Benefit the POREfessional Matte Primer for combination skin
Cyclopentasiloxane
Dimethicone
Vinyl Dimethicone Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Average
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for combination skin; other products fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Offers moderate mattifying benefits for your combination skin due to the presence of silica and dimethicone, which absorb excess oil and create a smooth finish.
- This primer is highly suitable for combination skin, providing effective sebum control and mattifying effects.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
People Say
★4.2Overall rating based on 10.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this primer is highly regarded by users with oily and combination skin for its ability to instantly blur pores and create a smooth, matte canvas for makeup. It excels at extending makeup wear and reducing shine. Individuals with very dry skin or those sensitive to silicone-based textures may find it less suitable.
Highlights
Instant pore blurring Mostly Mentioned
- “Blurs pores instantly”
- “skin looks smoother”
- “pores look minimized”
Effective oil control Often Mentioned
- “Keeps oil down”
- “prevents shiny face”
- “great for oily skin”
Extends makeup wear Often Mentioned
- “Makeup stays put”
- “held on for hours”
- “foundation doesn't move”
Velvety skin texture Sometimes Noted
- “Feels like velvet”
- “smooths out skin”
- “soft finish”
Can be drying Sometimes Noted
- “Sucks out moisture”
- “too drying”
- “causes dry patches”
Expensive for size Sometimes Noted
- “Somewhat pricey”
- “expensive for size”
- “not worth cost”
Not for dry skin Sometimes Noted
- “Discourage if very dry”
- “not for dry types”
- “felt too heavy”
Pore coverage limits Rarely Noted
- “Doesn't fill all”
- “still noticeable pores”
- “not dramatic enough”
Sources: lovi.care, musingsofamuse.com, reddit.com, ipsy.com, reviewstream.com, projectvanity.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Benefit The POREfessional Matte Primer work for combination skin?
This primer works moderately well for your combination skin, using silica and dimethicone to absorb excess oil and create a smooth finish. It is safe and unlikely to cause irritation, but a primer for this skin needs broad-spectrum sun protection, hydrating and soothing ingredients, antioxidants, and barrier-repairing elements to balance oily and dry areas effectively.
Which ingredients make this primer a good fit for combination skin?
Silica and dimethicone make this primer a good fit for combination skin by absorbing excess oil and creating a smooth finish. Cyclopentasiloxane also helps provide a safe, gentle application that is unlikely to cause irritation. Combination skin of this type needs sun protection, hydrating and soothing ingredients, antioxidants, and barrier-repairing components to maintain balance across oily and dry areas.
What does Cyclopentasiloxane do for combination skin?
Cyclopentasiloxane gives combination skin a smooth, silky feel and helps spread other ingredients evenly without feeling heavy or greasy. It is safe for daily use and is unlikely to cause skin irritation or significant absorption into the skin.
What does Dimethicone do for combination skin?
Dimethicone helps protect combination skin by forming a light barrier that smooths the surface without feeling heavy or greasy. It may keep skin soft and comfortable, though it is unlikely to deeply moisturize dry areas or control excess oil on its own.
Military Medicine, 2024Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2014
Where does it go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This makeup primer goes in your morning routine after your moisturizer and sunscreen, before your makeup. It helps control oil and gives combination skin a smooth finish. To work even better for this skin type, a product like this needs extra oil-absorbing powders and lightweight balancing hydrators.
Can I use this primer with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this primer after applying your retinol and moisturizer once your skin is dry. This product is unlikely to cause irritation and helps smooth out your skin, but combination skin often does better with a primer that also delivers extra hydration and barrier support.
How often should I use it?
You can use this primer whenever you wear makeup, as it is very safe and unlikely to cause skin irritation. However, combination skin needs products with mattifying ingredients like silica and dimethicone to control excess oil and create a smooth finish.
Can this primer clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This primer is unlikely to cause irritation on combination skin, as it contains no harsh or prohibited ingredients. However, because it can feel drying or heavy on certain areas, a product of this type for combination skin needs ingredients that balance oil control with enough lightweight moisture to keep the skin comfortable.
Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Wearing an N95 mask alone compared to using dimethicone cream or hydrocolloid dressing caused more adverse skin reactions among 73 military health care workers, with no significant differences in fit test failure rates between groups.
Military Medicine, 2024A dimethicone skin protectant lotion significantly decreased visual scoring and transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control and SLS-only treated sites in 12 healthy humans exposed to sodium lauryl sulfate.
Skin Research and Technology, 2000Treatment with a moisturizer containing dimethicone and glycerine increased epidermal thickness by 0.019 mm, improved barrier function by decreasing transepidermal water loss by 13%, decreased melanin intensity, and induced keratins 6 and 16 in fifteen women with moderately photoaged forearms.
Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 2007
Ingredients
Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Vinyl Dimethicone Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Silica, Isododecane, Polysilicone-11, C30-45 Alkyl Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, C30-45 Olefin, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.