Fenty Beauty vs bareMinerals: Which powder foundation is best for shine-proof skin?

Powder foundations are nothing new to the make-up world, but in recent years they have been largely overlooked as beauty fans favoured the highly Instagrammable, glow-inducing finish of a liquid formula.

Despite being the best antidote for shine-prone skin, a few bad apples have earned the category a bad rap, with many assuming they will make your complexion appear chalky and lifeless.

However, they are beginning to experience a resurgence thanks to high-end and budget brands alike launching revamped versions, which put just as much emphasis on blurring imperfections as they do on looking and feeling lightweight.

It’s no secret that powders have the potential to turn cakey but, when used correctly, they can prove a great addition to any make-up collection. While those with oily skin will benefit from powder’s ability to reduce shine, those with dry complexions will appreciate their featherweight feel.

A favourite among powder enthusiasts, bareMinerals has earnt rave reviews for its range of finely-milled products, including its original foundation, which first launched in 1995, and its pressed powder equivalent, the barepro performance wear powder foundation. Both have been widely praised for their ability to conceal redness, absorb excess oil and dimmish the appearance of pores.

The brand has seen little competition in the realm of powder foundations over the years – that is until Fenty Beauty released its own pressed version in December 2020. Founded by popstar Rihanna in 2017, the brand is beloved by beauty fanatics and has made waves in the industry with its inclusive shade ranges and impressive product innovation. But can its latest endeavour really compete in a category already dominated by a cult beauty favourite?

To find out, we put the two foundations to the test, closely comparing differences in finish, texture, lasting power and shade range. Read on to find out our verdict.

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Fenty Beauty pro filt’r soft matte powder foundation, 9.1g: £27, Boots

Nearly three years after its launch, Fenty Beauty has expanded its foundation offering to include a powder formula: the pro filt’r soft matte powder foundation.

In keeping with the brand’s other powder products, such as the killawatt highlighter, the new launch comes housed in a sleek, white hexagonal compact, which opens to reveal the foundation embossed with the brand’s initials. It also has two handy mirrors, one inside the compact as you open it and another in a separate compartment that holds a super-soft sponge applicator. Aside from its good looks, the packaging is a key selling point, as it fits easily into your bag and you also don’t have to worry about wasting any leftover product that can’t be squeezed out of a bottle.

Designed as a variation of the brand’s original pro filt'r soft matte longwear liquid foundation, the powder comes in the same 50 shades that Fenty Beauty fans are used to and is tipped to feel as light as air, be crease resistant and have the ability to deliver the ultimate, blurred finish.

We tried three methods of application: first using the included sponge to gently press the powder into our skin; second using a dense buffing brush; and third using a large fluffy brush. While using a densely packed brush allows you to build up the product more easily, we found it did result in quite a bit of fallout, which is why we preferred to use the sponge to apply the product to areas that required more coverage.

But if it’s flawless, blurred skin you’re after, either of these methods will do the trick. We also really liked using the larger fluffy brush – it allows you to pick up less product in order to create a softer look that retains some glow while wearing what is otherwise a seriously mattifying foundation.

The product certainly lives up to its name, delivering a super smooth, blurring finish that almost makes it looks like you’re wearing an IRL Instagram filter and feels virtually undetectable on the skin. We found it covered blemishes and dark circles well without the need for concealer and didn’t settle into fine lines or transfer onto a face mask after a full day of wear.

If your skin is on the dry side, we would recommend thoroughly prepping it beforehand with a super-hydrating moisturiser, as we did find that the product settled into dry areas, making them appear more noticeable.

This foundation would be ideal for anyone with combination or oily skin, as it applies effortlessly and absorbs excess oil throughout the day without any cakiness.

bareMinerals barepro performance wear powder foundation, 10g: £29, lookfantastic

A brand that’s been on the beauty scene since the Nineties, it’s fair to say that bareMinerals knows a thing or two about achieving a photo-ready finish.

Following in the footsteps of its best-selling original foundation, which is a loose powder and counts Hailey Bieber and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley among its fans, bareMinerals launched a pressed powder equivalent in 2016, giving its customers a portable, mess-free alternative.

Unlike Fenty Beauty’s offering, the packaging of the barepro performance wear powder foundation is rather modest, housed in a simple black round compact with a single mirror and traditional sponge. But, while it might lack in aesthetics, this product certainly packs a punch where it counts.

As with Fenty, we tried the same three methods of application, but this time found the best results came from using a buffing brush in a swirling motion. The formula is noticeably creamier and glides on easily, meaning it does not leave behind any excess product on your face or the compact and makes blending speedy.

It also delivers on its claims of providing buildable coverage – it managed to conceal blemishes without feeling heavy and left our skin looking and feeling noticeably smooth. The foundation lasted well with minimal separation even after a rainy walk, and the sponge applicator came in handy for minor touch-ups around the nose.

With this powder, we didn’t have to apply much to even out our tone, but it did leave our skin looking a little flat, meaning we had to add more dimension with bronzer to get our desired finish. However, if you’re happy to spend the time buffing this one in and adding some extra warmth, it’s well worth investing in.

The verdict: Fenty Beauty vs bareMinerals

Both of these foundations have changed the way we think about powder formulas, with neither leaving our skin looking cakey while managing to blur our complexion.

But, while bareMinerals has clearly mastered the flawless finish, we prefer the versatility of Fenty Beauty’s version when it comes to controlling coverage. The super-lightweight formula allows for a sheer tint or high-impact look depending on the tools you use during application, and can even be used as a setting powder on top of liquid products without settling into fine lines.

In keeping with the brand’s inclusive ethos, the pro filt’r soft matte powder foundation also offers a bigger shade range, with 50 to choose from compared to bareMinerals’s 30, making it our top pick.

For more beauty inspiration, read our review of the new Benefit setting spray and our pick of the best retinol products

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