Powder foundations are ideal for mornings when you’ve snoozed the alarm one too many times and have no time to prep for your video meetings that require cameras on. They can get you from looking like you just rolled out of bed to work-ready in a minute.
The best part? They blur out pores and leave your skin looking naturally matte so you don’t look like you have light beaming from your forehead during meetings. They are also great for when you need a quick touch-up in between.
If you have oily, textured or combination skin, powder foundations are a godsend for you. But if you have dry skin and are afraid it might go on patchy, apply a thicker moisturiser (and allow it to set) before applying powder foundation, or spray a light coat of hydrating setting mist.
Use a brush to stipple, buff or sweep on the foundation to get desired coverage. If you want more coverage, use the accompanying (or any) makeup sponge to stamp on the product.
But take note: When it comes to applying powder foundation, less is definitely more. Too much can look heavy and chalky, so start with a little and build it up.
You can also prevent cakey makeup with these four simple steps:
1. Use a hydrating primer as base.
2. Conceal troubled areas with liquid or cream formula.
3. Buff in the powder foundation.
4. Seal everything in with a setting spray.
Here are our recommendations for powder foundations.
The Shiseido Synchro Skin line is created for those who don’t want to fuss with touching up as the day goes by. The ActiveForce technology helps the foundation blend into the skin to provide a natural matte finish while the Smart Correcting Powder technology corrects skin tone and texture. It can be applied wet or dry, is sweat-, water- and humidity-resistant and has SPF35/PA++++.
This vegan powder foundation has a buildable formula, which allows you to customise the level of coverage you need. As its name suggests, the foundation leaves a matte yet natural finish in part thanks to the ingredient mica.
Besides being able to control sebum so skin has a velvet matte finish, the Innisfree powder foundation also contains moisturising ingredients and an antioxidating formula to nourish skin and ensure that the makeup stays on all day and looks fresh.
Swipe on this formula to recreate the lit-from-within look in an instant. It glides smoothly onto the skin and evens out your skin tone without looking fake or powdery.
Not only is this highly-pigmented powder foundation designed to provide shine-free coverage without settling into lines and wrinkles, but it also contains SPF 20 for added protection and is packed with anti-ageing and skin-plumping ingredients such as peptides, antioxidants and hydrolyzed collagen.
Bonus: It’s also infused with hyaluronic acid, rose, aloe and niacin to give you the enviable airbrushed effect while keeping your skin fresh and hydrated.
Just like all the products in the Lock-It series, this sweat-proof foundation does not smudge or budge one bit. This vegan formula comes in 26 shades to deliver the full coverage of your dreams and contains rice powder extract and kaolin to soften the appearance of imperfection and give a diffused matte finish.
Just because you didn’t catch the ZZZs last night doesn’t mean you have to settle for skin that looks flat. Inspired by charmeuse silk, this buildable formula uses exclusive Micro-fil technology to blur imperfections and give skin much-needed glow.
This top-rated powder foundation not only gives amazing natural-looking coverage and helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and pores, but is also extremely hydrating and lightweight, making it great for any skin type. This handy compact can be applied wet or dry, depending on the level of coverage you prefer.
This cult classic didn’t garner fans for nothing—this plush powder takes the prize for its convenient application and staying power as it delivers an instant porcelain-like complexion with only one swipe. This versatile formula also works well as a setting powder if you want your liquid base to stay put, or just wear it alone for a sheer natural look.
This new mattifying powder foundation is high up on our beauty faves list for two reasons. One, the breathable formula helps us conceal blemishes and visible pores like a pro. Two, it’s water-resistant! The line is designed to match 30 skin tones, and each compact comes with a dual-sided sponge – a black side for photo-ready high coverage and a white side for a soft veil of powder.
Use this affordable formula with a damp beauty sponge and it’ll keep shine at bay all day so that your skin looks polished to perfection from morning till night. Wearing a primer underneath will help it last longer as well.
This blends effortlessly for a flawless, natural-looking finish and evens out your skin without being traceable to the naked eye. We also like that it’s formulated with aloe leaf extract to moisturise skin and restore suppleness.
This article was first published in Cleo.