Pressed powders have been around for years — ever since the 1950s. After all, where do you think the humble abode’s stereotypical “powder room” originated from?
There’s a reason the foundation-filled compacts are here to stay, too. For quick-fix touch ups to color-correcting on the go, no wonder they’ve developed into both makeup vanity and crossbody bag staples.
Because I’ve been consistently testing full-coverage foundations and creamy concealers for more than three years, It was time to round up my favorite pressed powders that I’ve been testing for just as long (Related: Best makeup primers).
Not to mention, pressed powders were one of the first makeup products I purchased before heading into middle school (with vivid memories of standing in front of the MAC counter and waiting on Sephora lines).
Ahead, find all of the pressed powders that last all day and made the cut. I’ve been testing more than 20, and the below are my must-have list for your next makeup haul.
How we tested
My skin is sensitive and partially dry (although it can have its oily moments), so it took me exactly three years of testing (aka, ransacking Sephora and Ulta Beauty for the best ones on the market) to determine the best ones. Here’s an overview of what I looked for while applying:
- Price: Regardless of budget, there’s no sense in splurging for a high-end pressed powder if it won’t last for hours. Though a good foundation is worth the investment, I kept price in mind for each product tested.
- Hourly check-ins: Every hour on the hour, I looked in the mirror and checked my face to ensure there were no signs of the powder foundation wearing off my skin or looking caked on.
- Ease of application: If the makeup brand has a matching powder brush, I tested it out with the product, too. Within each product review below, I took note of how easy it was to apply and blend.
- Shade selection: Although I have fair skin, it’s important to detail if each brand has a realistic, extensive selection for darker shades and peachy and olive undertones. This information is rated for each product below.
- Consistency: I tested each powder with the same concealer, bronzer and blush each day — all of which I’ve been using for years. This ensures there wasn’t an outside variable impacting how each pressed powder looked.
- Noteworthy features: From iconic packaging to its color-correcting and natural look, I jotted down anything that stood out to me.
Best pressed powder overall: MAC Cosmetics Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation
Simply put, there’s nothing quite like the MAC Cosmetics Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation. Although all pressed powders on this list last all day, this particular compact has a noticeably full-coverage effect — allowing you to feel confident without needing a tinted moisturizer or foundation to precede it.
It also does a wonderful job of color-correcting and comes in a vast shade range to complement both fair and melanated skin alike. It’s said to last for 12 hours, but if I’m being honest, it lasted for a bit more when I applied my makeup in the early morning and went out at night. Simply amazing.
If that wasn’t enough, it didn’t become oily or crease at all during the day and helped minimize the appearance of some pores, namely around my nose and on the apples of my cheeks. I can’t rave about this pressed powder enough (meaning you should add it to your cart).
Laura Mercier Real Flawless Perfecting Talc-Free Pressed Powder
OK, OK, I know everyone raves about Laura Mercier’s Loose Powder (who doesn’t?!). But its Real Flawless Perfecting Talc-Free Pressed Powder shouldn’t get lost in the clamor. It’s a true finishing powder that has a blurring, evening-out effect that’s purely delightful.
Though its shade range is quite limited, its translucent enough to work well with a myriad of skin tones. It’s buildable, too, which is great if you want to wear, say, a BB cream on one day and a more full-coverage foundation the next. It works well for dry skin and uneven texture, too.
Not to mention, the compact lasts for months on end so you’ll be getting your money’s worth — even if you wear it nearly every day.
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder
All hail Queen C (that’s short for Queen Charlotte). The brand’s Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder is exactly what its name projects — an airbrush effect, with a near-flawless finish that helps set your makeup in place for hours on end.
Not only have I reviewed nearly every product the brand has whipped out (a dream process, TBH), but this one is by far one of my favorites the brand has to offer. Its natural finish and medium coverage is the Goldilocks of pressed powders, if I do say so myself.
More, you’ll also love its natural ability to help reduce shine on your face — ideal for oily skin, especially.
Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Pressed Face Powder
If you’re seeking a quality drugstore pressed powder, look no further than the Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Pressed Face Powder. It’s less than $10 for the budget-friendly stock-up you’ve been wanting and, much to my surprise, it lasted longer than some over-$30 options from beauty counters.
This powder is a No. 1 Amazon best-seller (with more than 67,000 rave reviews on the retailer’s site alone) and helps mitigate shine in the best way possible. It has noticeable color and coverage yet is buildable at the same time — ideal for customizing your look or reapplying later on.
The brand considers this product to be the hallmark of the “I woke up like this” finish, and I couldn’t agree more. It’s worth adding to your cart and trying at least once!
bareMinerals BAREPRO 16-HR Skin-Perfecting Powder Foundation
The bareMinerals BAREPRO 16-HR Skin-Perfecting Powder Foundation, as its name suggests, has a “barely there,” no-makeup makeup look finish, and it’s one I’ve been using since high school (and that’s a true story; it never left my makeup vanity).
Notably, the shade range is quite vast and I find myself going up a few shades in the fall and winter months to give me more of a glow before blending it out. It has a full-coverage and matte finish which allows you to skip the liquid foundation and swipe a bit of this on for more confidence.
It also lasts so long and didn’t become shiny at all throughout the day. If you’re on the hunt for a vegan formula, too, this one’s the real deal.
Bobbi Brown Sheer Finish Pressed Powder
Grab the Bobbi Brown Sheer Finish Pressed Powder and don’t look back. I’ll be honest, I typically only resort to this compact if I’m doing a full-glam makeup look where I want a sheer veil of coverage — but this one doesn’t disappoint.
With oil-controlling ingredients, the formula helps blur the look of imperfections and pores and mattify skin. You’ll love its velveteen, hydrating feel and sheer, buildable veil of coverage, most especially.
Oh, and for a bonus glow-y skin feel, pick up the brand’s Shimmer Brick Compact ($53) that has had me oohing and aahing for years.
Clinique Stay-Matte Sheer Pressed Powder
If you have sensitive skin, you can’t go wrong with Clinique. The brand is always one I trust and resort to, and applying its pressed foundation always is seamless.
The brand’s Stay-Matte Sheer Pressed Powder is one that remains a constant in my purse and offers a stay-all-day coverage without the shine. Why it’s unique? The included powder puff helps you build up the coverage exactly how you like it without a cake-y finish.
For less than $40, it’s worth the buy if you want something truly customizable and quick and easy. It has been a constant in my makeup rotation for years and is offered in plenty of shades.
SEPHORA COLLECTION Matte Perfection Powder Foundation
When SEPHORA COLLECTION debuted its Matte Perfection Powder Foundation, I was blown away by its ability to balance out my skin tone and color correct in a flash — for just $20! If you want a healthy looking glow, too, it can even double as bronzer if you opt for a few shades darker.
Its shade range is probably the most widespread out of all pressed powders I tested, and for that, SEPHORA COLLECTION receives three cheers for inclusivity. Its natural matte finish is even comparable to the MAC Cosmetics Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation — ranked the best overall in this review — but more affordable.
LAWLESS Skin-Smoothing Talc-Free Perfecting Powder
Meet one of the most-hyped pressed foundations (that’s really worth the acclaim): the LAWLESS Skin-Smoothing Talc-Free Perfecting Powder. There’s something so effortless and beautiful about this way this applies and blends. For the airy, lightweight and buildable coverage it provides, I was colored impressed that it wasn’t cake-y, either.
Renowned for its “serious blurring and smoothing” effect, per the brand, it truly has that soft-focus look that both heightens your natural skin without the unwanted imperfections, like pores or texture. While its shade range could be more fleshed out, it’s a lovely pressed powder I consistently recommend IRL.
LYS Beauty Triple Fix Setting Powder
Simply stunning and one of the most effortless to blend, the LYS Beauty Triple Fix Setting Powder is incredibly impressive, given that it’s one of the most affordable options on this list.
Part of the reason why it’s a delight to apply and blend to near perfection is because its powder is finely milled and pressed translucent. That said, it’s buildable, lightweight and won’t clog your pores.
It’s also formulated with niacinamide (one of my favorite ingredients to make my skin more supple and hydrated) and green tea extract. I felt my skin feeling hydrated once this pressed powder was applied. Though its shade range could be wider, it still remains one of my long-wear favorites.
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