The answer to the question of whether to opt for a powder foundation or a liquid foundation is a never-ending debate. While conventional make-up enthusiasts continue to vouch for the long and alterable coverage offered by liquid foundations, social media have always campaigned hard to educate people about the effectiveness and ease of use with regard to the best powder foundations. 

Powder foundations have been loved by women all over the world because of the major reason that they tend to absorb excess oil from the skin surface regulate sweat release and are easily absorbent in nature. However, these compact powder foundations have found it difficult to break the ice with certified make-up professionals. 

Our research indicates the reason why conventional make-up artists and aficionados avoid using matte powder foundations is that they tend to provide a blotchy appearance, have a flimsy coverage, and settle into creases and lines. 

Speaking of the benefits of using powder foundations, our contributor Maya Adivi, a certified makeup artist states, “Those with oily skin may want to use powder foundations for a few reasons. For some, liquid foundations can feel too heavy or greasy on the skin. For others, it's a question of convenience - powder foundations can be very quick and easy to apply.” 

“While choosing a powder foundation, the key is to look for formulas with a natural or demi-matte finish, without too much talcum. Overly matte powders can often highlight dry spots. Not just this, it's important to use a soft brush, light hand to blend the foundation well. Application of the product to moisturized skin is just as important to avoid a blotchy or heavy look.”, she adds.

While brands are working hard towards shattering the stereotypes attached with regards to powder foundations, we present to you after a series of detailed analyses present to you our choicest recommendations of the best powder foundations that offer durable coverage, have a buildable texture and occupy very minimal space in your makeup bag.

• 1
  Best Overall

  Maybelline Fit Me, Matte

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A masterstroke from the Maybelline House of Cosmetics is this groundbreaking powder foundation. The product has been a cult-favourite among makeup aficionados. It conceals your pores adequately and provides a great finish as well as long-lasting radiance. It is one of the non-negotiable choices in the category of best powder foundations because it controls oil, conceals blemishes and overlays acne scars. It has a lightweight texture which makes its application a hassle-free process. It provides durable to medium coverage and combats signs of ageing,redness and inflammation with ease. Overall, a few gentle swirls of this product can help you nail the no-makeup makeup look.

2

Best for Dry Skin

L'ORÉAL PARIS INFALLIBLE FRESH WEAR POWDER

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The search for a foundation that leaves behind no cakey residue ends here because makeup enthusiasts at the Loreal Paris have racked their brains together and formulated a powder foundation that covers like a liquid and provides a dewy mattified look. It is available in an attractive range of 16 shades to cater to people of all skin tones. Adding on, it is sweat-resistant and helps conceal bumps and zits on the skin without clogging open pores. Among the best powder foundations for mature skin, the product helps sheath signs of ageing like wrinkles, fine lines, crow’s feet, laugh lines and provides an unmatched flawless finish.

3

Best SPF Formula

Jane Iredale PurePressed Base Mineral Foundation SPF

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Your search for a mineral foundation that doesn’t make you look cakey and offers sun protection ends here! The mineral foundation by Jane Iredale has a creamy texture that easily blends into the skin and provides medium-to-full coverage. It has a hydrating formula that soothes dry skin and keeps the skin nourished. You don’t have to worry about any cakey residue as it has a non-cakey formula that is long-lasting. You would fall head over heels with this product as it can be used as a foundation and concealer, solving a lot of your makeup worries. Indulge in this beauty product and create stunning makeup looks! 

4

LAURA GELLER NEW YORK Award-Winning Baked Balance-n-Brighten Color Correcting Powder

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Carrying a colour corrector with foundation may be an unwanted additional effort for many, which is why the Laura Geller powder foundation is the savior for people who wish to keep their make-up routine minimal. The product provides a demi-matte finish and best suits neutral and medium undertones. It is one of the best powder foundations for dry skin as it contains white tea and centella asiatica extracts that provide hydration without making the makeup look patchy. It is chlorine-resistant and water-resistant — thus an ideal catch for acing the no makeup make- up look.

5

Best for Ageing Skin

PÜR 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Makeup SPF 15 Powder Foundation with Concealer & Finishing Powder

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Another superstar product that has inherited the miraculous properties of a foundation, concealer, finishing powder and sunscreen is the Pur powder foundation. It is formulated with the super exfoliating properties of lactic acid that removes dead skin cells and waltheria extracts that helps in treating skin discolouration. It is paraben-free, sulfate-free and alcohol-free and hence is one of the best powder foundations for sensitive skin. It soothes inflamed skin, conceals bumps and zits and provides an unmatched natural-looking radiance.

6

Best For Oily Skin

MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation for Women

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The hustle to find a long-lasting foundation is indeed exhausting. The Mac Studio fixer is here to make your struggle easier. It is one of the rarest full-coverage powder foundations that can be applied directly on bare skin and on top of a moisturizer. It has an undefeatable non-drying formulation that helps to tighten pores and control oil and shine. The product is one of the rarest smooth finish powder foundations that conceals blind pimples, blackheads and whiteheads, thereby giving an even texture to your face. The product boasts a non-comedogenic formulation and hence is one of the best powder foundations for oily skin.

7

Best for Regular Use

Neutrogena Mineral Sheers Lightweight Loose Powder Makeup Foundation

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The brainchild of the Neutrogena is this incredible, sheer powder foundation. It is one of the best loose powder foundations for many reasons. Firstly it craftily conceals signs of imperfections without making the skin look blotchy — second, it also curbs signs of redness and prepares it for further application of make-up products. It is blessed with the invigorating properties of Vitamin C, a and e that helps to fight sun damage, reverse signs of ageing and boost hydration. The product is available in an attractive shade range of 8  perfecting shades and is formulated with light-reflecting pearls that provide a subtle natural dewy finish.

8

Best Long lasting Hydration

REVLON, COLORSTAY 16-HOUR FACE MAKEUP

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The Revlon Color Stay powder foundation is the go-to choice for acing the “I woke up like this look”. It provides a natural matte finish and camouflages signs of sunburns, ageing and photodamage. This product is one of the best powder foundations for mature skin as it contains liliium extracts that facilitate skin cell regeneration and grandiflorium flower extracts that have superb anti-oxidant and anti-microbial properties (1) (2). It provides a full coverage, boosts shine and controls oil absorption without creasing fine lines and wrinkles.

9

Best for Oily Skin

Mineral Fusion

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A powerful triple-milled foundation that makes the skin photo ready and simultaneously battles excess oil production is the matte powder foundation by Mineral Fusion. It contains the miraculous properties of pomegranate that soothe damage due to exposure to UVA and UVB rays and sea kelp that has anti-inflammatory, anti tumour and anti-lipedemic properties that help to strengthen the skin's natural intrinsic barrier.(3) It improves the overall skin complexion without making the make-up look unnatural. It is one of the best compact powder foundations for beginners as it exfoliates dead skin, hydrates dryness, blurs skin imperfections and provides a radiant finish.

10

Best for Dry Skin

it COSMETICS CC+ AIRBRUSH PERFECTING POWDER FOUNDATION

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Finding a foundation compatible with the airbrush tools for make-up application is a difficult task. But to end all such worries the “IT” cosmetics CC powder foundation is here. The product contains niacinamide that regulates excess oil production and hydrolyzed collagen that strengthens the water concentration within the skin cells. It is an amazing face powder foundation that’s talc-free and has an undefeatable anti-ageing formulation that effortlessly combats signs of ageing like freckles, fine lines, crow's feet etc. It also contains hyaluronic acid that amplifies hydration, does not settle into fine lines  and provides an organic natural finish.

11

Best for Combination Skin

Glo Skin Beauty Pressed Base Powder Foundation Makeup

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The Glo Skin powder foundation is a messiah for teenagers who wish to take their first baby steps towards makeup application as it is one of the best powder foundations for acne-prone skin. It provides a second-skin-like natural finish without settling into pores or clogging them. The formula contains green tea extracts which have divine anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties (4). It is infusioned vitamins C and E that correct skin discolouration and provide the skin with a youthful appearance. Overall the product is consciously created free of sulfates, mineral oil, dyes and alcohol that provides game-changing results by leaving behind a velvet finish.

12

gaya mineral makeup

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Make your skin ever selfie-ready with this amazing product by Gaya Minerals. It is one of the best powder mineral foundations as it buffs away skin imperfections and provides a natural divine radiance. The creamy texture of this product hides signs of pigmentation and enhances the skin's external barrier preparing it to combat environmental pollutants. Adding on, it contains green tea powder extracts that contain potent anti-fungal and anti-microbial properties along with titanium dioxide that helps to ward off blue light emitted from digital objects and UVA and UVB rays. A few gentle swirls with the kabuki brush is enough for the product to last for the whole day.

13

LANCÔME DUAL FINISH MULTI-TASKING LONGWEAR POWDER

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A pressed powder foundation with a long-staying formulation that has gained immense popularity across social media handles is this product by Lancome Paris. It is a non-negotiable choice in the category of matte powder foundations as it provides a durable weather and humidity-resistant luminous finish. It is transfer and sweat-proof and has remained a gradual recommendation by make-up professionals over the years. This product camouflages signs of aging and pigmentation and also boosts hydration levels along with evening-out skin texture by exfoliating dead skin cells.

14

COVERGIRL CLEAN SIMPLY POWDER

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This creamy matte powder foundation by cover girl justifies the saying that a good makeup product always need not be expensive. It is fusioned with the properties of tapioca which help to combat infections and prevent dryness and epidural water loss from the skin cells (5). It also contains aloe vera which has powerful antioxidant properties as it contains B12, folic acid and choline releases accumulated skin stress and helps to break down unsaturated fatty acids (6). It comes with a vegan foam puff and is available in four attractive shades to cater to individuals of all skin tones.

15

alima PURE MATTE FOUNDATION

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Alima’s matte foundation is an invincible product in the category of oil-free powder foundations. It provides an alluring satin matte finish without congesting the skin pores. It is formulated with MICA that provides an enticing silky texture and amplifies the matte-like opacity. It is one such talc-free powder foundation that is also devoid of SLS, parabens, alcohol, phthalates, gluten, artificial fragrances and silicone. It provides a sheer to medium to buildable coverage while simultaneously fading away dark spots, curbing redness and reducing pore size.

16

bareMinerals BAREPRO Mineral Foundation

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The naturally formulated Bare Minerals skin-perfecting foundation is the guiding light for those who wish to have a matte-like finish without having to give up on the radiance. The product is concocted with the properties of liquorice root extracts that soothe symptoms of eczema and protect the skin against oxidative injuries and pineapple fruit extracts that are a storehouse of ceramides that maintain water within skin cells (7) (8). It provides an overall coverage like a foundation, hides imperfections like a concealer and can also be used as a compact to set the base for make-up.

Choosing the best powder foundations out of all the available alternatives can be confusing and leave the consumers bewildered hence given below is a buying guide aimed towards facilitating your decision-making.

1. Composition of Ingredients: While choosing a powder foundation we need to be vigilant and careful about the chemical composition of the product. It should be free from SLS, sulfates, phthalates, alcohol and mineral oil as it may trigger inert infections and aggravate existing allergies. The product should contain humectants like aloe vera and hyaluronic acid along with exfoliants like salicylic acid which can help to improvise the overall health of the skin with gradual usage. 

2. Texture And Packaging: The loose powder foundation should have a firm sturdy texture and should not be prone to breakage and become messy. It should come with an inbuilt mirror and additional tools of application to facilitate easy blending of the product within the layers of the skin. The construction of the compact should not be too large so as to make it uncomfortable while travelling. 

3. Pricing: The product should be minimally priced and should not be too high or too low. The pricing of the product should be devised keeping in mind the average spending power of the demographics, the cost of manufacturing and the formulation of ingredients.

Using a powder foundation from a reliable brand not just provides a uniform base for make-up application, but also helps to curb signs of ageing and pigmentation along with improving skin health over a due course of time. The coverage obtained from a powder foundation can be alterable from sheer to medium to buildable coverage as per the choice of the user.

Step 1: First, gently cleanse your skin with a cleanser and let it dry 

Step 2: Hydrate your skin with a moisturiser as per your skin type as it will hold the powder-based product onto the skin for a long time. 

Step 3: Use a concealer to sheath dark circles, acne scars etc. 

Step 4: Use a sponge or the kabuki brush and press it onto the powder foundation and dab off the excess. 

Step 5: Move it all over your skin, your jaws, chin, cheekbones and forehead to assure proper coverage. 

Step 6: Keep on applying until you have obtained the desired level of coverage and then finish it off with a blush or a make-up fixer. 

We cannot miss out on the thrill that life has to offer because of blackheads, whiteheads, acne, dark circles, fine lines or wrinkles. Hence having a proper powder foundation does not just hide temporary skin imperfections but also boosts the natural intrinsic luminosity of one's skin, along with improving skin texture and reducing the frequency of skin imperfections appearing over the course of time. Given above are a few recommendations of the best powder foundations that not just combat signs of ageing and pigmentation but also improve skin texture. Please go through our buying guide before making a decision. Happy shopping!

Contributor: Maya Adivi, Certified Makeup artist, Click here for blog