“I want pores tighter than Matthew McConaughey’s butt,” she whispered into the darkness, slowly drifting into a deep slumber. Her head sank into her pillow as she snuggled her tube of Smashbox Photo Finish Oil Free Foundation Primer Pore Minimizing ($39). “We don’t want no stinkin’ pores…”
— Me, last night, 10:12 p.m., my bed
In my dreams, wishes come true, even seemingly frivolous makeup-related ones, like wishing for smooth, pore-less skin akin to the skin I had when I was 18 (and sadly too young to truly appreciate it).
In real life, however, wishes need help.
That’s where Smashbox’s new Photo Finish Oil Free Foundation Primer Pore Minimizing comes in.
Born to blur pores, with a name that doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, it’s like a makeup major in liberal arts…in that does a bunch of different things.
Not only does it keep oil in check, but it also extends the life of any makeup you layer on top. Mostly, though, it’s for diminishing the appearance of your pores (like Spanx, but for pores).
Don’t be alarmed by the blue tube, either. The product itself isn’t blue (thank goodness!). It appears beige but quickly turns transparent as you work it into the skin.
I’ve been on pore patrol for the past five years or so. I guess it was one of those grown-up things that just snuck up on me… One day, out of the blue, while I was probably contemplating bruxism, flat arches or paying the water bill, I realized that my pores had grown to the size of Texas!
Not good.
But this primer does a good job of mellowing them out, although I think most of the heavy lifting is being done by the silicones (they’re listed right at the top of the ingredients).
The formula fills in the little dips and divots on my skin, and all of the foundations I’ve tried it with (including MAC Face & Body, Laura Mercier Smooth Finish Fluide and the new NARS All Day Luminous Powder Foundation) look smoother, more polished and more even.
Plus, the normally oily areas on my forehead and nose look less shiny throughout the day. I also find that I don’t have to reapply my powder and blush after applying them in the morning.
Smashbox Photo Finish Oil Free Foundation Primer definitely doesn’t deliver teenage skin in a tube — nothing does that — but when I wear I do think my pores look less obvious.
Unlike an awful ex who thankfully disappears into a mysterious black hole after you break up (he isn’t even on Facebook), your pores will still be there to say wasssssup! They’ll just appear diminished.
PRICE: $39 for a 1-oz. tube
AVAILABILITY: Permanent, and available now at Smashbox counters and online
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A-
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Doesn’t sound too bad! My pores aren’t really big but I have a lot of shine and fine lines these days. Silicone primers have been working wonders for me!
No breakout with the silicone filling the pores?
And do you think it can be used on its own, without foundation on top, to blur pores? I don’t wear foundation daily, but I could use something light to blur imperfections.
I am having the same question too! There are days I am not feeling like wearing foundation and a product that blurs or makes pores appear smaller would be a lifesaver for me! But Karen, does it work on its own or there is no change?
If you have a light complexion, try the L’Oreal Youth Code Texture Perfector Pore Vanisher. I don’t care for it as a primer, but I like it on a no makeup day. (I have oily, acne-prone skin with visible pores.) It doesn’t break me out, and while it doesn’t make my face look flawless, it does a decent job blurring my pores.
Hi Katie,
Thanks for the rec for the lighter lasses!
Hey, thanks for the recommendation and I will give this a try!
You look so beautiful! Please please, do you recall what blush are you wearing here, it’s amazing!
Hm, this sounds really nice! I only have quibbles really with the pores on the centre of my forehead, near my brows (I discovered, on thinking about it, that I actually don’t really know what qualifies as ‘big’ when it comes to pores, unless you can see them from across the room or something!), but I don’t want to cake foundation on to that area. Something like this might be the answer!
I think I’ll stick with my Dior Pore Minimizer for now. But this does sound okay. But Karen, teenage skin in a tube, who wants that anyway?! I certainly would not want MY teenage skin to return, it was terrible! 😉 But maybe you were a prettier teen 😉
Yes, teenage skin minus the pimples, that I would take. Sadly, silicon-heavy primers (or foundations, for that matter) tend to break me out, so it would most likely be teenage skin with all the zits. No thank you!
Karen, what lipstick is that? It’s beautiful!
Hi Ann!
It’s Smashbox Legendary, a blueish red: The Smashbox Be Legendary Lip Lacquers: Some Legends Last, and Some Don’t. I like it, but I wish the stain part lasted longer.
I think I have a sample of this – I’m like a primer sample hoarder because Sephora keeps sending them and I rarely use them. I am a fan of the silicone smoothness, though, so I might like it. I just worry about pore clogging. That said, I am in need of pore diminishing! 🙂
You’ll like this then because it gets skin really smooooooove. 🙂 What primer are you currently using now? Or do you just use your Tarte tinted moisturizer by itself?
Ok, pore reducing primer check. NARS has a new powder foundation!?!?! Tell me more!
I use Sarah McNamara Miracle skin Transformer or Bare Minerals primer. Wonder workers. Loreal also makes a Blur that helps the face when you haven’t had enough sleep .