Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer SPF 20
49/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer SPF 20 is a makeup primer with light sun protection from an old-school chemical trio of Avobenzone, Homosalate and Ethylhexyl Salicylate. It wears lightweight with a balanced finish and a low white cast, and it is rated an excellent makeup base, which is its core purpose. Breakout risk is low and the sting rating is moderate. With only weak SPF 20 protection and a score of 49.0, it should be treated as a primer with a bonus, not a standalone sunscreen, so layer a dedicated SPF underneath for real sun cover.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Weak
32
- +30 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +16)
- +12 Homosalate at #2, UV filter
- +8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #3, UV filter
- Γ0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- Γ0.72 Avobenzone without a photostabilizer
β’οΈ
Health safety
Medium
57
- +100 Starting score
- β40 Homosalate at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β3.5 Avobenzone at #1, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
π₯
Eye sting
Medium
58
- +100 Starting score
- β24 Avobenzone at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β9 Homosalate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β9 Octisalate at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
πͺ¨
Heavy feel
Low
98
- +100 Starting score
- β2 Tribehenin at #15, wax film
- β1 Hydrogenated Polydecene at #29, heavy oil
- +0.8 Volatile silicone at #4, flashes off
π
Fungal acne
Low
77
- +100 Starting score
- β23 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Laureth-12)
π
Fabric stains
High
10
- +100 Starting score
- β50 Avobenzone at #1, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- β40 Iron-oxide pigments at #32, makeup-like collar marks (washable)
π§
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- β 1.5 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- β 5 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 6 Ceramide barrier lipids
β¨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 1 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- β 4 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 6 1 emollient lipids (C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
π
Makeup base
Excellent
PillsPrimer
- β 5 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- β 12 2 velvet elastomer fillers, blur and grip
- β 2 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
π
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +3 1 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
- +2 1 water-locking waxes
Skincare extras
Beneficial actives this formula contains. Informational only, not part of the rating: their effect depends on a concentration the label does not disclose.
- β¨ Vitamin E
- β¨ Ceramides
Full ingredient list (32)
What each ingredient does and how it moves each rating: green helps, red hurts, β / β give the direction, and β / β shift a slider toward its ends (finish, moisture, makeup base). Auto-derived from our scoring rules and the ingredient's position.
-
Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 30 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 24 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 50 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
-
Legacy UV filter (Homosalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 12 UV protection
- β 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 8 UV protection
- β 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light β 5 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte β 4 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 6 β dewy emollient lipid
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 14 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
15 Tribehenin
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 2 wax film
- β 2 wax water lock
-
16 Ceramide NG
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
21 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
22 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
23 Laureth-12
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- β 3 film former
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 1 heavy oil
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
32 Iron Oxides
Colorant or pigment
- β 40 makeup-like collar marks (washable)
Is the Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer SPF 20?
It is a makeup primer with light SPF 20 protection, which is rated weak, and it scores 49.0. Treat it as a primer with a bonus, and layer a dedicated sunscreen underneath for genuine sun cover.
Does the Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer SPF 20 work under makeup?
Yes, that is its main purpose. It rates as an excellent makeup base, with a lightweight feel, a balanced finish and a low white cast.
Is it mineral or chemical?
It is chemical, using an old-school trio of Avobenzone, Homosalate and Ethylhexyl Salicylate. Breakout risk is low and the sting rating is moderate.