Benefit's Brand New POREfessional Pearl Primer

I discuss the brand new Benefit POREfessional Pearl Primer and all of it's pore-shrinking, face-brightening, make-up prolonging capabilities! Read below...

When whispers of the Benefit team's visit started circling around the LOOK Magazine office where I'm currently interning, I didn't hesitate to rush upstairs and take advantage of the freebies up for grabs. I was grateful for the free pizza lunch - a very welcome break from eating yet another portion of batch-cooked, budget-friendly veggie chilli. Even more exciting was the chance to try out Benefit's brand new POREfessional Pearl Primer which was released earlier this month. 

I've long been a lover of Benefit; it was the first high-end make-up brand that I started to develop a loyalty to at aged thirteen, when I got my hands on a Dandelion finishing powder and a Benetint lip and cheek stain. While these particular products didn't stand the test of time in my make-up bag, I have always been a dedicated user of the original Benefit POREfessional face primer. Before beginning a number of medication courses to tackle my problematic acne-prone skin, I relied on POREfessional to minimise the appearance of pores and mattify my oily t-zone. I've been on quite a journey with my skin since then and have really had to overhaul the type of skin and make-up products I use. It's perfect timing then, that Benefit would release their latest POREfessional Pearl Primer just as my mission for acne-free skin is (hopefully) coming to an end. 

The Pearl Primer does everything that the original primer does, and more. A pea-sized amount is enough to instantly minimise the appearance of pores, creating a smooth base before applying your foundation or a perfected bare-faced 'just-rolled-out-bed' look on its own. While the original POREfessional Primer would stop there, this beauty takes it one step further by visibly illuminating the skin with a bright, pearlescent gleam. Its release comes at the perfect time of year; while we've almost made it through January, that radiant 'summer glow' still feels pretty unattainable, what with the constant rain, lack of daylight and freezing temperatures. The Pearl Primer is exactly what I didn't know I needed to give my tired, dehydrated skin a little boost of TLC. My only worry is that, while my skin is currently more dehydrated than most thanks to the wonder-drug that is Roaccutane, the primer has been slightly drying on my skin. There's no doubt, however, that it does exactly what it says it will do - something that is often a rarity in this over-saturated make-up industry. While a lot of brands seem to make false claims about their latest false-lash effect mascara or stay-all-day lipstick, Benefit always get it right - the brand new POREfessional Pearl Primer is no exception.