Trust us, these are the 9 best powder foundations for breathable, shine-free coverage
Boasting convenience, buildable coverage and natural matte finishes, these are the best-performing powder bases on the market
Remember when face powder only meant heavy and cakey? Well, gone are the flat-looking bases of days gone by. Today, the best powder foundations boast lightweight, silky textures with buildable coverage and natural-looking finishes.
That said, finding the best foundation is not a one-size-fits-all process. There are a range of options on the market, each with varying levels of coverage and designed to suit different skin types. For example, while some may seek out lightweight foundations for a barely-there feel, others will be after one of the best full coverage foundations when shopping for powder. Generally speaking, though, those who like a more matte finish, have oilier skin or want something that's easy to reapply on-the-go will get on particularly well with powder foundations.
After much testing on the part of our beauty team, we've pinpointed the quality formulas that not only yield lightweight matte coverage, but that will also suit a variety of skin types and budgets. We've also quizzed our trusted experts on their top tips on how to apply foundation powders so you get the best possible results every time. Here's what you need to know to make your powder foundation quest a successful one.
Today's best powder foundation deals
The best powder foundations, reviewed by our beauty experts
RRP: £37 | Shades: 30 | Coverage: Light, buildable
Reviewed by: Dionne Brighton, Lucy Abbersteen
“I’ve been using this foundation for 10 years now, and although I’ve tried more foundations than I can count since, this will always be my number one,” says tester Dionne Brighton, "I have chronically oily skin and this is the only formula I trust to not leave me a shiny mess by the end of the night.”
The hypoallergenic formula is ideal for sensitive skin types, though we would stress that it worked well for all of our testers, regardless of any sensitivity. We also all thought the loose formula goes on as a fairly sheer veil that can be built up to fuller coverage, without going cakey or settling into fine lines. We found it disguised discolouration and blurred the look of pores and blemishes very easily.
Pros
- Buffs into the skin beautifully
- Feels very lightweight and comfortable on the skin
- Buildable
Cons
- Loose format makes it a little messier than pressed
RRP: £58 | Shades: 16 | Coverage: Buildable, full coverage
Reviewed by: Dionne Brighton, Lucy Abbersteen
"When Dior promised a non-transfer foundation, they delivered," says Dionne. "This is the only powder foundation I can trust not to transfer onto the white shirt of the friend I'm hugging and to stay in place for hours. After wearing bareMinerals for the past 10 years, this is the only other powder foundation I use and love just as much."
The beautiful compact also houses a dual-sided applicator; the velvety side applies the foundation to the skin, while the smoother side blends as the formula melts into the skin, yielding a natural and flawless finish. Mostly made from natural-origin ingredients, we also found the fine formula is super soft on the skin, which makes for comfortable and breathable wear.
Pros
- Ultra silky texture
- 'Your skin but better' finish
- Gorgeous compact
- Comes with a sponge
Cons
- Extremely expensive
RRP: £13.99 | Shades: 6 | Coverage: Medium to full
Reviewed by: Lucy Abbersteen
The liquid version of this formula went viral on social media when it first launched, and we found the powder foundation is similarly good great. It promises 24 hours of wear and while we couldn't attest to quite that long (we have to remove our makeup before bed!), this is a good base if you're looking for a more affordable powder option. It's super lightweight, with buildable, medium coverage and a soft matte finish.
It also comes with a sponge applicator, which is great for touch-ups on the go. This is a real plus point as, although the brand notes the formula is water, heat and sweat resistant, we did have to top it up a couple of times during the day. One thing that is lacking is the shade range, which we feel needs to both run deeper and have more options.
Pros
- Fairly reasonably price
- Natural-looking matte finish
- Comes with a sponge
Cons
- Limited shade options
RRP: £35 | Shades: 50 | Coverage: Buildable, high coverage
Reviewed by: Lucy Abbersteen
Powder foundations aren't always buildable and can cake – but that's not the case here, as this velvety soft formula from Fenty Beauty builds easily thanks to its light-as-air consistency. That extends to the wearing experience, as we barely noticed that we were wearing any powder during the testing process.
We would, however, stress that the finish is undoubtedly matte, so steer clear if you prefer a glowier or more radiant-looking base. As is the case with the original liquid Pro Filt'r Foundation, the shades here are nice and broad, with 50 options that cover a big range of skin tones and undertones. As ever with Fenty, we are seriously impressed by this powder foundation.
Pros
- Excellent shade range
- Feels nice and light on the skin
- Comes with a sponge
Cons
- Very matte, which won't appeal to all
RRP: £38 | Shades: 4 | Coverage: Lightweight finishing powder
Reviewed by: Lucy Abbersteen
This Laura Mercier pressed powder yields a luminous, almost flawless finish thanks to its skincare-infused formula, adding radiance and hydration to the skin with chamomile and rose oil extracts. If you don't usually enjoy a powdery feel, we think you will love this as it feels comfortable to wear throughout the day. The best part has to be its "auto-balancing" tech, which helps to control shine for hours.
Coverage-wise, if you want a powder foundation to cover blemishes or pigmentation, you will want to use one of the best powder foundations elsewhere in our guide, as this is more of a lightweight base or finisher. But if you like a "no-makeup" kind of look, this will give your skin a healthy radiance either when worn alone or over your foundation.
Pros
- Setting powder that adds lightweight coverage
- Works to control shine through the day
Cons
- Very limited shade options
RRP: £12 | Shades: 24 | Coverage: Full
Reviewed by: Lucy Abbersteen
Another great affordable buy, this powder foundation is part of e.l.f. Cosmetics' fan favourite Camo range. With a 24-strong shade range that's also pretty inclusive, the powder formula itself provides great coverage that can be built nicely without going cakey – all housed in a handy mirrored compact.
According to the brand, the formula itself is also "primer infused" to help boost its wear time. Its feel is definitely on the heavier-duty side, as powder foundations go, but if you want brilliant coverage that lasts, we think you could do a lot worse than put your trust in this reasonably-priced brand and it's under-£15 powder foundation.
Pros
- Fairly affordable buy
- Creates a lasting shine-free base
- 'Primer-infused' formula, helping longevity
- Comes with a sponge
Cons
- Coverage is quite full, won't suit everyone
RRP: £42 | Shades: 18 | Coverage: Full
Reviewed by: Lucy Abbersteen
The main selling point of this quality foundation is that it isn't made up of dry ingredients pressed into the compact; instead, a liquid mix is baked for 12 hours until it sets. The result is a formula that covers and evens skin tone without feeling heavy or drying out our complexions, offering a natural matte finish.
It blends particularly nicely for a powder, which we put down to its liquid origin. We couldn't feel it on our skin at all, so in our book it's tip-top – and there's a good shade range on offer here, too. An easy inclusion in our edit of the top powders around and one of the best baked foundations on the UK market.
Pros
- Great for drier skin
- Baked liquid formula
- Natural matte finish
- Comes with a sponge
Cons
- Expensive for a powder foundation
RRP: £43 | Shades: 40 | Coverage: Buildable, medium to full
Reviewed by: Lucy Abbersteen
If you've ever read an Estée Lauder Double Wear foundation review, you'll know this is one of the most iconic foundations on the market. But did you know there's a powder version, too? Housed in a chic black-and-gold compact, this powder feels luxurious from the moment you pick it up – something we found extends to the formula inside, too. It's very finely milled and has a silky soft feel, blending with ease.
In fact, this powder is so fine that we find it doubled as a setting powder and takes the edge off any shiny areas perfectly. Both humidity and sweat-resistant, this promises to control oil for up to 12 hours, and much like the original foundation, we can attest to the fact that it does have great staying power.
Pros
- Finely-milled powder
- Controls oil through the day
- Impressive staying power
Cons
- Expensive for a powder foundation
RRP: £34 | Shades: 10 | Coverage: Light-yet-buildable
Reviewed by: Lucy Abbersteen
From social media famous makeup brand Kosas, the Cloud Set Baking and Setting Powder scored very highly with us. Though we'll admit it's not technically a foundation, it does provide some lightweight and blurring coverage that means it could be used as a natural-looking matte base. And it really is impressively lightweight in every sense of the word, feeling beautiful on our skin with a silky, barely-there texture.
If we were really pushed to critique it in some way, we'd say that it's definitely on the more expensive side as powders go. But even if you regularly used it as a base we're confident it'd last a decent amount of time – and we can vouch for its setting prowess, too.
Pros
- Great setting powers
- Blurs skin texture and adds a little wash of colour
Cons
- Fairly expensive for a powder
How we tested the best powder foundations
A selection of the powder foundations one of our testers trialled for this feature
So that our guide to the best powder foundations only featured the very best buys on the market, our testers put dozens of formulas through their paces to see how well they covered and lasted. While testing the various powders, they took note of the following factors and used them to inform their reviews.
- Shade range: Are the shade options diverse and inclusive?
- Packaging: Is it easily accessible, travel-friendly and does it look the part?
- Format: Is the powder itself pressed or loose?
- Application and buildability: Does the formula apply nicely and easily? Can it be built up to achieve the desired coverage?
- Finish: How does it look on the skin? Is it completely matte or does it have a soft radiant element to it?
- How it wears: Did our testers find it went shiny, patchy or transferred, or did it wear well? How often did they feel the need to reapply?
- Price: Does it fall into the budget category or is it more of an investment? If it's more expensive, does it perform well enough that it's worth the extra money?
Your best powder foundation FAQs, answered
What are the benefits of powder foundation?
- Ease of use: If you don't usually wear foundation, many makeup artists recommend starting out with powder, as it's often easier to apply and doesn't tend to leave the same telltale streaks or visible lines. Most also include a sponge or puff in the compact, which makes things that little bit easier for travel or on-the-go application (and reapplication). Many of the best foundation brushes can also be seamlessly used with a powder formula.
- Mattifying properties: Powder foundations are particularly great for oily or combination skin types, due to their lightweight feel on the skin compared to thicker liquid or cream options. Powder also absorbs extra oil and mattifies any excessively shiny areas. It can also easily be used to touch up and remedy any shine or grease spots that develop throughout the day. "Foundation powder gives you a more matte finish and is really easy to use with a sponge," notes celebrity makeup artist Lisa Armstrong.
What skin type should use powder foundation?
Any skin type can use powder foundation. But it tends to be particularly beneficial to those with oilier complexions, thanks to those blotting properties and its ability to mattify and prevent shine from developing throughout the day.
If you do have dry skin but prefer the look and feel of a powder finish, the key is to make sure you're moisturising well before applying any powder. Doing so will soften your complexion from the get-go and prevent the powder from clinging to any areas of dry skin and looking noticeably patchy. Apply it fairly lightly to stop caking and clinging in any particularly dry areas. Our guide to the best foundations for dry skin has all the tips you need to master your base.
How to apply the best powder foundations
To get the expert lowdown on the best way to apply your new powder foundation, we sought advice from Bobbi Brown Pro Artist Hollie Ellis. The first step is to take "A [loosely packed] sheer powder brush and sweep powder foundation onto the skin for a lightweight finish," she says.
Then, "On areas where you want a little extra coverage, a full coverage face brush also provides a cushion effect; simply press and stipple into the skin. Tailor this to those areas where you want coverage to avoid the skin looking cakey."
- Prep: After cleansing – to ensure you're starting with a clean canvas – you'll also want to apply your usual serums, moisturiser and SPF. You may also opt for a primer suited to your skin type to help boost your makeup's longevity.
- Use a brush... These tools help to deliver non-cakey, sheer coverage and finish. Swirl your chosen powder brush into your loose or pressed powder and gently tap off the excess. Apply it lightly in a circular motion across your forehead, cheeks, and the rest of your face if you feel it's needed. Or, if you want fuller coverage, focus on your T-zone first, working outward.
- ... Or sponge: Makeup sponges pick up more product, making for denser coverage. First, collect a little powder, then dab off the excess to prevent caking. Start by applying it to the most shine-prone areas of your face and blend out, dabbing it gently across the skin and into any contours, such as around the nose.
Our expert panel
Dionne is a freelance fashion and beauty journalist and woman&home contributor who has also written for titles including Marie Claire and Glamour. As someone with oily skin, she knows what makes a good powder foundation, having tested many of those on the market.
Lucy is a freelance beauty journalist and a contributing beauty editor at woman&home. With close to a decade of experience in the industry she has tested hundreds of products over the years, reviewing everything from hair tools to makeup. Also having very oily skin herself, she often relies on powder to take the shine off her complexion.
Hollie Ellis is a makeup artist and a member of the Bobbi Brown Pro Team – whose powder foundation is featured in our guide. She has advised on how to apply powder foundation for the best results.
Lisa Armstrong is an award-winning makeup artist and the makeup designer for BBC's Strictly Come Dancing. She shared some of the benefits of powder foundations for this guide.