Emily L. Foley - Freelance Journalist

Prime Time Super Star

I have suffered from tremendously oily skin for my entire adult life. The only repose I can find in the fact that it is a daily struggle to keep my face from looking like I just ran a 5K in the middle of the desert is that heavy oil production when you are young is supposed to yield fewer wrinkles when you are older. So, I cling to the hope that I will not look a day over 26 when I am 42. Check back with me in 16 years. If I’m noticeably more bitter (and of course, wrinkled), you’ll know my silver lining ended up being the cheap stuff that turns black rather than sterling. But I digress.

I have tried every product promising oil-control on the market. Primers are the best option, because they not only refine your pores; they also provide a smooth surface for make-up application, and of course, control oil throughout the day. However, very few primers have it all. Some just plain don’t work; some don’t wear well under make-up, and others work–but not all day.

Enter Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer ($36 at Sephora). This primer delivers-big time. I absolutely love how smooth my skin feels after I apply it, and it keeps me from looking shiny for a full 12 hours. I have noticed that sometimes I may begin to feel a little oily later in the day, I still don’t look it.

Photo Finish comes in several varieties for various skin concerns: Green to minimize redness, Lavender to minimize yellowish undertones, and even a bronzing version.

So leave the radiance to brides and mommies-to-be, and embrace your inner matte finish. ♥

~Peace, love and shine-free skin, Emily