Smashbox Dual Filter Foundation Review: An Honest Summer Wear Test

Not all grown women have the same needs or desires when it comes to makeup. We live in different climates and cultures, have different skin and sentiments about cosmetics. To make Wardrobe Oxygen a valuable resource for a range of folk, when I am offered gifting from a beauty brand that may not be the right fit for me but sounds appealing, I reach out to the Wardrobe Oxygen community for a guest reviewer.

I was offered a chance to try the new Smashbox Dual Filter 2-in-1 Concealer + Foundation. It sounded like an awesome product… and deserved someone more familiar with makeup and foundations to provide a useful review. I reached out to the community, and many applied.

I chose Sarina, who has combination-to-oily, acne-prone skin with hyperpigmentation and was looking for coverage that could handle a busy summer day without feeling like a mask. She received her choice of three of the 36 colors of Smashbox Dual Filter 2-in-1 Concealer + Foundation, plus I also paid Sarina for her time and unfiltered review. Smashbox did not review or approve this article prior to publication.

Below, Sarina shares how the foundation covered her acne scars and dark spots, how the shades worked with her undertone, and what happened after hours of errands, humidity, and real life.

Smashbox Dual Filter 2-in-1 Concealer + Foundation Review

As a millennial who is always on the go, I've perfected my daily makeup routine over the past few years: a dab of concealer for my undereyes, mascara, tinted brow gel, blush and a bold lipstick, topped off with setting spray, especially in the summer.

This look has become my daily go-to, works no matter what colors I have on hand for my cheeks and lips, and takes under five minutes to put on. As a busy mom who barely gets five minutes to herself, let alone time to do a full face, it’s a perfect look that doesn’t disappear much by the end of the day.

What Sarina Looks for in a Foundation

I have combination, leaning-towards-oily skin that breaks out very easily; I’ve got years of acne scars to prove it, too. I used to wear a lot of foundation (specifically Estée Lauder Double Wear and KVD Lock-It foundation) to cover up my scarring, but after 2020 and then becoming a mom, I all but dropped the habit.

Most liquid foundations were either too light and didn’t cover up my scars well enough, or had great coverage but felt too heavy and cakey on my skin. I also prefer a more satin/matte coverage, especially on hot, sweaty days. I started to use a combination of skin tints, concealers and foundation sticks/pencils for decent coverage that could easily be touched up on the go without piling on layers of makeup. 

I also have a hard time with my undertones. While I have naturally tan skin, sometimes a foundation that looks perfect oxidizes within the first five minutes, leaving me looking a bit Oompa Loompa-ish. If I choose neutral or cool undertones to counteract the effect, sometimes they leave me looking ashy or far too pink.

Many brands have expanded their foundation and concealer ranges, but I’m often in between shades, and let’s be honest—buying two to mix the perfect color is great…only if you wear foundation every day. I also wear a range of colors throughout the year, especially when the weather is warm, as most days are spent with my son out in the garden, chasing each other through the park or splashing at the beach.

Sarina's Experience With Smashbox

I’m not new to the world of Smashbox. In fact, I’ve been using Smashbox as a staple in my personal makeup kit for years, ever since buying my first travel-size Mini Photo Finish primer during my first Sephora trip.

Since that trip, I’ve tried their mascaras, eyeshadow sticks, lipstick and eyeliners and currently use their SPF primer on a regular basis… however, I have never actually tried any of their foundations—until now. 

Choosing a Smashbox Dual Filter Shade

When choosing shades for the new Smashbox Dual Filter 2-in-1 Concealer + Foundation, I kept in mind that I am currently in my hot-girl-summer era—aka tanned and loving it! I chose shades Medium Tan 19 Olive, Medium Tan 20 Neutral and Medium Tan 21 Warm, and figured one would be closest to my summer tan. If none of them worked, hopefully I could mix and match to create the perfect summer shade. 

Packaging and Application

I knew that I’d be getting the foundations, but when I opened my box, I was pleasantly surprised to see that it also included both a foundation brush and a concealer brush!

The packaging for the foundations was sleek and minimal, with a pump to dispense product and a twist-off cap to reveal a doe-foot concealer applicator.

The brushes were soft to the touch with sturdy handles, and I like that the handles are a bit longer than most, making application easier when my glasses aren’t on. 

Coverage and Finish on Combination/Oily Skin

This foundation is described as “naturally radiant, crease-, sweat-, humidity-, and water-resistant buildable coverage that looks skin-like.” I put it to the test with a busy morning—errands at Home Depot, the farmer’s market and a full grocery restock. The only product I used under the foundation was the Smashbox SPF primer; I did not use any setting sprays or powders to truly gauge this foundation. 

The formula itself is beautiful. The foundation is light, despite how well it covers my dark spots. It truly applied like skin with the brush, and touch-ups were made simple with the built-in concealer applicator instead of using the separate concealer brush.

Shade-wise, I could get away with either Medium Tan 19 Olive or Medium Tan 20 Neutral. I found Medium Tan 21 Warm just a touch too warm for my skin tone, even as tanned as I am right now.

While I prefer a more matte finish, Smashbox Dual Filter leans to the almost dewy side when it’s freshly applied, but after a few minutes, it melted into my skin and looked much more like skin. 

Putting Smashbox Dual Filter to the Test

It was time to take Smashbox Dual Filter on a test run! After a busy morning hauling eight bags of mulch from Home Depot to my car, then from my car to the backyard, running to a cafe for a quick espresso, the farmer’s market for some niche groceries and then the actual grocery store for the rest of my essentials, it was time to see how it held up. 

How It Looked After Four Hours

After four busy hours, I came home to see how Smashbox Dual Filter did. While the formula held up to its humidity- or sweat-resistant claims, I found that it wasn’t transfer-resistant in the slightest. Hugging a friend at the cafe left foundation on her shirt, and if I touched my face, I’d have foundation on my fingers. I didn’t notice any major creasing, but the foundation settled into pores, even with the use of a primer underneath. 

Sarina's Final Verdict

Even with those small things, Smashbox has created a solid foundation that’s perfect for covering up dark marks  without feeling heavy. With a few small tweaks (a mattifying primer/setting spray or using powder to bake it into my skin), I could see Smashbox Dual Filter 2-in-1 Concealer + Foundation lasting all day and night! 

My Take on Sarina's Smashbox Review

I appreciate that Sarina truly took Smashbox Dual Filter Foundation to test. Heat, humidity, and sweat are real, and it really matters if our products can do what they say beyond the ring light.

Sarina's experience showed the foundation performed well for her through sweat and humidity, but that didn't mean it was transfer-proof. She also noticed some settling into her pores on combination-to-oily skin. Great facts to have if you're looking for this product and you have similar skin and lifestyle.

I haven't personally tested Smashbox Dual Filter, so I can't tell you how it performs on my own midlife skin. But, that's exactly why I love these Wardrobe Oxygen community reviews: we can see products on different complexions, skin types, bodies, and lifestyles instead of pretending one person's experience is universal.

Smashbox Dual Filter Foundation FAQ