AMAZING Smashbox PF dupe!

Oct 10, 2016

Cara G.

I'm sure most of you have probably heard about Monistat Complete Care as a dupe for Smashbox Photo Finish original primer. I've seen this so many times I decided to give it a try myself. Turns out it not only works, it is a virtual miracle (at least for me it is).

I bought a tube in CVS last Wednesday and even the sales girl knew about its secret cosmetic powers (she used to work for Bare Escentuals). I wanted to test it for several days so I could see how it performed with different makeup in different circumstances and types of weather before making up my mind about it. So I've been using it for four days wearing light makeup, heavy makeup, and in both full sun as well as the outer bands of Hurricane Matthew. I figured that was pretty comprehensive, right?

It has an ingredient list that is almost identical to Smashbox Photo Finish, most importantly the main ingredient, dimethicone. The product itself looks and feels exactly like Photo Finish, maybe a tad thicker, which I think works in favor of a primer. It applies like a smooth, velvety dream, creating the same blurry filtered effect that Smashbox does.

As far as the performance, on days one and two, it behaved just like any high quality primer does and exactly the way Photo Finish performs. My makeup stayed put just the way it was applied for a minimum of six hours without requiring any touch ups. However, days three and four are when I was completely blown away by what this product is capable of. This was the day of an out of town wedding I attended so my makeup was heavier than my everyday look. It was applied at approximately 2:00 in the afternoon under L'Or?al Infallible Pro-Matte foundation, Maybelline Dream Lumi concealer, and e.l.f. HD setting powder. It lasted for NINE HOURS with no touch ups needed. It didn't move. What's even more remarkable is that I (shamefully, I know) fell asleep before I had a chance to wash my face and my makeup was STILL intact this morning. That has literally never happened to me once in my life. It always absorbs into my pores when that happens but not with this stuff! It just stayed right on top of my skin.

IMO This is a matter of a product dupe performing better than the original product. And the price difference is probably the best part.
Smashbox Photo Finish original primer 1oz. - $36.00
Monistat Complete Care 1.5oz. - $10.50

I'll probably never buy another bottle of Smashbox again. Have any of you ever tried using Monistat Complete Care in place of Smashbox? What did you think of it?

Oct 10, 2016

Angela J.

I love that stuff:) I've never found anything better for chafing either lol! It's a miracle worker all around.