10 Best Powder Foundations in 2023

Liquid, cream, stick… there are so many types of foundations out there!  But one classic kind, that we believe beauty bloggers and Youtubers do not give enough attention to, is powder foundations!  We tried such a large number of high quality powder foundations that this was probably our most difficult list to decide.

For application, we recommend using a brush or sponge, starting in the center of the face and working outwards.  If you have dry skin and wish to use a powder foundation, don’t forget to use a primer to prevent the foundation from setting in to any fine lines.  And if you want that dewy look, you can always use a setting spray after your foundation.  The following are our top 10 picks for the best powder foundations!

1. bareMinerals Original Loose Powder Foundation – $32.00

Our #1 Choice!

bareMinerals is an all-time classic powder foundation.  Going to the bareMinerals store is overwhelming because of how hard the sales people work you, but purchasing online eliminates that problem!  There a reason this foundation has won awards year after year.  It’s reliable, consistent, and a full-proof formula that allows your skin to breathe.  The twist lock feature allows only small amounts of powder out at a time.  The coverage is buildable and even contains SPF 15.  This loose powder foundation is a must to have on hand in your foundation rotation.

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bareMinerals Ulta Sephora

2. L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Matte Powder – $7.29-$11.49

Our Choice For:  Oily Skin

If you like L’Oréal’s Infallible Pro-Matte Liquid Foundation, you will love this pressed powder equivalent!  One reviewer with an oily skin type wrote that she wore this foundation in 100 degree heat, and it still looked good.  It provides medium coverage with a matte finish.  If you need more coverage, we recommend using this foundation for touch ups on your t-zone throughout the day!  This foundation comes with a sponge for a smooth application, but we liked applying it with a fluffy foundation brush as well.

Purchase Here:

Amazon Ulta

3. Mineral Fusion Pressed Powder Foundation – $16-$28

Our Choice For:  Best Coverage

This pressed powder from Mineral Fusion has countless five-star reviews, so we had to try it for ourselves.  It’s fabulous!  It has a light weight formula that feels healthy on the skin, buildable coverage, clean ingredients, and works with all skin types.  This finish is natural/satin but we would describe it as flawless!  Side note, if this applies to you, we noticed several reviews that mentioned the “warm” shades are good for Asian skin tones and keep redness to a minimum.

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4. Demure Mineral Foundation – $24.00

Our Choice For:  Sensitive Skin

Can you say high quality!?  This foundation is made of 100% pure crushed minerals, is hypoallergenic, and contains no additives or fillers.  When applying this powder, you can feel and see the difference in quality compared to others.  You don’t have to worry about breakouts with this one!

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5. Milani Conceal + Perfect Shine-Proof Powder – $9.97

Our Choice For:  Uneven Skin Tone

This foundation will give you great coverage without appearing cakey and can be used with either a sponge or brush.  It provides a silky smooth finish that you will love and has killer shine control.  Best of all, this powder will cover your blemishes and hyperpigmentation.  As with all Milani products, you can trust that this was not tested on animals and contains clean ingredients.

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Amazon Walmart

6. Neutrogena Mineral Sheers Lightweight Loose Powder Makeup Foundation – $10.29

Our Choice For:  Reducing Redness

This is another quality choice for sensitive skin.  Our favorite thing about this foundation though is the natural finish.  It’s the perfect combination of giving a flawless appearance without the “obviously wearing makeup” look, if that makes sense.   If you don’t have a brush for loose powder, we recommend this one by Real Techniques.

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7. NYX Stay Matte but not Flat Powder Foundation – $6.65

Our Choice For:  Versatile Coverage

This pressed powder foundation has a lot going for it:  low price, a pretty matte finish, and multiple levels of coverage.  If you want light coverage, NYX recommends using a brush to lightly sweep the foundation over the face.  For medium coverage, they suggest using the sponge included with the product.  And to achieve full coverage, dampen the sponge before applying.

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Amazon NYX Ulta

8. glo Mineral Pressed Powder Foundation – $50.00

This foundation is one of our favorites!  It has a semi-matte finish, sheer to full coverage, and is designed for all skin types.  But what stands out the most is how many long-time (we’re talking decade+) users are loyal to this foundation.  You get what you pay for with this product; it’s definitely not overpriced despite being the most expensive on our list.  It comes with a sponge but the instructions say to use a flat-top kabuki brush, and we agree.  The brush blended much better than the sponge.

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9.  True + Luscious Velvet Matte Oil-Control Pressed Powder – $27.95

This foundation gives that airbrushed look while still providing a natural finish.  You truly won’t need to add any filters when wearing this foundation.  Tip from our staff:  put on a light coverage liquid foundation and use this powder to set it.  The combination is positively gorgeous!  Trust us.

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10. Bella Terra Mineral Powder Foundation – $34.99

I know we raved about this foundation previously, and while we do not typically like mentioning a product in more than one article in order to give readers as many different products as possible, we love this foundation too much to exclude it from the best powder foundations list!  The formula is clean, the finish is beautiful, and the coverage is buildable.  Plus, the powder lasts a long time because a little goes a long way.  This one is a win all around.

Purchase Here