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The 9 best powder foundations for achieving matte and flawless skin from just £10 – tested with pictures
Shine be gone!
Don’t sleep on the best powder foundations. They don’t have to be heavy, super matte and flat-looking. These days the texture is silky and the finish is natural looking. Obvi, if you’re an oily girl like me, I don’t need to tell you that powder comes in very helpful for setting your make-up and blotting shine through the day – a little dusting of a powder foundation helps with both this and adding coverage. But some of the more lightweight powder foundations can even suit drier skin types, too.
So, as I’ve tested most of the options available on today’s make-up market, you can trust that I know which ones perform well. Here are the nine best powder foundations that money can buy RN.
The best powder foundations, tested and reviewed by us
Pros
- Nice ‘n’ affordable, primer-infused long-wearing formula
Cons
- Coverage is fairly full, if that’s not what you’re after
There are 24 different shades available, spanning a nice broad range, with options for cool, neutral and warm undertones. This powder is also primer-infused, which helps with its longevity and crease-resistance, plus it feels ultra lightweight on the skin. And all for just £10? Not bad!
Features at a Glance
| Shades | 24 |
|---|
L'Oreal Paris Infallible 24H Fresh Wear Foundation in a Powder
Pros
- Pretty affordable, long-wearing
Cons
- Shade range is limited and needs work
With its lovely velvety texture, this powder foundation sweeps on easily and is a great long-lasting option if you like your coverage to be matte (but not flat) and full. That said, as is unfortunately still common with some more affordable brands, the shade range just isn’t inclusive enough, so it loses some points there.
Features at a Glance
| Shades | 6 |
|---|
Bobbi Brown Skin Weightless Powder Foundation
Pros
- Silky texture, builds to full coverage
Cons
- Very spenny!
Because it’s so, so, so lightweight, a little dusting of this Bobbi Brown formula works very well as a setting powder, too. Plus, the wider compact makes the mirror a decent size for on-the-go use. The downside is that luxe price tag which, at more than 40 quid, won’t be accessible for many.
Features at a Glance
| Shades | 18 |
|---|
SEPHORA COLLECTION Best Skin Ever Matte Powder Foundation
Pros
- Sheer, buildable coverage
Cons
- Packaging feels a lil’ flimsy
Yes, they stock so many incredible beauty brands, but don’t sleep on Sephora’s own brand make-up. The Best Skin Ever Powder Foundation goes on fairly sheer, but can be layered up easily where you need or want more coverage – and even then, it feels like you’ve got nothing on the skin. A really nice one!
Features at a Glance
| Shades | 24 |
|---|
Laura Mercier Real Flawless Feather Matte Powder Foundation
Pros
- Incredibly finely milled, soft and comfortable to wear
Cons
- Very pricey
It’s ultra fine and silky, building and blending across the skin like a dream. Despite being a powder, it’s described as a hydrating formula that resists the elements, and feels super comfortable on the skin as a result. Being a luxe brand, it’s pretty spenny, but worth the investment IMO.
Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Powder Foundation
Pros
- Velvety matte finish, excellent shade range
Cons
- Coverage may be too full for those who want something sheer
Rihanna raised the bar for the industry standard when she launched the first Fenty Beauty foundation, and that continued with the Pro Filt’r Powder Foundation, which took three years to perfect. It sits well on the skin and stays in place nicely through the day.
Features at a Glance
| Shades | 50 |
|---|
Maybelline SuperStay 24H Hybrid Powder Foundation
Pros
- Pretty affordable, surprisingly lightweight
Cons
- Shade range isn’t inclusive enough
You don’t have to spend a lot of money to get yourself a decent powder foundation, as Maybelline’s proves (though that shade range needs some work). Again, I’ve not worn it for quiiiiite as long as 24 hours, but it goes onto the skin like velvet without looking thick or heavy.
MAC Cosmetics Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation
Pros
- Tons of shades to choose from
Cons
- On the pricey side
Of course MUA go-to MAC has a great powder foundation in its line-up. Studio Fix Powder Plus has a blurring effect and promises up to 24 hours of oil control (I’ve never worn it for quite that long, but can confirm it’s long-lasting). Plus, there’s almost 80 different shades on offer.
Pros
- Finely-milled and buffs into the skin super easily
Cons
- Loose format can be a lil’ messy
This is, like, the OG of powder foundations and kind of a beauty icon in its own right. A loose mineral powder foundation with just a handful of ingredients, you can sheer it out or build it up. Simply dispense a little into the lid, swirl it around with a dense brush and then buff into the skin. Our only criticism is the shade range; there’s room for improvement at the deeper end.
Features at a Glance
| Shades | 29 |
|---|
Lucy Abbersteen (she/her) is a freelance beauty writer for Cosmopolitan UK. Having started her career at Marie Claire UK, she's since also written for titles including Stylist, Refinery29, woman&home and Glamour. Over the years she's done everything from report on the beauty trends at fashion week to grill some of the world's leading hairstylists and derms. Her writing covers everything from buzzy nail trends to haircare know-how and industry deep dives. She even has her own website: lucyabbersteen.com
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