9 Top Drugstore Powder Foundations to Try in 2024

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Looking for the top drugstore powder foundation? If you have oily skin, this makeup base is likely a staple in your makeup bag. 

A young woman is applying pressed powder with a compact mirror.

Given the oil control and blemish-blurring effects it provides, we understand why.

It gives you that flawless, matte finish that’s a perfect base for a lot of makeup looks.

The right powder foundation for you doesn’t have to break the bank. Drugstore brands have released high-quality makeup base products that can rival premium brands. 

If you’re looking for the one that’ll fit you best, you’re in luck! 

Read on for our list of the top powder foundation products made by drugstore brands!

Neutrogena Mineral Sheers Powder Foundation
Best Overall
  • Customizable coverage,
  • Nourishes skin
  • Helps minimize discoloration, puffiness, enlarged pores, and fine lines
Maybelline New York Super Stay Full Coverage Powder Foundation
Budget Pick
  • Has a long-lasting formula
  • Provides buildable coverage
  • Provides an even, matte finish
Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Loose Powder SPF 16 Creamy Natural
Premium Pick
  • Provides demi/natural matte finish
  • Provides buildable (up to full) coverage
  • Helps hide imperfections and blemishes

Things to Consider When Buying Foundation Powders

Skin Type

As with all beauty products, knowing your skin type is the best first step to choosing the right one.

There are four basic skin types: Normal, Oily, Combination, and Dry. What they’re called describes the state of your skin’s moisture levels. 

You might encounter more specific skin types besides these four several. Some such types include sensitive skin, acne-prone skin, and mature skin.

Even the top drugstore powder foundations are usually targeted toward those with oily or combination skin since they can absorb the excess sebum on the skin. 

However, powder foundation formulas that cater to all skin types have become widely available thanks to technology.

Ingredients

To achieve a certain level of coverage, a specific finish, and bring benefits to your skin, call for different formulas or ingredients. 

Anyone can be sensitive to certain makeup ingredients, which can cause more harm than good when applying them to the skin.

Because of this, it will help a lot if you check the ingredients of a makeup product before buying it.

Color Match

Of course, you can’t just apply any powder foundation on your skin. It has to match your skin tone.

When buying powder foundation, try some out to find the right shade match for your skin. 

Otherwise, your makeup will not look as great as it can be. Luckily, most of the top drugstore powder foundations come in a wide range of shades.

9 Top Drugstore Powder Foundation for Flawless, Matte Skin

Do you want to keep the shine at bay? You’re on the right track!

A powder foundation can indeed be your best friend if you want to achieve a matte look that can last all day!

We’ve scoured the Internet and curated this list, especially for you! Check them out:

1
COVERGIRL Clean Simply Powder Foundation

Get coverage while still having that no-makeup look with this awesome powder foundation.

Key Benefits: highlights skin’s natural features, makes skin appear silky smooth

Features:

  • Lightweight, non-comedogenic formula
  • Can be used by all skin types
  • Available in six shades

Achieve a natural-looking, blemish-free look with CoverGirl’s Clean and Simple Powder Foundation.

Simple and smooth, finding a good powder foundation that can provide enough coverage to make your skin look flawless is quite daunting.

Well, look no further than CoverGirl’s Clean and Simple Powder Foundation. 

One of the top drugstore pressed powder foundations around, this provides enough coverage to make your skin look smooth and pretty while having a lightweight formula.

You don’t have to worry about clogging your pores, too, as this dermatologist-tested powder foundation is non-comedogenic.

Hypoallergenic and best for all skin types, try out CoverGirl’s product to achieve the perfect “no-makeup” makeup look!

2
Neutrogena Mineral Sheers Powder Foundation

Many – including us – swear by this mineral foundation for being a versatile makeup base.

Key Benefits: Customizable coverage, nourishing, help minimize discoloration, puffiness, enlarged pores, and fine lines

Features:

  • Lightweight formula with buildable coverage
  • Contains vitamins A, C, and E
  • Can be used by people with sensitive skin

Nourish your skin while making it look flawless with Neutrogena’s Mineral Sheers Powder Foundation!

Who said you couldn’t combine skincare and makeup?

While South Korean beauty brands are more well-known for bringing these two together, many western bands, like Neutrogena, believe in the same tenet.

Infused with vitamins A, C, and E, Neutrogena’s Mineral Sheers Powder Foundation nourishes your skin while providing customizable coverage.

It helps your skin look flawless both immediately and in the long run!

On top of this, Neutrogena’s formula for this product superbly fits those with sensitive skin. 

Known as one of the top mineral foundations in the drugstore, keep your skin looking beautiful with Neutrogena’s Mineral Sheers Powder Foundation!

3
NYX Stay Matte But Not Flat Powder Foundation

This dual-use foundation is loved by many – makeup newbies and professionals alike – for its versatility and near-full coverage. 

Key Benefits: light to near-full coverage, flawless matte finish but still provides dimension

Features:

  • Versatile, dual-use formula
  • Inclusive shade range
  • Lightweight formula with smooth, buttery texture

If a matte finish is your go-to, Nyx’s versatile powder foundation is one to look out for!

Powder foundations can be versatile, too!

Take Nyx’s Matte But Not Flat powder foundation, for example. It has a dual-use formula, meaning you can use it as a dry powder or with a slightly damp cushion.

This allows you to go anywhere from light coverage to near-full coverage.

Nyx has become well known for products like this, as it can provide anyone with a professional-looking finish at affordable drugstore prices. 

On top of its quality, this powder foundation also comes in a wide, inclusive shade range, so it won’t be hard to find your skin tone match!

The texture is buttery and smooth but remains lightweight, too!

4
Maybelline New York Super Stay Full Coverage Powder Foundation

Known as a staple, this powder foundation gets our approval for its super buildable coverage and budge-proof formula.

Key Benefits: Long-lasting formula, buildable coverage, matte finish

Features:

  • Helps with controlling oil production
  • Buildable coverage
  • Perfect for people with oily skin

Keep your skin looking flawless and healthy that can last for almost a day with Maybelline’s Super Stay Full Coverage Powder Foundation!

Do you have oily skin?

While most of the top drugstore foundation powders are generally made for those who want to minimize shine, it might be hard to find one that lasts long.

Enter Maybelline’s Super Stay Full Coverage Powder Foundation. It has a buildable formula that can provide you with coverage anywhere between light and natural to full.

On top of that, it has a long-lasting formula that provides coverage for up to 16 hours.

Perfect for gals (and guys) with oily skin achieve a smooth and matte finish with this excellent powder foundation.

This is definitely one of the top full coverage drugstore powder foundation that’s easy on the pocket!

5
Burt's Bees Mattifying Powder Foundation

We love this natural powder foundation for its smooth, matte finish and buildable formula.

Key Benefits: buildable coverage, smooth and blendable formula, helps blur out skin blemishes, absorbs excess sebum but doesn’t dry out the skin

Features:

  • Smooth, lightweight, non-comedogenic formula
  • Made with 100% natural ingredients
  • Doesn’t contain irritants

All natural and non-irritating, get smooth and healthy-looking skin by using Burt’s Bees Mattifying Powder Foundation. 

Keep your skin looking fresh with Burt’s Bees Mattifying Powder Foundation.

It boasts a lightweight formula that provides buildable coverage for your skin. It also helps absorb excess oils without leaving your skin dry.

Do you want to know the best part about this product?

This makeup base is made with 100% natural ingredients. It’s also non-comedogenic and free of most irritants, so your skin is safe from inflammatory reactions or irritation. 

However, this Burt’s Bees product has a downside: it only comes in six shades.

Perfect for those with oily and combination skin, go all-natural with this incredible foundation!

6
BLK/OPL True Color Ultra Matte Foundation Powder

This is another dual-use foundation we love for making our skin look radiant every time we use it!

Key Benefits: provides light to medium coverage, provides an ultra-matte finish, helps even skin tone and blur out blemishes

Features:

  • Has a versatile, dual-use formula
  • Glides smoothly on skin
  • Uses color-adjusting pigments to achieve true-to-shade match

Get that matte-but-radiant finish with BLK/OPL’s True Color Ultra Matte Foundation Powder!

Another one of the top cheap powder foundations out on the market right now is this offering by BLK/OPL.

It’s a dual-use powder foundation, so you can use it dry or damp. Either way, this formula glides easily on the skin, providing a radiant, matte finish that makes your skin look amazing.

Anyone with any skin type can use this foundation.

On top of that, while it only comes in 9 shades, this product uses BLK/OPL’s Shade ID™ pigments that can blend and adjust to help you get a true-to-shade match. 

Achieve a radiant look with this versatile powder foundation!

7
L'Oreal Infallible 24HR Fresh Wear Foundation In A Powder

This foundation has become a holy grail for many, thanks to its long-lasting, flawless coverage. 

Key Benefits: Provides buildable medium to full coverage, mattifies the skin, helps blur fine lines and blemishes

Features:

  • Has a dual-use formula
  • Long-lasting, waterproof, and heatproof
  • Comes in 20 shades

You don’t have to worry about your makeup coming off with this budge-proof powder foundation from L’Oreal!

L’Oreal’s Infallible line has been a mainstay in the makeup industry for many years, and many people worldwide consider it a staple.

Like all of the products in this makeup line, L’Oreal’s Infallible powder foundation delivers what it promises.

A woman's hand holding Loreal infallible 24 fresh wear foundation on a beige background

The “24HR” in its name is no joke – this powder foundation can last for an entire day.

It has a versatile, dual-use formula that can provide medium to full coverage that lasts that long. It’s waterproof and heatproof, and it won’t budge, even from sweat and excess sebum. 

Apart from its formula, another great thing about this powder foundation is that it comes in a wide range of shades. You won’t have a hard time finding your perfect match!

While all skin types can use it, this is one of the top powder foundations for oily skin at the drugstore.

Achieve that smooth, shine-free skin with L’Oreal’s powder foundation!

8
e.l.f. Camo Powder Foundation

Popular among makeup fans around the world, we love this powder foundation for the smooth, airbrushed finish it can provide!

Key Benefits: buildable medium-to-full coverage, provides semi-matte finish, helps blur skin imperfections

Features:

  • Lightweight, long-lasting formula
  • Comes in 30 shades
  • Formula-infused primer

Achieved an incredible, airbrushed makeup look with this e.l.f. Camo Powder Foundation!

An airbrushed makeup look is hard to duplicate, just with a powder foundation.

However, e.l.f. ‘s Camo Powder Foundation just changed the game. A primer-infused formula provides that professional-looking semi-matte finish many of us want to achieve. 

The coverage isn’t bad, as it’s buildable – from medium to full.

It comes in an impressive color range of up to 30 shades, so finding your perfect match is a walk in the park. 

Lightweight and perfect for all skin types, try one of the top full-coverage drugstore powder foundations to achieve that flawless makeup base.  

9
Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Loose Powder

This loose powder impressed us by providing even those with sensitive skin a flawless, demi/natural matte finish. 

Key Benefits: has demi/natural matte finish, offers buildable (up to full) coverage, helps hide imperfections and blemishes

Features:

  • Loose, lightweight texture
  • Talc-free formula
  • Gentle formula suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin

Highlight your skin’s natural beauty with this loose powder foundation!

Want to get that “my skin but better” look? Try the top loose powder foundation at the drugstore: Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Loose Powder.

While it provides a demi-matte or natural matte finish, don’t let it fool you – it has buildable coverage that can go up to full!

Apart from this, this loose powder is talc-ree and has a gentle formula. This makes it perfectly suitable for all skin types, including dry or sensitive skin. 

Try out this powder foundation to achieve that natural look without sacrificing the coverage you’re comfortable with!

Benefits of Drugstore Powder Foundations

Pros:

Easy Application

Powder foundation is easy to apply as you can use a brush or a sponge.

Absorbs Excess Sebum

Since it’s a powder, this makeup base can help absorb excess skin oils and keep your skin looking matte and shine-free.

Buildable Coverage

This type of makeup base can provide a buildable level of opacity and can go anywhere from light to full.

Versatility

Through the years, powder foundations have become versatile as more and more dual-use (dry and wet) products have come about. This gives you the ability to get more coverage from this type of powder foundation.

Cons:

Can Be Drying

The oil-absorbing properties of powder foundations can also be a drawback, especially for people with dry skin.

Luckily, more and more brands have come out with formulas to minimize this problem for those with dry to combination skin. 

Can Make Your Skin Look Cakey

This is a problem with most makeup bases. If you over-apply powder foundation, it can look cakey and unnatural on your skin. 

Asian woman holding a makeup brush on pink background.

Achieve Flawless-Looking Skin

Thanks to technology, there have been many types of foundation products have come about in recent years.

Whipped, serum, and cushion foundations are just some of the new foundation textures available. 

But for people who want to minimize shine from too much sebum, powder foundations have been tried and tested.

Powder foundations have provided many people with smooth, flawless-looking skin. It’s a staple, especially for those having trouble with oily skin.

As such, if you’re starting your makeup journey, you should see if this makeup base is right for you.

We hope this article has provided you with a launchpad to find your perfect match.

Try out one of the top drugstore powder foundations on our list and discover how pretty your skin can be!

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Author

  • Ashley Pena

    Ashley Pena brings over 13 years of seasoned writing and editing expertise, fortified by her Bachelor of Science in Management. Esteemed in the beauty domain, her content captivates readers with its depth and authenticity. While she navigates a broad spectrum of beauty trends, Ashley shines particularly as our resident K-beauty guru. Her articles are a harmonious blend of passion and profound knowledge, inspiring readers on their unique beauty journeys.

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