First, I must admit I am extremely picky with primers and that is because nearly all of the ones I have tried have broken me out or made me feel like I am wearing a mask.

This primer is best suited for dry skin IMO and I believe does not hold any oil controlling properties.

I love it because my skin feels like it can breathe.
It feels like I am not wearing a primer at all!

The lasting and anti-crease power is good. It even works as a primer for my under-eye concealer.
I notice that when I do not wear this, my laugh lines, pores and under eye creases are way more prominent.

As with all primers, this one allows foundation to glide on very smoothly. It does not ball up and gather like the silicone based primers.

When I wear this I do notice that my makeup wears well through my nearly 12 hour work day.

Smashbox Photo-Finish Hydrating foundation primer is yet another primer that delivers very little for the price. At $42 for 1 oz. it should do more than it actually does.
It’s no big secret that to hydrate the body (inside and out) is essential for healthier looking skin, hence why we ladies moisturize at least twice a day, every day, with or without makeup. Smashbox hydrating primer feels like it is in fact cooling and hydrating the skin – just what it claims to do – when applied, but it doesn’t provide a good base for foundation makeup.
When I look for primers I want something that will improve the look of my skin when worn under foundation, powder, or alone. For hydration I reach for my moisturizer, and that is plenty to do the job.
I expect more bang for my buck when it comes to primers, and this one just doesn’t cut it. It’s an ordinary product for an extraordinary price.
I will not repurchase this product nor recommend it to anyone.
Thank you for reading my reviews and have fun with makeup :)

This is probably good for people with normal or combo skin, but I have dry skin and this is just totally unnecessary for me. A rep at Sephora told me that I should always wear this under foundation, so I took home a sample and spent a day with half of my face primed, and the other half not. The primed side actually looked and felt a little dryer than the other side.

Since I have dry skin, my makeup stays put. It never slides off, and if I use a good moisturizer it will go on smooth, so this is one step I can save time on.

This primer is a must have for me in the winter time. My skin gets ridiculously flaky and when I wear this over my olay regenerist serum my liquid foundation looks and wears wonderfully through the day. I have dehydrated oily skin with somewhat large, clogprone pores. This product doesn't give me any reaction and feels so refreshing when it goes on. I tried to wear this without any moisturizer/serum and it didn't keep the flakies away for me, but like I said my skin is ridiculously flaky... yet i cant normally use regulas moisturizers since my skin cant tollerate anything too heavy. The primer is $42 so its more expensive than the origional smashbox primer... but it makes such a significant difference for the look and feel of my makeup that I just might have to over look that

I did not care for this product. I have mostly dry skin, and this product did absolutely nothing for me as far as either skin finish, makeup application or makeup wear time. It was not drying-I will give it that much, but I am not sure I would qualify it as "hydrating" either.


This primer is very rubbery siliconey feeling. Not the product for me. If you prefer that type of primer, you may very well like this product.


My preferred primers are Hourglass No. 28 Serum Primer and Guerlain Meteorites Perles Light Diffusing Perfecting Primer. Signficantly more spendy than Smashbox, but sometimes you do get what you pay for.

The best primer I have ever used, hands down. The worst part about it is the ridiculous price. I go 2 sample sizes for $12 and unfortunately, I'm hooked! It gives your face a nice clean canvas to work on and applies well.

I really like this primer. I recently purchased it and it has changed the look and feel of my foundation. I have very dry flaky skin and I need something that is going to hydrate my skin. I found that this primer does just that. It is soft and smooth and feels so nice on the skin. A little goes a long way with this product so I will have the bottle for some time! My cons are the staying power, for me it only lasts about 6 hours, the price I paid $50 for a bottle and it has a different smell that I don't care for.

I bought the smaller size and it was tiny considering I paid £12.50 for it. But .... this primer is amazing. I have dry skin and the texture of it is silky and not too thick so it doesn't clog up my pores at all. An excellent primer, will definitely buy again but as a full size bottle.

This is a great primer, especially for winter months when your skin is drying out. It hydrates your skin in a completely non-greasy way, is super lightweight, and has this cooling, refreshing effect that feels nice on your face. Even though it's a "hydrating" primer, I've found this not only helps hydrate my skin where I need it, it balances my skin out and controls oil in my t-zone where I tend to get a little bit shiny. It doesn't smooth out my pores quite as good as a silicone based primer does, but it does still create a nice canvas for my foundation and keeps my makeup in place all day. The only con is the price at $42, but I will continue to repurchase this because I really like it.

I got a sample of this in the VIB clutch. Before I tried this I rarely ever used primers but once I tried this I got a bit hooked. lol.
This gives me the most beautiful glow once all my makeup is applied. The first time I walked by a mirror that morning I actually stopped & had to do a double-take. I had always avoided glowy products before because they were too shiny/glittery for me. But this changed my mind. Now when I don't use it, I feel a bit disappointed in the way my overall makeup looks.

Big downside is that this product is $42. The regular Smashbox primer is $36, which was already a bit high. Despite my positive review, I won't be purchasing this. Mostly because I also needed a setting powder so the cost of both items ended up being more than Guerlain Meteorites which would give me the glow & the setting.
But if you need a primer, like glowy skin & don't mind the price, go for it! continued >>