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.
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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.