Your Fool-Proof Shopping Guide For The Best Compact Powder
10 Best Compact Powder In India In 2024 For Different Types Of Skin
By Khanak Mehta
With dewy, glass skin taking over as a makeup staple, our favourite beauty experts and content creators have been encouraging us to switch to cream formulas, and douse our faces in setting spray for an all-day-long glow. It’s the absolute opposite of the contoured soft glam look that was so popular a few years ago. While it feels like even the best compact powders have taken a major backseat in our beauty bags, they still deserve a spot in your routine. In fact, it may be time to rediscover your favourites, and find new ones, too.
Benefits of using compact powder
A compact powder’s most fundamental function is to mattify your skin. But some of the best modern compact powders can do so much more than that. They help control oil and shine throughout the day, helping your makeup look go the distance. In fact, they are so much easier to carry for touch-ups on the go, compared to loose setting powders.
The best compact powders also help smooth out and set your liquid and cream products, helping deliver a more flawless finish for your skin. And finally, they can also be layered on the skin to add coverage, or to help blend in your other powder products when your contour or blush is way too harsh. So, trust us when we say that the best compact powder is the ultimate makeup underdog – it may seem like quite a basic product at first, but it can do so much!
How to apply compact powder
There are a few ways in which you can apply the best compact powders to get your desired finish and level of coverage:
- Use a brush to apply it strategically in places like your under-eye area and t-zone to not only set your makeup but also get a flawless finish.
- Use a makeup sponge to take the coverage up a notch and set your face. You can also use this method to bake your under-eye area and clean up under your contour.
- Use it all over your face with a dense brush or makeup sponge in place of a foundation and create a matte base.
Discover: Mattifying compact powders
Best all-purpose compact powder
Looking for the best compact powder in India? You’ve come to the right place!
Topping our lists is the L.A. Girl Pro Face Pressed Powder that has a long-wearing, oil-controlling formula with a satin matte finish. This means that it controls shine all day long without making your skin look dull or flat.
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We also have the Lakme 9 to 5 Primer Matte Powder Foundation Compact right next to it, which promises to stay on throughout the day, for office and beyond. Plus, the buildable formula means that you can skip foundation and layer it to create a medium coverage, too.
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Best budget compact powder
Are you a beauty on a budget? Not to worry, some of the best compacts in India are wallet-friendly too.
Coloressence’s Compact Powder is not only one of the best face powders for daily use but also fits most budgets. It is a finely milled, satin finish powder that gives a natural finish to the skin and doesn’t look cakey.
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Revlon’s Touch & Glow Powder feels like luxury on a budget thanks to its sleek packaging. It’s also super unique in the sense that it’s a moisturising powder, making it the best compact powder for dry skin.
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Best compact powder for daily use
We searched high and low and found two compact powders that are best for daily use in the humid Indian weather.
The Maybelline New York Fit Me Matte + Poreless Powder is one of the best compact powders for good reason. It’s long lasting, provides light to medium coverage, is buildable, and super compact and easy to carry around, too.
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The Colorbar 24Hrs Wear Weightless Powder Foundation does double duty by mattifying and setting the skin, and adding coverage, too. This makes it perfect for workdays where you don’t have a lot of time to get ready in the mornings.
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Best compact powder for oily skin
If you’re plagued by a shiny T-zone, we know that finding a compact powder that’s best for your oily skin can be a hit or miss. The secret lies in finding the right formula and mastering a few application techniques.
First up is the SUGAR Cosmetics Dream Cover SPF 15 Mattifying Compact – infused with SPF and enriched with vitamin E, this all-rounder gives you protection and hydration while keeping oil at bay for more than five hours.
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At a close second is the Faces Canada Weightless Stay Matte Compact; this budget-friendly option is the best compact for oily skin thanks to the fact that it quickly absorbs excess sebum throughout the day.
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Read more: The best powder for oily skin
Best compact powder for combination skin
Finding the best compact powder for your combination skin means discovering a formula that hydrates and controls oil at one go. But we made the job easier for you.
The Makeup Revolution Reloaded Pressed Powder is enriched with pink clay and niacinamide, which help control excess sebum and deliver hydration at the same time. The texture is smooth and lightweight, too.
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The By Terry Hyaluronic Pressed Hydra Powder is an innovative formula which uses hyaluronic acid mixed with mica pearls to mattify the skin without drying it out. Bonus: It comes with a puff applicator to use on the go!
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How to choose the best compact powder for your skin type
When it comes to choosing the best face compact powder, you might think that buying one that matches your skin tone perfectly is the most important thing. While we agree that no one likes a grey cast or a shade match that makes your face and neck look like two totally different colours, you also need to choose the best compact powder to suit your skin type.
Here’s a quick cheat sheet:
- Best compact powder for dry skin: Pick a hydrating formula and choose one that has a satin or natural matte effect instead of a fully matte one for a skin-like finish.
- Best compact powder for oily skin: Choose an ultra-mattifying formula that is ideally infused with various different clays for all day long oil control.
- Best compact powder for combination skin: Look for a formula that strikes the perfect balance between hydration and oil-control. Or simply invest in two different formulas and use them on different areas of your face.
Your compact solution for matte skin
Now that we’ve given you a go-to guide for the best face powder in India along with lots of tips and tricks on how to make the right choice, you can go ahead and find your perfect beauty match with our personalised recommendations. From ultra-matte formulas to hydrating picks, we’ve got it all. Ready, set, get glam!
Know more: How to apply makeup like a pro
Compact powders 101
Q. Can I use a compact powder without foundation?
Yes, you can use a compact powder on its own to mattify your skin, or build it up to add coverage, too.
Q. Can a compact powder be used every day?
Yes! Even if you have sensitive skin, the best compact powders are dermatologically tested and are non-comedogenic, so you’ll be breakout-free.
Q. Can I apply cream products after using a compact powder?
It is best to apply any cream products on your face before using a compact powder so that they can blend into your skin easily.