Sunday, November 9, 2008

Askmewhats Reviews: Smashbox PhotoFinish Primer Light


I went to the mall today and I can't believe how crowded it gets. I guess Christmas is definitely near and people are panic buying! I haven't had the chance to go to the mall the past few weeks because we always have something in plan, parties, visits, etc... Today is the day that we finally have some QT (Quality Time) at the mall.

What did I buy? I went panic buying for falsies! I think I bought more than 10 pairs of falsies, not for myself, but for future clients and makeovers. What's left in my stash are basically exaggerated ones which won't do good for wedding make-up!

I am blabbing again *sigh*, let me go straight to what I originally planned to do..a review! hahaha


Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Light





Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Says ---
(details from Sephora website)

A water-based, lightweight foundation primer.

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 for a flawless future.

Photo Finish Foundation Primer Light comes in a new a square airless pump for freshness to the last drop. It is oil-free, fragrance-free, and paraben-free.

Ingredients

Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Polysilicone-11, Butylene Glycol, Ethylene/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Triethanolamine, Decyl Glucoside, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Hexylene Glycol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Oligopeptide-10

Askmewhats Says ---


Pros
  • I haven't tried to original formula but I like the "light" feeling on the skin when applied
  • The packaging is better, you got more product with this bottle
  • If you have oily skin, it makes your foundation stays longer. (if make up lasts you 4 hours without primer, you add an additional 2-3 hours) <--- in my opinion
Cons
  • may cause breakout to some people
  • could cause dryness to dry skin areas

Overall


Though I haven't used this product more than 10times, I've used this for most of the makeovers I've done in the past. I'm already half-way with the bottle. I find that the Photo Finish Primer Light never fails me. It does make foundation application applied easier and it really holds the face make-up for longer period of time.

I know some people may have allergies to this, but thank goodness, no one complained to me so far.

For people with dry skin, I will ask them the areas that shines first, and I would pat on the Primer on that area only instead of splattering it all over the face which may trigger dryness.

It works.... PERIOD.

Tips
  • always start with a clean moisturized face
  • wait for the moisturizer to settle into your skin before you apply the primer
  • IMO, use a foundation brush to apply this as sponges absorb the product having more wastage
  • when you apply this, combination skin individuals tend to have the "dry" areas super dry, I start to see dryness and spots on areas, do not freak out, moisturize the area again with a moisturizer or spritz with MAC Charged Water/MAC Fix Plus/Evian/Bench Pure Mist

Will I repurchase?


Yes!

Where did I buy this and how much?


Philippines Duty Free Shop, forgot the exact amount but saw this at the Beauty Bar for Php2,250 (approx $47.00)


I've checked at the Beauty Bar and saw that they sell smaller sized Photo Finish Primer Original Formula. I wonder why they don't sell sample sizes for the Primer Light. For people who are interested to try on this product, I strongly suggest you try on the sample size first, as you could be allergic to a product and forking out USD47.00 is not joke!

Maybe, shop with a friend who's also interested with this primer? Split the bill and share the product in half? Just to make sure to store the product in an airtight glass jar!

Well, just thinking of ways for you gals to save up :D

How was your day???
Take care!!!!


19 comments :

  1. huff.....

    i really really want to try this product out... but considering the price... i don't want to hurt myy wallet..... >.<

    is there any chance i can get a drugstore primer that's almost as good as this?? lol

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  2. I've read a lot of mixed reviews about this one, and also the original Photo Finish. I finally snagged a bottle at Sephora just to give it a go. With quite a bit of apprehension though, as my skin still doesn't know whether to agree with that amount of silicone yet.

    After trying it out, oh my. My foundation just looks flawless with it. And it stays on real long without that oily T-zone too. I now love this one to bits :)

    Tried buying it using Sephora's Friends and Family discount to send to my aunt's place in San Jose, since she'll be going back to M'sia next month. It really was too bad that the website only accepted US credit cards. Sigh. In the end, couldn't get it or anything else. And it was such a good discount too :(

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  3. Great review nikki!

    I was considering this primer, along with mufe hd and lm of. but i heard acne-prones don't deal too well with this. Since butylene glycol is way up in the ingr list, I passed up on this. I just recently found out why I was reacting so bad to one product, it's most likely because of this ingredient.

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  4. hey i wanna try that primer too, but I don't know where I can get it in sydney.. So I gave up on searching.. I wanna try other primers like NARS and Laura Mercier.. but I haven't seen any reviews on those yet...

    I'm jealous...

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  5. yeah you're right, the malls are getting crowded already! that's why i like powerplant so much, konti lang tao (plus it's near my school). hehe.

    i love smashbox' primer! i have the original formula one in smaller size and i'm still halfway through that.

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  6. ah i got the samples for this but it didnt work for me T-T

    the foundation applied very smoothly but it didnt cover my pores or controlled my shine which was what i wanted XD

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  7. I prefer waterbased primers over the silicone ones that are so popular now. Have you ever tried the Laura Mercier one? If so, how does it compare?

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  8. I wonder how this would work on combination skin, because I have some dry skin area. But I don't wanna pay alot of money u know? Wish I could try some :) I've been always wanting to try this.

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  9. Mystiquequeen, a lot of people are using the Monistat Chaffing gel as replacement for this, it works base on what I read but of course..you have to test it on a small part of you skin first...

    Tine, too bad you can't buy them..do you have these in Australia? Or you really can't purchase them? But yeah, the discount would be perfect!

    JieJie, true, I got apprehensive because of the allergies or breakouts it causes to some people...they do sell it in smaller sizes though...so at least it won't be too expensive, but the smaller sizes are the original formula

    Purple, I've heard raves about Laura Mercier Primers! :D

    Sab, you like the Smashbox Original Formula Primer?

    Bittenbefore, I'm sorry it didn't work for you, what's your HG primer now?

    Psychoexgf, I haven't tried LM, but if I finish this up, I may give LM a try :D

    Digital Angel, for combination skin, I pat this on areas that's oily and I leave the dry areas. Ohh I wish you have some samples you can score in Sephora or something?

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  10. We don't have smashbox here. :( Ahh.. it may dry out certain areas? dang it :( my forehead get very dry so I avoid putting drying product there. But I suppose this would work very well on normal skin!

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  11. would love to try this product tho :) but yeah I think the sample size would be so much better than buying the full size product since i break out kinda easily :(

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  12. Thanks for this! I've always wanted to try this cult primer...but I'm afraid of the breakouts.

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  13. Thank you so much for the review, hon! I think I might give this a try since the original one broke me out BAD! LOL!

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  14. Connie, yup! Definitely works for normal skin, so far, I put heavy moisturizer to the people I do makeover if I know they have dry skin :)

    Ai, so true, i wish they sell it in packet size or something :)

    Fab Beauty, so far..no breakouts..but yeah, it really depends on the skin of a person

    Iamgrape1119, i am sorry about the original one..well if it broke you bad, I have read a lot of people breaking out with the original one but with the light version, they didn't, but hope you can score a trial size first, just to make sure!

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  15. I use the original version (Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer). I got two of it as a deal on a flight (two for 40 euros I think) (it retails at a whopping 37 euros in shops here!). I only wear it on days that I wear foundation (so perhaps once or twice a month), but it does work very well. I suppose because I don't use it often, I haven't experienced break-outs from it. Because it's silicon-based, I don't think it's a good idea to use it every day (the skin doesn't absorb silicon, so it just sits on top of the skin). I've had it since last winter and am still only halfway through the first bottle, so I don't need to think about repurchasing any time soon. I will probably only repurchase when the time comes when there's a deal.

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  16. it is mighty expensive really but i love the feel as well when i tried brigittes. :) this is really handy for you sis! :) your face will look flawless with this one. :)

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  17. LIz, true, same here, I always purchase product if they're on sale or have a great deal :D

    Shen, aww you've tried Brigitte's? Nice no?

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  18. you can purchase this on AWC for like 24 dollars! I did and im liking the product, one con is that it came whitout the box..

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