Smashbox Photo Finish Invisible SPF 45 Broad Spectrum Primer
69/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Smashbox Photo Finish Invisible SPF 45 is a chemical primer using older-school filters, Homosalate, Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Salicylate and Avobenzone. It has a matte finish, low white cast and a lightweight feel, designed to double as a makeup base. Sting potential is rated medium, so keep it away from the eyes. With good protection, low breakout potential and a score of 68.9/100, it is a serviceable primer-with-SPF, though the dated filter set keeps it from scoring higher.
Ingredient & SPF scores
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UV protection
Good
59
- +12 Homosalate at #2, UV filter
- +16 Octocrylene at #3, UV filter
- +7.6 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #4, UV filter
- +28.5 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #7, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- Γ0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- +1 Label claims (SPF 45)
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Health safety
Medium
46
- +100 Starting score
- β40 Homosalate at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β10.5 Octocrylene at #3, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β3.5 Avobenzone at #7, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
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Allergens
Low
97
- +100 Starting score
- β3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
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Eye sting
Medium
47
- +100 Starting score
- β16 Avobenzone at #7, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β22 Octocrylene at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β9 Homosalate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β6 Octisalate at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
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Fungal acne
Medium
46
- +100 Starting score
- β36 3 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Polysorbate 20, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate)
- β18 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate)
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Fabric stains
High
30
- +100 Starting score
- β45 Avobenzone at #7, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- β15 Octocrylene at #3, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- β10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
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Moisture
Hydrating
LightNourishing
- β 6 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Lauroyl Lysine)
- β 1 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 10 Glycerin at #5, the anchor humectant
- β 2 Sodium Hyaluronate at #16, hyaluronic family
- β 1 1 strong humectants (Panthenol)
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Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- β 6 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Lauroyl Lysine)
- β 1 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
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Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 6 2 soft-focus powders in moderation
- β 1 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer)
- β 1.5 Humectant syrup tackiness (partly offset by the base)
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Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +3 1 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
Full ingredient list (35)
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.
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1 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
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Legacy UV filter (Homosalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 12 UV protection
- β 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 16 UV protection
- β 10.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 22 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
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Legacy UV filter (Octisalate)
- β 7.6 UV protection
- β 6 migrates into eyes with sweat
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5 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 10 β nourishing the anchor humectant
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone)
- β 28.5 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 45 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
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8 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 3 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 3 sebum-absorbing powder
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Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 3 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 3 sebum-absorbing powder
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 12 feeds malassezia
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Filter booster, photostabilizes the UV filters or lifts their SPF
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Supporting ingredient
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 β nourishing hyaluronic family
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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18 Oryzanol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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19 Panthenol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
- 1 β nourishing humectant
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 12 feeds malassezia
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 12 feeds malassezia
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26 Isododecane
Volatile hydrocarbon, flashes off for a light finish
- light β 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte β 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
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27 Citric Acid
pH adjuster
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28 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- β 3 film former
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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32 Resveratrol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
Does Smashbox Photo Finish Invisible SPF 45 leave a white cast?
No, its white cast is rated low. As a chemical primer it has a matte, invisible finish designed to sit smoothly under makeup.
Is the Smashbox Photo Finish Invisible SPF 45 Broad Spectrum Primer good for oily or acne-prone skin?
Its matte finish and low breakout potential suit oily and combination skin. It is built to work as a makeup base, so it pairs well with foundation.
Is this primer mineral or chemical?
It is chemical. It uses older-school filters: Homosalate, Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Salicylate and Avobenzone.