Review: L'Oreal Youth Code Pore Vanisher

Hi everyone.  Today I have a quick review of L'oreal's Youth Code Pore Vanisher.  I received a free sample of this product from the company because I have an account at the L'Oreal website.

So first, this is what the L'oreal website has to say about the product:

What is Pore Vanisher™?
Pore Vanisher™ is a fresh, airy cream that instantly minimizes the look of pores and shrinks actual pore size in 1 month.

How does it work?
Pore Vanisher™ works on three dimensions to shrink pores: depth*, number and size. Instantly pores appear virtually vanished and skin feels hydrated. Perlite absorbs excess oil for an all-day, shine free, smooth finish. In one day LHA micro-exfoliates to visibly smooth skin’s surface.In one month pores begin to snap back into shape as our highest concentration of Perline-P strengthens and tightens pore walls to shrink actual pore size. 

When Should I Use It?
Apply as the last step in your skincare regimen, AM and PM. Can be used alone or under makeup.

Recommended Regimen:
STEP 1: CLEANSE L’Oréal Paris Cleanser
STEP 2: TREAT Texture Perfector Serum Concentrate
STEP 3: MOISTURIZE Texture Perfector Day/Night Cream
STEP 4: FINISH Texture Perfector Pore Vanisher™ Cream

Formula Essentials
For all Skin Tones
Universal Tint
Suitable For Sensitive Skin
Non-Comedogenic


Now, what I have to say about Youth Code Pore Vanisher:

I previously sampled L'oreal Revitalift Miracle Blur.  (You can see my review for that here.) And I find this product to be VERY similar to Miracle Blur. L'Oreal Pore Vanisher and Miracle Blur are also similar to many of the other pore-minimizing creams out there, such as Benefit's Pore-fessional.

I used the Pore Vanisher after my usual skincare routine of Missha Chocolate Latte face wash, and Missha Super Aqua toner and lotion. The texture of the Pore Vanisher cream is light and fluffy like a thick mousse.  It is lightly tinted and goes on smooth, creamy, and transparent.  The texture is really smooth and slightly moist.  Because it is a bit moisturizing, Pore Vanisher is more suited for normal to dry skin.  I wouldn't recommend it for anyone with oily skin. 

So, on to the pore vanishing claims... I only used the Pore Vanisher twice, so I can't speak on the long-term pore minimizing claims that they make, but as far as pore coverage, this stuff is awesome!  It reminded me very much of Miracle Blur, as it gave my skin the same soft and diffused look.  It just really smoothed over any imperfections, and it looked almost like my skin had been Photoshopped!  It also worked perfectly as a base for my usual BB cream.  

Overall, I loved this product and would highly recommend it!  I use Benefit's Pore-fessional, and this might sound like blasphemy to the beauty gurus out there...but I would say that L'Oreal's Pore Vanisher and Miracle Blur are actually superior to Pore-fessional!  They go on much smoother, in my opinion, and give a more obvious result.  So, if you have normal to dry skin and are looking for a pore-minimizing cream, L'Oreal's Pore Vanisher is a really great product and a less expensive (and in my opinion, BETTER) alternative to Benefit's very popular Pore-fessional.

So, have you tried any pore-minimizing products?  If so, which did you try, and what did you think?    

***UPDATE: I have been using a full-sized bottle of this product since about July and I still love it.  However, I began to notice this week that the product is separating.  There is a clear liquid that comes out with the makeup and the texture is just not the same.  I feel it still works, so I haven't stopped using it.  I checked it out online, and other women have reported similar experiences in blogs and reviews.  So, while I still think Youth Code Pore Vanisher is a great product, you might want to consider the fact that it does not age well when deciding whether or not to invest in this product.      

***Update #2: I continued to try to use this product for a few days after I noticed it was separating.  However, each day, more and more clear liquid began pouring out when the tube was squeezed. Shaking the bottle made no difference.  The water gushing out was really gross, the makeup's texture was totally different, and the product lost all its effectiveness.  I finally just tossed it.  I was bummed because I had gotten used to using a base with my BB. But since I received this product for free from L'Oreal via Cosmo magazine, it was no big loss. What bothers me is the fact that someone out there paid for Pore Vanisher and had to throw it away!  And this product is not cheap as far as drugstore makeup goes.  I no longer recommend this product! Most internet sources say face products can keep for about a year, so why is this stuff turning to disgusting watery mush after only about 6 months? Furthermore, who's to say if you buy this product it hasn't already turned bad before you even open it? I actually saw numerous reviews where women had that experience.  I had some Benefit Porefessional for about 6 months with no problems.  Moral of the story? You get what you pay for... Don't waste your money on this one. 

Review: L'oreal Revitalift Miracle Blur

I recently tried a single-use sample of L'oreal Miracle Blur, so I thought I'd do a little review.

I actually recieved 2 single-use samples of this product.  I requested one from the company, and the other sample came on a card in Siempre Mujer magazine.  

So, first let me tell you what L'oreal's website has to say about this product:  

What Is Miracle Blur?
It’s NOT a moisturizer, NOT a foundation, MORE than a primer; it’s the first of-its-kind Instant Skin Smoother.

What Does It Do?
Miracle Blur instantly erases the look of lines, wrinkles, and pores. Skin instantly looks and feels smooth, leaving a velvet soft matte finish that lasts all day.

When Should I Use It?
Miracle Blur should be applied daily after moisturizing as the final step in every woman’s skincare routine. Wear alone for a matte finish, or wear under makeup for smoother application and wear.

What I have to say about Miracle Blur:
Although I am always eager to try a new sample, I automatically assumed this was a product that was just not too useful for me.  My makeup routine is pretty no-frills.  I don't use primers or other extras, so just by reading the packaging, I didn't have high expectations.  As I was getting ready to go out on Saturday night, I flipped through some of my skincare samples and decided to give the Miracle Blur a go.  

First, the texture of this product coming out of the package was really unusual.  I expected some sort of cream, but the product was thick, had a light beige-yellow color, and it felt sort of dry and fluffy.  I was like hmmm...

When I smoothed it onto my face I expected it to keep the dry consistency, but it actually spread well.  Alone, it did add a sort of soft glow to my skin.  I applied my Holika Holika BB cream on top, but it was pretty hot and humid, and my skin seemed a little too dewy for my liking.  I patted on a little compact powder to make my face less shiny, and afterwards my skin was nice and matte, not at all shiny.  I'm not sure if the matte texture was due to adding the powder, or if the product became more matte after setting.  When I looked at the end result, there was a noticeable diffused effect, a warm glowy softness about my skin.  I was really impressed-this stuff is legit!   

As I said, I didn't expect much from this product.  I am not one for piling on the makeup and wasting time and money on unnecessary steps, so I did not imagine Miracle Blur finding a place in my routine.  However, I liked the results so much that I would definitely consider buying this one! 

This product adds a soft and sweet glow to your skin, I think it could be good for just about anyone.  I have "normal" skin and I did feel as if this was a little greasy when combined with my BB cream.  If you have skin that is on the oilier side, and you use cream face products such as BB's or foundations, this might add unwanted shine. If you are someone who is trying to cover major skin issues, I don't think this would be all that helpful.  But if you just want your skin to look smoother and prettier, as if it is being hit with good lighting, you might like this as much as I did.  One reviewer on L'oreal's website summed it up really well by saying that Miracle Blur was like "photoshopping your face." 
  

I also noticed that a Benefit Pore-fessional sample that I received but haven't tried yet, seems like it is a similar product.  Now I'm even more excited to try that one out! When I do, I will review it and let you know how these two compare.  

 So, have you tried Miracle Blur or Pore-fessional yet? What did you think? Do you use any other products to soften the look of lines or pores?