Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Oil ($42) is a new primer face oil that contains 15 essential plant oils. What sets Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Oil apart from your other facial oils is the fact it is marketed as a face primer. According to Smashbox you can prep your skin for makeup using this oil so that foundation has a smooth, soft canvas to adhere to. Apparently it also reduces the appearance of dry, fine lines and leaves skin glowing.
I admit I had my doubts about using face oil to prime my face. I like facial oils! I think they are one of the greatest skincare treats around. I have drier skin but I don’t think face oils are limited to such a skin type. I think face oils are an excellent product to add to your current nightly skincare routine. Keyword, nightly! Take a note from the guide to Korean skincare and inject as much moisture as you can into your nightly skincare routine as it’ll make your skin look fabulous. I live by this rule.
However, come the morning, I do not need nor want as much moisture. Why? Even though I have drier skin I look for a lightly hydrating lotion that retains moisture and keeps my skin soft and smooth and allows my foundation to apply easily. Extra moisture or too much moisture either makes me look shiny, greasy, oily, or it makes my makeup fade faster. So something lightly hydrating that retains moisture is a good enough pick for me.
This in fact why I was skeptical about Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Oil. I’ve never used facial oil in the AM personally as it’s way too rich for daily use in my experience. The idea of using one as a primer of sorts sounded like a gimmick.
Many reader’s asked me to review this formula and I honestly didn’t want to spend $42 on it when I felt like it was just another facial oil. Luck be a lady because recently I was able to score a sample of it at Sephora. It was a tiny vial but I used it for nearly two weeks, everyday, to prep my skin prior to makeup.
Continue Reading / 15 Comments