Product Review: Smashbox Lid Primer

Hi my lovelies! Thank you to all of you for the well wishes, it seems like everyone is getting sick these days or allergies are acting up. I have so many posts and product reviews to do so I am hoping I can hammer them out quickly! Did anyone watch "The Hills" last night? OMG, Audrina and Jayde drama! I personally am not fond of either of them, but I thought it was pretty hilarious, and Speidi, goodness, I really wish they fell off the face of the earth. I don't know why she stays with Spencer and puts forth all the energy of going to counseling and attacking the bartender- just leave the douche. LOL.

Anyway, I bought Smashbox's Photo Finish Lid Primer at Sephora a few weeks ago and I must say I really love this stuff. The one advantage it has over the infamous UDPP and Too Faced Shadow Insurance is that it really neutralizes the lid- so you can wear it alone if you really wanted to.

****I did not include the Art Deco Base eyeshadow primer in this review/comparisons simply because it's hard to find here in the US and wanted to focus on the main primers that are easily accessible.****

Product: 5 out of 5
Packaging: 5 out of 5
Quality: 5 out of 5
Overall: 5 out of 5
Price: $20, Sephora and Sephora.com
Shades: Only comes in one neutral shade to fit every skin tone
Would I buy again? Yes

To see my UDPP vs. TFSI challenge awhile back (to see which one held up better for me), CLICK HERE.

What it does:
Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer creates the perfect canvas for eyeshadow application. Wear this universal shade under shadow to increase longevity, or create the perfect nude eye by applying over the lid for an even tone.

-Patented Qusome: Delivers active hydrating ingredients that help reduce the signs of aging.
-Phytomoist: Contains a plant-based hyaluronic acid for sustained moisturization.
-Betaine: Contains skin-smoothing benefits.
-Soft Focus Pearls: Helps diminish the appearance of fine lines.
-Silicone Technology: Creates a silky-smooth, velvety texture

Ingredients:
Isododecane, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Beeswax (Cera Alba, Cire D'Abeilles), Silica, Boron Nitride, Quaternium-90 Bentonite, Talc, Microcrystalline Wax (Cera Microcristallina, Cire Microcristalline), Propylene Carbonate, Cetyl PEG/PPG10/1 Dimethicone, Hexyl Laurate, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-12 Glyceryl DiMyristate, Water (Aqua, Eau), Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Betaine, Glycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract. May Contain/Peut Contenir: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron oxide (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499).

How does this compare/differ to UDPP and/or TFSI? The Smashbox Lid Primer itself has pretty nice packaging in the sense that the wand is long, the tube is straight, so you are utilizing all the product in the tube without wasting it or having to cut it open like UDPP (Urban Decay Primer Potion), where it's clear how much product is left that WOULD have gone to waste if it were not sliced open. UDPP and TFSI seemed a bit more watery in comparison to the Smashbox primer, not saying it IS watery by any means, but standing next to the Smashbox Lid Primer (which is nice and thick), they both seem "thin" when it comes to consistency and feel. When it came to vibrancy/pigmentation and endurance of wear, Smashbox was STILL a winner as you can in the photos below. It clearly brought out the color of my eyeshadows as well as lasting longer in wear in comparison to UDPP and TFSI.

PROS:
- Neutralizes my lid color which I love because that means when I have my no-makeup days I can just put a few dots on my lid, blend all over and voila! No dark areas!
- Did not crease on me.
- Has a bit of a thicker consistency compared to UDPP and TFSI which I liked because I felt my eyeshadows had more of a foundation to 'grab onto' thus, increasing vibrancy and wear.
- No odd smell.
- Longer wand, straight tube, so you get your money's worth and make use of all the product in the tube.
- Doe foot applicator makes it easy to apply a few dots on lid
- Easy to take with you in your makeup bag/travel.
- Neutral color goes with ANY skintone since it's a flesh color and disappears once its been blended
- Relatively affordable considering how long eye/lid primers last you, and as I say "If it does the job right, then it's worth it"...

CONS:
- None!

You might like this if you already love UDPP.

Overall? I love this compared to UDPP and TFSI. Since UDPP still has not changed their bottle/packaging, I feel that by paying $17 for it I shouldn't have to cut the tube to make use of the "forgotten" product that's left. TFSI, as you can see in my challenge didn't hold up for me so that's a negative. Hence I am loving Smashbox's new Photo Finish Lid Primer; it's definitely a prayer that has been answered: easy packaging, neutralizes my lid color, holds onto my eyeshadow for all-day wear without creasing, adds vibrancy, and affordable.





Even held up even after washing my hands!