Beauty Throwdown: Which Primer and Powder Pair Reigns Supreme – Benefit, Teviant, or Laura Mercier?

The powerful combo of primer and powder used to be something I'd save for special occasions—those times when your makeup needs to stay flawless even hours after you’ve arrived. But lately, I've realized that this pairing isn't just for events; it’s also a must for long workdays. Not only does it keep your makeup looking fresh for as long as possible, but it also helps you avoid that haggard look when you’re powering through a busy day.

When searching for reviews, I noticed that primers and powders are usually tackled separately—so I thought, why not do a combination throwdown? I decided to pair primers and powders from three different brands and put them to the test, focusing on oil control, base longevity, and overall makeup finish. To keep things fair and consistent, I used the same skincare routine and makeup base throughout the testing period. Let’s see which pairing comes out on top!

Benefit POREfessional Matte Primer (P2,320 for 22ml) = P105.45/ml
Benefit POREfessional Matte Power Powder (P1,460 for 4g, P2,520 for 8g) = P365/g or P315/g

Makeup Finish: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ (4.5/5)
Base Longevity: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
Oil Control: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
Total Score: 14.5/15

Claims:

• Primer: 12-hour pore refining, 8-hour mattifying, smudge-proof & sweatproof, pore-blurring effect

• Powder: 16-hour longwear, smudge-proof, sweatproof & humidity-proof, pore-blurring effect

I first reviewed this duo when it was released last year, and I remember being impressed with its performance—though I did notice it was influenced by the type of base makeup I used. In this new test, the Benefit pair still delivered solid results, lasting over 9 hours without needing major touch-ups. This time around, I kept my base makeup simple with a lightweight, moisturizing skin tint and focused on ceramide-based skincare to keep my skin balanced and in good condition.

The only slight downside is that the finish can look a bit too matte right after application. Personally, I prefer a bit more of a natural finish, so I deducted half a point from the makeup finish score. If you love a completely matte look, though, you might actually see this as a bonus!

Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer Blurring (P1,800 for 15ml, P2,900 for 30ml) = P120/ml or P96.67/ml
Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder (P1,600 for 9.3g, P2,800 for 29g) = P172.04/g or P96.55/g

Makeup Finish: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
Base Longevity: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
Oil Control: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
Total Score: 15/15

Claims:

• Primer: 16-hour extended wear, all-day shine control, blurs and refines skin

• Powder: 24-hour shine control, 16-hour soft matte finish, zero flashback

I went with the Blurring variant of the Pure Canvas Primer because it’s recommended for those with enlarged pores, but just a heads-up—Laura Mercier also offers Hydrating and Illuminating versions that are great for dry and dull skin respectively.

Honestly, the LM Translucent Loose Setting Powder has been a holy grail for me for years. The translucency is spot-on, it controls shine beautifully, and it never gives me that dreaded flashback in photos. They even launched Honey and Medium Deep shades to cater to deeper skin tones, but the original Translucent shade is a great match for my light-medium complexion.

This pairing worked perfectly for me, delivering a flawless, long-lasting finish without any issues. I did notice that the primer has been relaunched and reformulated recently, so I was a bit wary at first. Thankfully, it still performs just as well as the old version, and together with the powder, it held up beautifully throughout the day. If you’re looking for a truly reliable primer-and-powder combo that delivers on both longevity and a soft matte finish, this one is hard to beat!

Teviant The Ultimate Skin Master Primer Luminous Radiant (P795 for 30ml) = P26.5/ml
Teviant The Ultimate Skin Master Loose Powder in Translucent (P650 for 10g) = P65/g

Makeup Finish: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
Base Longevity: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ (4.5/5)
Oil Control: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ (4.5/5)
Total Score: 14/15

Claims:

• Primer: Skincare and primer in one, lightweight and weightless texture, long-wearing, complexion corrector

• Powder: Skin-perfecting, lightweight, velvet matte finish, controls shine

The Teviant primer is one of those versatile hybrid makeup products that doubles as skincare. It’s formulated with Northern Truffle Extract, Propanediol, and Vitamin E, so it’s definitely doing more than just priming your skin. It feels lightweight and glides on smoothly, creating a luminous and radiant base that looks naturally healthy.

The loose powder in Translucent is one of five available options and is recommended for balanced undertones. If you’re looking for a shade that better suits your skin tone, they also offer Vanilla and Custard for lighter and deeper tones, plus an Illuminating Radiant Powder and a Cotton Candy Brightening Powder for specific finishes.

Now, this combo does score a bit lower compared to the Benefit and Laura Mercier pairings, mainly because of the oil control and base longevity. The primer’s radiant finish naturally leans a bit more dewy, which isn’t as ideal for oily skin or long wear as the more mattifying options. Plus, I used a moisturizing skin tint as my base, which also affected the longevity. I noticed that when paired with a more matte foundation, like Teviant’s own foundation, the performance improved significantly.

If you prefer a soft, radiant look that doesn’t feel too flat, this combo is a great choice—just keep in mind that it’s not specifically designed for oil control, so a matte base can make a big difference. It’s a beautiful, skin-like finish that works well for more natural, glowy makeup days!

Swatches from L-R: Benefit POREfessional Matte Primer, Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer Blurring, Teviant The Ultimate Skin Master Primer Luminous Radiant

Swatches from L-R: Benefit POREfessional Matte Power Powder, Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder, Teviant The Ultimate Skin Master Loose Powder in Translucent

This was definitely a tough battle because all three duos delivered pretty solid results! When it comes to affordability, Teviant clearly takes the crown—not only is it the most budget-friendly, but it also offers the most variety in terms of loose powder shades and finishes. If you’re someone who likes to experiment or switch up your look, Teviant’s range gives you plenty of options.

However, Benefit and Laura Mercier also have their own practical advantage when it comes to cost per amount. The price per ml or gram really depends on whether you’re getting the full-sized or travel-sized versions, and the bigger the product, the lower the cost per unit. That said, the Laura Mercier powder honestly feels like it lasts forever! You only need the tiniest bit per application, so it’s definitely a great investment if you’re willing to splurge a little.

In terms of performance, Laura Mercier came out on top with a perfect score of 15/15—it’s really hard to beat the longevity, oil control, and soft matte finish that still looks natural. Benefit followed closely with 14.5/15, with just a slight deduction for a matte finish that can look a bit too flat at first. Teviant rounded out the lineup with 14/15, and honestly, the lower score is mostly due to the primer’s more radiant finish, which isn’t quite as oil-controlling as the others. But pair it with a matte foundation, and it holds up well!

Do you have a go-to primer and powder pair that you swear by? I’d love to know what works for you!