Sometimes when I hold this tube in my hand, I feel the need to pinch myself.
Is it real? I wonder, giddy with excitement, or is it a makeup mirage?
Perhaps that’s being overdramatic (what, me overdramatic??), but seriously, dude, it feels like I’ve been searching for this little pink tube FOREVER.
Or, you know, like two months.
It’s just that every single time I’ve looked for it at Ulta or Sephora, it’s never been in stock. The shelf where neat little boxes of Photo Finish Hydrating Under Eye Primer should have been, has always been as empty as a ghost town.
[Cue tumbleweeds rolling by]
I know I could’ve tried to order it online, but tracking it down in a store actually became a weird personal mission of mine. I wanted the instant gratification…even if it took me a year to get.
LOL! 🙂
I’ve also been wondering, though…who are these ladies (or gents) that are hoarding this sh*t so hard that I can’t ever find a tube? Is the love for this under-eye primer so intense that people have literally cleared it off every makeup store shelf within a 20-mile radius?
Well, last week my luck turned. Miracle of all makeup miracles, I finally found one lonely box when I went to Sephora, and I grabbed that last box with a quickness usually reserved for chocolate, doughnuts, and chocolate doughnuts.
I’ve been a user now for about a week, and my, oh my — I’m on the fast-track to becoming one of those ladies who are probably responsible for this stuff never being in stock. I already want to get a backup.
Smashbox Photo Finish Hydrating Under Eye Primer hoarding is a legit thing!
So, what is this stuff, and why is it (almost) better than a bag of Baked Cheetos?
Basically, it’s a brightening, moisturizing under-eye primer that you apply before concealer. Anything you layer on top of it — concealer, powder, whatever — ends up looking smoother, more natural and more like real skin.
And I think the difference when I use it is night and day, especially when you see it in person. Whenever I take the time to apply this first, I think my concealer looks much less obvious.
I also still get the full coverage that I like, but without my under-eye area looking cakey like cake batter (which happens sometimes with opaque concealers).
I follow a multi-step process, but it works for me, so I don’t mind the extra work.
First, I prep my under-eye area with a bit of Photo Finish Hydrating Under Eye Primer, and then I mix equal parts of NARS Radiant Concealer in Ginger and Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in 25 Medium.
Next, I pat and blend the smallest amount under my eyes, and set it all by patting a bit of Trish McEvoy’s Liner Refiner on top with my fingers, before lightly dusting setting powder on top of that.
When I do this, my concealer lasts all day long, doesn’t settle into my fine lines, and most importantly, the results look like real skin.
I love this to bits! — although I do have a minor beef with the packaging…
The slanted applicator thingamajig does absolutely nothing for my soul. You squeeze the tube and, inevitably, too much product squirts out.
Super annoying.
A doe-foot, or perhaps a thin, fine-tipped applicator (like the kind that comes with MAC Fast Response Eye Cream) would probably be better, but that’s me being extra picky.
PRICE: $29
AVAILABILITY: Available now online and at Smashbox counters
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A (an A+ if it had a doe-foot applicator)
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Ankita@corallista says
March 5th, 2015 at 12:56 amMy concealer ends up looking a little obvious by the end of the day. I need this! Thanks for reviewing this Karen.
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Kiss & Make-up says
March 5th, 2015 at 4:04 am<– has & loves this primer!
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Fran says
March 5th, 2015 at 4:42 amI’ve been wondering about this product for a while. Now I’m going to have to try it! The lines under my almost 60-year-old eyes like to show no matter what concealer I try, something to smooth them out would be nice.
Kim says
March 5th, 2015 at 5:10 amI’m not one to use concealer under my eyes (though I probably should) but I generally dab a little Pro Prime or Veil there to keep my liner from creeping. I have Photo Op Under Eye Brightener but didn’t notice any improvement when using it. That said, anything that helps keep product from looking cakey or settling into lines is a keeper! 🙂
Kelly B. says
March 5th, 2015 at 6:01 amI’ve never given much thought to using primer under the eyes, but this is definitely something I think I will experiment with and see if it makes a difference!
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LindaLibraLoca says
March 5th, 2015 at 6:32 amOh, a Miracle product! I will have to try and hunt this down.
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Agata says
March 5th, 2015 at 6:36 amThanks for reviewing this product, who knew it’s so good. But it sounds great. Now it will be my mission to track it down, I wonder if Michigander beauty addicts hoard it as well!?
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Chris25 says
March 5th, 2015 at 6:47 amI’m sold on this. I desperately need s product that will help my concealer apply more smoothly.
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Lancy says
March 5th, 2015 at 6:59 amI’ve been struggling with cakey concealers lately! This sounds like a miracle product! Thanks for the review Karen 🙂
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Talkerblogger says
March 5th, 2015 at 7:46 amOh this seems nice !
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MonicaP says
March 5th, 2015 at 8:15 amHmm, I’m down for a smoother under-eye look. I’ll add to my Sephora “loves” 🙂
Monica
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Fancie says
March 5th, 2015 at 8:30 amOkay this sounds like a primer I need lol. I have a pretty deep fine line under both of my eyes that just sucks up concealer and foundation. My NARS primer really helps but I’m already running a little low. I guess I’ll be trying this next!
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Corinne says
March 5th, 2015 at 10:19 amIs this better than Mac’s Vibrancy Eye cuz I just bought that for the exact same reasons
gio says
March 5th, 2015 at 11:32 amI had never thought of using an under eye primer before, but this sounds just what I need to make my concealer look more natural. I must hunt down a tube too.
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Stephanie says
March 5th, 2015 at 12:25 pmEver since I bought this primer nearly two months ago, it has achieved HG status for using before my concealer. So awesome underneath my Nars concealer.
Megan says
March 5th, 2015 at 12:56 pmI received this as a gwp from Ulta and totally forgot about it. It’s a pretty generous size (0.17oz) and in a regular squeeze tube not a slanted one. Thanks for reminding me about it!
Iris says
March 5th, 2015 at 1:37 pmI received this as a sample from Sephora a while back. I really liked it.
JCarbonel says
March 5th, 2015 at 2:41 pmDo you put the primer on top of foundation or below? Or do you avoid putting any foundation directly under your eyes to avoid the extra layer? I’ve been wanting to check out this product for a while but I wasn’t sure how to add it into my routine.
Natalye says
March 5th, 2015 at 4:03 pmI’ve never tried this but I’m really loving Smashbox right now and I’ll be checking this out!
Michaela says
March 5th, 2015 at 5:24 pmHi, Karen, finally a solution to all our bags-under-the-eye, puffiness problems. Thank you for reviewing this for us. However, is there a way you can do before and after pictures? I would love to see that miracle you have described if possible. The description that you gave about this primer is something I’ve been looking for awhile as well.
Carrie says
March 5th, 2015 at 7:51 pmI’ve been using this for several weeks. I got a deluxe sample of it, which will probably last a very long time because you don’t need much of this. I never would’ve thought to buy it, so I’m really glad I got the sample. It’s a great product.
Trude says
March 6th, 2015 at 9:25 amHmm…at first I scoffed, but after your review I just might try it! I use Nars’ creamy concealer too, set with Laura Mercier’s secret brightening powder (which has made ALL the difference in creasing), but it would be nice to have something that isn’t so powdery helping to make it look natural!
masha russia says
March 6th, 2015 at 12:49 pmKaren, you convinced me to try it. I always struggle with my concealer looking cakey and piled up.
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Kathy says
July 7th, 2015 at 3:59 pmFirst time commenting. I am on my second tube of this, i never finish anything, it is a miracle product esp inm hot weather
KayN says
July 21st, 2016 at 4:10 pmKaren, according to Beautypedia this is the EXACT same product as MAC Lightful C Vibrancy Eye Cream. I’d been using MAC and loving it without knowing this until today! You get much more product for your money with the MAC version, AND it has a nice pump bottle, so check it out!