Best Powder Foundations – hotandflashy.com

I recently tried 7 powder foundations from the drugstore and the department store.

To watch the Video of all 7 reviewed, click here:

Best & Worst: Testing Powder Foundations for Mature, Aging Skin

If you just want to see the top 3, read on:

The best drugstore powder was NYX Stay Matte But Not Flat Foundation Powder.

It has a drugstore price tag of $9.50 and is available at Ulta. This comes in 15 shades but has no SPF.

The powder is super soft and silky to the touch. It goes on evenly (I used Rimmel primer underneath), offering good coverage that evens out skin tone. A concealer is still needed for darker spots though. It didn’t settle into fine lines and wrinkles, or pores and made my big pores look smaller. It stayed matte for 4 hours and then needed a touch-up.

My teenage daughters both liked how this one looked, and it had very little phone transfer.

(Photo above: NYX Stay Matte But Not Flat Powder Foundation)

The top two high-end powders were Laura Mercier Mineral Pressed Powder and Id BareMinerals Matte Loose Powder.

BareMinerals Matte Powder ~ $27 for .20 oz. in plastic jar with travel closure. Comes in 20 shades, with SPF 15.

Claims: Flawless coverage with a no makeup look and feel. Lasts up to 8 hours. Minerals absorb excess oil without drying skin. Clinically proven to minimize the appearance of pores

Angie’s Test: The powder is very soft, almost creamy feeling. It’s very blend able offering sheer to medium coverage. It makes my big pores practically disappear (used Benefit PoreFessional primer), and doesn’t settle into lines & wrinkles. Gives a totally matte finish with no light reflection so it doesn’t accentuate wrinkles. It was long-wearing with no T-zone breakthrough.

Teenage Test: Looks great!

Phone Test: Some transfer later in the day.

(Photo above: iD BareMinerals Matte Loose Powder Foundation)

Laura Mercier Mineral Pressed Powder ~ $36 for .28 oz. in mirror compact with sponge. Comes in 8 shades, with SPF 15.

Claims: Composed of a custom blend of Pearl Powders rich in amino acids, offers a natural buildable foundation for sheer to full coverage. Creamy texture, oil-free, water-resistant formula adheres to skin for a colour-true finish all day.

Angie’s Test: Not as silky as the other powders, feels a little grainy. This is very pigmented and a little goes a long way, so just lightly tap brush into product to get a sheer to medium coverage. Goes on smooth and blends nicely into skin. Didn’t go into pores and wrinkles, but is slightly light reflective so it accentuates imperfections in skin close up. Doesn’t look cakey, and the color stayed the same all day. It wore off after 8 hours.