“Is prepping the skin before applying makeup really necessary?”
This is one of the biggest questions I get from my clients. Take it from someone in the industry: Prepping your skin is absolutely essential for preventing breakouts, evening skin tone, and reducing the appearance of pores, fine lines, and wrinkles.
And when it comes to truly effective makeup prep, Benefit Cosmetics' POREfessional line is my holy grail. Here's why:
The Deep Retreat Clay Mask actually goes deep
The POREfessional Deep Retreat Clay Mask gives your skin a super satisfying deep clean by drawing out the excess oil and dirt trapped in your pores.
It’s made with kaolin clay, which helps clear pores, sea fennel extract, which minimizes excess oil, and bisabolol, which helps skin feel comfortable.
Post-Benefit mask: clean, glowy skin! ✨
You can actually see the dots appear as the mask dries (which is super satisfying). Unlike other masks that feel super tight and can be hard to scrub off, the Deep Retreat Clay Mask feels comfortable while wearing it, easily washing off to reveal visibly refined pores and mattified, refreshed skin. It’s so comfortable that I forgot I had it on and almost walked out of the house! My neighbors would have loved that.
From a professional standpoint, I love gentle ingredients that nourish the skin instead of irritate them. That’s why I love this mask—it’s delicate yet effective, and my clients say it makes their skin look like they've just gotten a facial.
It's only $39 ($20 for the mini). I use a small amount twice each week, so it’s lasted me well over four months—so worth the value!
The Smooth Sip Moisturizer delivers long-lasting hydration
Hydration is the #1 key for healthy-looking skin and seamless makeup application. And the Benefit Cosmetics' Smooth Sip Moisturizer provides the perfect balance of hydration without feeling heavy or greasy under makeup. It’s the first moisturizer that doesn’t leave my skin shining brighter than a disco ball, or make me feel like I need to wash my face after only a few minutes.
And that’s thanks to its power formula of niacinamide (a form of vitamin B3), which helps smooth the look of pores, celery seed extract and flax seed extract, which help visibly improve skin texture and refine the look of pores, and squalane and aloe leaf juice, which help maintain hydration.
It leaves my skin with a matte finish that’s comfortable, breathable, and weightless.
The Smooth Sip Moisturizer works great for those with oily skin, and my clients with dryer skin have said they love it too! It’s only $44 ($22 for the mini), and you only need a dime-sized amount, so it lasts for about 2-3 months.
The POREfessional Face Primer creates an airbrushed finish
This bestselling primer ($35) is my go-to for a reason. Its lightweight, silky formula instantly fills in and blurs the appearance of pores and fine lines, creating an incredibly smooth surface for makeup application.
As a derm PA, I know how important vitamin E is for helping combat inflammation and hyperpigmentation. The fact that the POREfessional Face Primer has vitamin E in it to help deliver a flawless, long-lasting canvas for any makeup look, is pure gold. And my clients have noticed. They say this primer has helped even their skin tone, minimize the appearance of their pores, fine lines, and puffiness.
I’ve gotten so many questions about the products I use to minimize the look off of uneven skin texture, cakiness, and patchy makeup, and I always point them to this primer.
The POREfessional line is officially my favorite pre-makeup routine
My skin is smoother than ever, hydrated without the grease, and my makeup not only looks airbrushed, but it lasts ALL day. I’m sold.
Plus, investing in high-quality prep products like these is a money-saver since you’re improving the longevity and appearance of your makeup.
The search is over: Try incorporating these Benefit Cosmetics essentials into your routine. Trust me, your skin (and your makeup) will thank you!
This article was written based on personal experience. Individual results may vary.
