We all have pores but, ultimately, many of us have a complicated relationship with them. Which is precisely where the new Benefit Pore range comes in.
Pores play an important function in helping our skin to release sebum – our body's natural oil – to leave it naturally supple and moisturised. But it's also completely normal to want the type of radiant, smooth-looking canvas that would make a dolphin envious. Thankfully Benefit Cosmetics knows all about that and has found the perfect sweet spot.
When the brand first launched those epic Porefessional Primers that had us all choked up, they knew that we really cared about pores. Now Benefit has decided to extend its pore care range to include a full set of products that prioritise a glowy finish that truly minimises the appearance of pores with long term skincare benefits.
The range, which is suitable for all skin types, launches 1st March nationwide but I managed to get my hands on it first to give you the lowdown on whether it’s really worth it.
First off, one of the key factors that can affect the appearance of skin is the condition of your pores. Those small openings in the skin secrete oil and sweat, which means they can also become clogged or enlarged and start causing problems. This, in turn, can lead to various skin concerns like acne, blackheads, dullness, unevenness – you name it. For all of us who wear makeup regularly, a healthy canvas is also the best way to get your base to really last and look its best.
This is where the new pore skincare range, which designed to target and treat the specific needs of pore-prone skin, can help. The products offer a range of benefits that can help to improve the overall appearance and health of your skin. It features all the essentials: a makeup remover oil, a foaming cleanser, two face masks, a foaming toner and moisturiser. In other words, a full and refined skincare routine.
While the packaging is fun, don’t let the quirky pastels fool you – these are still hardworking products, packed with all the goodies your skin needs to stay pore-fectly (couldn't resist!) smooth and healthy.
Benefit Pore Care review: at a glance
- The Pros: affordable, effective, lightweight formulas, with fun and quirky packaging.
- The Cons: The super lightweight moisturiser may not be nourishing enough for some skin types that suffer from medium to severe dryness. Since the focus of the range is on pores and clearer skin, it doesn't carry as many long-term benefits when it comes to collagen.
- Price: £26-£35
- Our verdict: The new Benefit Pore Care range offers a comprehensive approach to pore care, with great products designed to cleanse, hydrate, soothe and minimise the appearance of pores. Whether you have enlarged pores, clogged pores or simply want to improve the overall appearance of your skin, this range is a great place to start.
- GLAMOUR star rating (out of 10): ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Meet the reviewer
I’m Shei, a beauty writer with relatively unproblematic (*says while touching wood*) combination skin. I have an oily T-Zone and dry areas on the rest of my face. My main skin concern is probably hyperpigmentation, which for me is usually caused by any trauma to the skin like a graze, cut or the occasional hormonal pimple. While I don’t have major concerns with my pores, and understand that they are there to help my skin remain youthful and supple, prevention is better than cure. So I was super excited to try this Benefit Pore range because I know this brand understands pores. Plus I love innovation and that foaming toner got me intrigued!
Product Deep Dive
This new pore range is special because it offers a full range of essential products suitable for anyone’s skincare routine, without harsh active ingredients. Its mission is to be straight forward and easy to use, so I set about testing the theory.
Step one: Get Unblocked Pore Clearing Makeup-Removing Oil, £32
This makeup-removing oil is packed with grape seed, jojoba seed and avocado oils that work hard to melt dirt away quickly without uncomfortable scrubbing. All I needed was a couple of drops and even my stubborn eyeliner was gone a few moments after massaging in the product.
Step two: Good Cleanup Pore-Purifying Foaming Cleanser, £26
Then you can go in with Good Cleanup, which is the pore-purifying foaming cleanser. It comes out gel-like but as you massage it in it gently starts foaming, transforming into a comforting formula that glides on your skin without any tugging. It’s formulated with lemon extract, which is used to reduce the appearance of pores.
Step three: Speedy Smooth Pore Mask, £35 or Deep Retreat Pore Clear Mask, £35
After rinsing my face, my complexion looks fresh but I can tell that it needs a top-up of moisture. I went in with the speedy pore mask as I wanted to really refine the look of my pores – fast. The hyaluronic acid and squalane help with much-needed hydration, while the formula is also infused with celery and flax seed extracts that work hard to visibly improve the skin’s texture. I left it on for around five minutes as I cleaned my teeth. Once I rinsed it off I could already tell my skin texture had a visible improvement.
The Deep Retreat Pore Clear Mask is equally as effective but focuses on unclogging pores via a mineral-rich kaolin clay that turns a soft lilac as it dries with little bubbles so you can see where it is drawing out excess oil and dirt. You can leave it on for around 30 minutes while you sink into your wellness routine and then rinse it off. This one is only needed a couple of times a week and you will see visibly purified pores and mattified skin.
Step four: Tight n’ Toned, £32
I was most curious about the Tight n’ Toned foaming toner. It's formulated with a family of AHAs including glycolic acid and citric acid, and PHAs like gluconolactone that work hard together to exfoliate and visibly tighten pores. This bubbly foam formula feels weightless to the touch and absorbs quickly. Personally, I wasn’t sure about the formula. I tried to tap it in with my fingers but it dried quickly, making it hard to distribute, and it was a little sticky in my palms. The Tight n’ Toned foaming toner comes with a pump, though, which eliminates the need for a cotton pad, so it's a more sustainable alternative to your usual toners.
Step five: Smooth Sip Moisturiser, £35
For the final step I tried the Smooth Sip moisturiser, which is formulated with niacinamide in a gel texture. It's designed to help smooth the look of pores over time, but it also has an immediate effect on the appearance of your skin texture. Usually I like a balmy texture for my moisturisers but this gel texture still felt nourishing on my skin and left me with a golden glow at the end of it.
Benefit Pore Care Range review: Packaging
Whether it's a skincare or a makeup product, packaging matters. The way your beauty cabinet looks is important and having cute packaging that is highly functional will often encourage you to be more consistent. The bottles are aluminium and recyclable – brownie points.
GLAMOUR Road Test
It’s only natural to be sceptical of a brand known for makeup doing skincare – and doing it well. However, I saw a noticeable difference from using the full range on day one (I’m on my third week now).
My two-step cleansing routine was oh-so-easy and didn’t involve me trying to fight with my eyelids to remove eyeliner and mascara residue from my sensitive under-eyes. I have tried my fair share of cleansing oils as a beauty journo, but the Get Unblocked Pore Clearing Makeup-Removing Oil might be one of the best.
By day five things really started to kick in and to be honest, I loved the results. The only product I was unsure about was the foaming toner as straight after application my skin felt a little tight, and the foaming formula didn’t make it easy to apply it all over. Although I see the vision I’m unsure whether I’d reach for it again. The masks, however, have got me hooked and the glow they impart is unmatched.
How to get rid of pores, according to the expertsGallery11 PhotosThe Final Verdict
They say that skincare is wellness and they didn’t lie. When you have a pleasant experience you're more likely to be rigorous and consistent, which is great because it means that your skin gets all the benefits. The steps provided a solid canvas for the Porefessional primers and makeup, but on its own this range really did what it needed to do.
For this price range I am thoroughly impressed and quickly replaced a few of my go-to's so that I can see the long-term benefits for my skin. Although I likely won’t be reaching too hard for the foaming toner, the oil cleanser will sit front of the class in my beauty cabinet. Well done Benefit, my skin feels plump, glowy and ready to take on my makeup routine – and the world.
The Benefit Pore Range will be available to shop IRL nationwide from the 31st March.
For more from Glamour UK Beauty Writer Shei Mamona, follow her on Instagram @sheimamona
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