We Tried Benefit’s New Skincare Products for Large Pores & Uneven Texture

Updated:

08 Mar 2023

Laura is a Marketing Coordinator for Hair, Makeup and Fragrance. When she's not refreshing the 'New In' page to get her hands on the latest beauty from Adore, you can find her thrift shopping at her local Salvos and lovingly curating her many Spotify playlists.

Benefit products make an appearance on my face every day whether it's Benefit Goof Proof Brow Pencil, Benefit Benetint Lip & Cheek Tint on my cheeks and lips or my long time love the Benefit The POREfessional Pore Primer 22mL (swoon).

The original Porefessional primer has been a ride or die product for me for so long because I love how it blurs and minimises the look of the larger pores on my cheeks.

Before I mention the word ‘pore’ about 50 more times - let's remember that pores are normal, we all have ‘em and they certainly can’t be shrunk or erased - but there are products that can help to reduce their appearance.

When I saw that Benefit was making its way into skincare I practically clawed my way through the AB office to road-test the products.

I have normal to dry skin that is prone to sebaceous filaments, large pores and milia so my skincare goals are cleansing, hydrating and unblocking pores.

Now enough about me, let me introduce you to the New Pore Gang:

What Is the Benefit Pore Care Range?

The Benefit pore care range has six products designed as a collection and developed to minimise, clear and smooth the look of pores:

1. Benefit The POREfessional Get Unblocked Cleansing Oil - A silky smooth oil cleanser to unblock pores and melt away makeup.

2. Benefit The POREfessional Good Cleanup Foaming Cleanser - A dreamy lightweight foaming gel cleanser to wash away oil and impurities, and leave skin looking refined and radiant.

3. Benefit The POREfessional Tight 'n Toned Toner - A unique foaming toner formulated with AHAs and PHA to shrink the look of pores and exfoliate for a gorgeous, glowy complexion.

4. Benefit The POREfessional Smooth Sip Moisturizer - A refreshing lightweight gel cream moisturiser that nourishes while helping smooth the look of pores.

5. Benefit The POREfessional Speedy Smooth Pore Mask - Smoother skin, in a flash! This gel to clay mask works in just 5 minutes to leave pores look smaller, and skin looking smoother.

6. Benefit The POREfessional Deep Retreat Clay Mask - Mattified, refined-looking skin, made easy. This clay mask is here to draw out oils and unclog pores for healthy, clearer, smoother-looking skin.

There's also the Benefit Pore Care Cleansing Wand- a silicone face mask applicator and cleansing tool for the ultimate masking experience.

How to Use the Benefit Pore Care Range.

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Before I get into my Benefit pore care reviews, you may be wondering how to use these Benefit skincare products in your routine?

Each of these Benefit pore care products have very clear instructions on what they do and where to use them in both an AM or PM routine.

If I’ve learned anything about skincare whilst working at Adore Beauty, it’s that once you find the right products it’s all about routine and consistency to see the results.

My Benefit Pore Care Reviews.

After trying the whole range, these were my Benefit Pore Care range standouts...

1. Benefit Pore Care Oil Cleanser.

What: Benefit The POREfessional Get Unblocked Cleansing Oil

My POREfessional Get Unblocked Oil Cleanser review:

This silky cleansing oil was step one in my nighttime skincare routine to melt away my makeup and daily SPF.

I did 1-2 pumps into my hands to warm it up before applying it to my face and working it into my skin.

As someone prone to sebaceous filaments on my nose and cheeks a good oil cleanse does wonders for unclogging pores - and the ‘Get Unblocked’ lived up to the name.

It did the job to melt off foundation and mascara - the mascara removal does make me end up looking like Robert Patinson’s Batman - but hey - that just shows that it’s working.

I’m not a huge fan of the fruity/grape scent BUT it doesn’t linger when it’s gone.

shop Benefit Pore Care Oil Cleanser

2. Benefit Pore Care Toner.

What: Benefit The POREfessional Tight 'n Toned Toner

My POREfessional Tight n Toned Toner review:

This was my favourite product in the range - I saw the most notable change in the look of the tightness of my skin and size pores after each use.

The Benefit Pore Care unscented toner comes out as a wet and bubbly foam to be applied straight to the face without any need for cotton wipes.

The AHA/PHA in the formula gave my skin a lovely little tingle as I rubbed it in.

Frankly I have always found toners quite confusing to place in a routine but this was the perfect re-introduction and it’s going to stay in my skincare line up long term.

shop Benefit Pore Care Toner

3. Benefit Pore Care Moisturizer.

What: Benefit The POREfessional Smooth Sip Moisturizer

My POREfessional Smooth Sip Moisturizer review:

I'm always excited to try a new water-based gel cream moisturiser because personally I find they're the only formulation to quench my dry skin without clogging my pores or creating milia - and this was a big winner.

My skin felt more hydrated after putting it on and it absorbed nicely into my face and neck.

This little blue tin of goodness also contains niacinamide which is one of my fave ingredients for a smooth complexion.

It is slightly grape-scented like the oil cleanser - but doesn’t last too long.

Did it hydrate my skin without clogging? Yes.

Did it minimise my pores? I think this was the cherry on top of the routine after a double cleanse and tone that really pulled the collection together.

shop Benefit Pore Care Moisturizer

4. Benefit Pore Care Clay Mask.

What: Benefit The POREfessional Deep Retreat Clay Mask

My POREfessional Deep Retreat Mask review:

This clay mask is to be used once a week and left on for about half an hour.

I’m not someone who would usually add a clay mask to my routine - but I did enjoy applying this on a Sunday night and relaxing while the kaolin clay did the work for me.

Yes this unscented deep purple clay did remind me of the purple sludge that gets all over Alec Baldwin in 2003’s The Cat and The Hat (too niche?).

There was something satisfying about seeing the mask change colour when it dried and the little dots of oil that were drawn out of my pores on my nose.

My skin looked and felt really clean and tight after using it - so I think if you’re a pore-clearing clay mask connoisseur or wanting to try your first one, this purple tin is for you.

shop Benefit Pore Care Clay Mask

Final Verdict...

Did my pores look different after using these products?… yes they did.

I stuck to the am and pm routine religiously for 10 days and my pores looked and felt cleaner and more refined each day.

I would definitely recommend this range if you want pore-refining as a skincare focus and you’re stuck on where to start a routine to achieve the results.

Like any well rounded team - there’s a few stand out heroes, but all in all they’re likely strongest together (I could put a blatant Avengers reference here, but I shan’t).

I think the two masks and the cleansing tool are a nice add on to the double cleanse, toner and moisturiser or as a pore-refining step to your current routine.