benefit cosmetics: dr. feelgood review

i'm currently using dr. feelgood from benefit cosmetics as a primer on my face before applying my mineral makeup. i go through my usual routine of cleansing, toning and moisturising, allowing the moisturiser to absorb into my skin for about ten to fifteen minutes depending on how rushed i am in the morning getting ready for work.

once my moisturiser has mostly absorbed and my face no longer feels wet or sticky, i apply the dr. feelgood balm lightly over my entire face before starting with my makeup routine.

dr feelgood is marketed as a colourless, weightless balm that goes on to bare skin or to wear over makeup to reduce the appearance of fine lines and pores while soaking up excess oil. also enriched with vitamins A, C and E, it's touted to improve skin condition while maintaining a matte finish on the skin throughout the day.

the retro packaging of the product is pretty cute, and it is nice and compact to carry around in a handbag during the day for touchups. the product has a nice subtle fragrance, although many people would prefer their primers to be fragrance-free. dr. feelgood also comes with a sponge that you can use to apply the product on your face.

i have found that the product works best under makeup, after moisturiser, rather than on top of makeup as recommended on benefit's website. it does a really good job of giving my skin a nice silky texture which helps my mineralised foundation distribute evenly over my face. it also helps to smooth over my rough spots on those bad days when i have slight break outs when it gets too humid.

the downside of this product is that i have to be careful with application. using too much results in a waxy texture on the skin and makeup will just slide off if you stop to blot during the day. the matte effect also does not last me throughout the day. i tested this on its own on a lazy weekend at home with no makeup on and my nose and forehead were shiny after a couple of hours. with my makeup on, the shine isn't too bad but that could be because of the oil-control of my foundation formulation. acne-prone girls will want to avoid using the product because several people have reported that it tends to clog up pores and cause breakouts.

i've also read reviews online that say that the price for the product is a little high. i personally didn't think it was too bad when i first got it, but now that i've used it for awhile, i think that i could probably find a product that would manage the oil-production on my face better for about the same price.

judging from the number of people writing rave reviews for this product, i would say this one isn't a total write-off. it could just be that dr. feelgood isn't totally suitable for my combination skin, it would probably work better for normal or dry skin. i don't regret buying it as it has fulfilled my expectations of smoothening out my skin for makeup application, but it looks like i'm still on the hunt for my perfect makeup primer.