The 5 Best Pressed Powders

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Pressed powder is an integral part of any professional makeup artist’s kit. It can give your skin a silky matte finish throughout the day and night, even if you are dealing with sweat, oily skin, or humidity. Each pressed powder is different — some can absorb oil, mask the appearance of pores and fine lines, and reduce shine. They also come in a range of colors, as well as translucent and sheer options, to best suit your needs and skin color.

What Is Pressed Powder?

Pressed powder is a common cosmetic product that can absorb oil, set your foundation, and leave your skin looking smooth. It can be used on its own, or layered over other makeup, like foundation and concealer. When used on its own, it can provide natural-looking coverage with a powdery finish. Most pressed powders come with a round sponge or small powder brush, which you can use in a pinch. For the best results, use your own makeup brushes, such as a large fluffy brush, to blend the powder for a natural-looking appearance.

Top 5 Pressed Powders

Mac Cosmetics Blot Pressed Powder

The Mac Cosmetics Blot Pressed Powder feels light and natural on the skin. It instantly adds color and texture to the skin, providing a sheer, natural looking finish. You can use it for quick touch-ups, to set your foundation, or to easily absorb oil and blot away shine, without having to add another layer of makeup or color. The ultra-light, transparent formula will set your makeup all day and leave you with a flawless finish all night.

The dermatologist and ophthalmologist tested powder is ideal for all skin types, including acne prone skin, and can keep oil at bay all day, even for people with extremely oily skin. It was selected as one of the best pressed powder compacts by Glamour, Total Beauty, and InStyle. The MAC Mineralize Skinfinish and Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation are other award-winning products from the brand, which provide more coverage than the pressed powder.

Currently $34.59 on Amazon

Clinique Stay Matte Sheer Pressed Powder Oil-Free

The Clinique Stay Matte Sheer Pressed Powder is an oil-free formula that will keep your makeup in place all day. It can touch-up the skin and leave it looking shine-free, oil-free, and silky smooth, even in humid and hot conditions. The ultra-sheer texture offers a matte finish and will leave your skin feeling fresh. The mineral enhanced powder offers sheer to moderate coverage and can be layered over foundation.

Selected as one of the best pressed powder compacts by Glamour, it can be used frequently throughout the day, without any cakiness or drying effects. It is ideal for all skin types, including dry and oily skin, and comes in a range of shades to best match your skin tone.

Currently $32.98 on Amazon

Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder

Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder is a long-lasting pressed powder that uses natural minerals to help minimize the appearance of pores, leaving your skin with a matte, shine-free finish for up to five hours. Selected as one of the best pressed powder compacts by Glamour and frequently recommended by professional makeup artists and beauty bloggers, the Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder is an affordable drugstore find that can stand up to some of the most expensive brands available.

The dermatologically-tested powder is available in eight shades, so if you aren’t sure which one is right for your skin, you can virtually try it on with Rimmel’s virtual studio.

Currently $11.95 on Amazon

Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Talc-free Mineral Face Powder

Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Talc-free Mineral Face Powder is a lightweight pressed powder that is ideal for all skin types, including extra sensitive and breakout-prone skin. In fact, the minimalist formula can even help reduce irritation and breakouts, leaving you with clearer, softer skin with continued use. It also contains SPF 16 to help prevent sunburn and protect your skin from the sun’s damaging rays. It can stand up to heat and humidity, keeping your makeup set and your skin shine-free all day.

It can also eliminate shine and absorb oil without drying out the skin, so you are left with a soft matte finish. The hypoallergenic, oil-free, talc-free, fragrance-free, non-comedogenic, dermatologist-approved powder can even help minimize the appearance of fine lines with continued use.

It can give you a natural-looking finish, but you can also layer it as much as you like to get the coverage you need, without worrying about cakiness. It has gentle ingredients, including minerals like Mica and Silica, to provide a smooth, natural feel and finish. If you aren’t sure which pressed powder color is right for your skin, you will most likely find the right one with Physicians Formula. That’s because each pan contains different shades of color, which can flatter a range of skin tones. It includes a built-in mirror and small brush that you can use to apply the powder, but you may have better results by using a soft fluffy brush.

The Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Talc-free Mineral Face Powder is recommended by Allure and has outstanding reviews online. The affordable drugstore find can stand up to some of the most expensive brands. The Physicians Formula line offers various organic options for you to choose from, as well as the award-winning Physicians Formula Powder Palette Color Corrective Powders and Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Talc-Free Mineral Makeup Airbrushing Pressed Powder SPF 30.

Currently $12.81 on Amazon

CoverGirl Clean Oil Control Pressed Powder

The CoverGirl Clean Oil Control Pressed Powder is suitable for all types of skin, including normal, oily, and sensitive skin. The fragrance-free, hypoallergenic, dermatologically-tested powder offers a natural look, even coverage, and a soft matte finish. The bendable oil-free formula won’t clog pores and can absorb shine, leaving your skin looking clean and smooth. It can even be applied under the eyes to catch any drifting eyeshadow or eyeliner.

InStyle selected this as the best inexpensive powder and it is commonly used and recommended by professional makeup artists and beauty gurus. If you aren’t sure of whether this is right for you, try CoverGirl’s virtual makeup studio to virtually try the product on your skin. The CoverGirl Clean Pressed Powder is another award-winning option, if you don’t need the extra oil control properties of this pressed powder.

Currently $5.94 on Amazon

And those are our recommendations for the best pressed powders. As always, be sure to check Wise Bread's Buying Calendar to learn when and how to buy just about anything!

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