Benefit Cosmetics The POREfessional Hydrate Primer Review & Swatches

I picked up a mini of the new Benefit Cosmetics The Porefessional Hydrate Primer at Ulta. How much do you love that all new makeup and beauty is available in a mini? It’s just such a great and easy way to try something before indulging in a larger size. I paid $13 for the 0.5 oz size. The larger size is 0.75 oz for $32. You’re getting quite a generous amount in the smaller size and plenty to try out before you commit to that larger $32 dollar tube.

I have a love hate relationship with the original the Porefessional formula. It isn’t a formula that’s best for my skin type which is why I was excited about the launch of Benefit Cosmetics The POREfessional Hydrate Primer as that sounded perfect for my drier skin. Jeez! It sure did take a long time to get here though didn’t it? You’d think at this point in time Benefit would have already gotten on board creating a hydrating primer of some sort. But I do remember a time when hydrating primers were a rarity. 10 plus years ago when Korres introduced their Silicon-Free Primer I was shocked, delighted, and absolutely excited to finally have a primer on the market that would work great on drier skin.

Nowadays hydrating primers are plentiful and not terribly innovative but it doesn’t make the launch of Benefit Cosmetics The POREfessional Hydrate Primer any less exciting.

Benefit Cosmetics The POREfessional Hydrate Primer arrives in a squeeze tube that promises to diminish pores, smooth, and hydrate skin. It is water-based and does contain glycerin but if you’re seeking silicone-free this is not the formula for you as it does contain a good deal of ‘cones. It also contains some other hydrating ingredients like shea butter and sodium hyaluronate but those are lower on the ingredient list which could account for my disappointment in the formula which I’ll discuss with you shortly.

This is an oil-free formula that the brand says will provide up to 12 hours of hydration. It’s a light tan in color, almost a creamy beige, that’s lightly creamy with a subtle citrus fragrance that was pleasant. It absorbs very easily into my skin and created a nice smooth surface for my makeup to adhere to. It’s very light, it feels cool initially, and didn’t leave my sticky nor oily after application. I read reviews that said makeup didn’t wear well over it but I can’t say I had any such issues wearing it under foundation.

I do think the claims of 12 hours of hydration are bogus. This is light, creamy, it absorbs well but it provides very, very minimal hydration. It might be better suited for Summer use if you have drier skin that isn’t as tight in the warmer wear. For example, I’m pretty dry in the Winter but in the Summer my skin definitely switches it up a bit and I’ll still be dry but also, I’ll show signs of oiliness and I don’t require as heavy a moisturizer as I do in the Winter. That might be a good time to use this primer. But right now I felt like it was really quite light in the hydration department. I feel confident recommending it to oily skin for this reason as you can experience some light moisture but nothing that will make you too oily or greasy.

As for smoothing…I don’t really have visible pores aside from smaller ones on my nose and this seemed to do a nice job blurring and filling those. However, if you have larger pores on your face or an uneven skin texture I have my doubts you’ll experience much in the ways of smoothing or blurring. I also did not feel this added to the life of my foundation length. It didn’t feel like it made my foundation last any longer than it typically does.

All in all, Benefit Cosmetics The POREfessional Hydrate Primer is a lightweight in the world of hydrating primers. It’s a basic primer and a bit too expensive for what you get here. If you’re looking for something that provides heavy moisture while smoothing your skin and extending the wear of your foundation this sadly does none of these things. I am happy I purchased the smaller size as I’d be grumpy if I paid $32 for a full-size.

Where to buy

Sephora Ulta Benefit Cosmetics