The Best Powder Foundations for a Flawless Finish

By Mary Shannon Wells

A Southern woman’s beauty routine isn’t complete without a swipe of lipstick, a swirl of blush, and a coat (or two) of mascara, but those are simply finishing touches on a carefully curated base of skincare and face makeup. Powder foundations are one of the best face makeup options for people with oily skin or anyone during a hot Southern summer. Powder foundations give your face an airbrushed look with just one coat. Plus, unlike most liquid foundations, powder foundations are buildable to match the amount of coverage you need. So whether you’re running errands and need a light coat to give you a natural no-makeup makeup look or you’re going straight from work to a cocktail party and you need your makeup to stay put all day and night, a powder foundation might be just what you need. Powder foundations provide great coverage for blemishes, and they’re easier than liquid formulas to reapply on the go. These are the best powder foundations for minimizing oiliness, masking discoloration, and smoothing lines—all day long.

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bareMinerals Original Loose Powder Mineral Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 15

Ulta

Buy It: $31; ulta.com

If you want to talk powder, you have to bring up bareMinerals, the holy grail of mineral powder makeup. Although they have several powder foundation formulas for separate skin concerns, you can never go wrong with the original.

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Kat Von D Lock-It Powder Foundation

Sephora

Buy It: $36; sephora.com

As the name suggests, this powder has major staying power, and the matte finish is great for oily skin.

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MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation

Ulta

Buy It: $30; ulta.com

Long work days don’t stand a chance against this longwear formula that provides great coverage for blemishes and discoloration.

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Laura Mercier Smooth Finish Foundation Powder

Sephora

Buy It: $48; sephora.com

Although Laura Mercier’s tinted moisturizer is the brand’s most popular face makeup, the powder foundation is top notch, too. This lightweight formula won’t weight you down even on the busiest days.  

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Lancôme Dual Finish Multi-Tasking Powder Foundation

Ulta

Buy It: $40; ulta.com

Dual Finish has been stocked on Southern women’s shelves for decades, and there’s a reason. This can’t-be-beat formula has stood the test of time for its weightless texture that’s perfect for everyday wear.

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Cover FX Pressed Mineral Foundation

Sephora

Buy It: $38; sephora.com

This matte formula is perfect for controlling that pesky T-zone shine, and it’s available in an impressive 40 shades so women with different skin tones can find their match.

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Pür Minerals 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Powder Foundation

Ulta

Buy It: $29.50; ulta.com

Every skincare-conscious Southern woman knows SPF is the foundation of a good routine, so this formula does double duty to provide coverage and a bit of sun protection. Thousands of online reviews say it’s easy to apply, lightweight, and blends well with good pigmentation.

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IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Airbrush Perfecting Powder with SPF 50+

Sephora

Buy It: $35; sephora.com

Any dermatologist would be thrilled to hear you’re wearing makeup with 50+ SPF every day, which makes sense, as this silky formula was made with a team of dermatologists. It does an amazing job of covering discoloration.

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Tarte Cosmetics Amazonian Clay Full-Coverage Airbrush Foundation

Ulta

Buy It: $36; ulta.com

This gentle formula is great for sensitive skin, and it’s super lightweight for easy everyday wear. Brush a bit on for a no-makeup makeup look or keep building for more coverage.

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Clinique Superpowder Double Face Makeup

Sephora

Buy It: $27; sephora.com

This classic formula offers full coverage for a flawless finish that lasts. It’s been around for decades, and there’s a reason it remains on the bestseller list.

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Laura Gellar Balance-n-Brighten Baked Color Correcting Foundation

Ulta

Buy It: $34; ulta.com

The melding of colors in this compact ensures that the finish looks natural and blended on your skin for a glowy, your-skin-but-better look.

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Benefit Cosmetics Hello Flawless! Powder Foundation

Sephora

Buy It: $34; sephora.com

Thousands of reviewers are obsessed with this formula’s ability to provide sheer to full coverage with several swipes. Blemishes, discoloration, redness, and more don’t stand a chance.

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NYX Professional Makeup Stay Matte Powder Foundation

Ulta

Buy It: $9.50; ulta.com

If you’re looking for serious matte coverage at an unbeatable price, NYX is the way to go. This formula will kick shininess to the curb.

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Smashbox HALO Hydrating Perfecting Powder

Sephora

Buy It: $49; sephora.com

This one costs a pretty penny, but it’ll have your skin looking even prettier. If an intense matte look isn’t your cup of tea, this powder has a softer finish that will leave you luminous.

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Maybelline SuperStay Full Coverage Powder Foundation

Ulta

Buy It: $11.99; ulta.com

This recent launch from one of our favorite affordable brands leaves you with coverage that’s not cakey. For a natural, fresh-faced look that hides discoloration and shows off your best features, this budget-buy is the best.

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Wander Beauty Wanderlust Powder Foundation

Sephora

Buy It: $40; sephora.com

This matte powder works double duty as skincare and makeup. You can wear this feather-light formula all day, every day and forget you have it on.

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Burt’s Bees Mattifying Powder Foundation

Ulta

Buy It: $16.99; ulta.com

If you keep your routine natural, you’ll love this 100% natural formula from a brand we’ll always trust with our skin. If matte isn’t your thing, don’t let the product’s name scare you away. It’s lightweight enough that you’ll still have a natural glow.

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Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Matte Powder Foundation

Sephora

Buy It: $42; sephora.com

This brand-new launch is the powder version of Estée’s timeless cult-classic Double Wear liquid makeup, so we knew it was going to be good. It does an amazing job of neutralizing oiliness in the T-zone and minimizing pores.

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