PRODUCT
Benefit The Porefessional Hydrate Primer, £29 (launching 26th December, exclusive to John Lewis)
THE HYPE:
Benefit *may* have some prior experience with smash-hit primers considering its original Porefessional is the UK’s number 1 primer. Still, not one to rest on its laurels, Benefit has set about upgrading its much-loved formula with some additional… benefits. (See what I did there?) The new Porefessional Hydrate Primer has been under a watertight embargo since early summer, so while I’ve been trying it for weeks, I’ve had to keep tight-lipped on why my foundation looks so smooth and silky. Now though, the secret is out, which means the wait is *almost*. Gird your loins, people, a new hype queen is coming to town.
REVIEWER:
Elle Turner, Deputy Beauty Editor
BEAUTY BIO:
Usually, I don’t bother with primer. It’s an extra step in the morning, plus, I hate the siliconey, slippery feel that most have. That said, I’m open-minded to the idea of one that’s going to add some extra hydration to my dry, often dull-looking skin. Anything that can blur pores and imperfections on top is an added bonus, so I’m interested to see how this stacks up.
THE REVIEW:
Like the original, the Hydrate Primer has a light sand-coloured tint that blends as seamlessly across my skin as it did the darker and lighter skin tones of the GLAMOUR team who tried it. After gently massaging it in, it disappears into an invisible blurring veil that slightly softens the look of blemishes and pores, plumps out fine lines and neutralises discolouration.
It feels light and silky on skin, is easy to apply with fingertips and even gives enough microscopic coverage to wear alone on a very good skin day. Underneath foundation, is where it really performs, though. It’ll help to lock your makeup in place, providing a smooth service for your foundation to grip to, plus it adds an extra juiciness to proceedings. If your skin is feeling particularly sapped, this will reinstate some much-needed moisture. No, it’s not a mega-watt streak of colour that transforms skin, it’s a subtle, barely-there, boost that’ll leave it looking imperceptibly smoother, sheenier and healthier. “Have you been for a very wholesome week away and eaten all your greens?” Nope, I’ve chucked this on while straddling the pole on the tube and holding my laptop in the other hand.
THE VERDICT:
It may not change your life, but if you fancy slightly fresher-looking skin in a tube, this is your guy. As for whether it’s made it into my makeup bag, I guess there’s room for one more.