A friend lovingly sent me 3 trail samples of foundation primer for me to test and play with. I am so appreciative because none of them full size would have been in my price range of what I would have wanted to try "just to test". Of the 3 that I tried, my favorite was by far Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer. I loved it so much that I purchased a medium sized "travel" tube of it a few months back.

The full size Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer comes in a 0.93 clear bottle with pump and costs $36.00. I bought a soft tube of it (called the mini tube) for around $15.00. This face primer is colorless (though they do make similarly named colored "color correcting" primers) and looks sort of like hair gel in the tube.

From the company:

"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."

When I squeeze a little out it is much like in the tube, and stays in its gel form. The minute I start to spread it around in my fingertips and onto my face it literally feels like soft powder to me - though it applies like a soft, feathery clear gel that instantly absorbs into my face. My skin immediately feels smoother, and I feel it looks a little smoother as well. However this is not a product I'd just use on its own - pair it with a foundation.

What I love about this product is how much better all of my foundations look when I have this under it. I have been able to use a variety of tinted moisturizers, liquid foundations, mousse and powder types ... there is not a single foundation that I own that I haven't been able to pair this with! If anything, it's allowed me to use more of my foundations (I noticed with my powder foundation it always sucked into my pores, but by applying this product first, the powder glides on smoothly!)

I also noticed that this primer really does give me a matte, clean finish. I think it is a good match for my skin and makes it look both more smooth and more even.

I only need a tiny pea sized amount each time I use it, and it lasts forever! It is easy to store and travel with, and it's simple to use. Since there's no special application or drying time I can rub it on and apply my foundation of choice immediately - saving this busy mom some time!

The other foundation primers I've tried so far were either watery (which ran all over my hands and took forever to try), made me break out or so matte and drying that everything made me look like a wrinkly old lady! I was thrilled to find Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer and for what it does I don't hesitate to pay the price for it!

Ingredients
Cyclomethicone, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Isopropylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Butylparaben, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed OiI (Safflower), Propylene Glycol, Water (Aqua), Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract (Grape), Kolanut Seed Extract (Cola Acuminata), Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract


Other Primer reviews:

LORAC Aquaprime Oil Free Makeup Primer

Bare Escentuals Barevitamins Prime Time









Recommended: Yes