I ran a half-face test, Laura Geller Baked Balance-N-Brighten on one side, L’Oreal Infallible 24 Hour Fresh Wear on the other, and the drugstore compact won. One pass of the L’Oreal and my skin was done; the Laura Geller, which I’ve been using for months, only got me to medium coverage that still lets my skin show through. It’s a 0.31 oz compact with SPF 15. Buy.
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How this review was made: written from my own video review of this product. Every opinion here is my own, from using it myself.
| Item form | Pressed powder |
|---|---|
| Size | 0.31 oz |
| Dimensions | 0.79 x 2.65 x 2.65 in |
| SPF | SPF 15 |
| Finish | Demi-matte |
| Shade tested | 130 True Beige |
Wow. Wow, Wow, Wow.
I did not expect the cheaper one to win. I’ve been using the Laura Geller Baked Balance-N-Brighten in medium for a while and I really like it, so I went into this half-face test assuming the baked formula would blow the drugstore compact out of the water. It did not. The L’Oreal Infallible 24 Hour Fresh Wear powder in 130 True Beige covered me instantly.
Here’s how I set it up. Laura Geller on one side of my face, L’Oreal on the other, and I swapped to a different brush partway through just to be sure I wasn’t dragging leftover product across and skewing it. Same shade family on both, which made the comparison fair. They’re very similar colors.
Right off the top, the L’Oreal side looked more covered. That’s interesting, because the Laura Geller is the one I reach for. What I like about that baked pan is how marbly it is, and that marbling is what gives you that blend of tones in one sweep. It’s a light to medium coverage and you can build it. My skin doesn’t look oily with it, and you can still see my skin underneath, so I don’t look like I’m wearing a ton of makeup. It just smooths my skin and gives me a better base for blush or whatever else is going on.
The L’Oreal doesn’t do that. It covers. One pass and the side of my face was done. I’m shocked. I’m actually shocked.
The Shade Needed a Tweak
130 True Beige wasn’t quite right on me, and that’s the one real catch. I still have a little bit of tan left from summer, so the shade sat slightly off against my neck and I’d need to tweak it. That’s not a formula problem, but it’s a buying problem if you’re ordering online and can’t swatch first.
The other thing worth knowing before you buy a budget powder foundation with this much coverage: you lose the see-through quality. With the Laura Geller I like that my own skin still shows. With the L’Oreal it’s more of a finished, covered look. If your goal is a no-makeup-makeup base, this will work against you, the coverage is too opaque to fake bare skin.
What a 0.31 oz Compact Has to Hold Up To
The 0.31 oz compact is smaller than most compacts already in your bag, it fits in a jacket pocket without a second thought. It’s non-comedogenic with SPF 15 built in. I tested coverage on camera, not a full day of wear, so what I can tell you is what it looked like going on: matte, even, no cakiness on the first application.
At 0.31 oz, a pan this size will run out faster than you expect, full-coverage formulas pick up more product per brush load than sheer ones, so don’t treat this as a year-long compact.
Which One Should Be in Your Bag
If you want coverage, go for the L’Oreal Infallible 24 Hour. That’s the whole verdict: matte coverage in one pass, formulated for oily and acne-prone skin. You won’t need to layer it.
If you’d rather have a base than a cover-up, stay with the Laura Geller. The marbly pan gives more depth of color, it smooths without hiding, and it’s the better foundation to put blush on top of. Two different jobs. I just didn’t think the cheaper one would be the stronger performer at its job. Who knew?
Pros
- Covered my skin instantly on the first pass, more than I expected
- Matte finish with no oily look on my skin
- Small 0.31 oz compact that travels easily
- SPF 15 built in, non-comedogenic, made for oily skin
Cons
- 130 True Beige read slightly off against my leftover summer tan, so I’d need to tweak the shade
- You lose the see-your-own-skin look the Laura Geller gives
- Small pan for a full-coverage formula
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use it over a liquid foundation or does it have to go on bare?
It works on bare skin as a standalone, which is how I applied it. Given how much coverage it delivers in one pass, layering it over a liquid would be more product than most faces need.
How do I store it and what if I drop it?
Keep it closed and out of direct heat like any pressed powder. Pressed pans can crack if the compact hits a hard floor, so a makeup bag rather than a loose purse pocket is the safer spot.
What’s the return window if the shade is wrong?
Check the retailer’s return policy, since shade matching a powder foundation online is a gamble and you may need to swap.
Learn more
L’Oreal Infallible Fresh Wear Powder Foundation
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🛍️ L’Oreal Infallible 24-Hour Fresh Wear Foundation: check price on Amazon →
🛍️ Laura Geller Baked Balance-N-Brighten Color Correcting Powder Foundation: check price on Amazon →
