Having a reliable, buildable powder in your arsenal is a makeup must. But with the market being so saturated with products, all using the same terminology, trying to find the best drugstore powder foundation can make your head spin. So we’re here to help!
After browsing this list, you’ll have all you need to know to find your dream powder without breaking the bank or surfing hundreds of sites.
There’s something here for all budgets and skin concerns, and we’ve laid out all the facts with no-nonsense.
The 13 Best Drugstore Powder Foundations
1. Dermablend Intense Powder Camo Mattifying Foundation
This anti-shine formula might just be the best drugstore powder foundation we’ve seen. And anyone can use it! Not only is it sensitive-skin friendly and free of fragrance, but it’s also non-comedogenic (meaning it won’t clog your pores and cause breakouts).
Importantly, this product lets your skin breathe even if you really love to pack on the powder. And there’s a good amount of product here to pack on too!
Coverage-wise, it certainly lives up to its name. While you can apply a light dusting for sheer coverage, it’s not difficult to build this foundation into a natural-looking matte mask that will cover the darkest of freckles.
Dermablend is a brand founded by dermatologists, so you can rest assured that even with their most pigmented products (like this one), you won’t upset your skin.
2. TONY MOLY Cat’s Wink
Winning our vote for the cutest packaging ever, this is one for not only fans of Korean beauty products but cat lovers too.
The powder itself is easy to blend, non-cakey, and performs really well. And the ingredient list is particularly impressive. (Not a huge surprise as the Korean skincare and cosmetics industry is known for innovation!)
Your skin will feel nice and silky thanks to the inclusion of Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, and along with this, you’ll find a bunch of lovely plant extracts. To name just a couple, it has soothing aloe vera extract and vitamin-packed kale extract.
This is perhaps the best cheap powder foundation that should be expensive considering what it offers. Not only will it do the job but provide antioxidant benefits too!
3. PÜR Skin Perfecting Powder: Balancing Act
This snazzily packaged translucent powder is rather unique. It comes in one “shade” – really a camo-pattern mix of several – which quickly blurs any redness while eliminating shine. A mattifying subtle foundation and setting powder in one!
What we really love about this though is PÜR’s attention to detail. According to their site, this powder contains their ‘skin-perfecting Ceretin® Complex and skin-nourishing Energy Complex’.
Enriched with Vitamin B, ginseng, and purifying green tea, the Energy Complex is something special. You’re sure to feel the benefits of this cocktail of skin-loving ingredients.
On top of jam-packing this formula with goodies, the PÜR team has given it a really smooth texture. And it has a built-in mirror! So if you want a great all-rounder and don’t want to worry about finding the right shade, this product is perfect.
4. bareMinerals BAREPRO™ Performance Wear Powder Foundation
Available in 34 shades, this is a firm favorite for its enriched formula and impressive 12-hour wear. Like Dermablend’s Powder Camo, it also does a great job at controlling shine and oiliness.
You’ll love how easy this is to apply with the little accompanying sponge. Straight away, you’ll see why it’s one of our top contenders for the best drugstore mineral powder! But what makes it really special is the ingredient list.
Among the ingredients in this well-curated formula, you’ll find Magnesium Stearate to absorb oil, and Triglyceride made from skin-strengthening fatty acids.
This ingredient has antioxidant and skin smoothing properties, great things to find in any product you’re putting on your skin. On top of that, the powder is strengthened with synthetic fibers and is completely vegan!
5. Maybelline New York ‘Fit Me!’ Matte + Poreless Powder
Many people will oily skin get put off foundations altogether – even powders. But this is a product developed specifically for those with normal to oily skin types!
The packaging for this product may be a little lacking and the coverage may not be perfect, but for the incredibly accessible price point, you can’t go wrong. This is a very reliable product for what you pay.
In fact, if you ask us, this is the best cheap powder foundation if you’re looking for that blurred effect without the luxury price tag.
This is a perfect little product to have on hand in the summer when most people opt for less coverage and just want something to smooth out the little imperfections. And with Maybelline, you know the formula is going to be made to a good standard.
6. Neutrogena Mineral Sheers Powder Foundation
We love to see a cosmetic product being as skincare conscious as this. Clearly, Neutrogena has done their homework and seen the increasing demand for vitamin-enriched products.
In this affordable, natural-look powder, you’ll find Vitamin C, E, and A to keep your skin happy in the long run. And on top of that, it’s oil and fragrance-free! Which makes this foundation great if you have sensitive or reactive skin.
Once applied, the Mineral Sheers powder is lightweight, breathable, and provides light to medium coverage. And yet despite it feeling so effortless on your skin, it’s got some impressively long wear!
All round, a fantastic option for those wanting something accessible without sacrificing on the skin or staying power.
7. COVERGIRL Clean Powder Foundation
Replacing COVERGIRL’s much loved ‘Simply Powder’, this product changes up the texture game by feeling almost like a liquid but finishing as a powder.
The end result is lightweight yet reliable – two things we always look for – and non-comedogenic. You can trust this to last through your sweatiest days without clogging your pores.
A convenient, easy to use formula makes this great for anyone wanting to travel or touch up on the go. And it works perfectly well on its own without having to apply a cream or liquid base underneath.
You might want to avoid this product if you’re looking to cut down on waste as it does have some unnecessary plastic packaging. However, other than that we really can’t fault it.
8. NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP “Stay Matte But Not Flat”
Seeing the word ‘professional’ next to such a reasonable price tag could cause some suspicions. But this cruelty-free, water-resistant powder really follows through on its promises!
Beginners will find this easy to work with and enjoy the convenience of the built-in mirror and sponge. That being said, it’s also solid enough to satisfy seasoned foundation wearers.
Whether you use this as a powder to apply with a wet sponge, you’ll see results even without applying the foundation underneath. It’s a great option if you don’t want to bombard your skin with products or are just looking for a natural look.
The formula is oil-free, talc-free, mineral-enriched, and won’t dissolve with sweat or rain. Okay, so it’s not completely waterproof, but if you go for a run or get caught in a rain shower, it’ll stay locked in place. Just don’t go deep diving…
9. Maybelline New York Super Stay Full Coverage
This powdery but no-nonsense foundation claims to stay in place for a whopping 16 hours! Making it perhaps the best cheap powder foundation for those who work for long shifts or party long into the night. Or both!
It may not be the easiest to apply, but once it’s on, it’s on! Especially if you lay down a base just to seal everything in. A powder alone is never going to provide 100% full coverage, but this is pretty close to the price.
Makeup applies really well over the top of this and stays put along with the powder. Overall, we’d recommend it to those more experienced with powders or those who wear makeup daily for long stretches.
10. Physicians Formula Powder Palette Multi-Colored Pressed Powder
Another great “translucent” formula for all skin tones, this will even out your complexion for a healthier glow. And unlike many modern-day powders, it’s made for dry skin. Non-drying products are actually something to look out for if you’re baking every day.
Your complexion changes with the season, and so does your makeup. This is where translucent powders come in really handy despite their lighter coverage. We love how formulas like this are made to soften imperfections all year round without having to be switched out.
The ingredient list may not be cruelty-free, but it is short and free of irritants. If you have oily skin, you should be able to use this with no issues and it’s also safe for those avoiding fragrance.
It also comes in beige and creamy hues as well as in bronzer from, all of which come with a cute, easy-application pad. And the pattern in the powder itself is really cute too!
11. Revlon ColorStay™ Pressed Powder
Like Maybelline’s Super Stay powder, this oil and fragrance-free gem offer 16 hours of wear. And while it might not be as hardy, it’s still excellent.
What really makes it special is its formula, which is very finely milled without being hard to work with. It’s what’s called “jet-milled” meaning that the particles are really small, creating a super velvety texture. Fancy!
You might think that smaller particles would mean more fallout and mess. But in fact, it makes the product blend more seamlessly into itself and less chalky than many of its competitors.
This texture really makes the user experience of this product stand out against its mid-range price point. It has a luxurious feel to it and keeps shininess at bay without overly mattifying your face and taking away its natural glow.
12. Rimmel London Stay Matte Pressed Powder
Rimmel London always knows how to package things prettily for an affordable price. And this mineral powder, which provides up to 5 hours of shine control, is no exception.
This is perhaps the best drugstore mineral powder if you’re looking for shine control without a super duper matte finish. It’s still matte of course, but it’s not dry matte… Does that make sense?
There’s no mirror and no sponge here, but money and time have clearly been put into the formula inside. It’s totally skin-safe and contains some nourishing coconut oil as well as aloe. There is some fragrance here, but as long as your skin isn’t super sensitive, that won’t be an issue.
So if you don’t want to break the bank but still feel like you treat yourself (and your skin) to something that works and looks pretty on your counter, go on and try it!
13. Mineral Fusion Pressed Powder Foundation
Back to the big guns, this is the real deal when it comes to mineral powders, providing good coverage and a solid formula.
The coverage isn’t super thick, but can easily be built up to camera-ready. And, if you ask us, flexibility is the number one thing to look out for after quality. Even if you’re a full coverage queen though, a little goes a long way so you should get a lot of use out of one compact.
It’s also nice to see such an inclusive shade range here, ranging from neutral brights, olives, all the way up to beautiful deep darker shades. But what really puts it up there as a contender for best drugstore powder foundation are the ingredients…
There’s a ton of goodies packed in here, including white tea extract, Vitamin E, soothing cucumber, and the powerhouse antioxidant Vit C. We also spy some pomegranate seed extract in there – tasty!
Joan S. Wilson is a lifelong makeup and skincare enthusiast. She used to work as a makeup artist for 5 years. Joan is always curious and wants to learn more when it comes to makeup and skincare. She tries her best to make other people’s skin health better. This is why Joan is so passionate about writing articles on beauty topics. She always looks for products that are high-quality, dermatologist-tested, and does that it says on the label. In every article, she shares her knowledge to make your life healthier and happier!