I had a chance to try L’Oreal Studio Secrets Professional Secret No.1 Magic Perfecting Base ($12.99) primer recently (the name is so long, it never ends) and couldn’t help myself but compare it to the one I was using for years – Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer Light ($36). Both were made to serve the same purpose: help makeup stay put and pores look less evident. Let’s see which one is worth a trip to Ulta.
I applied L’OREAL PERFECTING BASE right after my moisturizer was absorbed into skin and waited for couple of minutes for it to set. It goes on creamy, but the texture feels a bit on the heavy side. It’s effect disappears after a few hours into the day. I haven’t noticed any drastic difference in the longevity of my foundation or makeup either. That’s maybe because I use cream foundation that I find more durable on its own.
There were a few things that I liked about that L’Oreal primer though. It actually made my pores less noticeable and was really easy to blend. And, if you wait for a couple of seconds for it to sink in, then your foundation goes on top of it effortlessly.
Overall, L’Oreal Perfecting Base is not a bad product, it may perform better in lower temperatures and less humidity. This is a classic case of getting exactly what you paid for, as it performs according to it’s price.
SMASHBOX PHOTO FINISH primer has been my go-to product since it hit the market a few years ago. I may sound a little biased here, but will try my best to give it a fair review nevertheless.
Why I’m still using it: it’s silky, oil-free, light, blends well and feels good on my skin. It’s also versatile, as it makes products like concealer or blush longer-lasting and fresh looking. It smooths skin around the eyes and makes fine lines disappear. It controls oil, which is very helpful in the summer heat, because there’s no need for me to use blotting papers when I’m wearing it under my makeup.
The not so attractive part of this primer is the price. Another thing is that sometimes it’s hard to get the last drops of the product from some containers. It happened to me only once, but was frustrating enough, so I switched to the travel size squeezable tubes and was immediately back to my happy mode.
THE VERDICT. So here you have it, Smashbox Photo Finish wins over L’Oreal Studio Secrets primer by far, quality-wise. L’Oreal comes first price-wise. It’s a draw.
