Benefit Hello Happy Velvet Powder Foundation Review: Would it Surprise Me?

This Benefit foundation does not make me say “Hello Happy!”

It’s not that people aren’t talking about this Benefit foundation… They are, just not in the right way. Hello Happy has a not-so-stellar 2.7 star rating on Sephora.com (Benefit’s website is not any better with a 1.9 star rating). But why? What is so bad about this product that reviewers have put this in the worst rated products at Sephora category? Sometimes low rated products can surprise me and I end up loving them, but that wasn’t the case with this one. Benefit Hello Happy Velvet Powder Foundation Review coming right up.

Promises vs. Performance: Hello Happy, hello buildable coverage (or is it?).

Hello Happy promises a lightweight, breathable wear of up to 12 hours. It is versatile and can be used as a setting powder or built up to a medium coverage. Benefit claims your skin will be matte all day long, but still soft thanks to shea butter extracts in the formula.

Benefit includes two tools to apply Hello Happy with: a brush for a lighter coverage and sponge for more coverage. I tested both of these and would immediately say skip using the included applicators if you want this product to work for you. The formula feels really dry and powdery on the skin. It applies decent, but it is difficult to build up coverage with. Immediately, I got a super matte finish, not the natural matte finish Benefit promised with their foundation. I will say, Hello Happy did feel lightweight and relatively breathable on the skin.

Review Highlights: Benefit Hello Happy Velvet Powder Foundation

As expected, I didn’t love the wear of this Benefit foundation. I mean, it wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t the best either. Somehow, my skin looked dry, but felt oily at the same time. Though, it didn’t look oily so it did do a good job of keeping me looking matte. I don’t think the long wearing, up to 12 hours of wear claim holds up. I even had a primer underneath and that did not help either. Hello Happy broke apart and rubbed off on the bottom half of my face. If you have super oily skin, you may like this product, but I don’t think it will work for most skin types.

Quick Rating Rundown

This Product

(2.6)

:Benefit Hello Happy Velvet Powder Foundation

Price: $30.00

0.25 oz

Value

(4.5)

Application

(2.5)

Coverage

(2.5)

Texture

(2)

Longevity

(2)

Shade Range

(2.2)

Extra Benefits

(2)

Prograde Best Cream

(4.2)

:Patrick Ta Major Skin Crème Foundation

Price: $52.00

0.32 oz

Value

(4)

Application

(4.7)

Coverage

(4.5)

Texture

(4.4)

Longevity

(3.9)

Shade Range

(3.5)

Extra Benefits

(3)

MILABU PICKS

(4.5+)

:12 Best Foundations You Need To Try

Price: $15 – $70

various sizes

Value

(4.5+)

Application

(4.5+)

Coverage

(4.5+)

Texture

(4.5+)

Longevity

(4.5+)

Shade Range

(4.5+)

Extra Benefits

(4.5+)

^{Our Rating Criteria}

How It Compares: Skip this Benefit foundation. If you’re looking for a pressed powder foundation, try this.

I’m going to have to go with the reviewers on this one: Hello Happy foundation is not the best pressed powder foundation out there. My skin looked dry, but felt oily after a day of wear. It rubbed off, not giving me a full 12 hours of wear as promised. And, I couldn’t get more than just a light coverage with it.

Now, if you are on the hunt for a good pressed powder foundation, I have one for you: Make Up For Ever Matte Velvet Skin. This powder foundation is truly buildable, providing a solid medium coverage. While still not the longest wearing, it gave a much better result on the skin. The finish was airbrushed and blurring. All in all, it looked more beautiful on the skin and actually performed the claims it promised.

Milabu Beauty Method: Toss the applicators that come with this Benefit foundation to the side.

This is a job for a buffing brush. I would recommend the IT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Flat Top Buffing Brush ($49).

1. Begin with a primer to extend the longevity. Benefit’s iconic Porefessional ($32) is great at blurring, gripping, and extend wear time.
2. Swirl your brush into the Hello Happy compact. This foundation does offer a lot of product kickback, so definitely tap off the excess so it doesn’t fall all over your shirt while applying.
3. Buff the foundation into the skin in circular motions. I find this helps warm the powder up for a smoother application.
4. Because this is a drier formula, I would skip the setting powder and use a setting spray. One that never lets me down is Urban Decay All Nighter ($33).