Smashbox

Photo Finish Primer.

Powder & Setting

About this product

A lightweight smoothing primer designed to blur pores and create a smooth base for makeup application.

Type

Powder & SettingGel

Key actives

RetinoidVitamin ESPF

Formula notes

Fragrance-freeNo drying alcohol

Full ingredients

Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Trisiloxane, Silica, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Extract, Propylene Glycol, Water\Aqua\Eau, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract, Cola Acuminata (Kola) Seed Extract, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract

Guru Score

82%

Approved

Early verdict · Few reviews so far

2Gurus

2Approved

0Mixed

0Skip

What the gurus are saying

This primer earns consistent praise for smoothing and blurring the skin without leaving a heavy or overly matte finish. Experts find it hydrating enough that it won't aggravate breakouts or dryness, though some may want to mix it with a hydrating primerizer if they plan to layer powder on top. A little goes a long way, and many reach for it as a reliable base that helps makeup last.

Synthesized from 2 expert reviews · most recent take May 2026

Where to buy

Find it at Amazon → Compare prices on Google Shopping →

How it works Independent by design. Every take comes from a creator we have no relationship with. We do not ask anyone to review, and affiliate links never move a score.

Every take, in full

What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Approved takes Critical takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored

Allie Glines

830k subs

✓Approved

"I have been really loving this Smashbox photo finish primer. I do have this on today. It just smooths the skin really nicely. A little goes a long way. It's more lightweight than their other primers that they have, but I just really like how smooth it looks."

All 2 takes from Allie Glines

Oh my… these favorites are REALLY good 😍

UPDATED: The BEST Primers ACCORDING TO YOU 😱

"The Smashbox Photo Finish Primer is another classic OG primer. One reviewer said they've been using this product for 9 years and needless to say they love it, it makes their skin feel so good and does a really good job at smoothing and blurring. Another reviewer called it the best primer ever, saying they tried several other brands but this is the best."

Alexandra Anele

1.43M subs

✓Approved

"Smashbox Photo Finish in the very center of my T-Zone, this has been like a go-to primer for me recently. I've been really just enjoying it in general for like really creating that grip."

All 4 takes from Alexandra Anele

Super dry, post treatment skin that is sooo rude to your makeup

"I've just been kind of loving this little Smashbox combo so I'm mixing the Smashbox primerizer with the Photo Finish. I literally just mix them together and I really like it. I find that a lot of smoothing primers can sometimes just make my skin feel a little bit dry so mixing in the primerizer kind of like evens that out a little bit."

How to look Glowy NOT Oily

"I was using the Smashbox Photo Finish Primer. I really liked this one because it's hydrating enough and it blurs and kind of smooths the area of your face where you can get larger pores, but it doesn't end up making your face look too matte. I don't know, I just get a lot of breakage a lot of the time with pore filling primers, so this is a really great option. If you're someone who gets excessive oiliness in your T-Zone, then that's something you want to look into."

Em Rata’s hot and so are U

"Smashbox Photo Finish in the very center of my T-Zone, this has been like a go-to primer for me recently. I've been really just enjoying it in general for like really creating that grip."

If y’all need a go to makeup look THIS is the one. Just sayin.

"Smashbox Photo Finish, the OG smooth and blur primer, I like to mix it with a primerizer. The Photo Finish works as a beautiful base for smoothing and long wear, makes my makeup really last. The addition of the primerizer just makes it a little bit more hydrating, especially if I'm going to be using powder. I usually start by smoothing it on like a moisturizer, and then once I've applied it all over my face I'll pat in areas where my pores might come off as a little bit larger, so I'm pressing that product in and filling in those areas."

Common questions

Frequently asked.

What is Smashbox Photo Finish Primer?

A lightweight smoothing primer designed to blur pores and create a smooth base for makeup application.

Is Smashbox Photo Finish Primer worth it?

Yes. All 2 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 82%.

What is Smashbox Photo Finish Primer's Guru Score?

Smashbox Photo Finish Primer holds a Guru Score of 82%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 2 independent expert reviewers we have collected.