Benefit Hello Happy Velvet Powder Foundation (All shades)

Benefit recently came out with two new Hello Happy foundations! A few weeks ago, I wrote a review for the Hello Happy Flawless Brightening Liquid Foundation, and today I'm back with my thoughts on the Hello Happy Velvet Powder Foundation! Available in 12 shades, this powder foundation provides buildable coverage and a matte finish. In addition, the compact includes a brush and a sponge applicator to customize the coverage!

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The formula feels smooth and silky to the touch, almost a bit creamy, thanks to the shea butter it contains!

It has a satin finish and doesn't look ultra matte on my skin. It clings a bit to dry patches, like most powder foundations, but this small problem can be solved with a light spritz of your favorite makeup setting spray.

By the way this powder is supposed to be mattifying, but for some strange reason most powder foundations make my skin oilier than my usual liquid foundation and loose powder combo. And this one is no exception, my skin is already shiny by the 2½ hours mark.

When I apply this powder with the brush, the coverage is sheer and it looks natural on the skin.

But I don't like how it looks when I apply it with the sponge (like I did for this before/after photo), it provides more coverage (medium) but it makes the foundation look cakey and chalky, especially around my mouth.

The Hello Happy Velvet Powder Foundation lasts between 6 and 10 hours on me, depending on how I apply it.

With the sponge, it already looks cakey immediately after application, and the foundation breaks down after only 6 hours mark. I find that it looks much better with the brush and lasts longer too (10 hours), although the coverage is sheerer.

To be honest, powder foundations aren't my favorite type of foundation. I use them every time I do my makeup, but I don't apply them all over my face!

I prefer to apply my liquid foundation and add a bit of corrector where I need more coverage, and then I add the powder foundation only where I applied the corrector. When I use it this way, the Hello Happy Velvet Powder Foundation is great!

This might be a great product for you if you only need sheer coverage, but I prefer medium to full coverage and it just doesn't look good on me if I try to build up the coverage. However, I like it for touch ups or to add more coverage if needed!

Swatches on fair skin (NC15)

1 is lighter than NW15 and has pink undertones.

2 is darker than NC10 (but lighter than NC15) and has neutral, slightly peachy undertones.

3 is darker than NC10 (but lighter than NC15) and has yellow undertones.

4 is darker than NW25 (but lighter than NW30) and has neutral, slightly pink undertones.

5 is similar to NC30 and has orange undertones.

6 is slightly darker than NC25 and has peachy yellow undertones.

Swatches on fair skin (NC15)

7 is similar to NC30 and has yellow undertones.

8 is darker than NW35 (but lighter than NW40) and has neutral pink undertones.

9 is darker than NC42 (but lighter than NC45) and has caramel undertones.

10 is similar to NW42 and has warm red undertones.

11 is darker than NW42 (but lighter than NW45) and has warm undertones.

12 is similar to NW45 and has warm red undertones.

The Benefit Hello Happy Velvet Powder Foundation retails for $40 CAD for 7g and is available at Sephora.

(I received these products in order to evaluate them and give my opinion, but rest assured that my comments are always honest and impartial. This post contains affiliate links.)