Powdered Foundation 101: Our Advice & Tips

Let’s talk foundation!

We interviewed three makeup artists to get their insights on the best foundations—and then asked our parent readers for their real-world results.

Yes, there are two basic types of foundation makeup: powdered and liquid. Either way, the goal is to create an even skin tone—and to cover any blemishes.

Liquid foundation is best for dry skin types, although it can work with combination skin. And yes, some liquids have moisturizers and SPF protection. 

When it comes to powdered foundation, here are few things to keep in mind:

• Powdered foundation is best for light to medium coverage—a more natural look. Liquid foundation is better for medium to full coverage.

• The powder can be pressed or loose. Each has its pros and cons . . . and is up to personal preference. In this article, we recommend both pressed and loose powders.

• Live in a hot climate? Powdered foundation is best for summer . . . or if you sweat a lot! 

Ok, enough of the tips! Here are the best powdered foundations from our hands-on tests!

About the Authors

Denise & Alan Fields are consumer advocates and best-selling authors. The Fields have authored 12 books with three million copies in print, including the best-selling guide to baby gear, Baby Bargains.

The Fields have been featured and quoted in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times.

As consumer products experts, the Fields have been guests on the NBC Today Show, Good Morning America and ABC’s 20/20.

How We Pick Products To Recommend

We often turn to our readers (3 million strong!) to find products to recommend. We ask our parent readers for their favorites and consider their real-world experiences in our recommendations.

When we test a product, we always purchase it with our own monies. We do not take free samples, as we believe that compromises our independence.

We also fact check manufacturer information with our own measurements. If a maker claims a product weighs X pounds, we will weigh it to make sure. If the battery life is supposed to be six hours, we will see how it stands up in the real world.

In some cases, we will do interviews with experts in the field to get additional feedback on products.

To get hands-on time with products, we regularly meet one-on-one with gear companies and even tour manufacturing facilities. (When we do this, we pay our own travel expenses).

Why Trust Us

We’ve been rating and reviewing products for the home and families since 1994. We do extensive research, evaluating products with an eye toward quality, ease of use and affordability.

We make our living from affiliate commissions, but we always recommend what we think are the best bets for our readers (not the ones that are the most expensive). We are always looking for products that offer the best bang for the buck.

Our independence is a key reason why we have been doing this so long. As we mentioned above, when we purchase a product for hands-on testing, we do so with our own money.

Here’s another key point: we don’t take money from the brands we review. No free samples, no sponsors, no “partnerships.” Our work is 100% reader-supported!