Benefit POREfessional Face Primer Review

This is by far the most hyped up pore-filling primer I have ever heard. It is even dubbed as the cult classic. As a high-end makeup brand, Benefit of course put a rather heavy price tag on this primer. Fortunately, they also offer smaller size that fits for traveling and also my pocket (LOL). To be honest, I don’t really have problem with my pores, but sometimes there are those days when I feel that they are larger than the usual. It usually happens in the area near my nose. Can this Porefessional make a difference?

PACKAGING

This squeeze tube packaging is I think the most foolproof package for every cream product. It squeeze out the perfect amount of the content. We really don’t need much product. A pea size amount is enough for a cheek. Here I have the travel size of Benefit POREfessional. As I can see, the packaging is similar with regular size, which is a matte finish packaging. I can’t say bad words on this packaging. The design is also cute enough. It is kinda look retro.

PRICE

The regular size which contains 22 ml of products costs 480.000 IDR in Sephora Indonesia. Since I don’t think I can’t commit to big size, I purchase the smaller one. It costs 180.000 IDR for 7.5 ml of products. Yes it is still expensive for such small amount of product. But, I get it since it is made in the USA. Moreover, it will run out quickly if you follow the suggestion from Benefit. It says that we need to touch up using the POREfessional whenever the pores peek through.

FORMULA

The texture is silicony. The color of the cream is nude, but it is actually transparent once it applied to skin.  I use only a pea size amount for an area near my nose. It slightly covers the pores. You can build it up with more product but it will get clumpy if you don’t pat it carefully. Upon application, I feel that this primer really smoothen my skin. It really feels silky to the touch. If you use your finger to apply the foundation, you will feel that the foundation glides more smoothly on the primed side. Wearing only this primer alone without foundation does smoothen the texture of the skin, but it doesn’t cover the pores. However, I found that it will work with a more matte foundation. I tried wearing it with dewy foundation, but my pores seem to be revealed right after I applied the foundation.

INGREDIENTS

Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Isononyl Isononanoate, Silica, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Isododecane, Phenoxyethanol, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Cyclohexasiloxane, Tocopheryl Acetate, Fragrance (Parfum), Mica, Iron Oxides (CI 77492), Limonene, Iron Oxides (CI 77491), Iron Oxides (CI 77499), Triethoxycaprylylsilane, BHT.

One of the main ingredient in this product is Dimethicone, which is a type of silicone. That explains why the texture of the cream feels silky. If you wear it on everyday basis, make sure that you clean your face thoroughly before bed because silicone can clog pores.

HOW I WEAR IT

After wearing my skincare routine, I pat a pea size amount of this primer to the area near my nose. If I feel that it doesn’t cover my pores enough, I pat more product carefully. Then, I apply my foundation usually using Beauty Blender. My current perfect match for this primer is Maybelline Fit Me Matte and Poreless. After that, if I need an extra smooth skin, I pat more Porefessional on top of the foundation.

RESULT

With the technique that I use to apply this primer and the foundation, I found that this way my little pores stay hidden for a good hours. As you can see from the picture, my pores are blurred out and my skin is mattified, but it doesn’t fill in dented acne marks. I also feel that my foundation last longer than usual. The foundation also looks natural and not cakey. The after photo was taken after 10 hours of wearing and I sweat all day. My foundation is already gone in several places, but I think my pores is still hidden just a little bit.

OPINION

With the performance and such price, I give this Benefit Porefessional 3.5 out of 5 ratings. Because yes it hidden my pores, but it doesn’t give dramatically different result. This primer also doesn’t work with several foundation, especially the dewy type. Moreover, the price is a bit hefty. So, will I repurchase? I think I won’t.