Look, I'm just going to say it: I don't have "perfect" skin. I've got hyperpigmentation, dark circles that give "I haven't slept since 2012," and acne that's more confident about making an appearance than I am singing karaoke after a few glasses of wine... So, with that, yes, I almost always wear full-coverage foundation. And yes, I've heard all the charming comments: "Take her swimming on the first date." Groundbreaking. But isn't makeup supposed to be transformative? That's kind of the whole point, that is, in my opinion, anyway.
For me, makeup isn't just a cover-up—it's an art form. I love experimenting, blending, layering, and discovering products that feel like they were made with real skin in mind. So, when I got my hands on Benefit's recently released POREfessional foundation that claims to "visibly smooth texture and improve the look of pores and skin instantly and over time," I wasn't just hoping for decent coverage, I was looking for a miracle. And spoiler: a miracle was delivered!
Coverage
First things first, let's delve into the coverage. Benefit claims that the POREfessional foundation has medium coverage, and to that, I would wholly agree. As shown in the before and after photos above, one pump of the foundation covered my entire face; redness was banished, and so was most of my discolouration, with the dark circles under my eyes slightly peaking through. This, however, is totally normal for me, and to counteract that, I followed up with a touch of concealer and powder.
I would add that it can also stretch either side of the coverage spectrum. Want a fuller base? Use slightly more product and blend with a dense brush. After a more natural finish? Sheer it out by mixing half a pump of foundation with your favourite moisturizer.
Beauty editor Beth Gillette also tested this foundation and loooves it. "I have hormonal acne and occasionally want a full-coverage foundation to help smooth out my face," she says. "This one does so without feeling like a thick glop on my skin. I wouldn't say it's necessarily natural, but my skin looks so blurred that I don't even care. Sometimes, I don't mind looking like I have makeup on, so long as it's not cakey or heavy."
Finish
Finish-wise, this foundation dried down matte, and above all, blurred and smoothed the appearance of textured skin. Pores? Don't see 'em. Of course, it didn't disguise the texture of my most prominent blemishes, but no foundation can. It's makeup, not a Photoshop fairy with a vendetta against spots.
How it wears
I have naturally oily skin (like, really oily), so I expected some shine after a few hours of wear. My shiny T-Zone did make an appearance, albeit later than expected, which is a bonus. That said, it never looked greasy or separated into a cakey mess. Instead, it gave more of a dewy finish that still looked smooth and fresh. Hurrah!
Overall, the coverage held up well from morning to evening without caking or settling into pores, which leads me to the brand's "non-comedogenic" claim...
Formula and skincare benefits
When something is non-comedogenic, it means that a product doesn't contain any of the most common pore-clogging ingredients. Essentially, a makeup product as such should not break you out. And as an acne-prone girlie, I can vouch that this foundation did not (same went for Gillette).
But the formula also has skin-loving ingredients. Niacinamide helps smooth the look of pores and skin texture and contributes to skin hydration, while glycerin helps retain skin moisture. Never did I think a foundation would be good for my skin, but here we are!
Final thoughts:
All in all, if, like me, you've got oily, acne-prone skin, and are after a medium coverage base product that is surprisingly wearable, this is your fail-safe foundation option. But you already knew that because the before and after pictures speak a thousand words... You're welcome!
Why trust Cosmopolitan?
Lia Mappoura is the beauty writer at Cosmopolitan UK. In her six years as a beauty writer, she's covered celebrity beauty, relayed the latest trends, and reviewed hundreds of new beauty products.
Lia Mappoura (she/her) is the Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan UK. Covering everything from viral celebrity hair and makeup news to the latest trend predictions, she’s an expert in recognising the season’s next big beauty look (before it ends up all over your social media feeds). You’ll usually find her putting TikTok’s recent beauty hacks to the Hype Test, challenging the gender-makeup binary and social stereotypes, or fangirling over the time Kourtney Kardashian viewed her Instagram Story (yes, it’s true). Find her also on LinkedIn.
