Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer

$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.

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.

I have combination oily/dry skin, so I tend to wear very matte long-wear foundations to combat the oiliness. Unfortunately these kinds of foundations aren't always kind to the dry patches and can really make them stand out and look patchy, so primer is a must have for me to even things out.

This primer glides on beautifully and is a really stunning silky texture that leaves a smooth base to work with. It's not too heavy and a little goes a relatively long way. It has a huge impact on the finish and blendability of the relatively dry and heavy foundations I use, which is a big win for me - it's a godsend being able to slap it on and buff it out with a brush and know it's going to look good even if I rush it.

It doesn't really seem to improve the longevity of the products I use, though, so it does lose a couple of points there.

Honestly I didn't notice a difference to the wear of my foundation using this primer. I have mostly combo skin and I don't often suffer from a super oily face. I just don't think the product did anything. My foundation still seemed to sit the same.

The packaging is boring and doesn't say "I cost $70"

The only nice thing about this primer is the texture, it leaves the skin feeling soft and a little goes a long way.

Save your money, I have had better results from $20 primers.

I got a mini size of this in a Smashbox mini bestsellers kit and was so excited to try it! However, it's not really as good as I though it would be. I've used similar primers, but this one just seems to disappear and makes my skin feel a bit sticky. I wouldn't pay full price for it.

There is so much hype over this product so I was expecting it to be fantastic and couldn't wait to get it! I was sold the luminizing one by the sales assistant and can't say I have been impressed. It's way too shimmery for me and it seems greasy. It doesn't stop my makeup from moving. It gives my skin a muddy type appearance and affects the color of the foundation I apply on top so it looks like I'm wearing the wrong shade foundation. I've tried using less and more but it hasn't produced flawless results yet.

Silicone primer

This primer I received as a gift. I could never justify the purchase of this. Packaging: this comes in a clear tube with black printing & a black screw top lid which it sits flush on. You can see the contents of the tube. Good to know how much is left for use. Contents: is a clear gel formula which isn't too slippery for silicon & has a velvet feel to it. It does spread out well & of course as stated is transparent. Now for the finish it gives. This is a good product for my foundation to adhere to however it doesn't extend it's stay power & I become oily by midday which a quick brush of powder can mattify the issue. I have normal to oily skin type so I'm in belief that this primer isn't suited for my skin type rather it would be perform better for normal to dry skin type fact being it's silicon based. Where stay power is factored I couldn't say if this would enhance longevity of one's foundation with a different skin type but I can say it doesn't hold up or extend the stay of my foundation. I used a matte foundation with this primer & the shine it gave was a dewy look nothing radically soppy or oily looking I put that down to the finish of my foundation. This could differ if I hadn't used a matte finish foundation. I also need to top up of my foundation around the t zone. Would I use this heck yeah for the price it cost but I wouldn't go to and buy this again (grated it was gifted) it saved my curiosity & now I can tick this primer of as a no go for me.

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.

I got this as a 100 point redemption with Sephora and I was kind of expecting a larger tube when it arrived, but c'est la vie.

The packaging has had an update, so you can see how much is or isn't left in the tube. The primer comes out a kind of milky clear, but goes onto the skin clear. I've never had this clump up on application and it goes onto the skin really quite smoothly.

It definitely diffuses the light under the foundation - reducing the effect of pores and the odd fine line. Some primers make me break out, but the few times I've used this, that hasn't happened. And a little goes a long way too. You only need a pea sized amount to get decent coverage. It is silky smooth and long lasting. It is all you could ever want in a primer and I'll eventually get a full sized tube of this!

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.