Foundation primers are a product that a few years ago I had no idea I couldn’t live without. I mean, they hardly even existed back then! Now it seems pretty much every brand has at least one.
But get this.
Smashbox doesn’t just have the requisite 1 or 2 of them, they have nine! Nine! That could be the most of any brand, as far as I know.
I love them because they minimize pores, help to blur fine lines and overall make my foundation apply easier. If I am wearing foundation, you can bet I am wearing a primer underneath it.
- Photo Finish Light ($36)
- An oil-free formula for sensitive, oily or acne-prone skin. It’s a 60% water-based primer and has a matte finish.
- Photo Finish Hydrating ($42)
- Lightweight and oil-free, this primer helps hydrate dry skin throughout the day by sealing in moisture.
- Photo Finish Color Correcting ($38)
- This green-toned primer helps to reduce redness in your skin and contains vitamins A & E, lemongrass, aloe, soybean oil and orchid complex.
- Photo Finish Foundation Primer ($36)
- This best-selling oil-free primer helps create a smooth, velvety like appearance. It contains vitamins A & E, grape seed extract and green tea.
- Photo Finish Color Correcting ($38)
- This lavender-toned primer helps to even out dull looking skin and also helps brighten skin.
- Photo Finish More Than Primer Dark Spot Correcting ($42)
- This brand new primer not only helps smooth out skin but also is supposed to reduce dark spots after about four weeks of use.
- Photo Finish Luminizing ($38)
- Looking for a luminous and oil-free primer? This one will give you a slight glow as you prime.
- Photo Finish Color Correcting Blend ($38)
- This apricot-toned primer also helps to even out skin tone and help conceal dark spots.
- Photo Finish SPF 15 ($42)
- Not only do you get a great primer with this one, but also protection with an SPF of 15 with Dermaxyl Complex.
My personal favorite ones are the classic Photo Finish Foundation Primer (which is the first one I ever tried from them) and the Photo Finish with SPF 15 (the more SPF on my face, the better!). I am definitely interested in the new Dark Spot Correcting one as well, I just haven’t been able to truly test it out for a month to see how it works for my pesky dark spots. Color Correcting in Adjust has been good to me recently as well because lately I have a lot of redness in my cheek area, and it helps to counter-act the look of that.
Have you tried any of these Smashbox primers yet? Which is your favorite?
-Kelly
This post is brought to you by Smashbox Cosmetics .
Note: Smashbox is not cruelty free.
23 comments
Wow, that IS a lot of primers. I knew about the regular one & color-correcting ones, but didn’t realize they had a hydrating one – sounds intriguing, since I tend to have dry skin in winter.
Emi at Project Swatch´s last post…Armani Maestro Fusion Foundation Review & Swatches
Only thing that concern me about primers is the chances to get and irritated skin same reason i don’t use any kind of liquid foundation
I currently own the primer with spf! I bought it specifically for a trip to Hawaii but it’s always nice to have some sun protection on normal days ^^
Wow, that is a whole line of primers (9!!! That’s two more than even MUFE, and it’s the one big primer line-up that I can think of)!
I normally skip a primer, since I don’t have a lot of problems with my foundation sliding around and so on. I did try the original MUFE one when I was on holiday. It helped keep my foundation in place and the foundation also went on much more easily!
Sunny @ Mostly Sunny´s last post…Deauty, the First Beauty Subscription Box in Belgium + Essie Size Matters Swatch
When I use a primer, I use the luminizing. It’s oil free, which is a requirement, and it is the lightest feeling primer I have ever used – I’ve tried a number of others, and I don’t care how “light” or “oil free” they claimed to be, they always felt like a layer of grease on my skin. (This is why I don’t use liquid foundation. Every last one I’ve tried feels gloppy, even the gel formulas.)
It looks heavily pigmented, but it’s not, and it really seems to disappear into my skin. I won’t say I don’t feel it – I do – but I don’t desperately want to wash it off 5 minutes after it’s on.
I would definitely use the green one. Those things are godsends for annoyingly red skin.
Gah, I get overwhelmed at too many choices. I use the original sometimes and think I’ll stick to that for now.
I started using the classic one way back. And, it has been my favorite until I found Reviva primer. Everything’s the same…except for the price. Smashbox prices have jumped. Still love their stuff though.
I haven’t tried one yet, although I almost picked up the green one to help counteract redness. Currently I’m using a Korres mattifying primer, but once I run out of that I might switch and try this!
The Lacquer Tracker´s last post…OPI DS Indulgence
I love the color correcting formula. Rosacea runs in my family, so anything to minimize redness helps. I’ve even worn it alone on low maintenance days.
Daanielle´s last post…Zoya Trixie
I know these primers have been out in the market for quite some time now, but I still have yet to try these! hehe
Hollie´s last post…Shu Uemura Beauty Workshop at Ayala Center Cebu
Wow! I wouldn’t know which one to choose!!
I haven’t used any of the face primers, but I’m currently trying out the Smashbox under eye primer. So far so good! I did give my mother a sample of the hydrating face primer and she really liked it.
Lulubelle´s last post…Skin79 Super+ Triple Functions BB Cream
9 primers? Sheesh but at least they have a good range to choose from for different effects. I want to try the Light one with the Matte finish, damn Smashbox for having good things to try.
Haha WOW… definitely a ton of options. I use a serum which has silicone, so it works like a primer, but I do remember when this product first came out, I couldn’t wait to try it. I’ve never actually noticed primers making my foundation last longer, but they do make application really easy
Catherine (@bcrueltyfree)´s last post…Cruelty-Free Shampoo: Nature’s Gate and Kirk’s Natural
That’s an entire baseball team.
I tried the original when it came out and switched to the oil-free one once it came out. I use it daily.
I’ve only tried the Hydrating one but I love it! I think I might try the Light one once my Hydrating primer runs out though since I have combination skin. ^_^
Wow, now that’s a lot of primers! I’ve only ever tried clear or milky face primers, and I’m content with how they work. Never felt the need to use any of the colour correcting ones, but they do look cool in the packaging!
Swatch And Learn´s last post…China Glaze Purr-fect Plum Swatches & Review
I’ve tried the clear one. I bought it for doing my cousin’s wedding makeup, and everyone commented on how smooth it is! ANd it’s true. It goes on like a dream! It means you don’t have to use much foundation, because it just glides on. And the staying power is awesome. My makeup doesn’t budge. I definitely recommend it to anyone. I do want to try the colour-correcting ones though, but I’ll probably get the SPF one next 🙂
I can’t decide if i’d rather try the hydrating or color correcting. I have very dry skin and redness. Do you think the green color correcting one is hydrating enough?
It is for me, however I don’t have super dry skin usually unless I am using Renova. But I always use a moisturizer with SPF under my primer also, and that always helps.
I really loved using the Hydrating one last winter since I get really dry skin in the winter. If I used my foundation w/o it, it would really just accentuate my flaky skin, but if I used the Hydrating primer underneath it, it looked great all day. The only thing that’s hard to swallow is the price, but my little bottle has lasted me a long time – since last winter (I didn’t use it during the summer)! Plus I noticed recently at Ulta that they offer sample sizes of all the different kinds so that would be good for someone that’s interested in trying it but not sure which one to pick.
Becky´s last post…Video: My Boyfriend Does My Makeup!