Love Beyond First Swatch: Why The New Benefit POREfessional Foundation Can Become Your Next Base Match
Finding “The One” when it comes to base makeup is no easy feat. Whenever we try something new, do we often get love at first swatch or end up consoling ourselves that there are plenty other fishes in the proverbial foundation sea? I consider myself lucky in this regard; I only fell in love with bases in my thirties. But for those who have been searching, Benefit’s latest launch posed this challenge – are we ready to meet the foundation of our dreams?
This is no big, baseless (pun intended) claim by a brand. Benefit’s got serious back-up as the new Benefit POREfessional Foundation joins the best-selling POREfessional line with its OG POREfessional Primers, the POREfessional Pore Care Skincare collection, and the new generation Matte Primer and Power Powder duo. These are well-reviewed and well-loved products that made Benefit a staple in our vanities through the years. And this latest one is quickly joining the ranks. Let me share how it went beyond that first swipe.
The Benefit the POREfessional Foundation (P2,950) is a smoothing and blurring foundation that "improves the look of pores and skin, instantly and over time". It combines skincare benefits with the promise of a flawless base. Key ingredients include niacinamide which contributes to hydration and helps to visibly smooth pores, rose hip extract for smoothening the skin and refining the look of pores, and glycerin to help retain skin moisture. The coverage is medium-buildable with a natural-matte finish. And while we don’t normally use makeup for this long, the foundation pledges to provide 24-hour wear and hydration.
Benefit released a total of 40 shades but only 20 are available at their Lazada shop by the time of writing. I was shade matched to 7N Savvy which is a light neutral. There are also shades with W for warm and C for cool undertones so it’s a pretty good shade range. The most popular at the launch event was 10N with so many matches that they run out of the shade. Best to check at the nearest Benefit store for your own match.
I first used the POREfessional Foundation on its own, sans primer and setting powder. And while it didn’t fade throughout the day, my t-zone and cheeks looked shiny after 8 hours. I can easily blot the oil away though so that’s good to know. I also used a buffing brush for this test and it applied easy enough but I felt like it wasn’t the best application yet.
The best applicator, and what I saw them recommend online as well, is a damp sponge. I used this for my second testing phase and really felt and saw the difference as the foundation blended better on my skin. I also used the Matte Primer and Power Powder pair for this test and you can see how good my base still looked after 8 hours. My forehead and cheeks were starting to show some shine but the rest of my face was still matte with just a hint of glow.
The formula is said to be waterproof, transfer-proof, and non-comedogenic, suitable for normal, combo, oily and sensitive skin. I have dry skin though but I can still see it working for me. I reach for this foundation when it’s extra humid and I know I’ll be going in and out of air-conditioning as it holds up quite well.
Was it love at first swatch? I’m still playing hard to get. But it’s definitely saying something that the Benefit POREfessional Foundation has found its place in my routine. You can try it out too, in person, at these store locations. Or if you’re game for a blind date, check out via their Lazada Flagship Store. A quick tip – look up your shade twin online first for hints on your best match.
Benefit the POREfessional Foundation Ingredients:
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)]
