Benefit Porefessional Agent Zero Shine

Maybe a few of you are with me on this, but having been a huge fan of the original Benefit Porefessional Primer or "balm" as they're not calling it, I was ecstatic to hear they were releasing a new product in the same line. Immediately after it was available in my local Sephora I sped over, picked it up and having been using it for a few weeks now trying to get an accurate opinion of the Porefessional Zero Shine Powder.

Now, let's talk about a few things here. First, I'd like to address the packaging. I thought the use of packaging was very clever in that there is a brush screwed into the bottom of the tube and an open and close lock on the actual powder dispenser. The open/close business is fucking brilliant. I cannot be the only person who spills their loose powder everywhere whenever they use it, right? And I can't be the only person to drastically lose my shit when I realize something I just spent a lot of money on is all over my bathroom floor. Anyway - brilliant. As for the brush, while I think that ideally this would be a great thing to have, but I really feel like if you're going to do something to make a product better you need to go 110% on it. I used this brush once and knew I couldn't use it again. It's very firm and has short bristles with no give to them (very unlike a powder brush) and it actually hurts. It feels slightly similar to if you were to rub a brillo (sp.?) pad all over your face. However, this was easily overlookable (more words I'm making up) because I have a thousand brushes and just opted for my Real Techniques Contour Brush from the Core Collection and that seemed to work just fine.

The powder is kind of a scary yellow color (much like the primer) that I was initially afraid to sweep across my forehead but never fear, it goes on clear (that rhymed). It also gives your skin that same kind of strange satin like feel that the Benefit Porefessional Primer gives you. Can't really seem to find that feeling from any other product... What is it? Anyway, a little goes a long way with this stuff but I'm curious to see how long it actually lasts me. I did notice that it immediately diminished any shine and that it didn't leave my face looking too powdery (but don't mistake me - use too much of this stuff and you'll look like a powder Casper the friendly ghost).

According to Benefit this powder instantly minimizes shine and the look of pores - both of which are true. However, when I buy a product I always assume (without fact checking or asking around) that the product should last me all day. And I just want to warn you right now, this one doesn't. Not to say that I'm not enjoying it, but for $30 I just think I expect a little more. I have a feeling that's why there is a brush included in the tube so that you can take it on the go for when you need to touch up every few hours. To me, this completely negates the whole point of the product which is to not have to touch up because of shine.

I apply this powder of my liquid foundation in the morning and I'd say it lasts a good three or four hours before I do notice my foundation starting to go a bit shine-y. But I will say that I did notice a difference in the amount of shine. There is definitely a lot less than when I don't use this product but there are other products out there that do it better for the same cost. There are even some far more affordable dupes that aren't that far off from this one. After using this, I think I still prefer Estee Lauder's Lucidity Powder as an anti-shine powder.

The last few Benefit products I've tried just really haven't been up to par for me (the new Oxygen line products included) and I've recently found out they are discontinuing my all time favorite concealer, the Play Stick. What the hell is going on Benefit? We need to have a talk.