By Dr. Teri Dourmashkin

If you are lazy like me and want your skin care and make-up routine to be as fast and  easy as possible, then you might like the idea of using a powder foundation rather than a liquid make-up.   Powder foundations can be great for oily skin, but many women, particularly those with dry skin may shy away from them because powders (depending upon the formulation) make cake and make dry skin look even worse.

A powder foundation is usually thicker in consistency than a pressed powder.  Foundation powders are designed to give more coverage than a sheer pressed powder which is usually used for touch ups during the day such as blotting excess oil.  The majority of pressed powders use talc.  Talc may be clogging for some skin types.  There was also some controversy regarding talc some years ago; a few studies suggested there may be a link between talc and ovarian cancer because some women use talc based dusting powders in the genital area.  So far, these studies have been inconclusive.  Inhaling talcum powder can be problematic for some individuals (e.g. irritation of the the lungs), but this is more likely with a loose powder.  It is worth mentioning that even non-talc based powders (e.g. mineral make-up) can cause irritation when inhaled.  I personally cannot use loose mineral make-up because it makes me cough.

One of the best powder foundations I have tried is by ZUZU LUXE.  It has a super silky texture and can be applied dry or wet with a sponge (included in packaging).   Although I do not have dry skin,  I have seen other reviewers state that is also works great on dry skin.  It is talc free and only contains 10 ingredients which is a short list compared to other brands on the market.   It is always a good idea to choose products with as few ingredients as possible; the more ingredients, the greater your risk for allergic reaction, irritation and or breakouts.

The color selection is decent, so that most women should be able to find a good match.  It is available at all Whole Food Stores or on-line.  It sells for $27.99.  While this is not inexpensive, it is still affordable when compared to many department stores brands.