If you have dry skin, you’re often told to skip powder foundation completely. Cream and liquid foundations give your skin much-needed dewiness and radiance. Why kill the glow with powder?

But realistically, sometimes we need powder foundation, because 1) sweat isn’t glow, and most of us just don’t look magazine-cover pretty when we’re oiling up in the middle of the street and 2) powder helps set concealer and prep the skin for powder products like blush and eyeshadow.

 We picked the best powder foundation for dry skin. They won’t settle into lines or emphasize flakes. They also use pigments that actually create radiance and luminosity.

Nars Radiant Cream Compact Foundation

Celebrity makeup artist Quinn Murphy – whose clients include Hailie Baldwin and Kate Upton – always uses this powder foundation on dry skin.  It has a creamy texture that adds lots of moisture and glow. You can apply it wet or dry, too!   

For more information about the product, click here.

Bare Minerals Original Foundation

Women love how this gives the coverage of a cream foundation but sets and feels like a powder. One beauty review said: “Will never use anything else. It’s light, smooth, and natural.”

The only downside is that you need to use a brush, and it’s not exactly packaged for on-the-go touch-ups. A beauty hack: transfer some of it to a smaller pot that fits into your makeup kit. You can also mix two shades (and a bit of their yellow powder) to get a more dimensional finish.

For more information about the product, click here.

MAC Studio Careblend Pressed Powder

The cream-like finish makes this one of the best medium-coverage powder foundations for dry skin. “Apply this only where you need it, like the T-zone and under the eyes. I also like to put it around the mouth to prevent lipstick from migrating,” says MAC makeup artist Sheila San Diego.

Since dry skin is more prone to caking and flaking, she says it’s important to hydrate the skin before applying foundation. “To refresh makeup, try using a face mist instead of reapplying powder.”

For more information about the product, click here.

Clinique Almost Powder

“This powder foundation makes skin look like skin!” says one beauty review. It’s popular even for people who have normal skin, because of the light finish and long-wear formula. It can even hide large pores and fake a smooth complexion, even if you’re wearing it on its own.

For more information about the product, click here.

Smashbox Halo Hydrating Perfecting Powder

This is the best powder foundation for dry and ageing skin. Aside from hiding imperfections, it contains nourishing minerals, amino acids and peptides. It’s like makeup with skincare – and since dry skin is more prone to wrinkles, we need all the help we can get!

For more information about the product, click here.

Laura Mercier Smooth Finish Foundation Powder

This buildable formula makes this one of the most convenient foundations for dry skin. You can apply it with a brush for a very sheer and natural finish, or with a damp sponge to cover redness, acne marks, or discoloration. It can even give you full coverage to look flawless for big occasions. “I wore this to my sister’s wedding and a family portrait shoot, and even under the bright lights my foundation looked flawless,” says one makeup review.  

For more information about the product, click here.

Make Up For Ever Pro Finish Multi-Use Foundation

If you’re a fan of matte finishes, this is the best powder foundation for you. It feels light, blends like a dream, and makes your skin look airbrushed. It doesn’t feel heavy, either. You get full coverage but it looks and feels like you’re not wearing any makeup at all.

This powder foundation is very well pigmented, so apply with a light hand. Use a brush, or curl the makeup sponge between two fingers and dab and roll. Make Up For Ever also has a wide range of shades, so it’s easy to find the perfect match.  

For more information about the product, click here.