Benefit The POREfessional Matte Rescue Invisible Finish Mattifying Gel Review & Swatches

Benefit The POREfessional Matte Rescue Invisible Finish Mattifying Gel ($28) is a new invisible mattifying gel that helps to minimize the appears of pores while absorbing excess oil.

Show of hands, who thought about Urban Decay Deslick in a Tube upon seeing this!? I know I did! Far be it for this dry skin girl to love on a product that mattifies skin but I really loved Deslick in a Tube. It was one of Urban Decay’s crowning jewels (aside from Primer Potion before they went and changed the formula that is).

I feel Deslick in a Tube was around for like a season and disappeared. Why!? It was a transparent gel that absorb in a snap and instantly sucked up excess moisture without drying out skin. I experience a bit of shine and oil in the humid, warmer weather and this stuff made my skin look amazing. No shine, no oil, just smooth, even perfection. Plus I didn’t have to deal with a silicone formula that made me itchy. Sadly, it is long since gone but upon seeing Benefit The POREfessional Matte Rescue Invisible Finish Mattifying Gel I instantly hoped that it would be a great replacement to that long gone formula.

Benefit Matte Rescue Invisible Finish Mattifying Gel comes housed in a 1.60 oz squeeze tube. Compared to the original POREfessional Primer it’s a lot bigger and a little cheaper as POREfessional is $31 and 0.75 oz in size. However, depending how you think about it, it’s actually a little more expensive since I would suggest using both products! I’ll tell you why in a second.

This is formulated to minimize pores as well as absorb oil. I love the formula. It absorbs easily and even lightly hydrates skin during the initial application. It does have a light citrus-y fragrance so, just a heads up for sensitive users. Sadly, aside from the light hydration it doesn’t do much else. I can’t say I suddenly felt like all my shine was gone nor did I feel as the day progressed that this absorb excess oil and shine. I purposed held up testing it and using it for the until the weather warmed up. I’ve had the product since February but my skin was drier at the time and I knew I wouldn’t be able to review it properly. Fast forward to June and the warm, humid weather is upon us now which would make for an ideal setting for this formula. But sadly, I tested it over the course of a two week period in a variety of weather situations and I didn’t feel like it absorbed oil at all or eliminated shine. Of course, it does rely on a good deal of alcohol to produce the mattifying effect but unfortunately, it wasn’t doing much for me and could potentially cause irritation for sensitive users.

As for producing a burring effect? Well, I don’t have visible pores on my face! I do have them on my nose which is where I tested this and didn’t feel like it blurred pores at all. The instructions even tell you to pat a little of the original POREfessional after application for a smoother finish. Typically I like the way a primer smooths my skin but I didn’t really feel like this did that at all. If you visible pores I have my doubts it’ll conceal those.

Sadly, Benefit The POREfessional Matte Rescue Invisible Finish Mattifying Gel was disappointing. I wouldn’t say it provided a little light moisture and aided my foundation in applying more easily but aside from that it didn’t do much else. I really had hopes this would be a lot like Deslick in a Tube but that was not happening!

Benefit The POREfessional Matte Rescue Invisible Finish Mattifying Gel is available now at Sephora.com.