Who has had those days where your foundation just melts off your face and you have half your pretty/glam face sliding off? For sure me! and i do think alot of you probably have too. I used to have this problem nearly every time i applied my full face of makeup, I wasn’t sure what i was doing wrong until i came across primers! After a whole load of researching and comparing, 6 months ago i purchased a foundation primer that changed my whole make up look. I have used this primer for 6 months solid and i think that’s more than enough time to give you all a review and my thoughts on it.

As you can probably tell from the title the product i am sharing with you is Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer.

This primer after the first ever use really showed me that this stuff was pure magic. Being a girl who suffered from makeup melting off my face (especially in the summertime), using only one new product and then suddenly the problem was solved, to me this product is like pure magic. It retails at £26 for 30ml and before you think that is alot of money to spend on a primer it really isn’t for this product. The reason being is it lasts an incredible amount! Each time you apply you literally need a pea size amount as that will cover your face perfectly, so it does last a ridiculously long time! (It’s a good thing that once opened the product lasts up to 24 months or i would never use it all up before needing to buy a new one!) If you’ve never heard of the brand Smashbox before do check out their site (not now as you’ll get distracted but definitely after haha.) For all you who are interested, primer was the first products created at Smashbox Studios and you will see that they have a variety of primers for different needs and finishes which i think is perfect to have in a collection so it can suit all skin needs. They also do a ‘light’ version of the one i have which is 60% water based so perfect for oily, sensitive or acne-prone skin. But as a combination skin i find this one works well for me, it is also Smashbox’s best-selling primer (You can try the travel size versions to make sure you find the one that works best for you.) 

The packaging is simple and sleek, and i love that it is a squeezy tube as it will keep the product fresher with less air getting to the beneficial vitamins. You can wear this primer either alone or under a foundation. But i have always done under the foundation as this is the product that has hugely helped my melting off makeup problems. I know that alot of people rave about this product and for good reason too. It is formulated without Sodium Lauryl Sulfate,  Parabens, Oil, Fragrance, Talc and  Phthalates and is not tested on animals whilst also containing some great antioxidants in the formula. The Primer itself is colourless and fragrance free. It is a silicone-based serum and this is the main reason that once applied your face will feel the smoothest it’s ever been. In my opinion it gives you a flawless, smooth base to work with that really helps the foundation ontop to be applied evenly and again look flawless. The primer creates a bond between your face and the makeup so that it has great lasting power. With this primer mine can stay on fully anywhere between 6 hours before a small touch up to a whole day with no touch ups depending on what i’m doing. Although the texture may feel thick when first squeezed on finger as soon as you apply it becomes lightweight, silky and easy to blend in.

Not lumpy just didn’t fully blend in as i wanted the texture to pick up on camera XO

Obviously i love this primer because it has meant that my makeup finally stays looking presentable for long periods of time but i also love the fact that it contains some wonderful antioxidants for your skin. It contains Vitamins A & E, grape seed extract and green tea. A little tip: Because the bottle packaging is clear it means that you should store this product away from light to ensure that the antioxidants inside stay beneficial to the skin.

Overall if you have normal to oily or combination skin i definitely recommend you try out the Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer. It lives up to what it claims to do and really does help the lasting length of your makeup, reduce appearances of fine lines and also pores. It gives your skin a velvet smooth finish which is super soft and perfect to use as a base for any makeup. This is the primer that i start my make up off with everyday and i have no plans in changing it anytime soon! 

LOVE CHARLOTTE XO

UNTIL NEXT TIME BEYOU-TIFUL INSIDE & OUT XOXO