Last updated: March 1, 2023
The drugstore has some of the best powder foundations on offer.
There are some excellent choices out there with different ingredients, finishes and coverage.
You can get anything from a matte look to a luminous finish from a powder foundation.
If you want a lightweight coverage, a medium coverage or full coverage, drugstore powder foundations have you covered.
At the drugstore you get a lot of powder foundations to choose from so you can find one which works for you.
Plus being from drugstore brands, they’re of course more affordable than high end brands.
In today’s economic climate and with the cost of living increasing all the time, saving money on makeup has become more important than ever.
The good news is, of course, that you don’t have to splash out on a brand like MAC or Fenty to get a good product these days.
The drugstore has you covered, as drugstore brands become better, more innovative and more competitive with the high end makeup market.
Here are all the best drugstore powder foundations on the market today to help you choose the right one for you.
The best drugstore powder foundations
Scroll down to see the best drugstore powder foundations and pick up an excellent powder foundation next time you’re out shopping at the drugstore.
What skin type is powder foundation for?
A few years ago powder foundation was only aimed at people with oilier skin types, but with new innovative ingredients and formulas this is not always true.
While a liquid formula foundation might once have been only for dry skin, nowadays you can get liquid foundations that work really well for oilier skins.
Likewise, there are some powder foundations that can work for dry skin.
It all depends on the ingredients used.
How do you make powder foundation look flawless?
All makeup, whether it’s a powder, cream or liquid product, should be applied on to prepped skin to ensure it looks its best.
Make sure your skin is clean, moisturized (even if you have oily skin) and has a broad-spectrum SPF and primer applied before you attempt to do any makeup.
This will help to ensure that your powder foundation doesn’t stick to any dry spots for a flawless look.
This is extremely important if you have dry skin.
How do you make powder foundation not look cakey?
When you apply a powder foundation consider using a large fluffy brush rather than the powder puff the product comes with.
You can use this to stipple the foundation powder into your skin.
This applies lighter, thinner layers than using another method.
It means you can build up the coverage carefully to avoid adding too much product in one go which can look cakey.
Make sure you don’t skip the primer as this will help the powder stick to your skin and stay smooth all day.
The list of the best drugstore powder foundations
Below are the best drugstore powder foundations on the market today.
They all come at a much cheaper price than high-end pressed powder foundations.
e.l.f. Camo Powder Foundation
Elf make amazing makeup products at affordable prices and this is no exception.
This powder foundation has an inbuilt primer so it doubles up as a two-in-one product.
This means you can skip the layer of primer you would normally put underneath a powder foundation to keep it in place all day.
It has a semi-matte or satin finish and is buildable so you can layer on more where needed.
This drugstore powder foundation contains something called Nylon-12.
Nylon-12 works amazingly well at absorbing excess oil, which helps powder stay smooth and keeps your face from looking shiny throughout the day.
This ingredient is also meant to hydrate the skin so the powder doesn’t make your skin feel tight or uncomfortable.
If you are dryer then prepping the skin first will help this primer-infused formula go on more smoothly.
There are a huge range of 30 shades to choose from so it is possible you’ll find the perfect match for your skin tone from this Elf product.
As an added bonus it is cruelty free and suitable for vegans.
Ulta Beauty Adjustable Coverage Foundation
This is actually a really versatile product because you can apply it as a dry powder like a traditional powder foundation, but it can also be applied wet.
When applied dry this drugstore powder foundation gives a very lightweight coverage so is perfect for no-makeup makeup days.
If you wet a brush or sponge and apply the powder wet it gives a higher level of coverage.
This foundation powder gives you a luminous finish so it adds a little brightness and doesn’t look too powdery.
The ingredients include Nylon-12, like the Elf powder foundation, which adds smoothness and absorbs oil.
Ulta’s powder foundation also contains silicones which give a really smooth look to the skin and which blur the appearance of pores.
There are a huge range of shades to choose from.
Neutrogena Mineral Sheers Compact Powder Foundation
If you’re looking for the best drugstore powder foundation for a sheer coverage this is a great choice.
It gives a light coverage initially but can be built up to a more medium coverage if required.
This means it’s great for a natural look or if you don’t have a lot of redness or blemishes you want to cover with your foundation.
Neutrogena’s powder foundation is recommend for acne-prone skin as it’s non-comedogenic so won’t clog your pores.
It’s also suitable for sensitive skin.
This is one of the best drugstore powder foundations if you like the look of a powder but not the feel of a powder on your skin, as it has a very lightweight formula.
The powder contains Nylon-12 as well as hydrating Vitamin E and soybean seed extract, plus rice starch to absorb oil.
Neutrogena Mineral Sheers Compact Powder Foundation is available here
Makeup Revolution Conceal & Define Satin Matte Powder Foundation
This is one of the best drugstore foundations if you want a high coverage finish and an affordable price.
Drugstore powders can sometimes be drying but this one from Revolution contains some really good skin-friendly ingredients.
These include hyaluronic acid and cannabis sativa seed oil for their hydrating properties.
It gives excellent coverage and can be built up from medium to high coverage.
The finish of this powder is a satin, so it has a very slight dewy sheen and won’t look flat and matte.
This is the favorite drugstore powder foundation of many reviewers who love the coverage and how long lasting it is.
As an added bonus, this is one of the best drugstore powder foundations because it comes in a huge range of 31 shades.
Makeup Revolution Conceal & Define Satin Matte Powder Foundation is available here
Palladio Herbal Dual Wet and Dry Foundation
This is a very underrated brand that make a really good drugstore powder foundation.
There are some amazing skin ingredients in this drugstore powder foundation that mean this powder won’t dry your skin out.
These include Nylon-12, squalane, Vitamin E, green tea extract and safflower seed oil.
This powder foundation also contains aloe vera which is great at soothing sensitive skin.
You can use this makeup product like a normal dry powder foundation and apply with a sponge or a brush.
For more of a full coverage look, use a wet sponge which will give you an even more flawless finish.
You can buy refills for this powder too so don’t need to pay full price again if you run out.
Palladio Herbal Dual Wet and Dry Foundation is available here
CoverGirl Clean Simply Powder Foundation
This is one of the top picks from this list of the best drugstore powder foundations.
CoverGirl’s powder foundation is great for anyone with combination skin or oilier skin.
It’s also great for anyone prone to acne and clogged pores as it has only non-comedogenic ingredients.
It gives you a natural matte finish and also claims to give you the same coverage as a liquid foundation but in powder form.
You can use it to cover dark spots, freckles, acne scarring and redness as it has such good coverage.
The shade range is unfortunately not the most extensive however.
Essence 16h Cover & Last Powder Foundation
This powder foundation has a medium to high coverage and gives a matte finish.
It has a lot of ingredients which absorb oil so is one of the best foundations on this list of the best drugstore powder foundations for those with oilier skin types.
To help retain your skin’s moisture levels this powder foundation also has ingredients like macadamia seed oil, shea butter and castor seed oil.
The best part about this drugstore powder foundation is that it’s an extremely affordable option and the price is very low.
Essence 16h Cover & Last Powder Foundation is available here
Milani Conceal + Perfect Smooth Finish Cream-To-Powder Foundation
Cream to powder foundations like this one from Milani are a fairly rare type of foundation but really worth looking in to.
This is one of the best drugstore powder foundations for anyone with visible pores or fine lines and wrinkles.
The cream formula smoothes over the skin when you apply it, skimming large pores and fine lines.
It then sets to a powder finish which will give you the long-lasting coverage you get from a face powder.
The finish is called ‘soft matte’ and it has luminizing pigments in it which give a little bit of a glow.
This ensures you get a more skin-like finish rather than a flat powder foundation look.
Milani’s powder foundation contains Vitamin E, Vitamin A, green tea extract and bamboo and lily for their oil-absorbing properties.
Milani Conceal + Perfect Smooth Finish Cream-To-Powder Foundation is available here
Maybelline Super Stay Up to 24HR Hybrid Powder-Foundation
This is one of the best drugstore powder foundations if you’re looking for a very long-lasting, full coverage formula.
Maybelline’s powder foundation recently went viral on TikTok after beauty influencer Mikayla Nogueira showcased herself wearing it.
Since then makeup fans have rushed to get this affordable powder foundation to try it out for themselves.
It has a soft matte finish and Maybelline also claim that it is sweat-resistant, water-resistant, and transfer-resistant.
It’s best to keep in mind that what works for one person may not work for another.
Reviewers of this product who have dry skin say that it’s prone to cling on to dry patches which makes them look worse.
Therefore this is among the best drugstore powder foundations out there for oilier or combination skin types.
Maybelline Super Stay Up to 24HR Hybrid Powder-Foundation is available here
L’Oréal Infallible 24HR Fresh Wear Foundation In A Powder
If you follow beauty influencers on TikTok you may know that this powder foundation also went viral a while back.
Touted as one of the best drugstore powder foundations ever, this powder from L’Oréal is designed to give a very long lasting coverage.
In fact, like the Maybelline powder, this claims to last for up to twenty four hours on the skin.
It has a very high coverage finish which is designed to cover redness, acne, discoloration and other differences in skin tone.
To get a really full coverage look from this powder foundation you can apply it with a damp sponge or powder brush for a thicker application.
This is well suited to those with normal skin to oily skin as it could be fairly drying due to the long lasting nature of this powder.
There are only a handful of different shades to choose from.
L’Oréal Infallible 24HR Fresh Wear Foundation In A Powder is available here
L’Oréal Age Perfect Creamy Powder Foundation
This is one of the best drugstore powder foundations for more mature skin and those with wrinkles and fine lines.
Mature skin can be drier than younger skin and often needs a more lightweight foundation which won’t sink into those fine lines.
However if you did want to try out a drugstore powder foundation and have those issues this is a good choice.
It is formulated with Ceramide NP which is one of the ceramides that’s found naturally within our skin.
Ceramide NP helps to retain water in the skin to help it look fresh and plump.
It also helps to keep the skin’s natural barrier intact so is great if you have easily irritated skin.
Because it is a powder you will of course need to prep skin underneath with plenty of moisturizer.
L’Oréal Age Perfect Creamy Powder Foundation is available here
Burt’s Bees Mattifying Powder Foundation
As the name suggests, this drugstore powder foundation is intended to keep skin looking matte.
It uses only natural ingredients like mica, squalane, honey and bamboo to keep the formula gentle on the skin while it absorbs oil.
Burt’s Bees’ powder foundation has a buildable coverage so you can start sheer and build it up to cover more imperfections if you wish.
It gets amazing reviews from people who continue to re-buy this product as they don’t want to be without it.
The major downside to this drugstore powder foundation is that unfortunately the shades do not run very deep.
Powder foundation formulas are one of the easiest and quickest things to fit into your makeup routine.
You can cover your entire face quickly with a sponge applicator or brush, and they’re also the best choice for when you’re traveling or on the go.
You can keep one in your makeup bag without fear of any leaks or spills.
They also come with applicators in most cases so you don’t need to carry an extra brush with you when you just want to touch up your foundation throughout the day.
In fact, powder foundations can be your best friend if you love to be able to build up your coverage from a more natural finish to a full-coverage foundation look.
The primary factor when it comes to choosing one of these best drugstore powder foundations is to pick one that suits your skin type.
For the most natural-looking finish don’t forget to prep your skin before applying it as this will go a long way towards ensuring it looks as smooth as possible.
You will get a really clean look that many liquid foundations just can’t give you.
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