warm and cool tones, this powder can be used to achieve an even-toned natural look. The micro-fine powder mattifies the skin and controls shine without caking or looking chalky, for a natural-looking finish that feels like a second skin.

    Pros
    • Light fragrance
    • Easy to blend
    • Controls sweat
    • Non-greasy
    Cons
    • Expensive
    • Dries out skin
  • DERMABLEND Loose Setting Powder

    DERMABLEND Loose Setting Powder
  • This loose setting powder by Dermablend offers long-lasting results and a spotless look for light, medium, and dark skin tones. It is a lightweight, translucent face powder designed to set your makeup while controlling shine caused by excess oil for up to 16 hours. It also doesn’t leave your makeup looking cakey, ashy or chalky with time.

    Pros
    • Smudge-free
    • Last up to 16 hours
    • Suitable for all skin types
    Cons
    • Bit Pricey
    • Might look cakey
  • COVERGIRL Clean Fresh Pressed Powder Fair

     COVERGIRL Clean Fresh Pressed Powder Fair
  • CoverGirl is proud to introduce its Clean Fresh Pressed Powder that gives a flawless, natural finish. This powder is talc-free and uses tapioca and aloe vera powder to absorb excess oil and give your skin a fresh look. The vegan foam puff ensures easy application and the powder helps to make pores less visible. Moreover, it is vegan and free of harsh chemicals, phthalates, parabens, sulfates, talc, and formaldehyde.

    Pros
    • Absorbs excess oil
    • Talc-free
    • 100% vegan
    • Paraben-free
    Cons
    • Not suitable for dry skin
  • PHYSICIANS FORMULA Butter HIGHLIGHTER

    PHYSICIANS FORMULA Butter HIGHLIGHTER
  • Physicians Formula’s Butter Highlighter is a must-have beauty product in your vanity! It is ultra-refined and gives you skin a lightweight feel when applied. Its unique formula glides onto the skin, giving you a long-lasting glow. Infused with murumuru butter, cupuaçu butter, and tucuma butter, it is the perfect choice for contouring and highlighting the high points of your face. Perfect for all skin types, you can use this powder alone or over foundation and get ready for a beautiful and long-lasting glow that will make your skin look radiant.

    Pros
    • Provides a radiant glow
    • Gluten-free
    • Lightweight
    • Contains anti-aging proteins
    Cons
    • Strong scent
  • REVLON COLORSTAY Pressed Powder

    REVLON COLORSTAY Pressed Powder
  • This powder is oil and fragrance-free, and has SPF 15 to protect your skin from the harmful UV rays of the sun. It provides medium to full buildable coverage, and glides on effortlessly, providing a natural finish. Plus, it doesn’t clog pores and has shine-minimizing properties to keep your skin looking fresh and oil-free throughout the day. Its power to last up to 16 hours ensures you won't need to re-apply your makeup again and again. This powder comes in various shades to make sure you get the perfect match for your skin tone.

    Pros
    • Doesn’t clog pores
    • Matte-finished
    • Oil-free formula
    • SPF 15
    Cons
    • Not suitable for dry skin
    • Slightly Chalky
  • ETUDE House Zero Sebum Drying Powder

    ETUDE House Zero Sebum Drying Powder
  • ETUDE House Zero Sebum Drying Powder contains sugar polymers that help to absorb excess oil and achieve a matte makeup finish that lasts all day long. Additionally, this powder is free of pigment synthesis, mineral oil, talc, and artificial fragrances, providing a cruelty-free product that won't irritate your skin or cause redness. For those who have oily skin and are seeking a way to control their sebum production, this powder provides an effective solution.

    Pros
    • Cruelty-free
    • No-added artificial fragrance
    • Cruelty-free
    • Doesn’t clog pores
    Cons
    • Can accentuate dry patches
    • Mirror not available in case
  • Aesthetica TRANSLUCENT SETTING POWDER

    Aesthetica TRANSLUCENT SETTING POWDER
  • You can instantly achieve a seamless makeup base with Aesthetica's Translucent Setting Powder. Its lightweight formula and smooth texture makes it easy to blend and ensures that your makeup stays in place for longer hours. It is designed to soften fine lines and hide pores for a natural finish. Made of high-quality ingredients, this powder is vegan, cruelty-free, and gluten-free. To allow easy application with a maximum payoff, it comes with a velour puff. With this, you are sure to achieve a professional-looking makeup base without putting in so much effort.

    Pros
    • Gluten-free
    • Ideal for oily skin
    • Unscented
    • Absorbs excess oil
    Cons
    • Not suitable for all skin types
    • May clog pores
  • BareMinerals Original Mineral Veil Broad Spectrum SPF25

    BareMinerals Original Mineral Veil Broad Spectrum SPF25
  • This broad spectrum SPF 25 face powder by BareMinerals helps blur imperfections and gives you a magnificent look. Its light-weight, talc-free formula provides a soft-focus finish and long-lasting wear. Its vegan formula helps keep your skin looking fresh and minimizes enlarged pores. Its unique blend of ingredients protects the skin from external aggressors and absorbs excess oils to keep your complexion looking fresh. Not only does it blur out any imperfections, but it can also be worn on bare skin for a feather-light, natural finish.

    Pros
    • Paraben-free
    • Gluten-free
    • Vegan
    • Hypoallergenic
    Cons
    • Expensive
  • Clinique Stay-matte Sheer Pressed Powder

    Clinique Stay-matte Sheer Pressed Powder
  • This is the go-to pressed powder for those who wish to achieve a flawless matte makeup look every time they are stepping out. It has an ultra-sheer texture which allows easy application and blending, providing an even skin tone. The powder doesn’t clog pores or feel heavy on the skin, rather it gives you a radiant complexion. Furthermore, its talc-free formula promises to not cause any harm to your skin even after daily application.

    Pros
    • Perfect for acne-prone skin
    • Non-greasy
    • Washable sponge applicator
    • Lightweight
    Cons
    • Overpriced
    • Might highlight dry patches
  • FOCALLURE Flawless Pressed Powder

    FOCALLURE Flawless Pressed Powder
  • Unlike other face powders, Focallure’s pressed powder has a lightweight formula and provides long-lasting shine control. Its smooth, non-greasy texture allows you to wear it on your bare skin and still look picture-perfect! You will also never have to worry about it settling into creases. Moreover, it is non-comedogenic, meaning it will leave your skin feeling breathable while not causing blocked pores.

    Pros
    • Blends easily
    • Non-greasy
    • Non-comedogenic
    • Inexpensive
    Cons
    • Not suitable for oily skin
  • Neutrogena healthy skin pressed powder

    Neutrogena healthy skin pressed powder
  • This pressed powder by Neutrogena has a lightweight formula that gives a natural finish, minimizes shine, and evens out skin tone. It’s the perfect powder for mature skin, as it conditions and smoothes skin’s texture while protecting it from harsh UVA and UVB rays with an SPF 20. The best part, it comes with an applicator and a mirror so you can touch up your makeup anywhere, anytime.

    Pros
    • Provides matte finish
    • Lightweight
    • Non-cakey
    • Has vitamin E
    Cons
    • Not long-lasting

    Now that you’ve seen our product recommendations for the best face powders, let us go through the following buying guide and steps to use to shop wisely and make the best of the product.

    How to Select the Best Face Powders?

    When selecting a face powder, first consider your skin tone. Choosing shades that are too light or dark can make your skin look patchy or uneven. Once you’ve selected the right shade for your skin tone, next consider your skin type. Here are some tips to help you select the best face powder depending on your skin type, whether it’s mature, dry, oily, or combination.

    For Mature Skin

    People with mature skin must look for face powders loaded with ingredients that fight the signs of aging — vitamin C, retinoids, collagen, and more. 

    For Oily Skin

    When looking for the best face powder for oily skin, opt for one that has silica, talc, and kaolin clay. These ingredients absorb excess oil while keeping the shine in control. 

    For Dry Skin

    A face powder consisting of ingredients like vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, and more that offers hydration and moisturization benefits is best suited for people with dry skin types. 

    For Combination Skin

    If you have a combination skin type, loose powders with ingredients like salicylic acid, AHA, niacinamide, and more will help to keep your makeup base intact and non-shiny. 

    Every makeup enthusiast’s vanity is incomplete without face powder. While choosing the best face powder depending on your skin type and tone can seem to be a daunting task, we have made shopping for one easy with our above-mentioned buying guide. So, don’t wait and select the one based on your requirements to achieve a non-shiny, matte makeup base you have always dreamt of. Happy shopping!

    FAQ's

    Which face powder is good for a matte finish?
    Coty Airspun Loose Face Powder, Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Pressed Face Powder Makeup, Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder, Sacha BUTTERCUP Setting Powder, L'Oreal Paris True Match Super-Blendable Powder, etc are considered some of the best face powders that help attain matte finish
    What is a sheer pressed powder used for?
    Sheer pressed powders help maintain a natural look while blurring fine lines and absorbing excess oil.
    Which type of powder should I use, pressed or loose?
    Pressed powders work best on dry skin as they contain more oils, whereas loose powders are good for oily skin types to minimize the amount of oil your face produces daily as they are more finely milled and thus contain fewer oils.
    Can I use face powder without foundation?
    Yes, you can! If you do not wish to apply makeup after indulging in your skincare routine, you can just use your face powder. FOCALLURE Flawless Pressed Powder is highly recommended in this case.
    Should I use the same color of face powder as a foundation?
    Yes! You should use the same color of face powder as your foundation.
    Can I use baby powder instead of face powder?
    Absolutely, baby powders help to absorb excess oil which gives you a matte finish like any translucent powder.

    Why Trust Pinkvilla

    Sayantani is a certified makeup professional turned writer with 2+ years of experience in the same genre. She believes that face powders are an essential part of any makeup routine, they help in controlling shine and provide a matte finish to your makeup looks. After testing all of the recommended products, she came to the conclusion that Coty’s Airspun Loose Face Powder was the most superior of them all. Though it was lightweight in texture, it effectively concealed fine lines and wrinkles while also covering acne scars and blemishes. Additionally, because of its long-lasting properties, it can be used as a setting powder to make your makeup last longer.

    Our product experts study the specifications of every product we suggest and try them out to bring what’s proven to be worthy of your money, time, and energy. We also have subject matter experts from various fields like Fashion, Skincare, Haircare, Home Decor, and Health & Fitness onboard to make sure our suggestions are credible and trustworthy. You can trust Pinkvilla to be your faithful shopping guide for all the right reasons!

    Author BIO
    reviewer
    Sayantani Deb
    Makeup & Beauty Writer

    Sayantani is a certified hair and makeup professional turned writer with 2+ years of experience in the same genre. Ap More