Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Water - Review!

I'm a big fan of anything that shortens my makeup application time of a working day. Sure I've been known to spend inordinate amounts of time playing with shadows and potions when it gets to the weekend but when I'm meeting bound or in a rush to get to the rat race speed is of the essence. That's why, on paper, the new Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Water was right up my lickity split application alley. 

There is hands down no better primer for my skin than the original Smashbox Photo Finish Primer and I'm not alone. To coincide with a recent (pretty feckin' deadly) Smashbox promotion I had a post of 15 First Impressions and they were GLOWING so, by rights, a water version of that would be doubly great, right? RIGHT? Unfortunately wrong *plays sad trombone*

With promises of priming, hydration and skin refreshment, I've found that this super light, subtly fragranced mist is a cracking for setting my makeup once applied and as a refreshing facial mist for throughout the day, it just doesn't cut the mustard as far as priming my skin goes. And although in the immortal words of hunk of burning love, Meatloaf '2 out of 3 ain't bad', for a product named 'Primer Water' with a price tag of €30 it feels like a let down. 

The ingredients list makes for interesting reading with the inclusion of caffeine to wake up your visage (it does) and electrolytes to restore moisture (they don't), I think it's the inclusion of fragrance that will see sensitive skinned lasses suffer. It's a boon of course to be alcohol, silicone and paraben free but you know what else is all of those things? Actual water. Thermal Spring Water to be precise. One of my favourites tins to keep in the fridge and do both of the jobs this primer water does. 

What I will say of this latest release is this, it is phenomenal when used in conjunction with the new Double Exposure Smashbox palette. One spritz on the brush and we're talking MAC Fix Plus levels of longevity on seriously metallic shadows. I'll have a full post on that soon but for now you're getting the Gladiator wavering thumb review, Photo Finish Primer Water, you're good, you're just not great. 


Have you tried it out yet? What did you make of it? 


PS. I've a full post on Thermal Spring Water & 
its Very Many Uses Here should you fancy a 
squizz x

Smashbox Photo Finish - 15 First Impressions!

So last month there was a pretty spiffy deal running with Smashbox in Dublin, in that you present yourself to the ladies on counter and, after a short consultation, you receive a free full size Photo Finish primer of your choosing. 

Safe to say, once I tweeted this news, all hell broke loose. The 50 samples from the Blanchardstown counter were gone within an hour! The 50 in Arnott's didn't fare much better. 

I sent out a tweet last week to ask for first impressions of the product, and should you be in the market for a primer, you're prolly gonna wanna read these: 

New IsaDora Under Cover Primer: About to Hit Irish Counters

Swedish make up brand IsaDora is about to dip its toe into the primer market with Under Cover and if the ingredients are anything to go by, this fragrance free, silicone free moisturiser/primer hybrid may make a bit of a splash in doing so. 

As with all primers, IsaDora Under Cover aims to blur lines, mattify skin and provide a perfect base over which to apply your slap. The inclusion of natural silica and rapeseed in place of silicone though means it feels lightweight on the skin and won't ball or roll on the skin as heavier priming products have a tendency to do but also means that you can skip your moisturiser, should you choose to so. 

Although advertised as 'transparent', Under Cover is actually a pinkish beige tone, though blends to transparency

The inclusion of cucumber extract cools and refreshes skin on application, while caffeine aids circulation , reduces puffiness and works on disguising dark circles. I've worn this primer all day long with no make up, it feels light and fresh on the skin and the slight flesh (pinkish beige) tinge to the formulation camouflaged my lighter pigmentation without looking heavy or caked on. 

While I never claim to be an ingredient aficionado, I do know some of you lovelies are so here's the DL on what's included: 

1. Sodium Hyaluronate                                     6. Vitamin E

2. Bambusa Vulgaris Leaf 7. Caffeine

3. Bisabolol 8. Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Extract

4. Rapeseed 9. Glucosamine

5. Acetyl Tyrosine 10. Pisum Sativum (Pea) Extract

You'll find Isa Dora Under Cover on counters in large pharmacies, Debenhams and Shaws stores as of next week for a discounted launch price of €16.95, that will rise to €19.95 post launch.

Are you a primer user? Do you have a favourite, for any reason?

Dermalogica Skin Perfect Primer SPF30

Promising to 'blur the lines between skincare and make-up' I was pretty chuffed to receive a couple of deluxe samples of Dermalogica's SkinPerfect Primer last week for review. I'm a bit of a primer fiend you see, Benefit's Porefessional, Smashbox's Photo Finish and La Roche-Posay's Effaclar Mat have all featured regularly in my make up routine but Dermalogica? Dermalogica is a little different. 

Dermalogica Skin Perfect Primer: €39.99

With the slight tint (provided by pearl powder and earth minerals) in this primer you could be forgiven for thinking it's more of a BB than an undercoat for foundation and truth be told I've worn it as such (and even left the house!). The velvet, soft tinted formulation has more than a little feel of silicone to it and that's what makes your foundation glide on effortlessly and stay put for the duration.  

What do the brand have to say? 

Dermalogica Skin Perfect Primer SPF30 is designed to smooth away fine lines, brighten and prime the skin. Velvety silicones create an instantly smooth surface. Neutral tint helps balance tone and enhance luminosity and radiance. Peptides and AGE Smart® actives help firm and shield against MMP and free radical damage, as sunscreens shield against sun damage.

As I say, I've only tried two (albeit deluxe) samples of Dermalogica's Primer but I'm hooked. The lavender (to my nose) scent, which might not be to everyone's taste is a first for me when it comes to primers but has added to my enjoyment of the product - I mean I'm sitting here right now, sniffing the swatch on my hand. This is definitely one on my wishlist come Pay Day this Thursday. 

What's your 'Optimus Prime'? Or do you use primer at all? Do let me know. 

MAC Primed & Ready!

I've been waxing lyrical about my need for an eyeshadow primer for quite a while now. There's much love for ELF and it's pricier Urban Decay counterpart but finding myself in possession of a BT voucher, it had to be MAC. Painterly Paint Pot, get in mah bag!

I've heard some good reviews about these little fellas and for €21 a pop I'd like to think so too.

It's a creamy, malleable, ehm, cream..

Here we have (much loved) MAC Earthly Riches without & with the Paint Pot

You can see from the shot that Painterly instantly gives you much better colour payoff. You can detect shades there that are impossible to see without the primer. Good, eh?

No, not a stonking bruise

Not only did I leave both swatches in place for an hour, while making the din dins. This pic is also taken after several rubs with a tissue. It ain't moving!

Would I recommend? Without a shadow of a doubt, yes indeedy. It's a little pricey but the pot is deceptively deep, I've been using this for roughly 3 weeks now and as you can see from the swatch shot, it's barely touched.

Anything that can take me from a 7am site visit, through a day's slog and to my Mother's for late tea at 9pm to be asked 'Are you going out?' gets a huge thumbs up from me. No retouching, no creasing, no faffing about. Love.


Do you use a primer? What are you loving?