Smashbox Photo Finish Oil & Shine Control Primer & Weightless Setting Spray Review September 21, 2019
If I’m being honest, I haven’t been checking for Smashbox Cosmetic’s new releases in a while. However, I always hear great things about the brand’s line of face and cheek products. I was thrilled to receive the Smashbox Photo Finish Oil & Shine Control Primer and Weightless Setting Spray* over the summer from Smashbox and Influenster complimentary for testing purposes.
In today’s post, we will explore whether the Smashbox Photo Finish Oil & Shine Control Primer and Weightless Setting Spray are worth the hefty price tag and if these two products will actually work for oily skin.
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links (*). If you purchase by clicking on my links, I may be compensated at no additional cost to you.
What is the Smashbox brand all about?
Did you know that the Smashbox line of cosmetics originated from the iconic Smashbox Studios in Los Angeles, California? Smashabox was founded by Dean and Davis Factor, the great-grandsons of the iconic Hollywood makeup artist, Max Factor. In 1991, Smashbox Studios was a hub for photographers and artists in Los Angeles.
Then in 1996, Dean and Davis launched Smashbox Cosmetics, to create high-quality makeup products that would pop behind the camera lens. Smashbox is all about celebrating your unique beauty. From a product standpoint, Smashbox is most well-known for its extensive line of primers and lipsticks.
Click here to read more about the original Smashbox Studios and here to read more about Smashbox’s brand ethos.
Smashbox Oil & Shine Control Primer has been a staple primer in my collection since July
Smashbox Photo Finish Oil & Shine Control Primer Claims
Promises to be a transformative face primer that controls oil and shine throughout the day with a silky, cloud-like, matte finish to help makeup look better longer. This primer claims to be healthy for the skin due to its inclusion of Witch Hazel, Salicylic Acid, and Zinc.
Smashbox Weightless Setting Spray Claims
Promises to be a weightless setting spray that makes makeup transfer-proof and improves its wear for up to 16 hours with a comfortable, non-sticky, non-greasy feel. This spray promises to be suitable for all skin types and is dermatologist-tested
Packaging & Price
The Photo Finish Oil & Shine Control Primer* comes in a light, sky blue squeeze tube with black text and details. Additionally, the tube consists of one fluid ounce (30 mL) of primer. This is standard for base products. Also, this primer retails for $39.00.
The Photo Finish Long Lasting Setting Spray comes in a silver-gray plastic spray bottle with black lettering and details. A tube contains 3.9 fluid ounces (116 mL) of setting spray and retails for $32.00. Note: on the Smashbox website this product is referred to as the Weightless Setting Spray.*
Smashbox Cruelty-Free Status
All Smashbox products are 100% Cruelty-Free, which means they are not tested on animals. However, the brand is owned by Estee Lauder (who permits for 3rd Party animal testing on brands sold in China). Read more about what it means to be Cruelty-Free or about affordable, Cruelty-Free brands.
Ingredients
The Photo Finish Oil & Shine Control Primer does not include ingredients like SLS, SLES, parabens, formaldehyde, formaldehyde-releasing agents, phthalates, mineral oil, hydroquinone, triclosan, and triclocarban, and contains less than one percent of synthetic fragrances. Also, this primer contains healthy skin ingredients: Witch Hazel, Salicylic Acid, and Zinc
The Photo Finish Long Lasting/Weightless Setting Spray does not include ingredients like SLS and SLES, parabens, formaldehyde, formaldehyde-releasing agents, phthalates, mineral oil, retinyl palmitate, coal tar, hydroquinone, triclosan, and triclocarban. In addition to being Cruelty-Free, this product is Vegan.
Primer Application & Wear-Time
For the best primer application, I squeeze a small amount of the primer into the palms of my hands. Then, I gently rub the product between my two hands. Next, I lightly press the primer over-top my prepped, moisturized skin. If needed, I may add a pore-filling primer on my cheeks or additional primer where I feel is needed. Finally, I let this primer sit for 30 seconds before applying any foundation.
I was SHOCKED at how much I love this primer. It truly lives up to the claims of providing wearers with a cloud-like, soft matte finish that keeps oil and shine at bay throughout the day. In fact, I see a noticeable difference in how my foundation wears throughout the day. Most importantly, although this keeps my foundation and base products in place, it doesn’t give me an overly flat or dry, cakey appearance to the skin.
In full transparency, I always set my face with a powder and setting spray. When using this primer, I don’t need to blot my skin until the 10-hour mark. This is fantastic performance for me! See where this primer landed in my primer ranking for oily skin.
Smashbox Setting Spray is a weightless spray that locks makeup in place all-day
Setting Spray Application & Wear-Time
For the best setting spray application, I shake the bottle and generously spray my face. In my mind, the Long Lasting Setting Spray is like the child of my two holy grail setting Sprays, the Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Setting Spray* and the MAC Cosmetics Fix-Plus.* How so? This super lightweight, fine mist helps to breathe life back into the skin similarly to Fix-Plus. However, it locks makeup into place like the Urban Decay All Nighter Spray. (But without the chunky globs.)
Additionally, this Spray keeps my makeup in place for a full day out of the house. When paired with a mattifying primer and setting spray, my makeup lasts all day. Similarly to the Photo Finish Primer, I still need to blot my skin around the 10-hour mark of wear-time. However, this is fantastic given how oily my skin is! Read about my Setting Products for Oily Skin.
Where can you buy these Smashbox products?
In the U.S. Smashbox Cosmetics is sold at Sephora, Ulta, Macy’s, Nordstrom, J.C.Penney, HSN, and the brand’s online store.
Final Thoughts on the Smashbox Photo Finish Oil & Shine Control Primer & Weightless Setting Spray Review
All-in-all, I was blown away by how much I loved these two base products from Smashbox. After receiving these products to test, I needed to force myself to reach for my other primers and setting sprays. Although they are rather expensive, they hold up well to their promised claims. As such, I whole-heartedly recommend these to any oily-skinned guys or gals looking to keep oil and shine at bay throughout the day.
In the US, retailers like Sephora and Ulta constantly offer generous sales. Therefore, if the price is a deterrent, I wait until a sale period to pick base products up.
Let’s connect on social media: Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest | Bloglovin’ | Influenster
Also, for full discloser, I was not prompted in any way to write this review as a blog post was not a requirement for my Influenster campaign. I decided to write this post after realizing how much I loved these products. Knowing how frustrating it can be for us oily-skinned individuals to keep makeup in place, I wanted to share these finds.
Have you tried anything from the Smashbox Photo Finish line? What is your favorite setting spray or primer? Please let me know in the comments below.
beauty cosmetics cosmetics for oily skin how to make makeup last on oily skin makeup primers for oily skin setting spray for oily skin smashbox smashbox cosmetics smashbox photo finish smashbox photo finish review
Cordelia. says
September 21, 2019 at 7:13 amOh wow! You wrote really comprehensively so thank you so much and i always knew their primers are the best but the setting spray too!? Hmm maybe i should pick this up and use it for my t zone cause that’s where it always gets gross after awhile!
The Newbury Girl says
September 28, 2019 at 9:14 pmI have such incredibly oily skin so I have to use a primer and setting powder… and often a setting spray lol! Otherwise I look like a total mess by 4-5 hours into the day.
I was genuinely delighted by how much I loved the setting spray and primer from Smashbox because they’re both so effective, but still so ultra-lightweight on the skin. They are pricey, so if you’re on the fence, I’d def hold out for a sale and pick it up then. Sometimes Smashbox even releases mini versions of their primers (although I don’t think they have a mini of these new releases yet).
Cordelia. says
October 3, 2019 at 2:37 amOh man, I have the opposite problem, i have some dry areas so it ends up crusty looking! Ahhh okay! thank you for telling me that!!
Kelly P. says
September 21, 2019 at 7:19 amI have really dry skin and both of these products work great for me too. I prefer the hydrating primer but I’ve used this and was absolutely fine too. I think Smashbox is pretty underrated everything I’ve ever tried from the company has been amazing. I love finding new products that have me fall so in love I don’t reach for anything else.
The Newbury Girl says
September 28, 2019 at 9:16 pmWow – that is so great to know that these worked well on your skin, even though it is on the dry side! Totally makes sense that you’d prefer the hydrating primer to this one since it is more magnifying. Smashbox is def underrated as a brand, especially from a base/cheek product perspective. I’ve always had great luck with their lipsticks, too!!
sophienaylor1 says
September 21, 2019 at 2:15 pmI’ve heard such amazing things about this Smashbox primer!
The Newbury Girl says
September 28, 2019 at 9:17 pmI was so thrilled that I loved this as much as I have!! If I don’t finish it by the end of the year, I will def finish it earlier on in 2020 (wow that is scary to write).
betterdayweb says
September 21, 2019 at 7:43 pmIn all honesty, I have never tried a sigle setting spray before, but I have been Oh-So curious because my makeup usually glides right off my face throughout the day.
I am always on the lookout for new stuff to try so this was both great and informative! 🙂
The Newbury Girl says
September 28, 2019 at 9:18 pmI’m so glad that you found this informative – setting spray can def make a huge difference (especially when paired with the right powder or foundation). At the drug store, I really enjoy the Milani Face Primer, too! 🙂
betterdayweb says
September 29, 2019 at 2:45 pmSounds interesting. I might look into that too. Thank you 😊
stylefrontier says
September 22, 2019 at 6:44 amthis is so detailed
xoxo
style frontier
Simone says
September 22, 2019 at 10:58 amI really want to try these Smashbox products but the price tag is for some reason keeping me back from buying. However, I might splurge during a sale once!
The Newbury Girl says
September 28, 2019 at 9:23 pmTotally understandable because they are pricey – maybe you’ll be able to find them at a good sale or discount… especially with your shopping/shipping invention lol! 😀
Simone says
September 29, 2019 at 4:03 pmLol I’m already looking forward to Black Friday! This is definitely a product what’s a on my list and my shipping invention helps me a lot lmfao (well actually it doesn’t help me in the end because I’m probably going broke lol)
The Newbury Girl says
September 29, 2019 at 7:49 pmI’m curious – Sephora is obviously a more global retailer, but does your shipping method work on sites that are purely US-based? Only asking b/c Ulta can offer some killer sales and carries a ton of indie brands that Sephora doesn’t!
Simone says
September 30, 2019 at 4:19 amYes it does! I’m pretty sure I can order from Ulta as well!
The Newbury Girl says
October 8, 2019 at 1:36 amooo girl – you’re gonna love the sales that Ulta has lol
sarahsarsby says
September 23, 2019 at 3:06 pmIt’s a weird one because I have one of the Smashbox primers (I don’t remember the exact one) and I’m not too keen on it. I almost find it too lightweight and slippery? I didn’t know the setting spray was supposed to be good but if it’s the child of the Urban Decay’s All Nighter Setting Spray and MAC Fix Plus then I already know it’ll be amazing! Thanks for sharing, your posts are always beautifully written and informative x
The Newbury Girl says
September 23, 2019 at 4:02 pmOh I’ve def had others from the line that I didn’t like, but you’re right that they are very lightweight but I prefer that for a mattifying primer.
And honestly, I really was blown away by the setting spray because it isn’t as chunky or fragrant as the UD Spray, but still keeps my makeup locked into place! So getting this spray def kept me from buying another bottle of MAC Fix+ (which I ran out of)
gabbyabigailll says
September 23, 2019 at 6:27 pmI’ve never tried smashbox before, but they sound amazing! I’d love to try the setting spray. PS: I love your flatlays so much. You keep getting better at them every single post. WOW.
Much love always,
GABBY | http://www.gabbyabigaill.com
The Newbury Girl says
September 28, 2019 at 9:23 pmThank you so much girl – this encouragement means so much to me. I love being able to see the improvement in my work, too! <3
jennifertarheelreader says
September 24, 2019 at 7:02 amI’m definitely taking note of these, LP. It sounds like they passed the tests with flying colors! Great reviews!
The Newbury Girl says
September 28, 2019 at 9:24 pmThank you so much <3
Hunida says
September 26, 2019 at 3:26 amAw congrats on receiving a box from Influenster! They haven’t sent me anything in ages. The setting spray must be nice if comparable MAC’s, wow. So happy to hear how much you liked both of these products! Thanks for sharing!
The Newbury Girl says
September 28, 2019 at 9:25 pmYess – it really does remind me of the MAC powder in the way that it melts makeup together, but def gives the longevity of Urban Decay’s All-Nighter!!
And honestly… same. I haven’t gotten anything since I received this box in July. Slightly bitter that I keep missing out on all of the makeup boxes!
Hunida says
September 29, 2019 at 11:18 pmThey keep sending me pre-surveys but I never qualify?! 🙁
The Newbury Girl says
October 8, 2019 at 1:35 amomg same – and then I see tons of non-makeup influencer members getting high end makeup boxes. 😐 V bitter over here.
Hunida says
October 9, 2019 at 2:27 amThat’s so weird!!
molly rose says
October 29, 2019 at 5:26 amOMG I think I need to get my hands on these products, especially the primer because my god does my skin get oily and gross very quickly when I have makeup on. The fact that you can last 10 hours without having to blot your face is amazing! I honestly might have to dig deep and just buy it despite the price, thanks so much for reviewing this and being so informative! xx
The Newbury Girl says
October 29, 2019 at 5:34 pmgirl, my skin is an oil slick 100%. When I use this primer and then set it with a powder & spray I feel/look bulletproof without looking cakey. The primer does work well on its own as well, but depending on the foundation, I may need to blot once if I haven’t set my foundation! But I’m nearly finished with this primer and I only started using it in July so that should tell you something lol. 😀
molly rose says
October 29, 2019 at 7:03 pmHahah I feel you so much! My biggest pet peeve is looking cakey after setting my face with powder, coz I feel like I always have to use more powder to not look oily! It’s just never a win win situation but these products sound literally live saving 😍