7 Best Drugstore Powder Foundations of 2024

The biggest advantage of Powder foundation is the ease of application. You can use it on its own or layer it over primer and concealer or just over sunscreen and you are good to go.

Compared to a liquid foundation, Powder foundation is more likely to stay in place during warm weather, absorbing oils for a fresh look that lasts all day.

Concerns about powder foundation drying out the skin are valid, but it's not inherently bad for dry skin. While certain mattifying formulas may exacerbate dryness, there are options available that cater to all skin types. Just make sure your skin is exfoliated and well moisturized before application.

Below is a list the Best Drugstore Powder foundations suitable for a variety of skin types.

To determine which options, excel among their competitors, I relied on a combination of personal experience, online reviews and expert recommendations. This approach allowed me to gather comprehensive information on the performance and formulations of each product.

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Price= $13 on Amazon

Best for: combination, oily and acne-prone skin.

Packaging: The foundation comes in a sleek rectangular shaped compact with accompanying sponge and makeup mirror.

Pros:

• Offers medium to full coverage without appearing cakey.
• Available in 20 shades to cater to diverse skin tones.
• Wear time 7-8 hours.
• Provides a smooth, soft matte finish that lasts all day.
• Oil-free formula controls shine and prolongs makeup wear.
• Went viral for its flawless coverage and weightless, skin-like finish.
• Lightweight formula feels barely there on the skin.
• Contains vinyl dimethicone crosspolymer for a skin-smoothing, filter-like effect.
• Suitable for summer wear.
• Effectively conceals acne scars and dark under-eye circles, imparting a filtered appearance.
• A little goes a long way, layers well and wears all day long.
• Suitable for dusting on top of liquid foundation to add a matte look that isn't dry and give extra coverage and sets makeup.
• A little goes on long way so it is going to take you months until you hit the pan.
• Saves time: You can apply your sunscreen, pat this on top, brush some concealer under your eyes and your face makeup is done! A miracle in a powder form indeed.

Cons:

• The shade range requires expansion, as existing shades may appear too light or deep.

• Contains benzyl salicylate, which may not be suitable for sensitive skin or those allergic to salicylates.

• Scent is slightly strong.

• Colors may appear darker on the skin, so it's advisable to opt for a slightly lighter shade.

• Not recommended for dry skin types, as it maybe too matte.

Price= $10 on Amazon

Best for: Normal skin

Packaging: Powder comes in a plastic packaging. It has two compartments in it with a partial clear lid. The upper contains the powder while the bottom compartment contains a powder puff and there is also a mirror attached in it. The packaging is pretty sturdy yet nothing special. It contains 8.4g of product. The case clicks securely shut.

Pros:

• Wear time 6-7 hours
• Available in 14 shades
• Glides on smoothly and does not look powdery.
• Finish is soft matte and coverage is medium to Full.
• Compatible with sunscreen, making it ideal for daytime wear.
• Oil free and fragrance free
• Non-irritating and won't clog pores.
• This powder serves as both a setting powder to set foundation and as a standalone powder foundation; however, it's important to apply with a light hand.
• This makeup is nearly as good as other high end powders. It is a good oil absorber but it doesn’t leave the skin feeling dry or looking too dry and matte.
• No off color, no caked-on look and no flaking.
• For the price it is a good buy.

Cons:

• The compact itself is difficult to open. It’s extra difficult if someone has any problems with their hands, such as arthritis.
• Having the applicator underneath the powder in the compact necessitates opening and closing it multiple times during application, which can be inconvenient.
• Finding the right color is not easy.
• There’s need for more deeper skin shades
• The face powder may come off easily. So give your face a dose of setting spray after application.
• The included applicator is useless. It keeps shedding black fibers on skin and makes it impossible to not get streaky powder lines.

Price= $6 on Amazon

Best for: All skin types

Packaging: Elf Camo Powder Foundation comes in sleek white packaging with a powder sponge. The packaging does not look cheap and you get a small mirror in the sponge department. It is easy to carry around in purses as it doesn’t take up much space and is great for quick makeup fixes.

Pros:

• Available in 30 shades.
• Very affordable.
• Primer-infused, crease-resistant, long-lasting powder foundation formula
• This one looks very natural. It's lightweight but full coverage, leaving skin with a beautiful, silky finish
• free from phthalates, parabens, nonylphenol ethoxylates, triclosan, triclocarban, and hydroquinone.
• Talc free
• The Elf Camo Powder Foundation doesn’t have any fragrances.
• Lasts all day.
• you can keep coverage light or build up to a fuller finish, making it suitable for any look.
• Suitable powder foundation on top of sunscreen.
• This is a foundation that gets better as the day goes on. Given a little bit of time to meld with your skin, it creates a pretty, semi-matte canvas.

Cons:

• It is suitable for all skin types but can be too matte for dry skin. So prep your skin well before application.
• Settles quickly so you have to blend faster.
• This foundation is suitable to be used on top of sunscreen. It may become patchy if you use it over wet foundations.

Price= $10 on Amazon

Best for : normal to oily skin

Packaging: Mineral sheers loose powder foundation is held in a sleek transparent powder compact that can easily be slotted into your purse. There’s no applicator or mirror.

Pros:

• Lightweight formula for effortless blending and natural-looking finish.
• Free from talc, fragrance, and dyes, ideal for sensitive skin types.
• Made with minerals, avoiding potentially irritating ingredients.
• Rich in skin nourishing ingredients like vitamin A, vitamin C, Vitamin B and Vitamin E
• gentle enough for sensitive skin and is both lightweight and breathable.
• Non-heavy and non-cakey texture for comfortable wear.
• Works well even in humid places
• SPF 20
• oil-free
• Available in 8 skin-perfecting foundation shades for diverse skin tones.
• Delivers excellent oil control when paired with a light moisturizer and primer.
• An excellent product for a skin that doesn’t need too much coverage and is not particularly dry.

Cons:

• Any flakiness you have will become more noticeable when using this product. If you decide to try it, please be sure to exfoliate well before using!
• The coverage is not buildable. If you have a lot to hide, this is not the product for you.
• Does not include an applicator.
• Contains parabens.

Price= $11 on Amazon

Best for: Normal to oily skin

Coverage: Full coverage effectively concealing imperfections such as blemishes, redness, and discoloration.

Packaging: The foundation comes in a compact form, making it convenient for storage and travel. The compact comes with a mirror, making on-the-go touch-ups convenient and hassle-free. The mirror and the sponge are in the lower compartment while the foundation is in the top compartment of the compact.

Competitiveness: A dupe for KVD's Good Apple Foundation

Pros:

• Very Affordable.
• Wear time 6-8 hours depending on skin. Using a good primer helps it stay better
• Full Coverage
• A cream foundation that sets pretty quickly, with a finish that looks blurred and powdered.
• Beautiful soft matte finish
• It’s good for people who are on the go and just in a rush.
• Works well in humidity
• Available in 22 shades to suit different skin tones.
• It’s cruelty free and vegan

Cons:

• May be too drying for those with dry skin.
• Finding the right shade may be hard.Milani needs to expand the shade range
• The puff applicator that comes with the foundation absorbs a lot of product.
• There’s scent but it is not overpowering.
• It’s oily skin friendly but it may not be acne friendly or texture friendly.

Price= $9 on Amazon

Best for: Normal to Oily

Packaging: The packaging is a little bit bulky for a compact.It has a hard plastic case with a clear cover to see the shade inside. The back of the compact contains all product information including the ingredients list. The compact has 2 layers: the top one contains the pressed powder, and the bottom one contains a sponge and a mirror.

Pros:

• Wear time 6 hours
• Medium coverage
• Wide shade range: Available in 24 shades.
• Natural pore less looking finish
• Pressed format means no mess.
• The powder is Soft, silky and easy to apply, it sets your base in place for hours and controls shine over the day.
• Lightweight and so easy to apply
• effortlessly evening out skin tone and minimizing pores without feeling heavy or cakey. Its matte finish ensures a natural look that lasts even on people engaged in physical activity.
• Offers reliable coverage and pore-minimizing benefits without compromising on breathability.
• It can be used alone as powder foundation as it provides decent coverage.
• Mineral technology absorbs shine
• It's sweat-proof
• Good quality product available at affordable price.
• This powder is perfect for those who want to achieve a flawless and natural-looking complexion while staying active.

Cons:

• Too drying for some skin types.There is normal to dry variant of this powder foundation.
• Lasting time may be short in certain climates
• Maybelline needs to improve the shade range.
• The mirror is under the powder and therefore you have to keep opening and closing the container throughout the entire application process
• Translucent shade may suit only those who are lily white.

Price= $11 on Amazon

Best for: All skin types

Packaging: This powder foundation comes in a lovely see-through compact case with a mirror and a sponge.

Pros:

• Wears well for 7-9 hours.
• Available in 16 shades
• Very pigmented.
• Creates a soft-focus matte finish. It almost looks like you have a blur filter on your face while still looking like your real skin.
• Formula works beautifully for touch-ups — it layers well over your existing products, gives you additional coverage as needed in areas where your makeup may have faded or smudged, and helps control shine.
• Suitable even if you have dry skin or don't typically like powder foundations.
• Doesn’t cling to dry patches.
• The texture also allows any other powder products such as bronzer, blush to apply effortlessly on top.
• Foundation is a hybrid formula, combining the performance of a liquid with the comfort of a powder.
• Doesn’t contribute to excess oiliness.
• Can also be used as setting powder.
• Vegan
• Non-comedogenic

Cons:

• If you have dry skin, you'll need to dedicate extra time to skin preparation to ensure thorough hydration before applying the product.
• The shade range is limited and predominantly consists of warm tones.
• It contains talc.
• Does not contain SPF and is not oil free.
• The shades may appear darker in person compared to how they look in online photos.
• When applied with a damp sponge, the colors oxidize.