Smashbox photo Finish Primer Water ( 116ml for £22, 30ml for £12) vs Primark PS…Primer Water (150ml for £2)wait let me digest this, a bottle thats 5 times the size of its smallest size and is 1/11th the price of it’s biggest size?
Shade range: It’s a transparent water based spray so it’s a universal shade.
My thoughts: OMG…is this even real? The Smashbox original works as a spray, that you spray under your foundation, and also as a setting spray and a refreshing spray if you so wish. It comes in two sizes and the travel size is really handy for throwing into your purse. It says that it is silicone free, alcohol free, and oil free. The mist is an amazing idea if its hot outside and a physical primer is a layer is a step too far, or you have oily skin and you want something light…I did the heavy foundation layer test (my term for putting on my thickest and heaviest foundation; Dermacol and wore both of them for a whole day) and I’m going to be honest neither of them are long haul primers. ( but they don’t claim to be)
I got four hours wear out of both…this weekend has been one of the hottest, we’ve had and I found that after about the 4 hour mark, the foundation wore thin around my nose , corner of my mouth and chin. The jury is out if its because I’m a face toucher or they are just a good short haul primer. The Smash box primer is invisible on skin, you just need one/two good sprays from a distance of 10-15 cm from the face, wait for it to dry ( about a second or two, I tend to pat it in with my beauty blender) and then off you trot with the foundation. The spray is not a fine mist but isn’t a fire hydrant either. Though the bottle says its a good makeup setting spray and refreshing spray, I’ve found that this doesn’t cut the mustard for me on both these claims. It claims to be hydrating but I didn’t find it to be hydrating either, however I never expect primers to be hydrating (despite their claims) that’s the job of my moisturiser.
The Primark dupe is exactly…. EXACTLY the same as the Smashbox Primer water right down to its packaging with one key difference; it is a bigger bottle so this is slightly bulkier to travel with. ( probably the only con I could find for the primer- as it’s silicone, alcohol and oil free too) On the heavy foundation layer test…it lasted exactly the same amount of time and performed in exactly the same way. No more, no less.
Cruelty free(CF)/Vegan: Smashbox isn’t CF, Primark PS Range is CF and Vegan…yay!
Ingredients: Smashbox Primer
WATER\AQUA\EAU , BUTYLENE GLYCOL , CAFFEINE , MAGNESIUM CHLORIDE , CALCIUM CHLORIDE , SODIUM SULFATE , POTASSIUM NITRATE , POTASSIUM PHOSPHATE , POLYSORBATE 80 , DIAMOND POWDER , FRAGRANCE (PARFUM) , LIMONENE , LINALOOL , CITRAL , PHENOXYETHANOL , SODIUM BENZOATE <ILNILN41022>
Primark ps: Primer Water
AQUA(WAER), PROPYLENE GLYCOL, PENTAPOTASSIUM TRIPHOSPHATE, SODIUM SULFATE, POLYSORBATE 20, CAFFEINE, POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE, PHENOXYETHANOL, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, PARFUM (FRAGRANCE)
*Ingredients wise: The PS Primer water wins slightly as it contains fragrance last down the list, and doesn’t contain Limonene, linalool, citral which can are common irritants.(But my position on allergies is the word hypoallergenic is cod science…more on this on a later blog post)
Final Thoughts:
If you are in the market for a primer water spray, then I’d say head straight to your nearest Primark and buy the £2 PS: Primer Water dupe as it behaves in exactly the same way. Save your pennies for something like a serum or just save your pennies…no justification needed. 🙂
Would I repurchase?
Personally the spray didn’t behave as much as a primer as a face mist for me. So just for this reason, once I get through them both, I’ll have a think, as it does provide medium coverage priming (If that isn’t a beauty term, it should be) and so could be great in summer when you really don’t want much on your face, if I was going to go for one between the two it would be The PS: Primer Water HANDS DOWN . ~For £2 its not bank breaking and does the job very well for what it is. The Smashbox one is a definite no from me, if only because I can get something cheaper that does the same job and is CF (cruelty free) which is an added bonus…(though no judgements on this issue)
Love Elle xx
Note of disclaimer: All opinions are my own, I have no affiliations with any company, there are no affiliate links on this post and all products are purchased with my own money . Please check ingredients list of all products that you buy, in case you have allergies to any of the products that I mentioned. If you are particularly sensitive or even if you’re not, allergies can happen suddenly, even with products that you have used for years. If unsure, please do a patch test on your elbow, and wait 48 hours before using any of the products I’ve suggested. Please do not copy, publish any photos on this blog or contents in its entirety or otherwise without my express permission.
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