Benefit POREfessional’s New Matte Primer and Power Powder: Do These Live Up to the Hype?

Mattifying products don’t usually catch my eye since I generally have dry skin, but I do reach for them on long workdays when I'm constantly moving in and out of the sun. That’s why I’m intrigued by Benefit’s latest release, dubbed the "new CEO of Shine Control." I can’t wait to see how this mattifying power duo handles my oily T-zone!

The latest release from Benefit includes a mattifying primer and a loose setting powder—an exciting addition to their lineup of oil-control products. This isn’t their first venture into shine control, as they’ve previously offered the POREfessional Matte Rescue Gel, POREfessional Agent Zero Shine, and Dr. Feelgood Silky Mattifying Powder. What’s great about these new products is their versatility—you can use them on their own or as part of your makeup routine.

The Benefit POREfessional Matte Primer (P2,320 for 22ml) is designed to minimize pores while keeping your skin matte for up to 8 hours. Its key ingredients—Niacinamide, Rose Hip Extract, and Mineral Powder—work together to not only control shine but also improve the appearance of pores over time. I applied a pea-sized amount on each side of my face, and my skin instantly felt bouncy, much like it does after using a light moisturizer. This smooth, lightweight primer left my face visibly matte right away, and I quickly understood why it’s recommended to wear it on its own—it really delivers.

I paired the primer with my usual dewy cushion foundation, and the result was a healthy-looking matte finish that I surprisingly didn’t feel the need to set with powder. However, after long walks in humid weather and about 6.5 hours later, my T-zone started to look pretty oily. In hindsight, a setting powder would’ve helped keep the shine at bay for a bit longer.

The Benefit POREfessional Power Powder (P1,460 for 4g, P2,520 for 8g) is a setting powder that offers a blurring effect and works well for all skin types. It gives a natural finish and can be applied on its own or over makeup using a powder puff, brush, or sponge. While it's marketed as translucent, I noticed a subtle, light tint upon application. Its key ingredients, Upsalite and Kaolin Clay, are known for absorbing sweat and oil, making it ideal for shine control. As you can see from the wear test above, this duo performed decently even when paired with a dewy cushion foundation.

The best performance I’ve seen so far was when I wore the primer and powder on their own, without any foundation. This combo is perfect for those lazy days when you want the lightest possible layers. Below is my wear test with just sunscreen, the Matte Primer, and the Power Powder on top. I was impressed with how well it controlled oil, even as I moved between air-conditioned spaces and spent time outdoors on a farm from mid-afternoon to early evening. I also appreciated the light coverage the Power Powder provided. While it didn’t completely cover my undereye bags, it did a great job blurring out my pores and reducing the redness around my nose.

For my final test, I chose to use the Benefit POREfessional Matte Primer and Power Powder with a velvety matte concealer. Here’s the result:

The result was noticeably less oily compared to when I used the pair with a dewy cushion foundation. The oiliest outcome still came when I wore the Matte Primer with just a dewy base. In our humid climate, setting powder is definitely a must, even if you have dry skin like mine—my T-zone still gets oily after a long day in the Philippines. Overall, Benefit stays true to the expected performance of their best-selling POREfessional line. The Matte Primer and Power Powder are strong additions to the POREfessional Skincare line, which I’ve reviewed here on Project Vanity.

Swatches from L-R: Benefit the POREfessional Matte Primer, Benefit the POREfessional Power Powder

The new Benefit POREfessional Matte Primer and Power Powder are available online at their official Lazada shop,  Sephora Philippines, and in stores listed at the About section of the Benefit Philippines FB Page.

Benefit POREfessional Matte Primer Ingredients:

Aqua (Water), Dimethicone, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Polyglyceryl-3 Disiloxane Dimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Boron Nitride, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Isononyl Isononanoate, Sodium Chloride, Hydroxyacetophenone, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Isohexadecane, Parfum (Fragrance), Polysorbate 80, Sorbitan Oleate, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate.

Benefit POREfessional Power Powder Ingredients:

Silica, Mica, Cetyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Magnesium Carbonate, Pentylene Glycol, Kaolin, Glyceryl Caprylate, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Dehydroacetic Acid, Glyceryl Undecylenate, Parfum (Fragrance), Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Tocopherol. [+/- Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499 (Iron Oxides)]