Smashbox Holiday 2013 Collection - Wondervision

The holiday shopping season is officially in full swing for myself and all my friends and family, we have less than a week until the Thanksgiving weekend and it is really beginning to feel like the holiday season.  I finished burning my last fall candle of the year the other day and I am burning a lovely Winter Candy Apple candle as I type this.  I am really ready to intensify my Christmas shopping and to begin getting my decorations up and ready.  We are going back to looking at holiday collections today and we should be finishing up with them by the middle of next month...

Smashbox's Wondervision collection is my choice of the day, I have not used much from this company recently and I would like to try some of their new products.  The holiday collection is quite small and contains more gift items rather than new products and shades designed for the season.  I think my early favorite piece of Wondervision is a set of lip glosses that I would very much like to add to my collection.

The Wondervision collection contains sets of lip glosses and brushes, along with several eye makeup palettes.  I have loved nearly every single eye makeup product from this company so we will start with the new eye palettes and then move through the rest of the new collection.  Many of my friends love Smashbox and I know that they would all love to receive gifts from Wondervision.

The Wondervision gift collection!

Wondervision Cosmic Eye Set - These sets bring 6 cool eye shadow tones in three color versions. In addition to the hexagonal eyeshadow compact, each of the eye sets features a 0.32 oz Full Exposure Mascara in Jet Black, 0.04 oz Limitless Eye Liner in Onyx and 3 get-the-look cards.
- Silver - shimmery oyster
- Luster - matte taupe

- Aqua - shimmery teal

- Smoke - matte dark gray

- Sapphire - deep navy with blue shimmer

- Sandstone - matte warm ivory

Wondervision Sparks Eye Set - These sets bring 6 cool eye shadow tones in three color versions. In addition to the hexagonal eyeshadow compact, each of the eye sets features a 0.32 oz Full Exposure Mascara in Jet Black, 0.04 oz Limitless Eye Liner in Onyx and 3 get-the-look cards.
- Bare - matte peach

- Peach - soft shimmery peach

- Gold - shimmering copper

- Coral - pink with gold pearl

- Bronze - golden brown shimmer

- Cocoa - rich dark brown

Wondervision Flash Eye Set - These sets bring 6 cool eye shadow tones in three color versions. In addition to the hexagonal eyeshadow compact, each of the eye sets features a 0.32 oz Full Exposure Mascara in Jet Black, 0.04 oz Limitless Eye Liner in Onyx and 3 get-the-look cards.

- Pink Shell - sheer opalescent pink

- Ballet Pink - matte pink

- Taupe - shimmery taupe

- Purple Shimmer - shimmery violet with rose gold flecks

- Slate - shimmery slate

- Plum - deep rich purple

Wondervision Mega Palette - Create multi-faceted looks from subtle to sexy! This mega palette is bursting with color – 34 hues for eyes and cheeks, all in a range of finishes from matte to metallic.

- 30 Eye Shadows (Blue, Citrine, Dark Blue, Golden, Green, Mint, Orange, Peach, Pearl, Pewter, Red, Silver, Slate, Turquoise, Umber, Almond, Beige, Black, Brown, Chestnut, Chocolate, Fawn, Glitz, Grey, Lavender, Maize, Pink, Purple, Taupe, Violet)

- 3 Blushes (Baby Pink, Sherbet, Glow)

- 1 Bronzer in Bronze

Wondervision Lip Gloss Set - This lip gloss set contains a variety of hues to create festive looks for the whole season.  A combination of cream and shimmer finishes provides the finishing touches for any makeup look.

- Pout - sheer pastel pink

- Ruby - sheer bright red

- Luster - sheer with golden pearl

- Tease - sheer raspberry

- Radiant - metallic golden rose

Wondervision Brush Set - Our signature brushes dressed up in chrome, just for the holidays! Swipe, sweep and blend like a pro with this limited-edition set-all wrapped up in a super-luxe clutch.  Includes: 5 full-size, limited-edition brushes & a zippered clutch.- Powder Brush

- Blending Brush

- Crease Brush

- Shadow Liner Brush

- Dual-Ended Liner Brush

This is a great gift collection but I feel that many of the sets are more on the generic side.  I do love the lip gloss set but I think that I own many of these eye shadow shades already and I know that a bunch of my friends do also.  I own more eye and face makeup from this brand, the lip gloss will be a new product for me and therefore this is the only product that I really want from this holiday collection. 

I love the Sparks Eye Set, these neutral hues will work well with all of the shades from the Urban Decay Naked Palettes and this is the only other product that I really want from this collection.  There are a few pink-toned neutrals in this palette and I don't work with those types of shades as much as I do the more neutral hues so I want to mix them in to create more rose gold eye looks.  I can skip the other two eye shadow palettes as I wouldn't wear them very much.  I hate the huge palette as I find these types of palettes to be lacking in quality and they take up took much room in my traincase. 

Overall not my favorite collection for the holiday season, I find the sets to be pretty but a bit too much on the generic side.  I would like the Sparks set and the lip gloss set but this collection is a miss for me.  Smashbox is a brand that I normally love so I am quite disappointed with some of the choices in Wondervision.

photo courtesy of Smashbox

Smashbox Full Exposure Eye Shadow Palette

I have been hearing rumors of a third Urban Decay Naked palette and I have been playing around with my first two Naked palettes in the anticipation of adding more to my collection.  The expected release will be in early December so I still have a few weeks to wait until I can add more palettes to my eye shadow collection.  I am not the most patient person when it comes to waiting for new makeup releases so I decided that I wanted to pick up a new eye shadow palette full of great neutral hues while I was waiting.  Smashbox just released their "version" of the Urban Decay Naked palettes and Full Exposure contains a full variety of pretty neutral hues.  My last visit to Sephora was supposed to be for gift shopping but I ended up walking out only with gifts for myself...

"A set with increased-pigment and universal, neutral eye shades, a highly-rated mascara, and a get-the-look chart for six different eye shapes.  This versatile palette includes 14 must-have neutral shades—from nudes to blacks—in long-wearing shimmers and velvety smooth mattes. The clearly organized palette—shimmers on top and mattes on the bottom—makes them easy to work with, and the kit also includes a breakthrough eye shape chart to achieve your most gorgeous look, along with a dual-ended brush to use with both formulas, and a bonus Full Exposure Mascara sample.", states the Sephora website.

This eye palette contains fourteen shades, seven of them are matte and seven are shimmer hues.  The palette contains seven actual shades and then expands those shades by offering them each in a matte and shimmer finish. 

The shades contains in this palette are...

- chocolate brown with gold pearl (Shimmer)
- deep gold brown with gold pearl (Shimmer)
- soft gold with gold and silver pearl (Shimmer)
- light tan with gold and silver pearl (Shimmer)
- golden wheat with gold pearl (Shimmer)
- midtone slate with silver pearl (Shimmer)
- rich gray with multicolor and silver pearl (Shimmer)
- warm chocolate brown (Matte)
- midtone brown (Matte)
- soft midtone tan (Matte)
- creamy beige (Matte)
- soft light taupe (Matte)
- ashy dark brown (Matte)
- suede black (Matte)

The shimmer shades are the better quality of the two formulas, the matte shades have a good amount of formula and pigmentation variation.  The easiest way to use this palette to start with the one shade and apply the matte hue all over the lid and up to the browbone.  I then follow it with the matching shimmer shade right on the lid.  The brush that is provided with this palette is really the best way to apply these shades, one side is designed for the matte hues and the other for the shimmer hues.  I ignored this part of the directions when I first opened the palette and used the eye brushes that I normally use.  My favorite NARS and MAC brushes didn't hurt the product or the application but I found that using the recommended brushes from Smashbox made application easier and the pigment payoff much better from each shade.  The only other way that I recommend applying the shimmer shades is with a finger pad method.

I have moved onto the using multiple shades of the mattes together and then multiple shades of the shimmers together.  I prefer the shimmer hues, the majority of them apply nicer and have a better pigment payoff than the matte shades.  My favorite shades are the soft gold, light tan, and golden wheat shimmer shades.  I had the most issues with the application on the deeper matte shades so I would be more likely to use these wet as a liner instead of all over my lid. 

Overall, I like and recommend this palette if you like neutral hues and want a combination of matte and shimmer shades to play with.  I have been getting a lot of use from this palette and I will continue to work with it a lot even when the newest Urban Decay Naked palette releases.

photo courtesy of Sephora

Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara

I have been finishing up the last of my summer makeup and getting ready to pull all of my new products for fall out.  One of the first products that I wanted to try out was the newest mascara formula that I ordered from Sephora, I decided to return to Smashbox mascaras even though I haven't used any formula from them in quite a long time.  The last one that I used from this company was Bionic and that must have been about five years ago, I have been using other products from the company but not the eye makeup.  I have been using MAC and Urban Decay mascaras recently and wanted to try a different company this time around. 

Everyone that has read this blog for the past few years know that I love mascaras that build volume in my lashes and make them appear "fake".  Some of the best formulas are from Dior, Benefit, and Buxom and I am hoping to add a formula from Smashbox to my very short list of favorites.  Full Exposure is one of best rated mascaras on Sephora so I decided to go with this formula and see how well it compares with many of the others on the market.

I ordered the product from the Sephora website and I am pulling the product description and benefits from the same place.  "A volumizing and lengthening mascara.  Inspired by Smashbox's on-set technique of layering fiber mascara over volumizing mascara for the biggest, longest lashes on camera, Full Exposure Mascara creates a 104% increase in lash volume for scene-stealing lashes at every angle without smudging, clumping, or flaking.  This formula contains the natural properties of olive oil to keep lashes silky soft. A combination of synthetic and natural waxes creates softer and flexible coverage and keeps lashes from becoming brittle."

This is a nice mascara formula but it isn't anything special.  I tried this product out using one coat and then using two coats, there isn't much different between the two methods of usage but I do recommend the two coat application for the most increase in lash volume.  One coat will give enough volume to enhance lashes in a professional environment or for a casual lunch but two coats are needed for more drama.  This product is not one that will rival formulas like Diorshow or Buxom Lash but will provide a nice amount of definition and volume to the lashes.  The formula was also quite effective in the claim that it will not clump or flake during application and wear.  I had no problems with clumping even when using multiple coats and it had minimal flaking during normal wear.

I ordered this mascara in the only shade that it is available in, Jet Black.  This shade is a deep creamy black that I can make work with every makeup look.  With how dark this formula is, I was naturally afraid of what removal might be like at the end of the day.  However, one of my favorite aspects of this mascara is that is removes quite easily and I am not left with black marks underneath my eyes when I am trying to get it off .  This is a quite a plus for the formula and would make me likely to purchase it again.

I have decided that I am going to need at least two formulas of mascara in my collection at any time, I need one formula for major volume and then another formula that I can wear during the day for a professional, pulled together makeup look.  This is one of the mascaras that falls into the latter category (as are most of the ones that I have tried over the years) and this formula is worth the repurchase.  It is a simple volumizing formula that stays out once I put it on, lasts without flaking off on my cheeks, and then is easy to remove at the end of the day.  Overall a good quality formula from Smashbox but not one that will create mind blowing volume.

photo courtesy of Sephora

Smashbox Fall 2013 Collection - Fade to Black

The Too Faced fall collection was the first of the collections for this season and now the Smashbox fall collection has followed suit.  I haven't bought much from Smashbox recently however one of my friends counts this among her favorite makeup lines and is always picking up new items from this line so I have been keeping touch with all the new products that are coming out from this company.  The new collection is called Fade to Black and I will confess that the Rolling Stones song "Paint it Black" jumped right into my head when I first read the title of this new collection. 

This collection is on the smaller side and reminds me very much of the Too Faced collection that we have already looked it.  It centers around a great eye shadow palette and then two more products/shades that were made to complement it.  One of the products is another eye makeup product and the other is a lip product.  I will be looking to most closely at the eye shadow palette since I am trying to bulk up my eye makeup collection and not my lip and nail product collection.  The eye shadow palette contains two sets of colors that are designed to be used together but I am sure could be mixed and matched to the users' content.

The Smashbox website and the Sephora website do not provide much of a collection description so I will replace my normal collection description with my own thoughts.  This is a collection that will focus strongly on a solid eye shadow palette that will help to create the beautiful deep smoky eye look that is always popular in the fall and winter months.  I would surmise that it was designed by key Smashbox makeup artists to help anyone create a smoky eye look, no matter how much experience the user has.  The rest of the collection are new shades that will work best in conjunction with the eye shadow palette.

Here is the Smashbox Fade to Black collection...

Fade to Black Photo Op Eye Shadow Palette - Super versatile, seriously cool. This palette of neutrals starts with the most wearable nudes and ends with the fiercest blacks--all in a range of finishes, from matte to shimmer.
- Fade Out - soft pastel pink, soft shimmery silver, soft matte grey, violet with multi-color sheen, earthy brown with subtle sheen, deep matte purple, black with cranberry pearl

Fade to Black Be Legendary Lipstick - Just one swipe and you'll see this is the stuff beauty legends are made of. From modern mattes to hydrating creams, our ultra-luxe formula glides on for show-stopping, saturated color every time.  .drating

Cream shades - Lustrous finish, Shea butter for lasting moisturization, Vitamins C and E (antioxidants) to protect
Matte shades - Silky, matte finish, Adherence power, Vitamins C and E (antioxidants) to protect
- Black Cherry - deep cranberry
- Cognac - warm raisin

Waterproof Shadow Liner - Stayput shadow and longwearing liner in one- there's even a built-in smudger! Give eyes soft definition wherever, whenever with this travel-friendly, mistakeproof shadow liner. The creamy, waterproof formula glides on effortlessly for lasting look possibilities.  Totally waterproof, crease-resistant formula.  Smudge as a liner or blend as a shadow for allover, long-wearing color.  Light reflecting pearls give high drama color and shimmer, while emollients create a silky, creamy texture.
- Blackest Black - deep creamy black
- Black Gold - deep gold with black pearl

The eye shadow palette is my favorite piece of this collection, I love these deep purples and browns combined with the pale neutral highlighters.  I will use this palette all throughout the fall and winter months and I can already think of shades from the Urban Decay Naked Palettes that will work well with these shades.  This will be a key piece for me this fall!  My second favorite item from this collection is the Waterproof Shadow Liner in the Black Gold shade, I can see myself using this shade when getting dressed up and then adding black cream eye liner to finish the look off.  Lastly, I really like the Black Cherry shade of the Be Legendary Lipstick, this is a shade that will be both perfect for the cold weather and will fill a hole in my lip product collection.

The second of the fall collections is another good one so I have some very high hopes for this fall season!

photo courtesy of Smashbox

Smashbox Photo Finish Hydrating Foundation Primer

I have recently put my Clarins Instant Touch Primer away for the season, I love this thick, creamy foundation primer in cold weather but it is too rich for the warm weather months.  I first reviewed that formula about two years ago during one of my French Theme Weeks and I have been using and buying it again ever since.  However this is a formula that is only good in cold weather since the texture is a thick balm and will get oily as soon as the spring weather begins.  I put this formula away at the very beginning of this month and I then ordered a lighter formula from the Sephora website and I have been using it over the past two weeks...with great results so far.  I chose a Smashbox formula because I have a close friend who swears by their primers and face products and I wanted to try them out for myself.

The primer formulation from Smashbox has often been among the top rated products on the Sephora website and has won Allure awards for several years running.  I believe that the original formula is still the best selling and I was surprised at how many versions are available for purchase now, after my experience with the Hydrating Foundation Primer, I know that I will be buying every single one that will work for my skin type and that this product line lives up to all the hype around it.  I believe that the original formula Smashbox primer was one of the first primers that I ever saw at Sephora...before I even truly understood what a primer was or how to use it for best results. 

I believe that I first saw this primer formula when I began visiting the Sephora in King of Prussia while I was still in college.  At this time, this was the only Sephora that was available to me and when I would visit, I was most interested in the major products (NARS Orgasm Blush, Chanel fragrances) and wasn't paying attention to all less glamorous products on the shelves.  I am so glad that Sephora has come much closer to me and that I have learned a lot more about beauty in the last eight years!

I ordered this primer formula from the Sephora website, "A hydrating foundation primer that leaves an immediate cooling, refreshing sensation on the skin.  Hydration is essential for healthier, younger looking skin and makeup that just looks better. Give your complexion a moisture boost while creating a perfect canvas for foundation application with this lightweight, oil-free formula. It contains Hydraplex12 extract derived from desert plants, which allows the primer to immediately quench parched skin and seal in moisture for hours with a protective barrier that fills in fine lines and pores."

This formula is a very lightweight gel texture, it is the polar opposite from the Clarins formula that I have been using for months before ordering this product.  The product description states that it has a cooling sensation when applied to the skin and while this is a slight exaggeration, I can feel an immediate difference in my skin surface when this product is applied.  The primer formula sinks into my skin quickly and easily, it sank it so well the first time that I was unsure that I had the correct amount on my finger for application, I used less than a dime sized drop and I learned after several applications that this is the perfect amount of product to cover my whole face and then to work down into my neck and chin.  I use less of this product than I have of the Clarins or the MAC Prep + Prime formula.

What results do I see from this product?  After using it on moisturized skin, my foundation or BB Cream spreads on my easier and I have to use less product to cover my whole face.  I do not have fine lines to fill in but I was interested to see how it affected the appearance on and size of the visible pores on my T-Zone.  I can see a reduction in the appearance of them and then my foundation or BB Cream almost completely gets rid of their appearance, this is my favorite aspect of this product.  It creates a smooth appearance to my skin without making me look "made up" and my skin still looks very natural after my makeup application.  This formula makes my makeup stay in place all day long and never gets heavy, I have noticed that it doesn't stand up very well to sweating during a work out (however most primers aren't made for this so I don't hold it against the product) but it works very well for normal activities.  This will be a great formula to use in the summer months and I look forward to seeing results from it all summer long!

After using this product, I can see why the Smashbox Primers are cult favorites and why they are always recommended by Sephora associates and beauty magazines, I now want to start using more face products from Smashbox and will be adding more primers from this line to my makeup collection.  I think that the Hydrating formula will be a constant favorite of mine since it works perfectly with my skin (at least in warm weather - I don't know if it will work as well in the cold weather when my skin gets very dry) and I know that I will repurchase this formula over and over again.  I am now looking at foundation and concealer formulas from this company for when I need to replace these products!

photo courtesy of Sephora

Smashbox Summer 2013 Collection - Heat Wave

I have been seeing pictures of the new Smashbox eye shadow palette on the What's Hot section of the Sephora website and I am very excited to see that the whole collection is now available on the Smashbox website.  I have been using a Smashbox eye shadow primer for the past few weeks and I now want to try even more products from this company, especially some different primers and BB creams.  I am now adding that palette to my Smashbox shopping list and to my Sephora Friends and Family shopping list.  My Sephora list will be so long at this point and I have a feeling that I will need to edit my list several times before I even make one order.

This collection from Smashbox is named Heat Wave and only consists of one palette and one set.  I am disappointed with this collection, I love the eye shadow palette but I wish that the collection was much larger and contained more blush and bronzer products.  I continue to remain on the hunt for at least one more bronzer formula to use this summer and I would have expected Smashbox to have a great selection of bronzer formulas. 

The Smashbox website contains a description of Heat Wave, "The heat is on!  Live out a golden summer with this hot collection of earth-inspired hues perfectly paired with vibrant glosses."  I have been wearing neutral eyes with bright lips for the past two summers and I plan to keep wearing looks like this for the upcoming summer too.  I know that I will want the palette but I am still undecided on the lip gloss set.

Here is Heat Wave!

Heat Wave Eye Shadow Palette and Brush - Turn up the drama, or keep it low-key-it's up to you with our stunning summer palette! 10 totally on-trend shades in our luxe wet-dry formula let you create naturally pretty eyes or amped-up glam looks.
- soft matte peach/soft champagne beige/soft matte caramel/golden pink/gold/pink beige with silver flecks/soft pewter gray/soft golden sea blue/shimmering taupe/deep golden brown

Heat Wave Lip Gloss Set -
Make your pout shout with these 4 turned-up shades. These mega-juicy glosses will leave lips saturated in the season's hottest hues! Shades: Electric Orange, Fuchsia Flash, VIP Pink, Copper Remix.  Breathe new life into your matte lipsticks! Apply a coat of this gloss for a lustrous finish.
- Electric Orange - bright orange cream
- Fuchsia Flash - bright magenta pink cream
- VIP Pink - bright medium pink cream
- Copper Remix - medium copper shimmer

I already know that I would not buy the lip gloss set, I would only wear two of the shades to begin with.  There is no way that either the orange or copper shades would be flattering on my skintone and I can already rule them out.  I am also a bit concerned about how glossy the bright pink shades are, I tend to prefer these types of shades in matte and cream finishes, as they can look very tacky with a dramatic glossy finish.  Safe to say that the set will not be coming home with me from Sephora.

The eye shadow palette is an item that I will be able to get lots of use form this summer and I think that I will order it with one of my Friends and Family orders.  All of these shades will work very well together and then will also be able to be blended with both Urban Decay Naked palettes.  I could very well create eye makeup looks all summer from just mixing the shades in these three palettes.  I feel like I have skipped spring all together and am now only getting excited for summer eye makeup products and shades.  I need to finish my spring shopping first but this palette will be at the top of my list when I start shopping for summer!

photo courtesy of Smashbox

Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer

I have finally finished off both my tubes of Too Faced Shadow Insurance and Urban Decay's Primer Potion and I wanted to try something totally different for my next tube of eye shadow primer.  I looked at every single product on the Sephora website and I decided that I wanted to try a brand that I have never used any type of primer or face makeup from before.  From that I stumbled on Smashbox, as I have only really used eye makeup and lip glosses from this company so far.  I have heard many good reviews of the Photo Finish Primer line from this company and it has been recommended many times on the Sephora website and has sold very well for many years now.  The original came out quite a while ago and over the years has spawned an entire line of Photo Finish primers to correct all skin issues and to use on all kinds of facial features.

I decided to order the Photo Finish Lid Primer and see what all the fuss was about.  I have been using it for about a week now and I am so happy with it that I am looking at what other primers in this line I will want to order as I need new products.  I was a bit hesitant to not order an eye shadow primer from Urban Decay since their eye shadow formulas tend to work best with their primer formula.  I was almost ready to order both of these formulas and then see if I really needed the Urban Decay formula.  I decided against it and I have not yet regretted my decision.

"An ultra-luxurious lid primer.  Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer creates the perfect canvas for eye shadow application. Wear this universal shade under shadow to increase longevity, or create the perfect nude eye by applying over the lid for an even tone.  The exclusive formula contains Phytomoist, a plant-based hyaluronic acid for ultimate moisture and amino acids for skin-smoothing benefits. Soft focus pearls help diminish the appearance of fine lines on the lids while the patented Qusome® delivery system ensures all ingredients penetrate the skin to deliver effective results."

This is a very effective eye shadow primer and it has worked with every eye shadow formula that I have used with it so far.  The formula applies easily with a doe-foot applicator, it has a liquid texture that is thinner than many other formulas that I have used.  It reminded me more of the NARS formula than either of those from Urban Decay or Too Faced.  I was a bit put off by the texture at first, I have used primers that have a thicker texture and haven't kept my eye shadow in place. 

The first time that I used this product, I put too much on each eyelid.  One pump of the product is enough product to cover both of my eye lids without a problem.  I apply the liquid and then I blend the product into the lid until there appears no difference between the tone of my skin and the product.  Smashbox has stated that this product can be used to anchor eye makeup or on its own.  I wouldn't use this product on its own, it would create a natural look but I still go after more color than this when I am doing a natural look.  So I will not be using it in this fashion, I will always be layering an eye makeup product over it.

How does it compare to all the other primers that I have used on my eyes?  It works better than the Too Faced formula and performs comparable to the Urban Decay and NARS formulas, my two favorite that I have used so far.  It dries quickly and without any excess residue left on the lid.  I can easily apply either powder or cream eye shadow formulas over it and all my products have blended well so far and then stayed in place for the rest of the day.  I love that this product will anchor the fickle Urban Decay Midnight Cowboy eye shadow shade, this shade has the worst fall out of any eye shadow shade that I have ever used but I just love the color so much and I actually use through an entire product and then go right out and purchase another one right away.  I experience very little fall out even with this fickle shade, a few pieces of glitter will dislodge from my eyelid throughout the day but the same happened when using the Urban Decay Primer Potion.  I am very happy with the performance of this product and I have no need to also order a tube of the Urban Decay formula to use with certain shadow shades.  In addition, this formula removes easily with the use of eye makeup remover and doesn't leave any leftover residue on my lids.  I have been very happy with this formula so far!

This is one of my first face products from Smashbox and I am very happy with it.  When I am running low on primer and tinted moisturizer, I know that I will look harder at the products in this brand.  I am very excited to use more primers from the Photo Finish line and see if the results from those are as good as the results that I got from this eye primer.

photo courtesy of Sephora

Smashbox Spring 2013 Collection - Love Me

The spring collections are really coming out faster and faster this week, I see a bunch more that are coming out and now I am planning on adding more items to my shopping list for the month, I need skincare more than color but after I replace a few pieces of facecare...the color and perfume shopping begins!  I have noticed that I seem to be gravitating toward lots of pink hues already and I am envisioning how large my lip product collection is going to grow and how many new shades of pink I will be adding to it.  Last fall, I was all about trying to buy more eye makeup since every spring I tend to buy more lip items than any other season.  I didn't do quite as well with that I would have hoped but I cannot resist adding more lip hues to my lipstick and gloss collection!

Love Me is the spring collection that Smashbox just released, this reminds me of the collection that was released in the spring of 2010.  Both of these two collections were released very early in the season and reminded me more of Valentine's Day than just a spring collection.  Now every single year, I whine and complain about Valentine's Day and this year will end up being no exception (I'm sure) however pretty makeup and beauty products created for this holiday can still make me happy.  I loved that collection from Smashbox and I first saw the products in the Sephora on Fifth Avenue and I fell in love with the huge Smashbox display that that store has.  Cannot wait to get an MBA and move to the city...

This collection is available in all forms on the Smashbox website and I see a few select pieces on the Sephora website so I assume that it will be fully released at Sephora in a few days.  "An epic collaboration with world-renowned artist Curtis Kulig that brings his signature message from the street to our sets - and to you!  As major as this collaboration is, as universal as the concept is, it's sometimes hard to believe that is was literally done over lunch.  It took all of a minute to decide that Smashbox Cosmetics and artist Curtis Kulig - with his famous "Love Me" mark - needed to work together."

Here is the Love Me collaboration...

Love Me Eye Shadow Palette - Art meets beauty with these collectible palettes etched with Curtis Kulig's iconic "Love Me" mark. Both palettes-one with perfectly on-trend shades and another with to-die-for neutrals-include 5 highly pigmented, blendable shadows.
- Admire Me - champagne/matte nude/soft shimmering coral/bronze/deep golden brown
- Entice Me - sparkling purple/icy blue/deep sparkling navy/icy pink/purple taupe

Love Me Be Legendary Lipstick - Developed to match artist Curtis Kulig's signature colors, our creamy formula makes your pout pop like a work of art! Plus, it's packed with vitamins A & E and shea butter for major moisturization.
- Love Me - deep cool red cream
- Tempt Me - medium warm coral cream

Love Me Lip Enhancing Gloss - Paint on a lip look to love! Inspired by the work of artist Curtis Kulig, our signature gloss is sure to give your pout high-impact, pop-art shine.
- Adore Me - fuchsia pink
- Charm Me - nude pink

Love Me Paint Pen Eye Liner - We've turned artist Curtis Kulig's signature paint pen into the ultimate liquid liner! It's a must for creating edgy, epic eye looks.
- Jet Black - deep true black

Love Me Blush - Our ultra-luxe blush inspired by the work of artist Curtis Kulig-your face is the canvas, this blush brings the flush!
- Idolize Me - poppy pink

I love this entire collection, if this is the way that the spring collections are going to be then it is going to be a very good season for my style (and a very bad season for my wallet!).  While I must admit that there is nothing uber-unique in this collection and I bet that I could easily find almost all of these shades from many other companies, I want so many products from this collection because they will all be perfect for me. 

To start with, I want the neutral eye shadow palette (I added the picture to this post).  These neutrals will work very well with all the shades in the Urban Decay Naked Palettes and I will be able to create all kinds of nude eye looks with these palettes.  This is one of those essential palettes that I will able to use the second that I receive and then all the way into the spring and summer.  Admire Me contains a great mix of matte and shimmer shades and I can't wait to try this palette out.  In addition to the great neutral eye looks that I can create with this palette, I want to see how many of these shades I can mix with rose and pink eye shadow shades, I will be loving the rose gold eye look this spring too and it seems that it will be trendy again this spring season. 

The lip and cheek shades are just the icing on the cake for this collection.  I love the red lipstick hue in this collection, it looks slightly more rose than a bright blue red and I don't own many rose red lipsticks so this will fill a hole in my lipstick collection.  I like both of the lip glosses but I only really want the Charm Me shade, the nude pink will be a staple for me and will work against any kind of bronze eye look that I can some up with this spring.  I don't really love the fuchsia shade, it is pretty but I tend not to mix bright colors with lots of shimmer.  I just prefer my bright lip glosses with more a shiny and cream finish and miminal shimmer.  If this lip gloss was a cream, then I think that I would be all over it.  The blush shades is another great pink, I have never used a blush from Smashbox so I first I want to try this at Sephora and see if the pigmentation can hold a candle to the formulas from NARS and Illamasqua, if not this product will not be coming home with me.

Love Me will not become my mantra and I will not be embracing Valentine's Day this year either but at least I can look good on this holiday...

photo courtesy of Smashbox

Smashbox Holiday 2012 Collection - Studio Pop

One of the best gift collections every single year is almost always from Smashbox, this company gives us huge giftsets that have something for every single person on your list.  I seem to remember that over the past few years, this company always does one massive palette that contains shades for lips, eyes, and face.  Massive is the key word here, in previous years, it has contained 50 or more shades of eye shadow and then multiple shades for the lips and cheeks.  This is often considered one of the best gifts on the Sephora website and I have seen it sell out very quickly in previous years.  I am happy to report that I see it again when looking at the new holiday collection from Smashbox, Studio Pop.  I am willing to bet that Smashbox hasn't really changed many of the sets and palettes for the collection this year, I doubt that they will mess with a series of products that have sold so well for them in the past years.

Studio Pop is a holiday collection that only contains palettes and sets, some contain products for all facial features while others are much more targeted toward one feature.  This collection is available on the Smashbox website and is already featured on the Sephora and Nordstrom websites.  I predict this collection will do very well this holiday season.  The Smashbox website provides a description of the collection for us, "Holidays rock with Studio Pop!  This limited edition collection of our on-set faves will have you living the season out loud with party perfect shades."  Every single one of these limited edition palettes and sets will be perfect to give as a gift or keep for yourself!

Here is the holiday gift collections from Smashbox!

Studio Pop Ultimate Palette - Every beauty junkie's dream! Our Studio Pop Ultimate Palette has everything (and we mean everything) you need to create infinite looks from fresh-faced fab to party-ready perfection. Only $59/$300 Value.  Includes: 6 cheek colors: Sunkissed Matte Bronzer, Petunia Blush, Passion Blush, Warm Apricot Blush, Lens Soft Lights, Prism Soft Lights; 9 cream eye liners: Ivy, Caviar, Fortune, Picasso, Midnight Brown, Taupe, Deep Purple, Gilt, Smoke; 6 lip glosses: Gumdrop, Bella, Lily, Tea Rose, Pomegranate, Freeze; 45 Photo Op Eye Shadows: Champagne, Naked, Birch, Platinum, Cream, Peacock, Crisp, Suede, Fig, Ambient, Sumatra, Doe, Obsidian, Rapture, Sienna, Sand, Frost, Nectar, Breeze, Snow, Fawn, Frambois, Cinnamon, Toast, Lavender, Cement, Spruce, Aubergine, Roast, Orchid, Harbor, Pastel, Opal, Fizz, Bliss, Oyster, Anchor, Drizzle, Take Two, Camel, Carnation, Ultramarine, Velvet, Blacktop, Pacific.

Studio Pop Palette - Amp up your eyes this season with this mega palette of best-selling shadows and luxe cream liners-even comes with 4 Get the Looks and a built-in mirror! Only $49/$200 value!  Includes: 16 Photo Op Eye Shadows (Nocturnal, Lunar, Emerald, Nude, Vanilla, Obsidian, Champagne, Bark, Cinder, Pastel, Orchid, Flamingo, Smoke, Amethyst, 24k, Nutmeg; 4 Cream Eye Liners (Bronze, Royal, Picasso, Nightlife).

Studio Pop for Lips - 'Tis the season to pick up 5 limited-edition shades in an irresistible, collectible tin! Only $26/$67 value!  Includes: Lip Enhancing Gloss in: Illume (pale nude with iridescence), Razzle (opalescent bright pink), Spiceberry (nude creamy pink); Reflection High Shine Gloss in: Star (nude), Candy (bubblegum pink).

Studio Pop Brush Set - Blend your way to holiday-party perfection with 5 essential brushes in this must-have set! A $145 value + free bag!  Includes: #2 Face & Cheek Brush, #13 Foundation Brush, #10 Crease Brush, #15 Shadow/Liner Brush, #21 Arced Liner Brush,Brush Roll.

Studio Pop for Eyes - A covetable, collectible tin filled with must-haves for holiday-ready eyes-from limited-edition liners to an ultra-volumizing mascara! Only $24/$57 value!  Includes: Travel-size Full Exposure Mascara; Travel-size Limitless Eye Liners in Graphite, Bronze Citrine, Antique Gold, Imperial.

I placed a picture of the huge palette in with this post, this is biggest and best selling of all the sets and palettes and I think that this would make one of the most amazing gifts for any female on your list.  I am actually considering it for myself since I love the eye shadow formula from this company and I also LOVE the Cream Eye Liners from this company (and I have loved them for years).  The fact that I would get 45 eye shadows and then 9 Cream Eye Liners is more than enough for me to want to buy this set.  I am sure that I will get several repeats of shades that I already have in my eye shadow collection and also a few that I won't really use but I think this set is well worth buying and I will be checking it out the next time that I hit up Sephora.

If I get the huge palette then I don't need the smaller Studio Pop Palette, I doubt that there is any shade that isn't in the big one that would actually be in the smaller set.  The other set that I am really considering for both myself and for a few friends on my list is the lip gloss set, I love and would use every single gloss in this set and I know that I have friends that would also.

One of the best gift collections for the holidays and I strongly urge all of you to check it out!

photo courtesy of Smashbox

Smashbox Fall 202 Collection - Image Factory

It is almost the middle of August and we are now in the heart of the fall shopping season, I have gotten a pretty good start on my fall beauty product shopping and now I need to begin looking for fall clothing and shoes before my next semester of grad school begins in two weeks.  I am flashing back to high school when I always wanted a brand new wardrobe and messenger bag at the beginning of every new school year.  There is something about the end of the summer that always makes me want to clean out my whole closet and replace it with all new items.  At this time, I often have to have a list of things that I need before I go to Sephora or any of the makeup counters or I am likely to walk out with a huge bag of products...

Smashbox is one of the company's that always introduces a fantastic fall collection, every single year I am always impressed with their fall products and this is the time of the year that I buy the most from them.  Their new fall collection is named Image Factory and contains a great eye shadow palette and a new formula of cream blush.  I haven't bought a new blush since the spring season, I bought several Illamasqua Blushes right in a row and I haven't needed a new shade since.  Not that I "need" a new shade at the moment but I would like to buy a new one to play around with this season.  I love cream formula blushes since my skin is so dry and finding a new formula is always a treat for me. 

The Smashbox website provides a description of this collection on their website.  "Straight from our modern-day image factory, a seriously cool collection to create your own 'it' looks."  This collection seems to be another one in the series of collections about stars and HD television.  I don't mind this theme but I would like to eventually see something different...

Here is the latest from Smashbox!

Image Factory Photo Op Eye Shadow Palette - Fall's most on-trend shades, hot off our studio sets!  This limited-edition palette features our velvety smooth Photo Op Eye Shadow formula in 6 hi-res hues, plus a double-ended brush.  Are you a modern-day muse or an always cool icon?  Choose Icon for the sultriest shades of the season to create smoldering eye looks, or Muse for the most flattering, wearable shades.  Scan the QR code on the back label for a video on how to get fall's most naturally pretty looks!  Or simply peel back for step-by-step instructions.
- Muse - deep warm brown satin/deep taupe shimmer/medium pink satin/deep warm plum shimmer/medium champagen satin/very deep brown satin
- Icon - pale champagne satin/medium gray satin/deep black satin/deep brown shimmer/deep cabernet plum satin/cream satin

Image Factory Waterproof Shadow Liner - Limited edition, perfectly on-trend shades of our waterproof shadow liners!  Give eyes soft definition wherever, whenever with this travel-friendly, mistake-proof shadow liner - there's even a built-in smudger.  For the ultimate smoky eye on-the-go, glide along upper lashline and smudge.  Or for a stunning, all-over shadow effect, apply to lids and blend into crease.
- Metallic Bronze - brown with gold flecks
- Charcoal - shimmerin charcoal

Image Factory Lip Enhancing Gloss Duo - Glosses with mirror-like finish for for an "it girl"!  Shine on with this pair of ultra-glossy shades with luxe pillowy applicators.  For a lip color that's all yours, try mixing the two shades!
- Duo 1: Luxe and Chic - deep berry/shimmery nude
- Duo 2: Fab and Snappy - rose shimmer/caramel nude

Image Factory Airbrush Whipped Cheek Color - A super-blendable, mousse-like blush for airbrushed-looking cheeks!  Our exclusive, lasting formula with ultra-fine pigments even minimizes the appearance of imperfections for a flawlessly radiant glow.  Becuase of the super unique texture of Airbrush Whipped Cheek Color, you might notice that the product might shift in the packaging.  If this happens, no worries.  Just pat it back into place and use as usual.  It won't compromise the performance of the product in any way!  To keep your flush flawless, be sure to apply blush laat.  This way, eye shadows and loose powders won't affect it's color. 
- Berry Bliss - soft plum
- Dusty Rose - nude rose

I really like every single product in this collection, I will have to stop at the Smashbox the next time that I go to Sephora.  I am mostl likely to buy both shades of the Airbrush Whipped Cheek color, the description of this product reminds me of the Vincent Longo Water Canvas Blush formula that I have loved for years.  This product has a water-light texture, is very easy to apply, and has a great color payoff.  I am hopeful that this product is very similar to the Vincent Longo formula and won't let me down.  Dusty Rose is my favorite of the two shades, this is a great medium rose that will look perfect when my skin becomes much more pale over the next month or two.

My second favorite product is the two eye shadow palettes, Icon is the product that is pictured and this is my favorite of the two choices.  This palette will be great to create a smoky eye this fall and the shadows are much less shimmery than the Too Faced Return of Sexy palette.  This palette will create a more subtle look than the palette from Too Faced.  I do like the Muse palette too, I would be more likely to use the creams and browns during the day.  I don't really need either of these palettes but I would like to buy both of them anyway.  Lastly, for the eye makeup part of the collection, I want the Waterproof Shadow Liner in the bronze shade, bronze liners work well for me with so many different eye makeup looks. 

I like the Lip Gloss Duo in Fab and Snappy but I don't need any new lip glosses at all.  I wouldn't mind owning it but I doubt that I will go and seek it out.  I am trying to use through several of my open lip glosses before I replace any others and the first ones that I want to buy are the MAC Cremesheens. 

I like this collection overall but I can't say that it is one of the strongest ones of the season.  I believbe that the products will sell very well but it isn't that unique and I really only need the new blush formula.

photo courtesy of Smashbox

Smashbox Summer 2012 Collection - Shades of Fame

The past few seasons, Smashbox has been creating their new collections around the theme of fame and being in front of the camera.  Not that I mind series like this, but when will this begin to get old and this company find some other theme to create collections around.  How many new collections can be focued on the same type of concept?  I do think that this series of collections is baased around some of the new complexion and highly pigmented products that Smashbox has been introducing throughout the past year.  I have liked the past few collections but I do fondly remember some of the wonderful and perfectly in season collections that this company released in years past.  I am hoping that the fall collection will bring a completely different theme to the new products from this brand...
The summer collection is named Shades of Fame and consists of one single product and two new palettes/sets/  Smashbox creates great sets but I tend to prefer their single product offerings since I don't always love every sahde in the set and then I have to decide if I want the set enough to warrant not using all the shades in it or if I decide to skip over the set because I won't use some of the shades in it. I am still waiting for a palette or a set from this company that I will use everything in it.  "You're sure to get your 15 minutes with the stunning summery shades in this limited edition collection.", I am hoping that this series of collection is almost done with their 15 minutes of fame...

Here is the Shades of Fame collection from Smashbox...

Photo Finish Foundation Primer -  Create a perfect canvas for foundation application with this silky, lightweight blend of Vitamins A and E, Grape Seed Extract, and Green Tea.  Worn alone or under foundation to increase longevity, our best-selling primer helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and pores for flawless skin with a velvety smooth finish.  Oil-free!  Winner of Best of Sephora Award for Best Primer, one of Marie Claire's "25 Products That Will Change Your Life", and an In Style Best Buy.  Apply a dime size amoung of Photo Finish Foundation Primer to clean or moisturized skin, using fingertips, for complexion perfection.  Follow with your favorite foundation (try High Definition Healthy Fx Foundation).  To tam frizzies, try smoothing primer through wet or dry hair.

Shades of Fame Eye Shadow Palette - Insanely pretty summer shades, plus everything you'll need to create your own famous looks!  Includes: 9 vibrant shadows; 2 luxe cream liners; 3 step-by-step Get the Looks; Eye Shadow Brush, Photo Finish Lid Primer (mini size).  Layer the brighter shades to put a colorful spin on the classic smoky eye.
- Bliss - pale golden beige
- Honey - soft translucent yellow pink
- Sandstone - soft sandy beige
- Nude - matte soft caramel
- Sherbert - shimmery coral
- Safari - deep golden green
- Pacific - shimmery aqua
- Praline - bronze
- Mocha - toasted brown with gold flecks
- Gold Cream Liner - warm yellow gold
- Bronze Cream Liner - deep warm bronze

Shades of Fame Reflection High Shine Lip Gloss Set - A covetable set of fun-sized glosses in the season's most delicious shades!  Vitamins and hyaluronic acid deeply moisturize.  Smoothing polymers help fill in fine lines.  Mix in a dab of the Star shade whenever you choose to tone down any lip color a notch.
- Candy - bubblegum pink
- Buff - nude
- Hibiscus - fuchsia
- Papaya - peach
- Star - pearlscent shine

This collection reminds me very much of the others, nothing amazing that I must own in it but nothing that I dislike either.  I can see this collection selling very well, the eye shadow palette is already sold out on the website.  The range of shades in this palette are very well thought out for the summer months and will work well together to create many different looks for the season.  My favorite piece of the collection is the eye shadow palette, I will be looking for it at Sephora the next time that I head over there.  I know that I will get a lot of use from these shades, this palette will allow me to create some great colorful eye looks and mix them with some neutrals for a more professional look. 

I have been interested in this primer for years, it is top rated and I know so many people that I love it.  I will have to put this on my shopping list for when I need primer again, I attempt to only have one or two open at one time, based on my skin's needs at the time.  The lip gloss set contains three very pretty shades, I will use the Candy, Buff, Hibiscus, and Star shades all summer.  I am really considering buying the set, I know that I will use 80% of the shades in it.  The peach shade is only shade that I am not sure about, but I have used a peach gloss from Urban Decay in past when I have a had a tan and it was very attractive.  This might be the very first set from Smashbox that I will get full use from.

The fame-inspired collections have had some nice items in them but I am really looking forward to Smashbox changing it and introducing a totally new concept for their fall color collection.

photo courtesy of Smashbox

Smashbox Spring 2012 Collection - Be Discovered

Smashbox spring collections are usually among my favorites every single year, there is something about the way that this company creates a spring collection that manages to look completely different every year and always contains shades that are flattering on so many ladies.  My favorite collection is still the spring look from 2010, it was a series of pink shades that were introduced for Valentine's Day and then were still right on trend for the rest of the spring, no other collection from this company has ever compared to that one.  I wish that I had been able to buy more products from that line before it was completely sold out at Sephora...

This year's spring collection is named Be Discovered and something about the name and the overall theme of the collection seemed so familiar as soon as I found it on the Smashbox website.  Something that had to do with fall was my first thought and this was nagging at me so I knew that it wouldn't stop bothering me until I looked up their past few collections.  I went back in my Archives and saw that their collection from last fall was named Girls On Film and the palettes that were offered with that collection were quite similar in set up to the ones that we are seeing in this new collection.  I wasn't really all that taken with the Girls On Film collection, there was nothing wrong with it but there was nothing that really jumped out at me as something that I needed to purchase.  Smashbox has long tradition of great spring collections so I really hope that this one is different enough from the fall products.

"Your 15 minutes of fame is calling!  Work it with the freshest A-list looks, hot off our sets for spring.", states the Smashbox website in a description of the collection products.  This is a typical Smashbox collection, it contains eye, lip, and cheek products and there is no major emphasis on only category.  The fact that this company always releases a balanced collection is one of my favorite aspects of their collections, I know that I will find something good no matter what type of products I am most interested in at the moment.

Here is the new collection from Smashbox!

Be Discovered Eye Shadow Palette - From red carpets to runways, pastel lids rule this spring!  Get 'em with this perfectly on-trend palette.  Eight richly pigmented, blendable shadows will have you creating endlessly pretty looks all season long.  Finish up any look with a touch of the opal shade on inner corners of the eyes.  Instantly brightening!
- Bliss - pale champage gold shimmer
- Rosewater - pale pink shimmer
- Opal - pale opal shimmer
- Mist - pale silver shimmer
- Adobe - matte cool medium brown
- Champage - medium beige shimmer
- Pebble - matte deep cool brown
- Lilac - medium lilac shimmer

Be Discovered Cream Cheek Trio - Our cult-fave cream cheek color is back!  This time in fresh, modern hues fit for today's hottest "it" girls.  These super blendable, velvety shades look good alone, or mix and layer for your perfect flush of color!
- Show Biz - raspberry/bubble gum/cool highlight
- In Lights - warm coral/sparkling rose/warm highlight

Be Discovered Jet Set Eyeliner and Brush - Superstars like you don't have time for smudged liner!  Create show-stopping definition that lasts all day with this innovative gel-based formula.  It glides on easily and dries to a waterproof finish for looks that won't budge.  Includes angled liner brush!  To intensify any look, try lining the inner rims of eyes for heightened drama and definition.
- Dark Slate - deep slate blue
- Deep Brown - deep warm brown

Be Discovered Be Legendary Lipstick - Air kiss with the best of them, thanks to this ultra-luxe lipstick!  Get lustrous, saturated color worthy of any red carpet with one swipe of the creamy formula.  Plus, it's packed with vitamins and shea butter for lasting hydration and comfortable wear.  Shine with the best of them!  For high-impact luster, add a dab of our pearlscent Reflection High Shine Lip Gloss in the center of the lips.
- Pink Petal - hot pink
- Honey - rosy nude
- Melondrama - soft peach

This is another collection that is nice but not up to the standards that I have seen in previous seasons from this company.  I like every piece in the collection but there is nothing that I am dying to own or is unique enough for me to chase after the next time that I go to Sephora.  My favorite piece of the collection is the eye shadow palette, I like the range of cool shades that is included with this collection and I know that I would get a good amount of use from it this spring. 

I like that this collection contains pink shades for both lips and cheeks too.  The Show Biz trio blush contains two great pinks and a highlighter for blending.  I have to see this product the next time that I go to Sephora since I actually haven't tried a Smashbox blush formula yet.  The Be Legendary Lipstick is a new formula and I want to buy a few of these to really review the lipstick formula itself.  I want to start with the Pink Petal shade since I have been all over pinks this spring.  I will be following up with another review once I have been able to buy several of these lipsticks.

Nice collection but I do hope that this isn't the best collection of the year from Smashbox.  If it is, this might be a bit of a boring year...

photo courtesy of Smashbox

Smashbox Holiday 2011 Collection - Holiday Flash

Smashbox is mostly known for their palettes and sets when it comes to their holiday collection.  I did see many nice sets on their website that would make great gifts this time of the year however I was most interested in focusing on their color collection for the season.  I might be wrong but I seem to remember that the past few years, this company hasn't done any type of color collection and instead did a focus on the gifting collections for the holidays.  But this year looks very different and I am more excited to see what type of shades that they have come out with this time of the year instead of how they decided to update the types of sets that they offer almost every single year.

Holiday Flash is the name of the color collection for this holiday season and even though it is not very large, it looks like it will hit the big trends of the season and contain some shades that are perfect for dressing up for holiday parties.  In this collection, I see lots of metallics and reds, this looks like a very traditional holiday makeup collection.  "Turn on the studio sparkle with our megawatt favorites for the season.", states the Smashbox website in a description of the overall collection.  I am getting a glimpse of metallic liquid eye liners and I am thinking that they are ones that I have been seeing recommended in a bunch of this month's beauty and fashion magazines.  We all know that pen-style liquid eye liners are a favorite product of mine so I very well might need to take advantage of the new shades offered in this collection...

Holiday Flash from Smashbox!

Holiday Flash Longwear Liquid Liner - Amp up your eyes this season with a pop of gorgeous metallic color.  The long-wearing formula will take you from morning to holiday party!  For a dramatic, high-fash look, try applying black liquid liner to your upper lash line first, then layering the Chrome or 14K shade right above it.
- Chrome - metallic silver
- 14K - metallic gold

Holiday Flash Eye Lights Quad - Eyes will glimmer like a string of holiday lights with this quad of exquisite metallics!  All four shades can be worn wet or dry for ultimate versatility.  To create more intense color, simply dip your brush (preferably one with stiffer bristles) into water, squeeze out any excess, and press into the shadow.
- Gold/Pearl/Silver/Pewter

Holiday Flash Double-Ended Lip Gloss - This sparkling duo of glitter-infused glosses will get you ready for any mistletoe action!  Bring an old lipstick back to life by applying a coat of this glittery gloss over it.  Mix and match old and new to create glimmering custom colors!
- Star - sheer red with multi-color glitter
- Siren - clear with iridescent glitter

I love this little collection, it is very traditional holiday but there are some great choices in it!  My favorite item is the liquid liner in the gold shade, I will buy this the next time that I head up to Sephora.  The eye palette is very pretty too but the sahdes aren't unique enough for it to warrant a purchase.  I can skip over the lip gloss duo, sparkling red glosses aren't my favorite and I would rather wear red lipstick than red gloss anyday.  I hope that Smashbox continues to release more than just gift collections at the holidays!

photo courtesy of Smashbox

Smashbox Fall 2011 Collection - Girls On Film

As I have stated as lot so far, we have been seeing a lot of fall collections that are very heavy on the eye makeup products.  The newest collection from Smashbox, named Girls On Film, is no exception to what seems to be the rule this fall however they do balance it out a bit better than some other companies in that they offer both lip gloss selections and a new blush.  I have been big on blush lately so I am excited to see something new in this area.  This is a special collection that is designed by the Smashbox makeup artists to look as lovely in real life as it would being photographed.  I'm not photographed all that much however I am perfectly happy to look amazing in real like!
"We're bringing you on set with this film-worthy collection all about the magic that happens when you capture that perfect shot.  Get in on the studio party.  YOUR close-up is calling!", states the Smashbox website when they give a brief description of the collection.  This collection contains two full eye palettes and then lip gloss and a new blush selection.  I am the most excited for the blush but I can't wait to see this whole collection!

Smashbox Girls On Film...

Girls On Film Photo Op Eye Palette - Softbox: always be camera-ready with this pretty-as-a-picture palette of everyday that can work anytime, anywhere.  Smokebox: Smolder like an A-list starlet with this sultry palette of dramatic shades, perfect for creating any smoky eye look.
- Softbox - pale champagne shimmer/medium matte taupe/deep matte plum/pale white shimmer/champagne gold shimmer/deep brown shimmer
- Smolder - pale pink white shimmer/medium gray shimmer/deep black with silver shimmer/light gray shimmer/deep matte plum/medium navy shimmer

Girls On Film Cream Eye Liner & Travel Brush Set - Create the perfect frame in a flash!  Precision definition is a snap with our cult-fave liner and go-everywhere brush.  The smooth formula allows for completely customizable application, whether you want a perfectly lined or more smudged look.
- Sepia - midnight brown with gold pearl
- Blacklight - black with blue pearl

Girls On Film Blush Rush - Get cover-worthy cheekbones with an instant rush of color, courtesy of our ultra-luxe, long-wearing blush.  The compact also features a cool swivel mirror for easy touch-ups on the go.
- Pose - rosy pink
- Silhouette - soft nude

Girls On Film Lip Enhancing Gloss - A picture-perfect pout is just a swipe away with our beloved, award-winning formula for soft, smooth lips.  Choose from two new universally flattering shades of pink.
- Overexposed - soft milky pink
- Underexposed - rusty pink

Finally I have found a collection that contains lip and blush shades that are better than the eye palettes!  Don't get me wrong, these are very nice eye shadows but I just love the other products in this collection.  I must have both of the lip glosses, I think that I prefer the Underexposed shade for the fall and I would put the light Overexposed shade away for next spring.  Overexposed is closer to the Viva Glam Gaga Lipglass (original) and will be best on pale skintones however the Underexposed will work for all types of skintones.  Underexposed is an overall winner of a shade. 

I do expect that both eye palettes will sell very well for this company, Smashbox eye shadows are very high quality and the texture is normally quite easy to work with.  Both of the palettes contain lovely shades, I prefer the Softbox palette with the neutrals and golds.  Lastly, I love the Pose shade of blush and this will be on my shopping list next time that I hit up the Smashbox counter at Sephora.

photo courtesy of Smashbox

Smashbox Sheer Focus Tinted Moisturizer

With the heat and humidity that is plaguing my area of the country at the moment, I have scaled back my makeup routine to eliminate any type of foundation.  I am now using a combination of tinted moisturizer, a bit of spot concealer, and then some bronzer to top it all off.  Instead of repurchasing my stand-by Laura Mercier Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer, I decided to try out one of the unopened samples that I found in my makeup collection.  I remember being very interested in the Smashbox Tinted Moisturizer when it first came out but I was half way through a tube of the Laura Mercier and very much in love with it.  I got a very large sample of the Smashbox product from Sephora and I deicded to put it away until I was finished with the Laura Mercier product.  And then I completely forget about it since I use foundation and any type of face product very slowy. 

To begin with, I only use Tinted Moisturizers (from any brand) in the warmer weather.  If I plan to use one instead of a typical foundation, I only apply a facial sunscreen to my face and skip the moisturizer all together.  I can only really do this in the warm weather when my skin gets oily enough that it can hydrate itself with only a little boost from a very light face product.  Also all the self-tanner that I use in the summer helps to make my skintone look much smoother and more even, allowing me to use a lighter coverage than I would in the winter.

"Our new lightweight, oil-free tinted moisturizer is packed with vitamins and anti-aging peptides for naturally raidant skin.  The unique citrus honey moisturization technology nourishes as it absorbs excess oil throughout the day, and UVA/UVB SPF 15 guards against future damage so skin stays flawless and protected."  In addition to a product description, the Smashbox website provides several tips to enhance the usage of this product.  "For longer wear, apply Sheer Focus Tinted Moisturizer over the Photo Finish Foundation Primer of your choice using fingertips.  Luminous can be worn alone or mized with Fair, Light, or Medium shades for a soft, all-over glow."

Luminous is the shade that I was given in this product, this is the multi-purpose neutral shade that can be used by anyone who has a skintone from fair to medium.  This one works quite well with the results of the self-tanner on my face and I would use the Fair shade only if I would use this product in the spring or fall.  For summer, Luminous is my top choice since most people's skin is constantly changing hues due to sun and tan fading.  This one covers the range of shades that my skin is in the warmer months. 

This tinted moisturizer provides very sheer coverage with one coat and would need to be built up with two coats or use of another product to reach a medium coverage finish.  I use one coat of this product to set a base and then use a spot concealer on dark circles and any areas of uneven pigmentation.  The finish of this product is sheerer than the Laura Mercier version, this one can't be used in place of foundation if you want a medium coverage without the feel of a foundation.  Smashbox recommends that this product be used with a primer underneath (of course one of their's is the pick!) and I did try to use it that way.  I am currently using a Clarins primer that I found to be a bit to heavy for the summer so with the combination of the two products, it was no difference than wearing a full coverage foundation.  Which totally defeated what I was trying to achieve with the use of the tinted moisturizer formula.

The only major dislike that I have with this product is the inadequate sun protection.  SPF 15 is never enough for me and this product is applied sheerly so the SPF never really penetrates and covers every single area of the face.  I find it very irresponsible of many beauty companies to try and tell people that using SPF in foundations, tinted moisturizers, or powders is enough for full protection.  It isn't and it never will be.  I never look at SPF in any face product of mine, I prefer to buy my own sunscreen and use it in combintion with the rest of my facial care products.

This product is lovely if you want a tinted moisturizer with sheer, buildable coverage.  This is a product is best for skin that needs very little hydration and only in times that a separate hydrator isn't needed.  This product is best layered over sunscreen since the SPF is minimal at best.  The Luminous shade is a great choice to use on summer skin that changes shade with the sun and tanning products.  I wouldn't recommend this product for anyone with dry skin or that needs a medium to full coverage.  It helps to make my skin look lovely and natural in the warm months and (in tandem with self-tanner and bronzer) gives my skin a great glow.

photo courtesy of Smashbox

Smashbox Summer 2011 Collection - Softbox

Softbox is the newest collection from Smashbox and I must start by saying that this is very small collection.  It actually only contains two new items, one eye palette and one lip gloss set.  The eye shadow palette has been a top pick of mine ever since I first spied pictures of it.  Lately, I have been using a Smashbox eye shadow at least twice a week and I never fail to get compliments on the shades and I am always happy with the wear and easy of use of this eye shadow formula.  You could say that Smashbox is beginning to rise up on teh list of my favorite makeup companies even though I have mostly been using their eye makeup so far.  Perhaps this lip gloss set will bring me over to their lip products yet too...

This collection is named Softbox and it contains shades that will help to create an easy summer look that is also polished enough to wear during the day to work.  "Inspired by the Softbox Studio at Smashbox - where natural light rules - our summer collection is all about effortless, diffused beauty."  I just love the neutrals that are in the eye palette and I can't wait to get my hands on this set. 

Softbox Eye Shadow Palette - Forget piling on eye makeup in the heat of summer.  Our pro artists have handpicked all of these hues (including 7 new shades and 4 best sellers!) with soft, naturally gorgeous eyes in mind.  Includes FREE step-by-step guide for creating three looks and a mini Photo Finish Lid Primer.  This set includes: 9 Eye Shadows, 2 Cream Liners, Double Ended Brush, Mini Photo Finish Lid Primer, Get The Look Guide.
- Nectar Eye Shadow - warm gold shimmer (new)
- Lucky Penny Eye Shadow - bronze shimmer (new)
- Sienna Eye Shadow - deep black brown
- Vanilla Eye Shadow - off white shimmer
- Sugar Eye Shadow - warm pink gold shimmer (new)
- Nude Eye Shadow - deep warm brown
- Flirt Eye Shadow - deep champagne with sparkle
- Stone Eye Shadow - deep matte warm charcoal
- Truffle Eye Shadow- deep black brown shimmer
- Bronze Cream Liner - warm bronze (new)
- Taupe Cream Liner - charcoal gray

Softbox Lip Gloss Collection - Just try to resist this beautifully wearable set of glossy goodness in take-everywhere travel sizes - perfect for summer getaways.  Plus, no matter what your day looks like, you're covered with both our classic and long-wearing formulas.  Includes 3 new shades and 3 bestsellers! 
- Infinite Limitless Long Wear Lip Gloss - pale beige shine
- 24/7 Limitless Long Wear Lip Gloss - deep sheer plum shine
- Afterglow Lip Gloss - shimmery pinky peach
- Brown Sugar - warm caramel shimmer (new)
- Glam - cool mauve shimmer (new)
- Illume - clear iridescent shimmer

I love both of these two sets and I looking forward to buying both of them.  If I had to choose, my favorite of the two is the eye shadow palette, I can work with all of these neutrals for the next few seasons.  I love the new Nectar Eye Shadow shade and this one is only available in the palette so far.  I also love the Vanilla and Sugar shades from this palette too.  From the lip set, I love the Afterglow and Glam shades.  Afterglow reminds me very much of NARS Orgasm so my interest here will be comparing the lip gloss formulas. 

photo courtesy of Smashbox

Smashbox Spring 2011 Collection - In Bloom

Last year, the spring collection from Smashbox of one of my favorite releases of the entire year. I loved all the products in Heartbreaker and that Scarlett Johansson was the model for the line. I am so excited to look at the collection for this spring becuase I am hoping that I will love it just as much as last year. This year's collection is called In Bloom and is based on the flowers that grow and bloom in the springtime. Since we all know how much I love flowers and spring, this is an obvious collection for me to collect. On first glance, I am seeing a fantastic eye palette that looks like a keeper for me..

Here is the collection...

In Bloom Eye Shadow Palette and Brush - Ultra-pretty eye looks are just a few steps away with this spring-fresh palette of 10 soft shimmers and mattes. The luxe shadows are arranged in duos for surefire color coordination, or use the brush included in the palette to mix-and-match your own custom look. Make the most out of the palette by using darker shades such as Iris Blue and Shimmery Copper as eye liner. Using Cream Eye Liner Brush #9, apply along the lower lash line for a look that's defined, yet soft and diffused.

- Pink Lily/Lavender Gray/Golden Rose/Warm Taupe/Bone/Soft Orchid/Iris Blue/Shimmery Copper/Moss/Nude

In Bloom Creamy Cheek Duo - The look of spring? A beautifully stained cheek resembling a natural flush. This lush creamy cheek color is the fail-proof way to get it! Wear the creamy shades alone, or blend together to create your own customized shade. Blend into cheeks using fingertips or Foundation Brush #13. Dab lightly onto lips for a refreshing hint of color.

- Peony - bright pink

- Blushing - soft pink

In Bloom Soft Focus Powder Liner - Create a soft, smoldering eye in seconds with this innovative new formula. The loose powder liner imparts a defined, yet diffused look that's always pretty and never harsh. Use this powder liner on the go (or in a pinch) as an eye shadow! Simply pat the product gently onto the lids, and then blend out with a brush.

- Dark Brown - deep brown

- Heather - charcoal gray

In Bloom Limitless Long Wear Lip Gloss - Our much-loved, long-wearing gloss now comes in 2 just-been-picked colors! Get luscious shine that stays put for up to 6 hours, while protecting your pout with SPF 15. Plus, the contoured wand hugs lips for easy, one-coat application. This lip formula is packed with vitamins A, C, and E, so try exfoliating first with our Emulsion Lip Exfoliant to get the full benefits of these nourishing antioxidants.

- Endless Kiss - coral

- Timeless - soft pink

In Bloom Artificial Light Powder - Inspired by our bestselling Artificial Light Luminizing Lotion! Use this soft, shimmery powder as a highlighter and brightener for a gorgeous glow. Apply to the inner corners of eyes, down the bridge of the nose, above brows, and high on cheekbones. Tap out a small amount and mix with your favorite body lotion. Then apply to arms, legs, and decollete for a subtle shimmer.

- shimmery soft nude

This is a lovely collection for this spring! My favorite product is the Limitless Long Wear Lip Gloss in Timeless, this shade will work against strong eye makeup or for a natural, professional day look. I love the Eye Palette and I am willing to bet that I can create looks with all of the shades. The Creamy Cheek Duo is another winner for me since I love cream blushes and have the hardest time trying to find them. Smashbox's spring collections are always a winner and usually end up being their best collection of the whole year.

photo courtesy of Smashbox

Smashbox Holiday 2010 Collection - Wish

For some reason, I am thinking that this is the name of last year's holiday Smashbox collection and now I am wondering if the collections will be very similar. Last year, it consisted of all giftsets and palettes and I believe that this is the theme again this year. Last year, I really liked a bunch of their sets to both give and keep some for myself and I am betting that this year will be the same.

Here are the new products...

Wish for the Perfect Palette - No wonder this mega palette sells out every year! It's the biggest, boldest gift you could give any beauty junkie, with nearly 80 shades for endless color combinations of eyes, cheeks, and lips. You'll even get a FREE step-by-step guide to create a festive holiday look. A portion of the proceeds benefits the Children's Miracle Network. This set includes the following: 49 Eye Shadows, 10 Cream Liners, 6 Brow Powders, 1 Brow Wax, 8 Lip Glosses, 2 Blush, 1 Bronzer, 1 Highlighter, 4 Mini Brushes (Eye Shadow, Eye Liner, Angled Brow, and Lip).

Eye Wish Palette - A gorgeous gold keepsake box holds everything you'll need for limitless eye looks, from a lid primer to start every application perfectly, to a mini booklet with easy instructions for creating 10 festive looks. This set includes the following: 12 Eye Shadows, 4 Cream Liners, Lash DNA Mascara, Photo Finish Lid Primer (mini sized), Look Book with 10 eye looks.

Wish List - It's the perfect occasion to try these Smashbox superstars! You'll even get our exclusive NEW O-Gloss Gold, an innovative formula that goes on clear then reacts with your skin for a perfectly customized peach pout. This set includes: Photo Finish Foundation Primer (travel size), Photo Op Under Eye Brightener, Jet Set Waterproof Eye Liner in Midnight Black, Baked Fusion Soft Lights in Stardust, O-Gloss Gold.

Wish for the Perfect Pencils - Keep eyes stunning and bold all year long with this set of travel-size Limitedless Eye Liners, our much-loved formula that stays put for up to 8 hours. Includes: Onyx, Orchid, Graphite, 14K.

Wish for the Perfect Pout - This wardrobe of our award-winning Lip Enhancing Glosses - including exclusive holiday shades - is a must for the season's endless festivities. Includes 2 full-size glosses. Includes: Candid (full size), Luster (full size), Radiant (medium size), Baby Pout (medium size), Esctasy (medium size), Divine (medium size).

Wish for the Perfect Primers - Our best-selling Photo Finish Primers are coming together for the holidays! Pick them up to create a flawless face every time. Includes: Photo Finish Foundation Primer, Photo Finish Lid Primer, Photo Finish Targeted Pore & Line Primer (travel size).

My first pick from this collection is the Wish for the Perfect Primers set, this would actually be a practical purchase since I want to try out the Smashbox primer collections and I haven't gotten to yet. I like the huge palette but I just can't see myself getting tons of use from it, there are too many shades that I wouldn't use and many that are going to be duplicates of shades I already own. I do love all the other sets, especially the Wish for the Perfect Pencils set and the Eye Wish Palette. And it goes without saying that I will end up buying the lip gloss set...

photo courtesy of Smashbox

Smashbox O-Gloss Noir

The Smashbox O-Gloss line is the first of the "intuitive lip glosses" that make a shade that is individual for every lady. This product first came out in the beginning of 2007 and could be used as a blush or a lip gloss to create a perfect pink shade. Other products and shades have come out in the following years from both Smashbox and other brands who have been copying the technology around this line. This fall, Smashbox is releasing their newest addition to the line, called O-Gloss Noir.

Since we know that purple and plum shades are very popular for this season, it only makes sense that this product would be released in a plummy shade so that every woman can find and wear a plum shade. Sephora states that this product is "A sumptuous gloss that goes on black and then transforms into your perfect berry hue". Further details are provided as follows, "Get a sultry berry pout that's all your own! O-Gloss is packed with vitamins and natural ingredients that revitalize, nourish, and moisturize your lips, like the exclusive microcirculating Goji Berry-C Complex and ginkgo biloba, pomegrante seed antioxidants, revitalizing marine botanicals, and moisturizing avocado oil. As it transforms into your perfect berry hue, you will be left with a shade that is unique to you".

Since this product was sold out the last time that I went to Sephora, I am awaiting a restock of the gloss. I have been reading over the Sephora website and looking at the comments that have been left. People have stated that it works with any complexion and the only major downside of the product is that the shine fades faster than the shade itself so a clear gloss will be needed to apply over it. When I got play with the tester, the black shade was a bit surprising at first but then it does transform into a very pretty medium red berry hue. I am really hoping that this product is restocked soon since the Sephora website lists that it is only limited edition. I am hoping that this will be the perfect berry shade for me so that I don't have to test a bunch of different ones in the coming weeks.

photo courtesy of Sephora