"Oiliness is next to poverty" so they say, so banish the shine with Benefit's Agent Zero Shine Powder!

by - Wednesday, November 05, 2014

To be completely honest, it's only when Benefit was launched here in Manila did I get familiar with most of their products. Sure I've heard of Benetint, but I wasn't familiar with the other products that people have been raving about.

When they finally launched here in Manila and I was invited to their launches and other parties, I finally got to know their products one by one. And every time I would visit the US, I would not leave San Francisco without picking up my favorite products. You can check out my list HERE. But it's been long ago since I wrote that blog post, and now I know more of their products and that list have grown longer. And thank goodness that they finally arrived in Manila!

The first ever product that I bought here in Manila when they first opened, was their Girl Meets Pearl.

Benefit The Porefessional Agent Zero Shine: Shine-Vanishing PRO Powder 7g, PhP 1,600

Now, let's talk about Agent Zero Shine Powder - how awesome is the packaging? Well, I didn't doubt it one bit since Benefit always had awesomee innovative packaging! As much as I love elegant, solid and luxury packaging, I think you will all agree me when I say that I absolutely love the look of all Benefit products and I will never get sick of them. Probably that's why a lot of cosmetics brand are trying to copy the way they name their products as well.
In the packaging, this product is described with a container that is an all-in-one powder brush dispenser with a small portable, mini kabuki brush which makes it absolutely perfect for those who do their makeup on the go (so they claim, but let's see, shall we?). Or those who do not want to bring a whole lot of products in their purse for retouching.
Operating the packaging is pretty simple. You just take the cap off, unlock the powder (you twist the top part of the tube where the holes are) and tap a little bit of powder on to the cap. To remove the brush, you twist the bottom off and you can use the brush. You can just twist it back on so you can easily put it back in the container without damaging the brush hairs too!
I love that the packaging is quite handy. You can carry it in a clutch too if you're going out at night. No need to bring those compacts.
The Agent Zero Shine is a lightweight powder, which is formulated to control shine, remove shine, smooth the skin, and reduce the appearance of pores. The powder has a very velvety texture and is finely milled. It doesn't feel like talc or baking soda-ish but very light and feathery. Imagine the texture of a primer, but in a powder form - it feels very silky and light to the touch and layers the skin with a velvety veil!

To use, all you have to do is follow these three simple steps:
One, twist off the built-in brush from the bottom of the packaging.
Two, tap some powder into the cap turned upside down.
And three, dot some powder on your nose, chin and forehead sweep on the skin with light brushing strokes.
It couldn't be simpler, using this powder is such a breeze to learn. No special skills required! 

The powder looks very natural on the skin. It has a slight tint of skin-tone color that was formulated to suit most skin tones and shades without masking your complexion. So it basically gives you a very porcelain finish without fully covering your skin. The powder is nearly "transparent" and gives a long-lasting matte finish. My t-zone usually gets oily mid-day or maybe after only about 3 hours of wearing makeup. But with my newly discovered Agent Zero Shine, just quick touch-up before facing people will keep the makeup shine free all day or at least a few more hours. 
You can use Agent Zero Powder on top of foundation to set it or you can apply it on its own on bare skin. But before you wear it alone, make sure that you moisturize well because as all powders go, powders can exaggerate dry skin making you look drier than usual.
Here's a photo of me after wearing my makeup the whole day without retouch. You can see how oily my nose it in the photo. Can you say Crisco?
I do, however, suggest that you use oil blotters first before using Agent Zero to retouch. You will see why later.

Overall, I am impressed with Agent Zero Shine Powder. I would definitely recommend it to those who need to control and correct shine in the middle of the day. Applying more powder foundation on top of your oily nose can eventually make you look cake! Agent Zero makes the skin look fresh and matte for a long time.
Here's what I am talking about using oil blotters first. Because my nose was oily, when I brushed the powders on top of the area, it caked a little bit. It removed the foundation that was on my skin and Agent Zero just covered it up with a transparent layer of blotting powder to remove the shine. On the bright side though, my nose is poreless! The lines under my eyes were also filled in (compare with the other eye).

If you want a fresh face for just running errands or going to mass on Sunday, try using Benefit Agent Zero Shine Powder with Benefit Hydrating Tinted Lip Balms!! Perfect Combo!


INGREDIENTS:
Talc, Nylon-12, Water, Magnesium Myristate, Lauroyl Lysine, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Zea Mays (Corn) Starch, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Lens Esculenta (Lentil) Fruit Extract, Silica, Isoceteth-10, Ethylhexylglycerin, Aluminum Dimyristate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate. [+/-: CI 15850 (Red 6, Red 7, Red 7 Lake), CI 15985 (Yellow 6, Yellow 6 Lake), CI 19140 (Yellow 5, Yellow 5 Lake), CI 42090 (Blue 1 Lake), CI 45410 (Red 27, Red 27 Lake, Red 28 Lake), CI 73360 (Red 30, Red 30 Lake), CI 77007 (Ultramarines), CI 77163 (Bismuth Oxychloride), CI 77288 (Chromium Oxide Greens), CI 77289 (Chromium Hydroxide Green), CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499 (Iron Oxides), CI 77510 (Ferric Ferrocyanide, Ferric Ammonium Ferrocyanide), CI 77742 (Manganese Violet), CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide)].N 08064/A


HERE ARE MY THOUGHTS:
Length of usage before review: A little over one week


PROS
  • Takes away the shine from your face with just a little product (normal or dry skin).
  • Great for touchups.
  • Can be used to set foundation but you may use a whole lot though.
  • Can be used alone for a shine-free, fresh face.
  • Suits any skin type or shade.
  • Fills in pores and any fine lines making your skin look instantly flawless.
  • Convenient packaging!
  • Gives an airbrush-finished look.
  • Feels light on the face. Does not make you look cake (just avoid mixing with oil!)
  • Non-comedogenic.
  • Pleasant smell.
  • Gives a very soft, velvety finish that does not look dry.
  • Does not give a ghostly, white cast on the face when used in flash photography.


NEUTRAL
  • Does not provide any coverage at all so if your makeup has been "eaten" by your extremely oily skin, you may still need to bring powder with coverage.
  • I recommend a use of oil blotters or facial tissue on oily areas before retouch.
  • Pricey for only 7g. But then again, just a little goes a long way.
  • Sheer coverage.
  • If you have extremely oily skin, you may finish up this product faster than with normal skin.
  • Can be a bit messy to use.


CONS
  • Brush that comes with it is made from real hair but is a bit too firm.  It can "disturb" the makeup that has already been applied.
  • In spite of the innovative and convenience of the packaging, I still find it hard to fuss around with when you need to touch up on the go. You will need a sturdy surface to shake the bottle about and dip the brush. 
  • When you accidentally pour too much product on the cap, you can't put it back in.


MY OVERALL RATING: ★★★★☆


Retail Price: PhP 1,600 for 7g
Purchased For: Gift from Benefit (Thank you!)
Will I re-purchase? Maybe.
Will I recommend it? Yes.




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