Smashbox • Photo Finish Primer SPF 15 with Dermaxyl • Primer/ Corrector

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lulu2222 on 12/16/2012 3:33:00 PM more reviews by lulu2222

Age: 56 & Over   Skin: Dry   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

I really like this product but it does seem pricey. However, this morning I was squeezing the last (I thought) out of the plastic packet and I decided to cut the packet in half. It is amazing how much product remained in the packet. I'm sure I have another week's supply left. I gave the packaging a 3 but in a way it is a 1. Surely the user isn't expected to cut the packet in half.

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bluebirdmgc on 6/17/2012 4:37:00 PM more reviews by bluebirdmgc

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

I use this in combination with Smashbox Anti-Shine to create a smooth, all-day-matte base for my makeup. The silky smooth (silicone-based) texture of this primer makes the anti-shine go on without pilling and helps my makeup last all day, through sun, sweat and the humidity that only a Southern summer can provide. I wouldn't bank on the SPF, but overall it's a fantastic product.

I deducted one lippie because I find it only does great things for me in combination with the Anti-Shine.

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snowball12 on 5/12/2012 11:01:00 PM more reviews by snowball12

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Hazel    

I bought with spf because I didn't want seperate lotion and primer, this made my face so greasy, returned for light, not that impressed,

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Mlyssailes on 4/20/2012 10:50:00 AM more reviews by Mlyssailes

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Blue    

I'm on my second trial tube. I think I love it!
My skin is super sensitive.
This primer keeps me from breaking out and helps balance the dryness on my chin, and the oiliness on my forehead.
Plus I love the SPF and all the vitamins!

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Heatherdoll on 3/24/2012 9:25:00 PM more reviews by Heatherdoll

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

I bought this because I've heard pretty good reviews about Smashbox Primers, plus I wanted a primer with SPF in it. The only primer I tried before recently was L'Oreal's Magic Perfecting Base (which I love, except for the fact that it has no SPF). So I was hoping that this primer would be good as L'Oreal's but with the added bonus of sunscreen. I was disappointed that this one is a thinner and greasier consistency, and I don't really notice any improvement of my skin after putting it on. So sorry to say that this one was a waste of money. I might use it, but probably mixed with the L'Oreal one.. for the way my L'Oreal primer makes my skin look and for the sun protection the Smashbox one has.

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mswendy on 3/24/2012 2:44:00 AM more reviews by mswendy

Age: 25-29   Skin: Dry   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

Packaging looks nice, the product is okay, i noticed once inawhile after using this product i would get one small cyst at random spots, not sure if its my skin or this product, probably would not buy again

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jmb217 on 3/10/2012 8:37:00 PM more reviews by jmb217

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Blond, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Green    

I had the worst reaction to this primer. My cheeks got very red, hot and irritated, like I had a sunburn. So, can't tell if it's a good primer as it obviously does not agree with my skin! Make sure you test it out if you've skin sensitivities.

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AnikaAnswer on 2/6/2012 10:45:00 PM more reviews by AnikaAnswer

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Dry, Medium, Warm   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I had high hopes for this primer hoping it would conceal my pores.
All it did was give me a nice satin feeling to my skin, but it didn't really affect my makeup in any way.
I used the mac studio sculpt and chanel teint innocence compact with it.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Lovemymakeup on 1/24/2012 9:51:00 PM more reviews by Lovemymakeup

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

I absolutely love this primer as it does keep my foundation looking awesome all day n its very light n applies smoothly !!!! I've used the reg one too liked it also ive tried other primers but this one is the one I keep going back too not every primer is the same but this one wks great on my face

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SeedyBiotch on 10/18/2011 11:59:00 PM more reviews by SeedyBiotch

Age: 25-29   Skin: Very Dry, Olive, Neutral   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Coarse   Eyes: Brown    

I got this as gratis and although I like it a lot I won't re-buy it because it is too expensive...I like it a lot on my very dry skin, would def not recommend to anyone who has oily skin whatsoever. It does a great job smoothing and evening my complexion and it leaves my skin silky which makes applying my foundation really easy. If you have money then I'd go for it.

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nadiac062 on 8/3/2011 2:01:00 AM more reviews by nadiac062

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brown, Curly, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

This product completely dried out my skin followed by the worst breakout I have ever had after only 3 uses. It took 3 weeks to get my skin to not flake anymore and another 2 weeks to completely get rid of my breakouts. It cost me more money to "repair" my skin after all the damage this product did than the cost of the product itself.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

onlinealterego on 7/31/2011 8:54:00 PM more reviews by onlinealterego

Age: 56 & Over   Skin: Normal, Fair, Cool   Hair: Red, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Hazel    

The product itself is fine, but after *three days* the pump stopped working. I checked it out, and there is no tube or straw type mechanism to draw the product up and out of the dispenser as virtually every pump I've ever seen has. I don't know if I got a defective dispenser, or if they are all designed this way. For a few days I tried removing the cap, removing the pump, and digging the product out with a toothpick, but it added at least 5 minutes minutes to my makeup routine and made me feel like an idiot for buying such a bad product. So after a couple of weeks I threw it away. Lesson learned. I don't know why they don't just put it in a tube because the prodcut itself is great, but I'll never try another smashbox product. It's just not worth the hassle.

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*TOP REVIEWER* lilinah on 5/8/2011 3:14:00 PM more reviews by lilinah

Age: 56 & Over   Skin: Dry, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Hazel    

I use primer largely because at 62 i am developing some fine lines under my eyes and smile lines high on my cheek bones and i want my foundation to go on smoothly and not to sink into these lines too much.


I have two luxury samples of this, each in a cute tiny and very portable tube -- the full size comes in a pump bottle. I have some other full size primers and several other primer samples, but this is the one i look forward to using. I have dry, fair skin. This primer is sheer with an attractive pale apricot tint that doesn't show on my skin. A tiny amount goes a long way in covering my face. It feels silky (thanks to silicone) and applies smoothly, either over moisturizer or on bare skin. It has never irritated my skin. And unlike some other primers i have tried, it does not ball up under liquid foundation.


After using this, my foundation is stable on most of my face. However where i have rosacea on the apples of my cheeks i tend to redden, heat up and perspire, and after about 5 hours -- or less if it is very hot and/or humid and/or i am exerting myself physically -- my foundation fades on my cheeks. When i use a less slicker-y silicone-y color correcting primer on my cheeks my foundation lasts a little longer there. Rosacea can be difficult to cover fully, i often need to touch up my cheeks, and i do not consider this a failing of this primer. Basically i think this stuff is great and i plan to buy a full-size bottle once my samples are used up.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

jija on 3/9/2011 12:17:00 PM more reviews by jija

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

okay primer, not overly impressive. I think the too faced primer, the primer from Urban Decay, and Tarte are all better than Smashbox's.

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*TOP REVIEWER* princess_eab on 3/1/2011 8:40:00 PM more reviews by princess_eab

Age: 30-35   Skin: Very Dry, Fair, Cool   Hair: Red, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

EDIT: I tried Clarins Instant Smooth, which wastoo greasy and contained alcohol, and then NARS Pore Refining Primer, which absolutely perfect and leaves a silky, tight, pore-softening finish! Plus it controls oil. I'm sticking with the NARS. END EDIT

This stuff makes my nose break out whenever I use it. I hardly ever break out on that part of my face, so I know it's a product I'm using. Also, the SPF 15 is fairly pointless since the idea of a primer is to put on as little as possible. The feel of it is silky but gritty. Overall, not great and I would definitely not buy it again.

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gardencity on 2/15/2011 12:17:00 PM more reviews by gardencity

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

I have used and enjoyed Photo Finish. However, I won't buy it again because of the packaging. The last three I have bought (I know, slow learner), have had defective pumps. I have had to return and replace them--then one pump died halfway through the bottle! I have learned from a store clerk that this is a problem with this product. Too bad, because I liked it.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

pillager on 1/23/2011 6:35:00 PM more reviews by pillager

Age: 36-43   Skin: Dry   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Green    

I'm surprised by all the negative reviews of this product. I love the feel of it on my skin and generally use about half a pump since a little goes a long, long way. I generally wait about five minutes before applying my Laura Mercier foundation. The only downside of this product is the smell. It is horrible and smells like petroleum. I don't have the heart to check the ingredients on this product, but it smells really toxic. The smell goes away in a few seconds upon application, but still...

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

billieholiday on 10/19/2010 8:41:00 AM more reviews by billieholiday

Age: 19-24   Skin: Normal, Tan   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

Maybe it was the hype around Smashbox Photofinish that just left me a little bit disappointed. Not hating it, just disappointed. Good points about the primer though, it has a really nice feeling when I apply it. Slides on smoothly and leaves my face feeling quite soft and velvety. Makeup applies quite nicely over the top. As far as prolonging my makeup, I'd say it does...but it doesn't. Sometimes when I skip this, my makeup stays just as long- so I can't be sure. I do really like the feeling it gives my skin though. As far as packaging- the pump stopped working for me but that of course could just be mine being a bit of a dud. I got mine on sale in Australia, but I don't think I would pay full price for it there. It's kind of a 'meh' product for me.

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jwaiyin on 10/15/2010 5:10:00 PM more reviews by jwaiyin

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

Not for every day use: it made me break out, and usually have dry-ish skin.

And not that great for making your makeup stay all day either. My eyeshadow would be gone by the afternoon and my blush stayed on for even less than that.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

gothspice on 9/17/2010 12:10:00 AM more reviews by gothspice

Age: 44-55   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Warm   Hair: Red, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

Horrible
Greasy feel and triggered a breakout.
Expensive.
Back to Ulta

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