Our 10 Best Powder Foundations For Dry Skin To Buy In 2024

Updated on February 8, 2024

Gone are the days when wearing a powder foundation was a challenge to people with dry skin. The powder would look cakey, and if it were not an exact match of your skin tone, it would make you look a bit ashy. Powder foundations are an excellent choice for many people. They are meant to soak up excess oil and shine, something that dry skin types lack, and that is why they tend to cake. Today, brands have stepped up their powder foundation formulations. They now offer powders specifically formulated for dry skin, and they come in a wide range of shades suitable for all skin types.

When applied to dry skin, they look natural and last for hours without the need for touch-ups. Here is a list of the best powder foundations for dry skin. Read on.

Editor’s Choices

10 Best Powder Foundations For Dry Skin Of 2024

1. Jane Iredale Pure Pressed Mineral-Based Powder (Best Talc Free)

This is a pressed mineral foundation that is slightly more sheer and matte than the loose powder. This lightweight powder is 1000% vegan and cruelty-free. It contains powerful antioxidants like pine bark extract and pomegranate extract that helps to minimize UV damage.

The powder is water-resistant and oil-free, which allows it to achieve a matte finish. This powder has a broad spectrum of UVA/UVB sun protection, making it a suitable choice for summer days. The powder comes in 26 different shades to suit all skin types.

Key Features:

• Water-resistant formula
• Oil-free
• SPF foundation powder
• Has powerful antioxidants
• Weightless sheer matte foundation

2. Covergirl Clean Simply Powder Foundation (Best For Normal Skin)

This is a lightweight powder foundation that offers great coverage. It is a two-in-one foundation that covers like a liquid but feels like a powder. It evens out skin tone and reduces shine and imperfections for a flawlessly smooth finish.

This dermatologically-tested formula is non-acnegenic, and it will not clog your pores. It is also hypoallergenic, making it great for sensitive skin because it will not cause any irritation and redness on your skin. This powder is great for dry skin as it does not get cakey and lasts for long.

Key Features:

• Does not clog your pores
• Hypoallergenic formula
• Suitable for sensitive skin
• Dermatologist-tested
• Lightweight powder

3. Bare Minerals Barepro Performance Wear Powder Foundation (Best Clean Formula)

This is one of the best powder foundations for dry skins. It is a 12-hour long-wearing breathable powder foundation that gives your skin a photo-ready matte finish without a caked-on-feel. The powder is formulated with 90% vitamins and minerals that are beneficial to your skin.

Its smooth and silky texture feels like a cream and glides on effortlessly for extensive coverage without clogging your pores or causing breakouts. Overtime use of this powder improves your skin clarity and provides a luminous complexion. This powder will control shine and reduce the appearance of large pores.

Key Features:

• Long-wearing powder lasting up to 12 hours
• Improves skin clarity
• Controls shine
• Reduce the appearance of large pores
• Available in 20 shades

4. Physicians Formula Powder Palette Color Corrective (Best For Sensitive Skin)

This is a pressed powder that glides on effortlessly for soft, even and natural-looking coverage. This long-wearing formula can help you conceal signs of aging. It covers fine lines and wrinkles and works to improve the skin.

It is a hypoallergenic powder that is formulated for sensitive skin and has no fragrance. This multi-colored pressed powder provides a soft dimensional natural finish without a monochrome cast with its blend of colors. It can be worn on bare skin or used to set your makeup.

Key Features:

• Long-wearing powder
• Conceals signs of aging
• Suitable for sensitive skin and eyes
• Oil-free

5. PÜR 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Makeup Skincare Ingredients (Best Cruelty Free)

If your skin is extra dry, PÜR 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Makeup Skincare Ingredients should be your to-go powder. The formula is enriched with vegan ingredients like shea butter, vitamin E, and B3 that help to soothe your skin and give dry skin a hydrated look.

The powder is easily buildable, which enables you to create the coverage you desire. This lightweight powder helps to brighten the look of dark spots and blurs out fine lines. This 4-in-1 pressed mineral powder works as a concealer, foundation, finishing powder, and sunscreen. It contains SPF 15, which protects your skin from harmful sun rays.

Key Features:

• Hydrates dry skin
• Easily buildable
• Lightweight powder
• Contains SPF 15
• blurs out fine lines
• Brightens the look of dark spots

6. L’Oreal Paris True Match Powder Foundation (Best With Spf)

This is a lightweight loose powder foundation with skin-improving mineral formulations. It contains SPF 19 which protects your skin from sun damage. Its blendable formula provides sheer to medium coverage and evens out your skin tone leaving it soft.

The powder controls shine reduces the pores’ appearance and offers a flawless finish for up to 16 hours. The formula is suitable for all skin types, and it is safe to use for sensitive skin.  It comes in 12 shades in warm, neutral, and cool colors.

Key Features:

• Safe for sensitive skin
• Protects the skin from sun damage
• Available in 12 shades
• Controls shine
• Reduces the appearance of pores

7. Neutrogena Mineral Sheers Lightweight Loose Powder (Best Redness Reducer)

This is a mineral sheer, weightless loose powder foundation that enhances skin clarity, tone, and texture. The powder is made with naturally derived minerals enriched with vitamins A, C, and E, which hides skin flaws and enhances skin texture.

The powder covers imperfections and reduces the appearance of redness and provides sheer to medium buildable coverage. The powder is gentle enough for sensitive skin, and it is lightweight and breathable, meaning that it will not clog into your pores. It comes in a variety of 8 natural-looking shades, and it is suitable for all skin types.

Key Features:

• Lightweight, breathable formula
• Enhances your skin texture
• Reduces the appearance of redness
• Has vitamins A, C, and E
• Safe for sensitive skin
• Available in 8 shades

8. Maybelline New York Super Stay Powder Foundation (Best For Oily Skin)

Packed with color-matching pigments, this powder foundation from Maybelline New York offers full coverage and has a matte finish. This durable powder has an all-day staying power and lasts up to 16 hours of wear.

It is a highly-pigmented powder foundation, and it is available in an extensive range of complexion matching-shades. The powder has a creamy and easily blendable texture and glides onto the skin effortlessly for a matte finish.

Key Features:

• All-day staying power up to 16 hours
• Easily blendable
• Available in different shades
• Highly-pigmented formula
• Full-coverage powder

9. Mineral Fusion Pressed Powder Foundation (Best For Combination Skin)

You can always stay shine-free and photo-ready with Mineral Fusion Pressed Powder Foundation. It offers buildable coverage with a smooth finish that airbrushes pores. The powder is made with age-defying and skin-soothing ingredients.

It contains pomegranate, white tea, red tea, and sea kelp that illuminate your natural glow while reducing the appearance of free radical damage. It is enriched with vitamin and E, licorice root, aloe, and cucumber that calm the skin.

Key Features:

• Smooth the appearance of fine lines and pores
• Made with natural botanical ingredients
• Illuminates the skin
• Buildable coverage

10. Milani Even Touch Powder Foundation (Best Lightweight)

Offering medium to full coverage, Milani Even Touch Powder Foundation conceals all your imperfections to give a flawless complexion. Available in 7 different shades, this highly blendable formula can be used as a setting powder for quick touch-ups and complements every skin tone.

Key Features:

• Available in 7 different shades
• Blendable formula
• Conceals all your imperfections
• Cruelty-free

Why Powder Foundation?

Powder foundations are excellent at absorbing and controlling excess oil. Unlike the liquid and cream foundations, the powder foundation is formulated differently. It does not get absorbed in the skin; instead, they sit on your skin surface.

Thus, the coverage of the powder foundation lasts longer than other formulas. Even though you have dry skin, some powder foundations are formulated with ingredients that leave your skin hydrated.

How To Choose The Right Powder Foundation For Dry Skin?

Depending on the coverage you need, applying powder foundation can be different. Here is how to use your powder foundation:

For Sheer Coverage

For sheer coverage, don’t use your sponge applicator that came with your compact. Instead, use a fluffy brush to apply the powder to your face. A powder brush disperses powder pigments in the sheerest way.

For Medium Coverage

Use a sponge applicator that comes with your compact to tap the powder all over your face. Use a fluffy brush to blend in and brush off the excess powder from your skin.

For Full Coverage

Full coverage calls for a thicker layer of powder that you can use the sponge applicator to achieve.

Difference Between Pressed Powder Foundation And Loose Powder Foundation 

The powder can either be pressed or loose.

Loose or mineral powder is too light on the skin, and it does not clog your pores. They are packed in jars or tubs. Its pigments are ultra-fine, and thus they are more blendable. Loose powders can be a bit messy, so ensure you look for those that come with a non-spilling packaging ad that has a built-in brush for easier application.

If you want to achieve a luminous, even finish, go for the loose powders. Their silkier texture makes them work better as a setting powder to complete a look. On the other hand, the Pressed powder is packed into a compact and is primarily used to set liquid foundations so that the makeup can last longer and do not rub off your skin.

Pressed powders have more oils in them and thus are ideal for people with dry skin; therefore, they hydrate dry skin and do not look cakey. They are easier to apply and are a smart choice if you do your makeup on the go.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

If your skin is dry, these are some of the best powder foundations you can try and will not make your skin drier. Most of these powders offer other benefits like soothing your skin and hydrating it. From our review of the best powder foundations, our favorite is the Covergirl Clean Simply Powder Foundation.

It is a lightweight powder that offers excellent coverage. It evens out skin tone and reduces shine and imperfections for a flawlessly smooth finish. This powder is great for dry skin as it does not get cakey and lasts for long. It is great for sensitive skin and will not clog your pores.

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