In my trip to the US, I managed to score a lot of Smashbox products at Costco (imagine that!) and Sephora, thanks to Smashbox’s best of beauty kits. I had to be practical, of course; I can’t expect everything in the kits to be fantastic. A goodie I did find though, was the Photo Finish Foundation Primer.
Description:
Smashbox makeup artists use this product to create a perfect canvas for foundation application. The silky blend of vitamins and antioxidants does double-duty as a primer and a mattifier, while the unique formula helps to inhibit the destruction of collagen, and fills in fine lines.
Ingredients: Cyclomethicone, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Isopropylparaben, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbic Acid, Carthamus Tinctorium (Safflower) Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract, Cola Acuminata Seed Extract, Propylene Glycol, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Isobutylparaben, Butylparaben, Water.
I’ve heard a lot of rave reviews about this primer. It even made it to the Best of Sephora list. To be honest, I was quite apprehensive about this product at first, due to the amount of silicone in the primer. It’s touch and go with silicone for me. It can either make or break my skin, depending on the other accompanying ingredients in the product. Just to be safe, I bought the 0.5oz travel-sized tube instead of the full-sized one.
On the first touch, you can feel the silicone between your fingers. It dries up very quickly, leaving a protective layer over the skin. It feels just like The Body Shop’s Vitamin C Skin Boost. Some may find it odd. I certainly did.
The silicone-y feel is something I am still trying to get used to. I don’t know how to describe the texture; it’s creamy but not creamy? ‘Cos a few seconds after spreading it between your fingers, the substance kinda disappears. Hmm.
The primer felt really light on my skin, which was great. The best part was, it held my foundation on very well. I wasn’t even using the Light version of the primer, and yet I didn’t get an oily T-zone. My cheeks and forehead looked very smooth, even after a few hours.
I actually think this is even better than my Laura Mercier Foundation Primer. The latter gave me an oily T-zone after a while, when the Photo Finish didn’t. And better yet, it didn’t break me out after many uses. Whee!
All in all, I think this is a great primer. Especially for those who are okay with silicone in their makeup (look out for Cyclomethicone and Dimethicone in the ingredients list). Definitely works for those with oily skin. Worked for me anyway 🙂
Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer is available at Sephora (1oz at USD36, and 0.5oz at USD16). It is also (finally!) available in Melbourne, at Zuza (Level 2, Melbourne Central, and Westfield Doncaster). I can’t remember the exact price of the primer, but I think it was AUD6x (overpriced, no?). I shall update with the price the next time I head to Zuza.
What I like about it: Good primer for my oily skin, didn’t break me out, held my foundation on for hours without running.
What I did not like about it: Funny silicone-y texture takes a bit of getting used to.
Girl, I am using the Light version and I know what you mean about the texture 🙂
wow, first time I read that someone likes the Smashbox primer compared to Laura Mercier, a lot of people are raving about Laura Mercier which made me super interested to try 🙂 THanks for this!
Now THIS I am tempted to try… but of course Smashbox isn’t available in Malaysia… very tempted to order both the normal and light version to try @.@ Noooo…
Does it leave a sticky feeling? Thanks for the review! I didnt know the primer is colourless. 😛 Cant save me alot of money already. 🙂
i saw this on sale on some forums. thanks for pointing out that it contains silicone, so, i can save that money now 🙂
Thanks for the review Tine!! I for one am not a fan of the silicony feeling on my face, so i’m definitely giving this a miss!
I don’t mind the silicone feel of The Body Shop Vitamin C boost thingy but I’ve tried a mattifier that had the same silicone feel that you mentioned this primer had and it just doesn’t do it for me. Funny. Smashbox has just never intrigued me though I’ve heard a lot about their primer.
Nikki:
Just my opinion, hun, and I really like this one compared to the Laura Mercier primer. Found the latter stickier on my face :p
Stephanie:
Yeah it sucks that it isn’t available in M’sia. Who knows, Sephora might actually come to M’sia. It’s already coming to Singapore 😉
Sue:
Nope, no sticky feeling at all. In fact, it disappears so fast you’d forget you even had it on.
Prettybeautiful & Jenn:
Ahhh silicone doesn’t work for you girls then. Good. Save that money for something better 😉
Paris:
‘Tis a pity. I was pretty apprehensive about it too, because The Body Shop’s Skin Boost didn’t do it for me. Ah well. One woman’s no becomes a woman’s yes yes yes! Hahaha 😀
I WANT SEPHORA!! OMG!! Why all go to singapore only…? 🙁 I need to renew my passport. Dang it!
I’ve wanted to try this primer but not compelled to get it yet.
Thanks for the review! Am tempted to try, but so expensive lah!! Must make a trip to US when this financial storm is over, then can bring back truckloads of beauty products. Currently I’m just using Benefit’s That Gal as my primer.