Smashbox Photo Finish Oil-Free Foundation Primer has won various awards from InStyle, Marie Claire and Sephora for being a really great under foundation primer. But does it live up to the hype?
Photo Finish Primer comes in a variety for forms including this one which is clear, a light version which is for acne prone skin, a few color correcting formulas and an anti-shine formula for oilier skin.
This baby includes Vitamin A & E as well as Grape Seed Extract and Green Tea Extract.
The texture is gel-like and it smooths into a velvet-like feel over the skin. It blends in very easily.
As with most primers, this one helps smooth out fine lines, helps to conceal pores and makes foundation application very “slippery” and easy.
My first experience with an invisible primer was the Hard Candy Sheer Envy one and I fell in love with that. Since then I have also tried Tarte Clean Slate and this one. All three work really well with my skin and I love them all pretty equally.
I would say the differences between this one and Hard Candy is that this comes out of the tube a little smoother and feels like it blends into my skin a little more. Sheer Envy feels like it sits on top of the skin and doesn’t blend in quite as well. However I still love both.
The other obvious difference between this one, the Tarte one and the Hard Candy one would be the price. This retails for $36 (on sale right now for $32 though on their site) and is 1 oz. Tarte Clean Slate retails for $30 and is 1.16 oz, but includes a lot of natural vitamins and ingredients. Hard Candy Sheer Envy retails for $8.00 for 1.6 oz and you can get it in the SPF 15 formula. The only issue is Walmart isn’t as easily accessible to some people.
Overall:
This primer definitely helped conceal fine lines and my large pores, and helped my foundation go on extra smoothly. I really like it and had no complaints about it.
Availability: Smashbox’s website
Pricing: $32 (on sale) $36 (regular)
Which is your favorite under-makeup primer?
-Kelly
13 comments
I really like MAC’s Studio Fix Face Protect. Hooray for SPF! =D
Smashbox was the first primer I ever used and fell in love with it. I have since tried Avon, a research test one (that was the BEST! I just don’t know what brand it was!) and a few samples. Besides the unknown test one, Smashbox is the best. Avon’s does well too and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it.
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I LOVE this primer. I have the one with SPF and really like it as well. I was surprised by how nice the texture is. I’m planning on trying the green color correcting one next.
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This is definetly one of the best primers ever!
I agree with everyone! This is the BEST primer I have tried. Wonderful.
I have oily, pimple prone skin (ugh), so I am LOVING Alison Raffaele Face Forward Acne Response Primer (which is SPF 15, another plus!). It is super light and makes my face so smooth- pores are really diminished! But my second favorite is Smashbox Photo Finish Light.
(One I don’t love: Too Faced Primed and Poreless- it is SO not for oily skin. At all, EVER.)
Sephora Primer and Lancome Pro Base
I haven’t ever used a primer, but I think I’m missing the boat on this! Will check out next time I’m at Sephora.
I love this and the original Smashbox primer! I use them if I need foundation, but lately I’ve only been using Dr. Brandt’s pores no more pore refiner and I love it!
Tons of folks seem to love this product from it’s inception by Smashbox. I have tried it and never found one formulation that really did much for me or rocked my world.
So am I the only one who breaks out from all primers? I have tried Lancome, Laura Mercier, and Smashbox – all with the same results. 🙁
If you are interested, give the Alison Raffaele Face Forward Acne Response Primer a try- it really does work- keeps oil at bay and no zits! That says a lot with my oily, blemish prone skin. Plus, it does have SPF, which kinda rocks- I am all about combining steps if I can. I am on my second bottle, and that is unheard of for me and primers. (and I just discovered an SPF 40 from another company that I am currently testing- it’s not billed as a primer, but it acts like one- and it’s tinted, too boot! There’s that step-combining thang again…)
I like the Hard Candy and Make Up For Ever primers. And I still have a lot of those left, so I won’t be buying Smashbox. When I do run out, think I’ll go with Hard Candy because the price is great and it works just as well for me as my very expensive Make Up For Ever primers (HD and the All Matt ones).