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Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer
Overall rating from 63 reviews so far:
4.2/5
Would use it again?
4.2/5
Did it do what it said it would?
4.3/5
Would recommend it to a friend?
4.1/5

Create a perfect canvas for foundation application with this silky, lightweight blend of vitamins A & E, grape seed extract and green tea.

Worn alone or under foundation, our best-selling, oil-free primer helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and pores for flawless skin with a velvety-smooth finish.

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Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer

Reviews

Overall rating:
5.0/5
10th October, 2014
0 members found this review useful
Hello to my new holy grail primer!

My search for my ultimate Holy Grail primer is now over... Smashbox Photo finish Foundation Primer you have smashed other primers out of the water with this one! It definitely lives up to its claims and 'creates the perfect canvas for foundation application'.

How I came to get this lovely product in my hot little hands... I was walking past the enticing Smashbox concept store and an advertisement on the window caught my eye. They had an offer of buy two products and get the full sized Smashbox primer, plus a travel size for free. I was instantly sold! Considering I have been wanting to try this product for so long and it normally retails at $70 dollars plus! This offer was too good to pass up, in my opinion.

After hearing great things about this product, and reading the good reviews on BR - I was very excited to try this. I have a few primers on the go, but not one I was super impressed with. I have been looking for the perfect primer for some time, and I'm happy to report this definitely gets my thumbs up.

The packaging is pretty simplistic, yet stylish. It comes in a plain, see-through tube with black writing and a black top. The tube is 30ml, which is the average size for primers.

After moisturising my skin in the morning, I then squeeze out a small amount of my hand and slightly massage this over my face. This primer feels a lot nicer than other primers, which tend to have that icky, siliconey, sticky texture that i'm not a fan of!

But the formula of the Smashbox primer feels more like a serum and glides easily over your skin. It makes my skin feel lovely and soft. My skin tends to be sensitive and slightly reactive, but this formula is perfect. So ladies with sensitive skin, this one is for you!

My absolute favourite thing about this product is that it makes my makeup look lovely using this, so fresh and flawless. Because it gives your skin such smooth and supple base, you need less foundation - a definite plus! Another positive point is that my foundation lasts so long using this! It really does what a primer should do and more.

I would definitely recommend this amazing primer and give it five stars. Smashbox I can't wait to try your other products now!

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Overall rating:
5.0/5
15th November, 2014
0 members found this review useful
Peeeerfect!

It is a crime not to prime and I have been on a hunt for a good primer for lets just say years. I used to use smashbox when I was like 16? Not sure why I ever stopped but my sister reintroduced me to it and I'm hooked! Back to the primer though "flawless skin" is not joke. This is the prefect base it goes on really smoothly and creates a nice even surface. It's also the first primer I have put on and been like wow my skin look better! It actually is velvet, feels velvet, looks velvet, is velvet. Yes it's expensive so if your on a budget not ideal but it is 100% worth every penny.

Tips: Use alongside studio 15hour foundation and their power - A MAZ ING

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Overall rating:
5.0/5
3rd December, 2014
0 members found this review useful
The best yet.

I have been a bit skeptical of primers in the past, I had only used cheap versions and found them pretty much useless. I should have just splurged on this one all along because it really is wonderful. It glides onto your skin really easily and instantly makes it feel soft and smooth, which means anything that goes over the top looks much more flawless. It also completely mattifies the skin, keeping it oil free for hours, which helps the makeup to last a lot longer. I can wear this on a night out and come home with my foundation still on.

It'd definitely a pricey product so I only use it on special occasions or when know i'll have a lot of photos taken and want to look extra special :)

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Overall rating:
5.0/5
16th January, 2015
0 members found this review useful
Definitely a Photo Finish

This is the Rolls Royce of primers but it definitely delivers and gives a perfectly smooth "photo finish" and helps your foundation to stay in place and look good all day or all night.

It does not have a particularly strong fragrance and it has never irritated my skin which can tend to be a little bit sensitive. I have used it under Smashbox foundation and under Clinique and it has worked well with both.

It is expensive for a small tube so I don't use it every day any more. I prefer to save it for job interviews and special occasions.

You don't need to use very much - start with a little bit and then add a little more if you need it. If you squirt out too much, you can't get it back in the tube so it will go to waste.

Tips: Use a foundation brush to apply it smoothly. I don't put it on or under my eyes - I use the under eye primer for that.

When the tube is empty, roll the tube like it's toothpaste, you will be able to get some more out. Once you've done that, cut the bottom of the tube open and you'll get another day or two out of it!

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Overall rating:
5.0/5
2nd July, 2015
0 members found this review useful
Laying down a good foundation!

$70 odd is a big investment for a small non description tube of see through product!.... I tried a week with primer, and a week without- using the primer it seems to smooth my skin, and my foundation sets so very much better with a less dewy and oily finish.

Tips: Just a pea side amount is all I use- a little goes a long way!!!

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Overall rating:
5.0/5
9th May, 2016
0 members found this review useful
Amazing (but expensive!)

I loved the quality and practicality of the packaging (clear is very useful to see the level left). The texture and glide is great (try not to get the product too much on your hands or places you don't need to prime much. I found the pores on my cheeks looked reduced as it really did seem to spruce up the quality of the product on top most of the time. I liked the way I felt and for a while I was just using this primer with a tinted moisturiser for work and it looked great for the "natural but a bit younger" look.

Tips: Keep anything on top of it pretty light or it starts to be pointless - old heavy cream foundation just seemed to be the same (don't ask why I ended up using that!). I think the trick is to not get too much on your fingertips while you blend so take a bit longer than you would with moisturiser (don't use palms as they just suck up the product for me).

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This review is the subjective opinion of a Beauty Review member and not of Beauty Review Limited.
Overall rating:
5.0/5
11th April, 2017
0 members found this review useful
Photo Finish Primer

I loved this primer, it made my skin feel so silky and smooth as soon as I applied it and a little goes a long way! My skin can be quite dry in patches but this really gave me a nice smooth base and made for a flawless foundation application. I don't know if it made a massive difference to the staying power of my foundation as I use long wear foundation which stays on all day anyway. It is a lovely primer which I would use again, the only downfall it that the primer on the pricey side.

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Overall rating:
5.0/5
12th July, 2017
0 members found this review useful
Love!

This is a great product! I love applying it as its so silky and soft! I have been using for several years and would recommend it as it goes on so well and has helped reduce my pores under my foundation. Although it is pricey the tube goes a long way!

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Overall rating:
5.0/5
15th October, 2018
2 members found this review useful
The premier primer

Since a friend gave me this to try about 2 years ago, I have never looked back. It creates the perfect canvas for BB cream, CC cream or foundation. It smoothes out imperfections and helps create a beautiful base.

Tips: Don’t apply too close to the eye as it can cause the mascara or eye makeup to smudge.

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JackieMackenzie
22nd April, 2020

Great tip about placing near the eye as I usually do put my primer around there

Overall rating:
5.0/5
5th July, 2019
0 members found this review useful
Glides on like a dream!

This primer is perfect for everyday use for me! I also use the colour correcting primer and it’s fabulous. Has a silicone feel to it and helps my foundation and concealer glide on and I use less product than I normally would with other primers.

Tips: For summertime I would use a primer that has a more sticky base as when I use this primer in hot weather my foundation tends to slip.

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