SMASHBOX PHOTO FINISH FOUNDATION PRIMER!!!
Remember when your mother told you to that soap and water were the magic ingredients to a sparkly face? What ever happened to that? Why was she such a liar? I'm up to my neck in products (no pun intented). I use my face scrub in the shower. I pat my face dry out of it. I add a serum. I add a moisturizer. I add a sunscreen. That's 3 steps and 10-15 minutes with drying time people! I thought that was enough! Then "Foundation Primer" arrives. I had to read the directions to even know what "Foundation Primer" does. Is it like that time I wanted to paint my bathroom's walls back from red to beige? The Sherman Williams clerk insisted I use their "primer". Guess what? That worked. Cherry Red to Muted Desert no problem. Was it the primer? Can my face go from uneven cherry red to muted desert or atleast to a smooth alabaster beige with a foundation primer? Is it really "All You Need is Primer? Primer's All You Need"? From the cult status this product has quickly acheived it seems to be so. Here's what the SMASHBOX site claims.."Create the perfect canvas for foundation application with our best-selling PHOTO FINISH FOUNDATION PRIMER. with grapeseed extract to soothe and protect skin, this oil-free, colorless formula fills in fine lines and pores to help skin appear visibly softer with a smooth velvet finish. use after moisturizer and before foundation for complexion perfection". Meg's Make-Up Tester's, what did you find? Primer=Perfection? Please post your thoughts!!
$ Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer 0.93 oz $
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From within bottles, jars, compacts and tubes.*
Comments
This primer made my face feel soft and smooth, but there was a price! Watch out acne prone ladies...I became a bit too oily in my oily spots. Because my face got very finicky with this pricy product I would not buy it again.That said, when I wore it under my creme blush it did seem to enhace staying power...proceed with caution acne-sensitive girls....
I don't wear liquid foundation. I'm a big fan of the lighter approach... using powder foundation (Stila) with a brush which gives me coverage without the heaviness. I wasn't sure how or even if the Smashbox product would work with powder foundation. All I have to say is "wow!" As other posters have mentioned, this turns from a gel into the nicest silky finish. Concealer just glides on so easily, you almost wonder if you have it on your fingers. I have combo skin and often get the shiny nose mid-afternoon. With this product, I've noticed a decreased amount of shine. In fact, I even experimented by not using my usual shine-control product in the morning and just using Photo Finish... worked better than what I had been using. So I'll be chucking that old product and sticking with my new Photo Finish.Note to travelers... y'all know this is my sticking point... products in glass bottles do not bode well for the carry on. Guess what? Sephora has a "to go" version in a nice travel-friendly tube!
I am not really sure how I wore fondation without this fabulous primer. I am hooked! The first day I used it I went Christmas shopping, I put it on after my fondation and then the rest of my make-up and I felt like my skin was just glowing, it was quite a boost. My face felt the softest I have ever felt it. It made my fondation look great and stayed on all day without looking cakey. Before this product runs out I will stock up on a new bottle for sure
Oh, woe IS me! I wanted to like this product so much, cause Smashbox makes some of the most wondeful eye shadows I've ever used. But this product just didn't do it for me. I think it's because my skin is mostly oily and it made me feel WAY too slick. I think this product would be better for someone with skin more on the dry side. I liked it more when I tried it with foundation, but I only do that about once every 3 months. WITH THAT SAID, I did like it just around my eyes but I'd rather use eye cream. I'll stick to their makeup......
Tasha, I think you have some sort of strange sixth sense for beauty discounts.
Katie
I love this product. It gives a great finish. There's not a thing I could add that hasn't already been mentioned. It's Smashbox's number one selling product and they know it cause they keep raising all their prices. The bronzing primer is great too for those of you girls who like a little color but not a lotta makeup.Oh I do know one helpful heloise hint about his product! Say you have a rather expensive mascara that you just bought like a week ago and its kinda already drying up. Squirt a little bit of Smashbox primer onto the brush of the mascara and work it into the tube. The primer is a water-based formula to it adds moisture back to the mascara without just making it runny like if you added water. It breathes new life into your dying mascara and keeps you fresh-faced all day. What else could a girl ask for?
Katie
When I first heard of this I could't help but think another layer? But after my firstware I was tottally hooked, If you have oily or sensitive combination skin (like me)they make a photofinish light and it made a huge diffrence by the end of the day versus the regular formula.
Every morning I have the same routine -- cleanser, toner, antioxidant serum, eye cream, moisturizer.Now I have to use another product just to get my skin ready to put makeup on? Isn't that what theother 5 steps are for?Apparently not. I don't know what's in this stuff... but it works! It turns your foundationinto a completely new product -- smooth, matte, flawless coverage. I can't imagine using my liquidfoundation without it. It makes me realize how streaky and spotty it goes on without the primer.So that's it. Sold. I guess I'm willing to add new steps to my beauty routine if they pay off.*Note -- Depending on my mood, how my skin looks, and the weather, I alternate between liquidmineral foundation and powder mineral makeup. This product doesn't seem to alter the way the mineral powder goes on. But it makes the liquid makeup look so good that I'm about ready to toss the powder...!
i definately had never heard of a primer, i use mineral powder foundation so i didn't think it would work under powder and havn't been using it. but now that i think of it, i was using it everyday when i stayed at megs house last, and i looked much better there. even under her grueling light and magnify mirror in her bathroom my skin looked flawless and had a certain glow. i thought it was the vitamin d from the sun, i live in seattle, but it was probably my smashbox primer. i love the texture, it looks like oil but it goes on dry like silk. i am going to start using this product everyday.
Once you try a foundation primer, you will never go with out! I already had a primer (which will go un-named) in my beauty regiment that I was very happy with. So when I got the Smashbox one I was skepticle. But I am so much happier with Smashbox! My other primer has been retired to the make-up graveyard. It is an absolut MUST to your make-up routine.
Under my eyes I have these REALLY unattractive creases. I have them on my smile lines too. They are deep. I put this on before my foundation and it filled those lines. It really did fill them like a primer. The lines were gone. Almnost like silicon (IS THERE SILICON HERE)? My foundation spread like an eagle.I LOVE THIS PRODUCT!
I've tried lots of primers to find that one Holy Grail and this one is it! I've used it not only on myself but on all my clients and it has never disappointed. Glides on easily leaving a smooth "canvas" that's ready to accept color that will stay all day and well into the night. Tiny lines and large pores are filled in and foundation just glides on top. I've used this primer mostly with creme foundations but also under liquid and powder with the same wonderful results. It's a must have for the make up drawer or pro kit.
sorry...I had to bump this up...they still have the special..it's not sold out. I just watched the presentation...it's a gorgeous kit. The colors are universally flattering!!! I bought it(on auto delivery) before i went to work this morning without seeing it on the TV. I'm so glad i did!
I just love this product so much I have to post again. I've been hooked for almost three years now. I just threw out my empty bottle of the one with SPF this morning. It was sad. I still have a couple travel tubes of the original though. I love it because I touch my face too much and my makeup is gone by noon. But not with this liquid gold!
Katie
This is such an awesome product, I've used it on myself and on models for photo shootsIt fills in all of your lines, pores and even some scarring. It is so smooth and easyto use and looks great on everyone!
Meg's Cocktail Hour Tip !Want to lose 10 pounds? when you pose for a picture stick your leg out! Either cross them or put your left foot forward!!Keep your chin up to avoid the appearance of dark circles under your eyes. Apply a little concealer to eliminate shadows. Dust on some powder... on your forehead, nose and chin, so your face won't look shiny. Lift your face slightly. Forget smoky eyes and nude lips... you might look great in person but the camera won't be impressed. A little body contortion goes a long way!!The best time to take pictures outside is late afternoon. Don't say cheese! Say MEG'S!!!
This is one of the best products I ever have tried. Foundation went on flawlessly. One of my top 5 products of all time.
I was initially worried about trying this product. I don't wear foundation and HATE the feeling of stuff on my skin. I just use some pressed powder and call it a day. SO, I started with my hand and thought WOW, how does a gel become so silky and powdery like? Then I tried it on my face and loved it! I didn't feel caked on at all - it says on the bottle use with foundation or all alone, so don't worry if you don't wear foundation. After I put it on, then my powder, I looked very smooth and silky and it stayed for a few hours!
Wow kate2004rock - what a great tip. I'm adding some life to my mascara as I type. Thanks (you do rock!)
This is one of my "must have" products. I love it but do have one complaint and that is the pump mechanism which seems to break before the supply ends.
I have used this product for about 6 months and find it absolutely fabulous. The base that it creates for my foundation is amazing. I look like I have flawless skin when I apply this under my foundation. It's a wonderful texture and feels so light on.
Hooray!!! This stuff is a little slice of heaven in a jar. I could not believe how amazing my skin looked after the first application of the primer and my foundation & powder. My skin was so smooth and flawless looking. My foundation did not crease or cake as much. My annoying combination skin is dry and oily -- this product helped my complexion not look as "oily" by day-end. The primer has now become a permanent part of my make-up routine.
God love my grandmother!! I was blessed with the wrinkles that she had around her lips. I'm not a smoker, just when I mooch cig's off Meg when I'm out having "coffee" with her. So I can only guess the lines came from GahGoo's gene's. With one little drop of the Photo Finish around my lips those nasty little lines are gone. I'll be buying this product again!!
My mom is obsessed with foundation primer ever since I introduced her to Sephora, I showed her how it fills pores and she has loved it ever since. So much so that my mom reccomended primer to her sister-in-law. We picked up a set and it had the pearly pink version of this primer. The silky soft effect of this primer is incredible. Its a pore-filler, a line filler, filler, fixer, plumper, smoother... If we had guys like this, then earth would be heaven. But I digress, it was an incredibly silky smoother skin, that my mother had - she saves this for special occasions, and she looks flawless.
Ahh... I wish I loved this.... it DID make my skin FEEL wonderful, however after a day or two of use, I found that I got bumpy all OVER... and I NEVER really break out... I'll get a spot here & there once in awhile... and once in awhile my forehead will protest a new product by getting spotty, but my entire FACE protested this product...
don't wear foundation, and I don't like to put too much on my face, but this wasn't heavy at all! Just a nice protectant; it really evens out the skin so that there aren't any places where blush sticks more than others- eliminating any yucky shadows. Good stuff.
Not oil free at all, I find it very oily. Byt they're coming out with a photofinish light that I believe is oil free. Wait for that.
I got a sample of this stuff last week... and wow... I'm hooked. I have dry skin, so the slickness doesn't bug me. It makes your skin look younger (I'm creepin on 30 and the lines have begun). And here's a weird benefit... it actually takes less time to put on my foundation/tinted moisturizer because it blends much easier = faster. That minute or two in the morning is appreciated.
hey ya'll so i love primers. for my job i run around at huge events all day long- from 5AM to sometimes 2Am in a variety of climates. so i am a primer consessior and currently wearing smashbox! i have personally tried this smashbox, peter thomas roth and mac's. first of all, primer will change your life. like the first time you tried a good martini or discovered tivo. let your moisturizer absorb and apply before your makeup. tip- a little goes a looooong way. takes away shine, fills in lines, smoothes over dry patches and aids blemishes (makes concealer cover better). your makeup will last 10x longer. **good news- they offer a tester/travel size.** like you were really headed to commit? ;) head to sephora and go for it- plan that afternoon meeting and happy hour date in the same day! xo
I've been sitting here watching it for almost 2 hours...I got the kit on auto-delivery and the jetset liner with the brush. Artsyfartsy also got the special...yay! I'm so glad that I'm helping you girls spend your money in a completely sensible way. Makes me feel all warm and tingly inside!!! BTW...I saw your brushes and I was literally drooling on myself. They are so decadent and luxurious. I'm so happy for you!!!
If you're looking for something to smooth over your fine lines, make your skin feel silky soft, and hold your make-up in place, the Smash Box Photo Finish Foundation Primer is the product for you. As I tend to to have red cheeks and need my powder to last longer. This did the trick better than expected. I also liked how it made my skin less shiny, even without any additional makeup. Check this stuff out!
is it oil free?
I love this product. It makes my skin feel so smooth after applying. Sometimes I just use a loose powder after applying and skip foundation all together. I tend not get to that mid-day oil glow when I use the primer. It’s a great product. Tip: Don’t rub on your face (sometimes it clots with moisture) gently pat on your face.
Indeed, this product is the stuff that dreams are made of. I was introduced to this primer thanks to a sample from Sephora, and as soon as I used it, I was immediately hooked. Never have I experienced anything quite like the way my skin feels after I smooth it on my face. Once I top it with foundation (I’m a Bare Minerals girl usually, but also love Some Kind-A Gorgeous by Benefit), all of my many facial flaws are hidden. It’s perfection in a bottle.
This is honestly how I found Meg's...I was doing a search on reviews for this product.So with the fantastic reviews, I bought it. I like it. I like it a lot, but I think I was expecting a little bit more from the product. It fills in some of the few lines and my most of my pores, but I still see them...maybe it's just me being self-conscious though.I think I'll continue to use it till it's gone and then try some of the other primers to see if one does a "better" job. Perhaps I'm expecting too much...
apparently they already have,http://www.smashbox.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/products.detail/categoryID/..."Photo Finish Foundation Primer LightNew!Our latest primer innovation! Perfect for oily, acne-prone or sensitive skin, this oil-free, 60% water based primer refreshes on contact while oil absorbers provide a smooth matte finish all day. Light diffusers minimize the appearance of imperfections while vitamin C and peptides help even skin tone and promote collagen production. Wear alone or under foundation for complexion perfection. In a new a square airless pump for freshness to the last drop":)
I used to buy things every few months off Sephora online as needed. In the past four months my purchases have increased to one-two online purchases. One of my more recent purchases was the smashbox kit from QVC Tasha mentions. It includes the primer which I can use during the Fall. We've had cooler weather this week and so far so good. I've got oily skin so I was worried. I'll have to get the light primer for next summer. It does make your face feel smooth and velvety. I use it with a mattifiying foundation which may help to keep the oilies away.
The first time I put this on I was unsure about the texture of it. When I applied my light powder (which is all I use) I have to say I fell in love. Usually my powder will make those little lines under my eyes stand out more, but this product was like a filler! I'm hooked!
I truly LOVE this product and I'm almost out so I'm rationing it for only special days. It smoothes out my skin and leaves it like a fresh canvas for my make-up. I love the way it makes my skin feel, like powder. It's a must buy and a must wear - especially if you're over 30!
I had resisted buying this special all day, until, I turned on the TV and saw it on QVC, dang, they even featured the Brush Set, doesn't that beat all! The Primer alone costs $42 and this 10 piece kit is $50, I have really wanted to try this primer!! Good deals are hard to pass up, just please don't tell me about any more for a least another year, LOL, you are so great Tasha. I am now officially a die hard member of Meg's anti-12 step program.
Ladies, do you ever feel that you judged a product too harshly, or that you didn't like something at first, but in combination with something else you discover later it's fantastic? I feel as though I pre-judged Photofinish. Even when I don't like something, I can't bear to throw a product away. I always think, well someday I'll find some use for it, or give it to someone etc. Well, I have a travel tube of the original photofinish, and yesterday I broke it out and thought I'd give it another go on top of Cosmedicine Medi-Matte (awesome-o product). Well, for me, and maybe for you other oily gals, MEDI-MATTE IS the Peanut Butter to the Photofinish's Jelly. In tandem, they work FANTASTICALLY. So now, I think I really like Photofinish. Anyone tried the bronzing version?
I feel like I've just jumped feet first into Meg's anti-12 step program 38goingon29. I think buying this kit has completely converted me and will create a beautiful monster:) I'd like to give a big special thanks! to my sponsor Tashagogo;) Without her support I don't think I could've done it!
I got some samples of this from Sephora and I was not impressed. It did nothing to help with the appearance of my oily skin and it caused me to have an allergic reaction. However, I recently sampled the new Photo Finish Lightand I really liked it. I plan on buying it the next time I need to purchaseprimer. The Light version is paraben-free so I didn't have a reaction and it helped my skin to look matte all day long.
I am in love with this product. I use this after my moisturizer and before my foundation. Currently I am using Benefit's some kinda gorgeous and applying it with a foundation brush. It gives a perfect finish. I especially love this in the evening.
After hearing all of these rave reviews about foundation primer, I took the plunge and bought the travel size tube of Photo Finish at Sephora. I used it for a few days and was not thrilled. I have relatively oily skin and this did not help at all. I was shiny all over by mid-day and I generally didn't like how it felt. But lots of people love it, so maybe it's my weirdo skin. I switched to Laura Mercier oil free primer and it seems to have a better consistancy for me at least.
I love this Primer. My foundation goes on so smoothly. It's so gentle you can even use it under your eye area. I have been using this along with the Smashbox Photo finish spf primer for about 3yrs. now.
They also have this kit on auto-delivery. you will get the kit you see plus a new kit(new colors) every season...total of four kits. You will be locked in for the today's sepcial price. Here's the link for auto-deliveryhttp://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/app.detail/params.item.A75223.cm_scid.PROM/walk.html.|tsv_dd,html's
Smashbox has a Today's Special (today only)on QVC or qvc.com ...it's a 10 piece color collection. Please go see it's $47.82..and it includes a full size photo finish primer. The colors are gorgeous and it includes brushes also. Everyone needs this. Don't wait too long or it will sell out...trust me...I know!!!!!! Here's the link http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/app.detail/params.item.tsv!.frames.y.tpl.tsv.cm_scid.PROM/walk.html.|tsv_dd,html?cm_re=HP-_-CONTAINERS-_-TSV:TSV,TSV&cm_sp=TSV-_-HP-_-6
This product made my skin feel great and really smooth, but I didn't notice that big of a difference with wearing make-up. Honestly, I don't wear a ton of foundation to begin with but I will for sure continue using it on nights when I am wearing more make up then usual.
I love this stuff. If you have slightly (or very) dry skin, and get that little bit of flakiness on your skin when you wear foundation - this stuff will have you saving face. Literally. I wear it under liquid foundation and it makes such a difference in the texture of my skin - it looks much smoother. Love it love it love it.