The 12 Best Powder Foundations for all Skin Tones

written by: Kristen - Beauty Editorpublished on 15 Nov, 2023

Here are the 12 Best Powder Foundations for All Skin Tones

If you’re after an absolutely flawless finish, then you need to wear a powder foundation. This lightweight and long-lasting finish will help you achieve natural looking, even skin, while also reducing unwanted oily shine. These are miracles that almost all powder foundations will work for your complexion. The best powder foundation, however, will do so much more.

Our favourite powders are not just a finishing touch – they can actually replace your liquid foundation, serving as a one-stop cosmetic fix for oily T-zones, blotchy skin, or just a little on-the-go coverage for any skin tone. That’s right; you’re no longer limited to a restrictive spectrum of shades. Today’s top powder foundations are inclusively diverse and provide a luxuriously smooth finish for all to help camouflage blemishes, age spots, open pores, fine lines and more!

1) Jane Iredale Amazing Base Loose Powder SPF20

What's not to love about cosmetic coverage and UV protection all in one? This is only one of the reasons you're going to love Jane Iredale Amazing Base Loose Powder, but it's a big one. After all, prolonged exposure to UV rays is a leading cause of skin cancer, not to mention premature ageing.

This specially formulated product is made using micronised minerals, which pack an impressive SPF of 20 of all natural skin protection. This wonder foundation also multi-tasks by being your foundation, concealer, sun protection and setting powder all in one. Furthermore, Jane Iredale Amazing Base can be used wet or dry! It also boasts algae extracts, which can further protect against sun damage, while also reducing inflammation, soothing skin and bolstering your skin’s moisture barrier by promoting re-growth of the epidermis’ lipid film barrier. Oh, and it's available in an impressive range of global shades, so you can find the perfect fit for your skin tone. Best applied with the Jane Iredale Chisel Powder Brush, I’m sure you’ll agree this foundation is a real game changer.

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2) Youngblood Loose Mineral Foundation

If you want serious, lightweight coverage without any distracting glittery side-effects, then Youngblood Loose Mineral Foundation is your go-to powder foundation. It’s like dusting your face with a silky cloud. Because it is a mineral foundation, you don’t need to use a lot to get the best coverage for your face. Just be sure your moisturiser is completely absorbed into your skin before you apply, or the powder will cake on contact! This goes for all powder based foundations.

Another thing to love about this multi-shade powder foundation? It’s free of fragrance and talc, so your skin can breathe thanks to the clean makeup formulation. Apply using the in-built sifter feature with a sponge to achieve full coverage, or with a brush for a little coverage that is buildable. The choice is yours, but the point is, you have choice! This is one of the finest powder foundations because it can do so much. You can mix it with a little moisturiser to create your own hydrating foundation, spot it on blemishes as a concealer or even select a darker shade to use as a natural looking bronzer.

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3) Napoleon Perdis Camera Finish

Here’s a brand whose name is synonymous with high quality. Napoleon Perdis has a passion for cosmetics and it shows in everything he creates, including his Camera Finish powder foundation. Not only do you get incredible coverage for your face and neck, but using this ingenious product will also give you a hit of anti-ageing ingredients. Vitamin C and E have been added to his exclusive anti-ageing complex, so you can not only score more even, less oily skin, but also skin that looks, feels and actually is younger looking. In addition, the Camera Finish pressed foundation stays true to colour in photos, no matter which of the many shades you choose. Now that’s a win-win.

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4) Aspect Minerals Powder

When you’re looking for makeup that blurs the lines between cosmetics and skincare, the Aspect Minerals Powder has your skin covered (pardon the pun). Boasting a micro-fine loose mineral formulation that is free from common skin irritants yet packed with goodness, this buildable foundation nurtures your skin with every application. Super-hero ingredients of Davidson Plum, Mountain Pepper Berry and Kakadu Plum amp up the antioxidant protection, offering anti-ageing benefits, whilst hydrating hyaluronic acid ensures it never feels drying. Moreover, in case that’s not enough skin-love, the natural minerals of Zinc Oxide and Titanium Oxide provide superior physical UV sunscreen protection. This is the foundation you want if you have uneven skin tone, unwanted pigmentation or are prone to redness as the lightweight pigment offers exceptional coverage that you can control.

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5) Inika Organic Loose Mineral Foundation SPF25

Purity is the name of the game with Inika Organic. All of their cosmetics are sourced from natural ingredients, and are safe for even the most sensitive skin. This loose mineral powder is no exception, providing beautiful coverage even for people who have chronic skin conditions like scarring, pigmentation, rosacea and acne. Even the SPF25 properties of this powder are natural which means non-irritating for sensitive skins. The geniuses at Inika Organics have harnessed the innate UV protection of Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide to protect your skin and beautify your face.

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6) Jane Iredale PurePressed Base Mineral Foundation Refill

If you can’t find your shade with Jane, chances are, you won’t be able to find it anywhere. This Jane Iredale foundation comes in a whopping 26 beautifully diverse shades. From Amber to Mahogany, your skin has met its match in this powder which has buildable coverage from sheer to full depending on your needs. And being at the forefront of sustainability, there is the stunning Jane Iredale Refillable Compact that is a keeper (I’ve had mine for 16 years!). Simply purchase a refill shade and slip it in - too easy.

It gets better: this powder foundation also has pine bark, algae extracts and pomegranate extract for an antioxidant boost to fend off free radicals which can make your skin look tired, dry and prematurely aged.

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7) Pelactiv Loose Mineral Powder

This impressive Pelactiv loose powder foundation is 100% Australian made, cruelty-free and free from nano-particles to ensure your skin receives only the best. Boasting an oil-controlling formula in hand with skin illuminating pigments, this mineral foundation ticks so many boxes. Get a little coverage or a lot: the choice is yours. You can feel good about what you put on your skin thanks to this product’s high-pigment minerals, paraben-free formula and long wearing finish. Even a light dusting of this powder foundation will do wonders to enhance your skin’s natural beauty.

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8) Tribe Skincare Mineral Makeup Powder SPF15

If you struggle with breakouts, acne & blemishes and need more than light coverage, then this is the best powder foundation for you. The Tribe Skincare Mineral Makeup Powder SPF15 covers uneven skin, enlarged pores, acne and dark circles wonderfully, without clogging your skin or looking heavy. This vegan product can be applied as a sheer dusting or layered according to your desired coverage right up to a maximum foundation finish. The best part is this foundation will not irritate reactive or sensitive skins, but will actually provide soothing, natural mineral coverage your skin will love.

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9) Napoleon Perdis Camera Finish Loose Powder

If you like the original Napoleon Perdis Camera Finish foundation then you will LOVE this Napoleon Perdis Camera Finish Loose Powder version! Renowned as the skin smoothing powder, this foundation expertly blurs the appearance of age spots, uneven skin texture and variations in skin tone to leave a natural looking flawless finish. This vegan powder is ultra lightweight and makes the perfect finishing powder and makeup setter. But it is so much more than a finishing powder… this foundation can be worn alone or over other foundation for a weightless and long-wearing makeup wonder.

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10) Inika Organic Baked Mineral Foundation

Inika Organic makes our list of best powder foundations again thanks to their brilliant and beautifying Baked Mineral Foundation. This high performance cosmetic is all natural, made by baking the mineral foundation on a terracotta tile to give you a pressed makeup you won’t want to live without. There are no harmful toxins in this pressed powder: just silky, breathable and lightweight coverage that can stand alone, or blend with liquid foundation to give you a healthy, organic glow.

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11) Raww From The Earth Loose Mineral Foundation

Here’s a powder foundation that can do it all. Finally a foundation powder that works double-duty as a concealer and sun protection without feeling heavy or cakey. This Raww foundation offers pure mineral pigments and UV reflective SPF20 protection all with a very natural and barely there finish. What makes this foundation special is the ability to be worn lightly for sheer coverage but also offer buildable coverage should you need to conceal or camouflage a skin blemish or two. Furthermore, the paraben free, sulfate free and artificial fragrance free formula plays nicely with all skin types as a clean makeup option that lasts all day.

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12) Jane Iredale Amazing Base Refillable Brush

Finishing our list of the best powder foundations for all skin tones comes the Jane Iredale super handy Amazing Base Refillable Brush. Perfect for busy lives, travel, touch ups and well everyone, this genius product contains the perfect mineral powder foundation plus an inbuilt applicator brush. What could be simpler? Simply remove the cap, turn the brush base until it clicks and shake upside down to release the powder into the bristles. Apply using downward strokes to blend well and finish it all off with your favourite hydration spray like Jane Iredale Hydration Spray Pommist. There you have it, an easy to use applicator and foundation in one.

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The best powder foundations for your specific skin shade and skin type will always give you multiple amazing benefits. Be sure never to limit yourself to a one-trick pony powder but instead, go for the best. Pick one of these incredible products for skin-loving benefits and a long-lasting flawless finish.