3 Editors Put Sephora Collection's New Powder Foundation to the Test

"Despite the collective beauty world's affinity for all things dewy and glazed doughnut these last few years, I've been forever committed to the matte finish, which means setting powder has never fallen out of my makeup rotation. Still, if I'm opting for a powder foundation, I want something that will give me full coverage that feels breathable on skin, without that cakey, overly powdered look. That is surprisingly tricky to find, given the lack of options on the market, but I can confirm I found it in Sephora Collection's latest formula. It's no-frills in the best way — you won't find light-reflecting pigments or pore-blurring properties, but instead offers a solid matte finish, whether you want to add an extra layer of coverage to your base makeup or throw something in your bag for touch-ups." — Kelsey Castañon, beauty director

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"I often opt for more dewy formulas, but don't get me wrong: there will always be a place for powder foundation in my makeup bag. As someone whose skin leans on the more oily side, I often use powder foundation to touch up after blotting, and when I saw that Sephora Collection was coming out with a line that had an impressive 40 shades, I knew I'd have to get my hands on it.

"At first, I chose shade 35P, which was an entirely incorrect color. Still, I noticed that the formula was lightweight on the skin, and it didn't feel like I had pounds of makeup on my face, even though for investigative purposes, I actually did put on quite a few layers. Now, I found that said layers didn't cover some of the more obvious acne that I was sporting on my forehead, but the discoloration that I had on my temples and cheeks had basically disappeared, so I was fine with that trade-off.

"I came to realize that my correct shade is actually 36Y, and that is the color I've been keeping in my makeup bag since. This is not a full-coverage product by any means, but if you have on a skin tint or a little concealer and you want to make sure that the coverage remains in-tact after you've removed any oil or sweat in this very muggy weather, this foundation is about to become your go-to." — Ariel Baker, assistant beauty editor

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"I'm not usually one to wear powder foundation (or any foundation, really), but when the Sephora Collection launches a new product, I pay attention. The Best Skin Ever Matte Powder Foundation comes in a compact with a sponge for application, but I personally found a brush to be better. The first thing I noticed when I swiped the powder onto my face was how mattifying it is. After another couple of passes, though, I was blown away — it literally made the pores on my nose disappear. I was able to layer it without getting that dreaded cakey finish that I remember from the powders I used in my youth, and as someone with dry skin, I didn't find the formula to be too heavy or drying. I'm still a devoted member of the dewy-finish fan club, but I'm adding this compact to my bag for touch-ups on the go." — Jessica Harrington, beauty editor

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