Smashbox Photo Finish Primer: a Guru Score of 83%

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 Yay takes Nay takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored

✓Yay

"I've 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 😍

"I've 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."

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"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

1.44M subs

✓Yay

"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 5 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."

I'm here to show you how to get a flawless base over sunscreen bro

"It gives a beautiful base, it's nice and hydrating but it's also a little bit smooth. When I touch my skin I've got like a little bit of a grip there and you can obviously see like a really nice hydration."

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."

A

AliceintheRabbitHole

59k subs

✓Yay

"I actually have to say I prefer the original Photo Finish from Smashbox. It's your standard silicone primer, but that's why I like it. I can press that into my pores, minimize the look of pores, and smooth my skin."

What the evidence says.

Independent of what the gurus think, this is what the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.

Retinoids

Retinoids are among the best studied ingredients in dermatology, with solid evidence for acne and for the fine lines and rough texture that come from sun exposure. Dryness and flaking in the first few weeks are common and usually settle.

Source: DermNet

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is an antioxidant, and it is often in a formula to keep the other ingredients stable rather than as the active itself. It pairs well with vitamin C, though on its own the evidence for visible change is limited.

Source: NIH, National Library of Medicine

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 3 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 83%.

What is Smashbox Photo Finish Primer's Guru Score?

Smashbox Photo Finish Primer holds a Guru Score of 83%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 3 expert reviewers we have collected.