Benefit The Porefessional Smoothing & Blurring Matte Foundation Review : Before + Afters
This is the latest launch from Benefit Cosmetics : the Professional Smoothing & Blurring Matte Foundation and it’s had some rave reviews so I was excited to try it out and here are my thoughts on this new foundation.
This promises to be a weightless, pore-blurring foundation with a natural matte finish that lasts all day. It is a smoothing, pore-blurring foundation and apparently won’t crease, cake, crack, or clog. It has a medium, buildable coverage that comes in 40 shades and costs £39.50
This has been formulated for every skin type. It has a 84% skincare-based formula designed to smooth texture and blurs pores, all while delivering lightweight hydration. It contains a blend of niacinamide, rosehip extract and glycerin to lock in moisture and visibly smooths skin, both instantly and over time.
I was sent a few shades to try from Benefit and I ended up mixing two shades (1C and 21C) to get my right match but I am sure they will have a good match for me amongst the others considering how many shades and tones they do.
Key ingredients include niacinamide to help smooth the look of pores and skin texture, Rose Hip Extract which helps visibly smooth skin and refine the look of pores and also glycerin to help retain skin moisture.
Full ingredient list :
Aqua (Water), Dimethicone, Mica, Isododecane, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Cetyl Peg/Ppg-10/1 Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Peg-10 Dimethicone, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Chloride, Silica, Distarch Phosphate, Magnesium Sulfate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Aluminum Hydroxide, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Benzoic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Propylene Carbonate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract. [+/- Ci 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499 (Iron Oxides)].
How to apply the Benefit Porefessional smoothing & blurring foundation :
Shake the foundation well and apply over the face either with a damp sponge, brush or even fingertips : whichever is your preference. I always like a foundation brush so this is how I have applied it here. I think with any medium-fuller bases it’s best to apply with ‘something’ as opposed to fingertips – although you absolutely can it just won’t give you quite as much of a seamless and flawless blend.
With this foundation because it has good pigment and coverage, I would suggest building it up slowly and in layers until you get the coverage you want. Start with one pump and go from there – this also will prevent any wasted product.
I didn’t use primer here as I wanted to see how it sat and lasted without , but that is also an option if you want an even longer wear and a smoother base to apply the foundation over the top.
How the Benefit Porefessional smoothing & blurring foundation looks and wears on an oily 40+ skin :
I have a lot of texture on my skin and I am combination so on paper this foundation should be a match made in heaven for me! I found it applied really nicely and it didn’t need a lot of product to give me a seamless and even looking finish on my skin. I rarely wear a full coverage so I applied it in one light layer to give me the coverage I liked, you can definitely build it up heavier than this. I loved the way it feels on my skin and that although the coverage is good, it doesn’t look cakey and leaves the skin looking supple and natural.
It smooths and blurs as described and definitely reduces the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and pores which would probably been even more improved with using the Benefit porefessional primer underneath also. I have now worn it a fair few times for full days and I can confirm it has great staying power and wear, even when I haven’t touched or powdered it over the duration of the day in humid conditions.
I think it’s a great foundation and it kind of reminds me of those we knew and loved from maybe 10 years ago – but improved. We’ve seen huge trends of barely there, dewy makeup but this is not trying to be that, nor is it anything like that. This is a great longwear, fuller coverage semi-matte foundation that packs a punch. Perfect for those who want a better coverage, have a normal, combination, oily skin type and who have areas of redness, texture and open pores.
Benefit Porefessional smoothing & blurring foundation : BEFORE & AFTERS.
This is how it looks on my skin. As I have mentioned I am custom mixing shades 1C and 21C. For reference I am 43 years and have combination skin with open pores and texture.
