Smashbox is a brand I've always admired from afar, but having no counter to swatch colours and test textures I've never owned a great deal from them. All that's about to change however as recently the brand has been rolled out into larger Boots stores, making things a whole lot more accessible - oh how my bank balance weeps.
Slightly overwhelmed by such a large array of new products I decided to pick up a few 'Try Me' kits, the stand out and most popular of these being It's Your Prime.. and Smashbox certainly know a thing or two about the stuff. This one comes with a travel size of their award winning and best selling Photo Finish Primer. An oil-free, silicone based gel which glides over the skin like silk, leaving a soft matte finish which disguises pores and preps skin for your base of choice. I've been layering this all over my t-zone and places that usually start to gather foundation after a few hours wear stay even and shine free for a whole lot longer.
The most exciting product in this little kit - and probably the one that had me snatching it up off the counter at first glance is the Hydrating Under Eye Primer. As a sufferer of a multitude of sins in that region, this has definitely been a life saver. Even after a few hours my Holy Grail Origins Plantscription Concealer can tend to look a tad on the dry side, but a thin layer of this underneath amps up the hydration and creates a barrier between skin and make up, combating signs of cakeyness, the highlighting of fine lines and even helping to brighten dark circles. Check, check and check.
The stand out of this kit for me though and the product that took me most by surprise has to be the Lid Primer. This is a step that I'm afraid to say I always skimp on but having recently started to notice that eyeshadow just isn't lasting as well as it used to, I think it's time I started paying attention. Like all of the formulas in this kit it's an incredibly thin texture which glides over the lid, no dragging at all. It's tinted just enough to give a smooth base to the eye but doesn't interfere with shadow colours and I find this stuff literally works like superglue when dealing with crease-prone formulas.
The set retails for £14.00, only £1.50 more than the travel size Photo Finish alone so it's certainly quite the bargain! Have you tried a Smashbox primer before?
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