TSABD Edit: Smashbox Studio Skin Foundation, Shaping Foundation & Halo Hydrating Perfecting Powder on Dark Skin

Recently I’ve had some requests for a number of Smashbox products. I’d assumed that Smashbox didn’t have any foundation matches for me because they hadn’t for a really long time, but a reader said she’s about my complexion and that she had tried a foundation so I got curious. I picked up Smashbox Studio Skin 15 Hour Wear Hydrating Foundation, Smashbox Studio Skin Shaping Foundation, Smashbox Photo Finish Primerizer, and Smashbox Halo Hydrating Powder.

Smashbox PHOTO FINISH PRIMERIZER

Official description:

Get primer + moisturizer in 1! Primerizer delivers 24-hour hydration plus powerful primer benefits in the lightest possible texture. It was created in our L.A. photo studio to instantly increase moisture by 127% & prep skin for makeup in 1 step. This non-greasy, quick-dry formula acts as a makeup magnet that locks on foundation & makes it last.

In a consumer study on 101 women after 1 use:

97% said it feels lightweight
87% said skin felt instantly hydrated
91% said their makeup went on flawlessly

In a consumer study on 101 women after 1 week of use:

98% said it didn’t leave a white cast on their skin
96% said it didn’t change the color of their foundation
93% said their skin felt comfortable all day
90% said it delivered a high level of hydration
91% said their skin looked fresh
89% said their skin felt hydrated throughout the day
89% said skin felt softer & smoother
86% said their makeup looked better
88% said it helped makeup look good & last all day

I think Smashbox was smart in creating a product like this because they realize how important skincare is when it comes to makeup and that there is a pretty sizable section of people who wear makeup who may not be as diligent with skincare as they are makeup. They may also have realized that many of us love not having to have as many steps and products in our routines and if we can combine two steps into one with one product, go in and let have.

While I think Smashbox Photo Finish Primerizer is a genius product for combining both moisturizer and primer in one, I personally wouldn’t buy a product like this (OK, so technically I *did* buy it for this review but had I not been curious about it after a number of you asked me to review it, I wouldn’t have bought it…lol). I already have a moisturizer I love and a primer I love and the Primerizer doesn’t outperform them for me. Not only that, price-wise you can get a separate moisturizer and primer for less than the price of this one Primerizer.

It has a very wet texture that dries down and can also be used with your moisturizer. It can work on most if not all skin types—great hydration for normal to dry skin but not heavy for oily skin.

I like that is has hyaluronic acid in it which is an ingredient I’ve talked about before here, but again, it’s not a needed product for me because you can get hyaluronic acid in a number of skincare products.

I also didn’t notice any difference using Primerizer with my foundation vs not using it. This can be different for those who might need a primer due to uneven skin texture (i.e. pores, wrinkles, etc). I personally only use a primer (I love the Mally Beauty Perfect Prep Primer) when I know I’m going to be out all day or need to be on camera and can use the extra insurance. Most times I’m not wearing foundation primer.

Price and where to buy: $42 (see widget at the bottom of this post for where to buy).

Smashbox Primerizer Video Demo:

(there’s no sound on this so feel free to watch from almost anywhere)

Smashbox Primerizer Demo from Danielle Gray on Vimeo.

See more foundation primer reviews here

Smashbox STUDIO SKIN 15 HOUR WEAR HYDRATING FOUNDATION

Official description:

An oil-free, hydrating liquid foundation that gives you flawless skin for 15 hours. It’s tested to ensure that you look good in any light.

For extra sheer coverage, warm between fingertips before applying.

Medium-to-full buildable coverage with a natural matte finish
Blurs imperfections with light-diffusing spheres
Stays put for 15 hours
Lightweight, comfortable feel
No touch-ups required
Exercise-resistant, sweat-resistant & transfer-proof
Ideal for all skin types
Cruelty-free

I picked this up in shade 4.3 Chestnut. There are 6 “dark” shades out of the 22 total shades. Chestnut was a pretty good match—it was a bit red, but not where it was super obvious and I couldn’t wear it.

I’ve learned more about the foundation as I got to test it over and over. Initially the word “Skin” in the name made me think this was a very light finish foundation. It even feels like one. But as I gave it a number of test runs (and then read the description…lol) I realized it can be layered to provide medium to full coverage while still looking skin-like.

I have a dark spot on my forehead from a pimple about a month ago and I was able to layer Smashbox Studio Skin foundation to where you could barely see it. You could still see a few faint touches of it, but nothing crazy. Even with all the layers, the foundation still looked skin-like as I mentioned above.

It also wears well on my oily skin even though it’s called a “hydrating” foundation. Of course you’ll want to make sure you’re wearing the proper skincare especially for the season. Read more about that here. I did have to touch-up throughout the day (on a why-is-it-75-degrees-in-late-October day) to blot shine, but nothing too crazy or out of the ordinary for me.

I tested this with Primerizer initially and then every other trial was without primer. I didn’t notice any difference as I mentioned in the Primerizer section.

Price and where to buy: $42 (see widget at the bottom of this post for where to buy).

Smashbox STUDIO SKIN 15 HOUR WEAR HYDRATING FOUNDATION Video Demo:

(there’s no sound on this so feel free to watch from almost anywhere)

Smashbox Studio Skin Hydrating Foundation Demo from Danielle Gray on Vimeo.

See more foundation reviews here

Smashbox STUDIO SKIN SHAPING FOUNDATION STICK

Official description:

This double-ended face-shaping stick has a full-sized foundation on one side and a complementary soft contour shade on the other. The foundation side gives you medium, buildable coverage with a natural finish. The soft contour side lets you to create dimension with a perfectly coordinated shade. It’s an all-in-1 stick that gives you coverage and sculpting on the quick!

Foundation side:
Medium buildable coverage
Smooth, blendable formula
Natural finish

Soft contour side:
Perfectly coordinated contour shade
Adds dimension in seconds
Shapes & sculpts with angled tip

Find your shade by matching the foundation side to your skintone (not the contour side). Apply foundation where needed. Blend! Apply soft contour side to forehead, nose, hollows of cheekbones & jawline. Blend!

I also tried this out a bunch of times during my trial. I ordered this online so I initially thought this was a highlight/contour stick situation. It *could* be depending on the shade you get, but you’re supposed to choose the Smashbox Studio Skin Shaping Foundation Stick in the same shade as your Studio Skin foundation. So in other words, Smashbox Studio Skin Shaping Foundation Stick is a foundation stick with a soft contouring product in one. This is a pretty awesome tool especially for women of color since we tend to be darker around the perimeter of our faces and lighter in the center (read more about that in Why ONE Foundation Shade Won’t Cut it for Women of Color and watch my Are You Wearing the Wrong Foundation video). It’s also cool if you want to highlight and contour, but you’ll definitely need your own highlight shade. Some people might actually be able to go a shade down in the stick and use it as highlight and contour (I say some because when you go a shade down, there’s a chance the contour end might not be deep enough depending on your skin tone).

I like that I could layer the foundation stick and give myself more coverage where I needed it. I did find that the foundation stick covered my dark spot on my forehead more than the Studio Skin foundation did even though the Studio Skin is more medium to full coverage and the stick is medium.

I love when complexion products come in one package like this because it makes it so much easier for space and time whether you’re doing makeup at home or you’re traveling. The only thing is that I’d think one end might run out faster than the other (although there is .14 oz of the Soft Contour and .26 oz of the foundation) which can be a little awkward come replacement time.

Wear on my oily skin was okay—I needed to touch-up throughout the day like I normally would.

I tested this with Primerizer initially and then every other trial was without primer. I didn’t notice any difference as I mentioned in the Primerizer section.

Smashbox STUDIO SKIN SHAPING FOUNDATION STICK Video Demo:

(there’s no sound on this so feel free to watch from almost anywhere)

Smashbox Studio Skin Sculpting Foundation Demo from Danielle Gray on Vimeo.

See more foundation reviews here

Smashbox HALO HYDRATING POWDER

Official description:

Our studio makeup artists spill secrets. Not powder! This genius container releases the perfect amount with every twist. Skip the over-powdered, cakey look. Even HD cameras can’t see this! From sheer layers to medium coverage, you’ll always be flawless.

Tap powder into palm. Add a drop of water. Use a makeup sponge to apply a thick layer to areas you want to highlight. Let set, then sweep away excess.

For fresh powder every time, just twist the shaver, swirl brush into powder and apply to face.

Oil-free
Talc-free
Paraben-free

This powder confused the mess out of me…lol. I ordered it online from Macys.com where it’s called Halo Hydrating Perfecting Powder and I got Medium/Dark. But on the Smashbox site it’s called Halo Hydrating Powder (no Perfecting) and the shades are called names like Golden Medium Tan and Deep Tan (and then in the drop down they go from Light to Dark—soooo confusing).

I also swear I saw a chart somewhere that matched up the powders based on whatever shade you are in the Studio Skin foundation and it told me to get Medium/Dark based on me being 4.3. Either that or I made a mistake and picked up Medium/Dark thinking it was the deepest shade they had. Medium/Dark is too light for me—obviously too light. OR maybe because 4.3 wasn’t the deepest shade, I assumed I wouldn’t need the deepest shade in the powder (you know what happens when you assume…lol). I haven’t tried Dark yet, but I’m assuming that’s going to work better on me since it’s a darker shade. Medium/Dark is also the deepest shade they have at Sephora.com.

I do love that the packaging helps prevent excess powder from getting out. You twist it to release a portion of the powder instead of it being open and flying around everywhere like most loose powders. Only thing is for me it dispensed more product than I need so some powder does get left back and makes things a little messy.

I didn’t realize there was a darker shade than the one I got until I was typing this review up. I do think the powder did a pretty decent job of setting the foundation and from controlling shine even though it was too light in color for me. I like the slight glow it gives, but I’d be better able to comment on that with a better shade match. I’ll try to get the right shade down the line and review it later on. The other two foundations in this post work well with other setting powders though so you don’t HAVE to have the Halo Perfecting one to get them to work.

Price and where to buy: $49 (see widget at the bottom of this post for where to buy).

Smashbox HALO HYDRATING POWDER Video Demo:

(there’s no sound on this so feel free to watch from almost anywhere)

Smashbox Halo Hydrating Powder Demo from Danielle Gray on Vimeo.

See more powder reviews here

Have you tried any of these Smashbox products? Would you? Tell me all about it in the comments!

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