The 15 Best Powder Foundations to Thwart Summer Sweat

KVD Beauty's Lock-It Powder Foundation had every right reason to go viral on TikTok. With just one layer, the rice powder in the formula blurs away pores and blemishes. Not to mention, there's also white kaolin clay in it, that helps absorbs any oils that try to make their way through. 

The Urban Decay Stay Naked The Fix Powder Foundation is water- and sweat-resistant and packed with moringa seed oil, which helps keep skin from feeling dried out. This powder also includes a charcoal-infused sponge for a clarifying and mattifying application every time.

For only $11, E.l.f. Cosmetics' Camo Powder Foundation is a true steal. Its formula is light-as-air and gives off a true-airbrushed, never-cakey look. Plus, there are 30 shades in the collection which isn't super common in powder foundations so, needless to say, we're impressed. 

You have options when you use Laura Mercier's Smooth Finish Foundation Powder. Whether you want a matte finish or a radiant finish, this foundation is very easy to customize when you layer other products. If you are looking for something for a luminous look add a liquid highlighter over top, in a matte mood? A matte setting spray will adhere just fine. 

Available in 50 shades, Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Powder Foundation is just like every other Fenty Beauty foundation: really good. Just one layer of this powder and instantly, you'll notice a non-cakey, blurring effect.  

Dior Backstage Face & Body Powder-No-Powder makes your skin look matte but never dry. That's due to the mica in the formula, which, according to cosmetic chemist Ginger King, can give off a subtle shimmer, making skin look radiant and hydrated all day long. 

News editor Nicola Dall'asen stands by this product too. "This foundation gave me nice medium coverage with some assistance from concealer I added to my scars and blemishes," she says.

MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation is a favorite for New York City-based makeup artist Tommy. "I've transformed acne-prone complexions into smooth and even ones without the look of heavy makeup with this stuff," he says. It comes in 53 shades, so there's a match for everyone. 

We now understand why L'Oréal Paris Infallible Fresh Wear 24H Powder Foundation went viral on TikTok. The drugstore formula's texture is lightweight and feels like butter, so it glides onto the skin to make pores look like they were never there in the first place.

You can't argue with the classics, and when it comes to powder foundations, few hold a candle to BareMinerals Original Loose Powder Foundation. It's formulated with only five mineral ingredients like iron oxides for coverage and mica for a silky, soft finish, so it's base makeup you can feel good about applying all over your face. That's one of the reasons why it won a Readers' Choice Award in 2020. The luminous finish it imparts isn't too shabby, either. 

Tarte's Amazonian Clay Gem Powder Foundation is another tried-and-true favorite. (Tommy initially recommended its predecessor, the Clay Airbrush Foundation, which has been since updated.) As the name implies, the loose powder is formulated with the brand's go-to Amazonian clay, which does an excellent job of 86-ing excess oil and shine and minimizing pore appearance. 

Available in 18 shades, this foundation also contains nourishing ruby powder and a triple-gem complex (which includes tourmaline) to give skin a boost of brilliance.

For some top-notch oil-absorbing action, dab on some of Clinique's Stay-Matte Sheer Pressed Powder. Available in 20 shades, it's an ultra-sheer formulation that's great for touching up shine throughout the day while providing light-to-medium coverage and a matte finish.

The creamy texture in Maybelline New York's SuperStay Powder Foundation just melts into the skin. One dip of a brush or makeup sponge is enough for a light-coverage finish, but it's buildable, so feel free to layer as you please for full coverage.  

For buildable coverage that helps protect your skin from the sun, try this IT Cosmetics powder foundation, which comes in seven shades. Your Skin But Better CC+ Airbrush Perfecting Powder contains skin-loving superstar ingredients, including collagen, peptides, niacin, and silk, all of which work together to improve tone and texture. It also contains titanium dioxide and zinc oxide for an impressive SPF 50+ rating (although, we always recommend applying sunscreen before you put on your face makeup).