Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Water Review

As much as I enjoy and swear by primers sometimes I don't enjoy the often heavy texture of such product; more often than not primers tend to be silicone based and as such they can come hand in hand with a skin suffocating formulation. With the UK just on the cusp of Spring and hopefully warmer weather, skipping the priming step simply won't be an option and yet the heat only seems to amplify the heavy sensation of silicone - make-up catch 22 if ever there was one. What's a gal to do? Rely on new beauty technology that's what, and there is no better suited primer for balmy weather than Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Water.

Priming water, madness huh? Yes this bottle of "water" does of course help lock make-up in place but it offers so many more benefits than that, for instance this cooling mist hydrates, adds a little radiance to the complexion and keeps oil at bay.What is more impressive is the fact that it is silicone free, alcohol free and oil free. As you can imagine Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Water is a beyond weightless formulation that is not detectable on the skin - both visually and in terms of sensation. I guess the best way to think of Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Water is make-up meets skincare?

Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Water Review

To use Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Water: simply mist onto the skin, allow to absorb and then apply your make-up as usual. However unlike your typical cream primer, you can also use this as a setting spray for additional make-up staying power - great for humid weather and/or oily skin as it also cools in doing so. In my experience, when used before and after make-up application it locks even the creamiest of make-up products in place for a good few additional hours; in most cases my make-up stayed in place until I wanted to remove it. I will be entirely honest in saying that I do think this preforms best when using to sandwiching base products i.e: Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Water, make-up and then Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Water again. When used in a typical primer sense (I simply misted on my face before make-up) my oily skin did somewhat melt my foundation off after five hours of wear.

The downside? There is no perfecting qualities, Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Water simply hydrates, sets and cools - it will not give the illusion of smaller pores nor will it blur fine lines/wrinkles. If heavy, silicone based primers are not for you then and all you are really interested in is prolonging make-up wear, then test this out next time you happen to be near a Smashbox counter. I also think that Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Water is the perfect Summer/humid weather option as it is so light and refreshing, not to mention it offers a little oil control too.

Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Water £20/116ml via Boots - link.