Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primers Reviewed

Regular readers of BeautySwot will know that I am a convert to the benefits of a good primer and having heard particularly good things about the infamous Smashbox primer I was keen to put them to the test.

Today I have two versions from Smashbox to tell you about.

The first is the Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer - oil free £25 for 30ml

Smashbox say

Create a perfect canvas for foundation application with this silky blend of vitamins A & E, grape seed extract and green tea. The totally unique formula helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and pores for visibly softer skin. Wear under foundation to increase its longevity, or alone for a velvety-smooth finish. Apply a pea-sized amount to clean or moisturised skin using fingertips for complexion perfection.

My thoughts 

This primer is really light to wear, it barely feels like anything on the skin but it is quite magical in how it performs. It is clear and has that silicone feel finish to it so if you don't like that you won't be a fan of this... however, it smooths onto the skin and foundation quite literally glides across the skin. It does smooth lines and reduces the appearance of pores but not quite as much as the primer specifically for pore minimizing. This would be great for people with smaller pores to disguise. It mattifies the skin and literally works like an adhesive for foundation and makeup. My foundation remains perfect the entire day as does my makeup - like my blusher that by the end of the day looks as fresh as when I had applied it at 7am which I am incredibly impressed with. I can see the affection that people have for this primer. It is excellent.

The second is the Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer - Pore Minimizing £28 30ml

Smashbox say 

Say goodbye to visible pores! Primer to perfection, plus dramatically reduce the appearance of pores instantly and for up to 8 hours. This non-drying formula also absorbs oil all day for flawlessly smooth, shine-free skin. Wear alone, over/under makeup, or dab on for touch-ups.

My thoughts

This primer as you can see from the picture above has a light colour to it and is a little bit thicker, this helps to 'fill in' the pores and smooth them to provide the perfect base for foundation. Once again foundation glides onto the skin and really does look flawless. As my pores are quite large I prefer this primer over the other for achieving a beautifully smooth and flawless finish to my skin. True to its word this does keep shine completely at bay from the usual places that it normally creeps onto (the t-zone) and skin looks perfect the whole day. As it absorbs oil it does have a slight mattifying effect to my foundations but not as much as the Photo Finish Foundation Primer.

A great primer to hide the pores, I have tended to use this almost every day.

*PR Samples

Contour - How To Create Killer Cheekbones

I don't have stand out cheekbones but with a bit of makeup magic and clever contouring I can create and fake those to die for cheekbones that I so desire.

How to create and cheat your way to Killer Cheekbones in 3 easy steps - 

Contour
Blush
Highlight

Step 1 - Use a matte contour blush in a shade one or two darker than your natural colour - Suck in your cheeks and follow the hollow under the bone to apply the blush - I love Smashbox Blush Silhouette in Rush.

Step 2 - Apply your blusher as normal, I take mine up to the hairline - One of my all time faves is NewCID Cosmetics i-glow in Coral Crush.

Step 3 - Apply a highlighter to the tops of your cheekbones for added definition and contrast - I absolutely love the Laura Mercier Shimmer Bloc that comes with 4 highlighting shades.

The picture above is quite dramatic but you can still recreate killer cheekbones in a more subtle way - as seen in this picture where I am wearing a red lipstick

The blusher I used for this look was a matte neutral which is the the perfect shade for wearing with red lipstick but also works equally with a barely there nude/warm beauty look.

Cargo Blusher in shade Tonga

Poolside Glamour

Three items on my recent holiday helped keep me up there in the glamour stakes by the pool. Now I am not talking about false lashes, heavy foundation and some thick gloopy pale gloss but more subtle tricks that meant that I looked alive whilst sat by the pool and they had the added advantage of containing SPF and being good for my skin!

The first product I popped on after my suncare was the Ginvera Green Tea Nude Cover BB Cream . I have waxed lyrical about this product both in a blog post and on twitter and I still think the same.. it is fabulous. A light product that hides imperfections, evens out skin tone and makes skin look so much better and yet so natural, PLUS it contains an SPF30 for additional protection.

The second product was the new(ish) Smashbox Full Exposure Waterproof Mascara, lashes look long and luscious, it comes in a nice rich black and does a great job after a dip in the pool. There were no panda eyes here!

Finally, the third product I used by day was the Lanolips Lip Ointment With Colour SPF15 in shade Apples This conditioned my lips leaving them beautifully soft, protected them from the Sun with the SPF15 and provided a pretty and subtle red glossy hue to my lips. What is there not to love.

Smashbox Camera Ready CC Cream SPF 30 Dark Spot Correcting

Smashbox say 

A multi- benefit complexion correcting cream that reduces the appearance of dark spots and enhances the natural radiance of the skin. Developed to help you achieve a flawless, luminous and camera-ready complexion, this pioneering fusion of skincare and makeup represents the next level of treatment cosmetics.

Smashbox Camera Ready CC Cream SPF 30 Dark Spot Correcting goes beyond priming, perfecting, hydrating and controlling oil in a single step to reduce the appearance of dark spots and effectively improve the appearance of uneven skin tone. It also offers SPF protection against UVA/UVB rays and leaves the complexion glowing.

My thoughts 

I am wearing shade Light and it is a perfect match for me. I have normal/combination skin and once again I find it ideal for it. Smashbox say that it is suitable for all skin types. I find it similar in consistency to the Estee Lauder BB Glow, so relatively thick but light as a feather applied and virtually undetectable when blended (easily) into the skin. It smooths the skin beautifully, hiding imperfections and leaving a nice bright finish and it is long lasting.

If you do need extra coverage this works wonderfully as a skin primer, I wore it under a Lancome foundation and it was amazing just how flawless I looked. Unsurprisingly, the double layer worked wonders. However I would say that I do like to see my freckles and so I am pretty happy to wear this as it is.

Scent wise it smells a bit of suncream and I put this down to its welcome high SPF.

As to its claims of reducing dark spots, I haven't worn it long enough to find out but I like the product a lot, this will get used to the end.

Here I am wearing it

Smashbox Camera Ready CC Cream SPF 30 Dark Spot Correcting 30ml costs £29 and is available in 5 shades

*PR Sample

Beauty Look - How to do Sultry

I love playing with and trying out make up and of course creating different beauty looks. I love seeing just how different my face can look with the help of a few colours and tricks!

The look above is one that I particularly adore - A bit sultry, a bit sex kitten. This is a look where the focus is predominantly on the Kohl eyes but the rest of the makeup has to be soft but sculpted for real impact. I think this is great date night make up.

The products I used 

Foundation - Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Foundation in Champagne 
Bronzer - Little Mix by Collection Bronze It Jesy Bronzer
Contour Blush - Smashbox Blush Silhouette in Rush - Create fabulous cheek bones
Blusher - Cargo Cosmetics Blush in Tonga - A neutral blush
Highlighter - Laura Mercier Shimmer Bloc Pink Tourmaline - I love this shimmer bloc as a radiance enhancer.
Lip Gloss - Beautiful Movements Cosmetics Nude Lip Gloss - The perfect peachy pink nude gloss allowing the eyes to shine.
Mascara - Benefit They're Real Mascara
Eyeliner - Maybelline New York Master Kajal Kohl Liner in Pitch Black - For added interest I have drawn two flicks coming out at the corner of my eyes.

Beauty Look - Purple Lips & Eyes - Purple Haze

Having eyeshadow palettes with berries and and purples I thought it would be a nice idea to try and bring some more colour to my face. Now it just so happens that various hues of purple shades are fab for making my green eyes pop and the whites of my eyes even whiter. I used two palettes - this brilliant one from Kiko Lounge Warm Tones and one that is US only - Pur Minerals Beautiful Creatures Eyeshadow Palette.

As I have small eyes I concentrated the darker shades in the sockets and corners of my eyes and finished with lashings of black mascara. I used the Berry Lip Shine from No7 on my lips as it is an easy way to wear darker lipstick. For the warmth in my cheeks I contoured with Smashbox Blush Silhouette in Rush and then applied a pinker toned blush Liz Earle Healthy Glow Blush in Rose.

* I am not a makeup artist, just enjoy playing with makeup

Beauty With Bettina - A Lasting Look - Makeup That Lasts!

July's issue of iN Mag is a special Duke Of Essex Polo bumper edition. 

With Summer heralding plenty of event invitations, many of them being outdoors taking full advantage of the glorious weather (yes we are having some! Heatwave anyone?), you will be wanting to keep your make up in place.This month I have handpicked some great products to ensure you will remain looking fresh from morning till night, whatever the weather :-)

Click here to read my beauty page in this month's magazine.

http://issuu.com/in-magazine.com/docs/inmagessexjuly_augdigi/28