Smashbox Photo Filter Powder Foundation

Smashbox already has one of the top liquid foundations out there with Halo and their newest intro lands them in top powder foundation contention. The new Photo Filter powder foundation is a minor miracle for your face. It instantly smoothes and perfects .  It's soft focus lighting in a foundation.  One pass with the  included sponge applicator gets you this ( you could use a brush also).

The coverage is medium and buildable and I didn't feel the need for concealer over or under it.

 While this is a powder and therefore dry it's not as dry as many.  It has a creamy feel on  skin  and doesn't sit on your face, settle into pores or accent lines  , something some people have an issue with when it comes to powders.  Me, I love powder foundations and if you have oily skin they are especially great . This is one though that will work for those with drier skin,  due to that creamy , easy glide finish especially when prepped with moisturizer  or primer .

The wear time is long  and I got little oil breakthrough , but  I am far less oily now than in Summer . I still have oily areas, mainly the nose, but it's less. So that may differ later. It seems like it will have good oil control built in.

The  included sponge is double sided per Smashbox. I felt only a little difference and noticed only a slight difference in coverage with either side. The "velvety " side provides sheerer coverage they say, and I did find it to be slightly more sheer than the smooth side.

Shade shown is 4 . There are 10 shades available.

Smashbox Photo Filter Powder Foundation is $ 42 at Sephora  

Smashbox 24 Hour Photo Finish Shadow Primer

Just in time to help beat Summer's makeup melting heat comes 24 Hour Photo Finish Shadow Primer from Smashbox.

This recent release helps to lock shadow on eyes for up to 24 Hours and Smashbox recommends this for use of course with their gorgeous Full Exposure Palette , saying that those two  will make that 24 Hour promise.

As you may have read here a time or two I have major makeup melt, especially in Summer. So my results will never be the norm with any primer. That said I'm pretty impressed with this . Using it,  12 hours later I still have some shadow left on. Ok it's not a lot, but without or using other primers ( only a few of which work for me) I might be lucky to get a few hours.

If you have less makeup melt, then you should see good results.

The light cream/gel blends on easily and  is sweat and humidity resistant, bless it 's heart.

Smashbox 24 Hour Photo Finish Shadow Primer is $ 20.

Smashbox Always Sharp 3D Eyeliner

Fellow eyeliner enthusiasts we have a new one in the house. And it's always sharp. Yes , the new Smashbox have a sharp point ready at the end every time you twist off the cap.

Coming in eight shades, Always Sharp 3D have a twist off cap and every time you open that cap it sharpens the pencil inside. Genius.  The eyeliners themselves are creamy, glide along the eye easily and wear well.

The pigment is  good, deep and all have pearl shimmer, but it's not super noticeable on the eye.

I do wonder if the constant sharpening will wear the liner out quickly, something I'll keep an eye for as I use mine more. I love the idea of  that point being ready as soon as I take the cap off though.

Shown are  olive 3D Billionaire and shimmery black 3D Galaxy .

Smashbox Santigold Be Legendary Lipstick Ring

Smashbox announced a collab with music star Santigold . Called Santigolden Age  , the collection has eyeshadows, nail strips , lipglosses and this lipstick ring. 

Do you love lipstick rings ? I do. I still have an Anna Sui one from who knows when but more than 10  years ago. 

Santigold's ring is a golden textured pyramid with Swarovski crystals and is filled with an LE shade of Smashbox's very nice Be Legendary Lipstick called Still Kickin'.  

If you haven't tried Be Legendary you can read more about this richly pigmented formula at my older review here. 

The full Santigold line will be available on April 1st at Sephora and Ulta.

Be Legendary Lipstick Ring is $ 49. 

Smashbox Black Gold Waterproof Shadow Liner

Smashbox Fall Fade to Black has already given us the really pretty Be Legendary lippie in Cognac and I had been wanting to add the new Shadow Liner in Black Gold to my stash .  Black Gold and Blackest Black are two new  LE additions to their Waterproof Shadow Liners .

Black Gold is a hit the gold mine shade for me. It's tarnished deep gold/ olive green with smokiness occasionally  flashing in . A bit of a dramatic description  of an eye pencil but what can I say ?

The shade looks great on and being a waterproof formula it wears really well.  It holds up  against my uber eye makeup melt  and basically is the kind of formula that will go all day. Bravo for that.

The pencil itself is creamy but not too soft, and is easily blended with fingers or the blender sponge on the other end of the wand. The pencil is thick so  I use it all over , and personally love it as an all over color with some brighter gold in the inner corner but you can line with it as well. It makes a quick but not too dark smoky eye.

Smashbox Black Gold Waterproof Shadow Liner is $ 22 at Sephora
and www.smashbox.com

Smashbox Liquid Halo Foundation

Want to have glowy skin ? One way is with the new Liquid Halo foundation from Smashbox. It's the kind of foundation that quickly gives you a lit from within , brighter look .

You may recall Smashbox has Halo  Hydrating Powder in several variations.  Well this is the foundation companion.  It imparts a perfected , rested and brightened look with no shimmer or shine . It's a little bit of a dewy finish but not overly so. It's certainly not dry or flat and it's oil free and lightweight so suitable for all but the medium oily to oiliest I'd say. The foundation has a silky feel out of the bottle and feels very light on skin.

What really got me was how much better I looked. Like I said, more rested etc. It really does a nice job on that along with good coverage . Coverage is light to medium  and buildable .

Smashbox says Halo  is an HD formula, has a light responsive technology for a luminous finish and " The microscopic gel covered pigments mimic photo filters to blur imperfections"

Shown is shade 2 which is the next up from the lightest  and seems to show a little deeper in the pics than it is in person.

Smashbox  Halo Foundation has SPF 15 with octinoxate and titanium dioxide and retails for $ 42.

Availble at Sephora and www.smashbox.com 

Smashbox Cognac Be Legendary Lipstick- Fall 2013 Fade To Black

Another great fall lippie , this time from Smashbox  Be Legendary in Cognac.

If you haven't tried the Be Legendary lipsticks they are super rich pigment, satin finish with a slight sheen and are nicely creamy and hydrating. A throwback lipstick that puts full color on your lips.

Cognac is part of the Fall Fade To Black collection and is a rich warm brown raisin color. This is my kind of shade  and I think I'll use it a lot come Fall.  If berry is more to your liking, the other shade released as part of Fade To Black is Black Cherry, a deep cranberry.

Smashbox Be Legendary Cognac lipstick is $ 20 and available now at Sephora and www.smashbox.com

Smashbox Limitless 15 Hour Wear Cream Eyeshadow

 Need a new long wear shadow for summer ? Smashbox gives us Limitless 15 Hour Wear Cream Shadow.  They say it's transer, sweat and humidity resistant. Sign me up.

I've talked  many times about my eye makeup melt, so if something claims what these do I am all in to try them.  The good news is they've worked really well. I have super oily eyelids and to  put these to the acid test as I like to call it, I wore Riches today outside this weekend while I did various things in the yard. In 95 degree heat. I used no  foundation  as a base or  any primer and after a couple hours , there was still a good bit of shadow left. 4 hours later , still there. Yes it had faded a little , but this wasn't what I would call normal wear.  Normally I wouldn't and you might not be either, wearing them for outside activities , so the long wear claim here is good. I can't say it'll be 15 hours, but then again few could say that despite their names.

I am loving Riches and Fern. Riches is a peachy gold with a lot of shimmer. Not all  peach and not orange, so very wearable. Fern is a very deep hunter green. It has a small amount of shimmer but looks pretty satin on and makes a great smoky eye base.

The formula is creamy but not mushy soft and they blend easily. Cream shadows are among the easiest to use and are summer perfect.

 Limitless Shadows come in 12 shades ranging from purples to neutrals.
$ 19 at www.smashbox.com and www.sephora.com

Smashbox Studio 15 Hour Wear Hydrating Foundation

I've been very remiss in not blogging about this newer foundation from Smashbox. It's been on  to do list for months . But I'm here now  with a look at it. If you're looking for a great new  foundation, you can't go wrong here.

Smashbox calls is skin perfecting and it is. It's medium/full coverage that smooths and brightens. It's not heavy at all  and is oil free , but gives a slightly dewy  finish that sets and stays all day.  It's long wearing but feels light on skin. It has SPF 10 as well as vitamins A,C and E.

It's become the favorite of The Mom who  can be a hard lady to please when it comes to foundation. She has only a few she truly loves and this has jetted to the top of the list.  So it works for everyone including more mature skin.

Studio Skin comes in 12 shades and is $ 42.00 at www.smashbox.com and Sephora.com

Smashbox Photo Set Pressed Powder

  

I love powder, the more mattifying the better. For me it's a must and I collect these lip I do lip balms.  If you love it too, then the new Smashbox Photo Set is worth a look. 

Photo Set not only mattes but smoothes  and softens.  It feels very light on, barely there, but at the same time does a great job. Vitamins C &E are in there with micronized pigments. It's been my to go lately for touch ups.

The case is super thin , so it easily stows in any bag.  

There are 4 shades and shown is Fair, which is very light, almost lighter than I needed. I think I could go one shade up.

$ 29.00 at http://www.smashbox.com/   and   Sephora.com

Smashbox Wish -The Gold List Set

Smashbox has once again partnered with the Children's Miracle Network for their Christmas sets. $ 1 from each purchase goes to the charity. Each is in a nice box ready to  wrapped.

A personal favorite is the  The Gold List set. I have  this already set aside for someone's gift.

 First off you get a really nice makeup bag. Not all makeup bags in sets are all that but this  one is gold and braided leatherette. It's one you want to use. Then you get 4 Smashbox products  including a new O-Gloss in Gold.

The new Gold O-Gloss looks very metallic in the tube but when you put it on, it's really a sheer, shimmer.  The Fusion Soft Lights in Baked Starburst will keep you or your giftee looking  blushed and bronzed.  This, too, is not deep. It goes on light for just the right color.  Good for all over  or just the cheeks.

The set has :


-Fusion Soft Lights in Baked Starburst
-Photo Finish Luminzing Foundation Primer
-O-Gloss Gold
 -Photo Op Under Eye Brightener

$ 49.00 at Sephora.com

Smashbox Master's Class Beauty Breakthroughs Set

Smashbox's Beauty Breakthroughs set on Sephora made my antennae go up with the eyeshadows in it being called waterproof. If you read this blog regularly you know makeup melt is part of my life. Eye makeup is the hardest. So waterproof eyeshadow along with wax brow pencil and more? I'm in.



The eyeshadow palette is a nice mix of neutrals from lightest to dark. Nothing fancy but perfect for every day wear, a smoky eye or blending with other shadows. And the big thing- they really do last. Even without base I got hours of wear. ( Normally unheard of. Think 1 hour if I am lucky) With shadow base, most of the day. There was even a smidge still there after a shower. Amazing. Thank you Smashbox.



So what else is in the box? A great clear wax brow pencil that's done the best job holding my very prone to gravity eyebrows yet. I like the no color bit. Just wax, period.


Also new mascara, a cheek stain that is far sheerer than it looks and a nice concealer compact version of Photo Op of as well as an O- gloss shimmer gloss. I haven't used all of these except for the concealer, which was very good.



Worth the price of admission alone in my mind for the eyeshadows , but overall you get a lot in this collection.

By the way, all items come with the lab sample label. Since they are "breakthroughs", that gives then that fresh from the lab look.


The full set list:

Waterproof eyeshadow palette
Lash Detailing Mascara
O-Gloss Shimmer
Brow Wax Pencil
Cheek Stain
Poured Photo OP

Available only at Sephora and Sephora.com for $ 59.00 and is LE

Smashbox in Stanford, CA Event 2/27

Many of us like to say all the events are in NYC and they usually are. Here's one not only on the West Coast but in Stanford, CA .

On Saturday, February 27th , Smashbox Cosmetics will be hosting an interactive event in Stanford based on photography and makeup hosted by Hank Hoffman, celebrity makeup artist for Smashbox and Steven Khan, celebrity photographer.

Sephora Stanford is located at:
355 Stanford Shopping Center
Palo Alto, CA

The event is from 11-7pm and is open to the public. Meet with Hank Hoffman and Steven Kahn and with any $100 Smashbox purchase, each customer will take professional headshots by Steven Khan (celeb photographer) and walk away with a CD to share with friends and family.

Smashbox Reign Fall 09

Ok, I know I'm really late on talking about how nice some of the Smashbox Reign collection is. But hey, if you like it, some is on sale for a good discount on the Smashbox website.

My absolute surprise is the Jet Set eyeliner palette . When I first saw the pics of the line I thought I would love the eyeshadow palette best. Well it is nice, but the eyeliner one is even better. It has 4 eyeliners in all. Black, Brown, Gold and Bronze. The Gold/Bronze I actually use as eyeshadow. They look great and last so long. Plus they come in a cute leatherette palette that weighs next to nothing and are in a plastic case with a cover to keep them fresh. Now the downside here is this was popular, so it's not too easy to find. If you do, grab it.

The lip pencils are another fav. I love lip pencils and these are dual ended. One side is a liner and the other a creamy lipcolor. However, you can use the liner all over. It works. There are 2, light peach shades and deeper wine ones.

Go to http://www.smashbox.com/ and search Reign to find the sales .

Smashbox Wicked Lovely

Well it's been a busy and kind of long week, so I don't have a review or big post but did want to share some of the info on Smashbox's fall collection Wicked Lovely. This has actually been out awhile and on my "to do", so here it is. The dark eye is a major fall trend and they have it in spades. Like many , I love the cream eyeliners, and this new set of 3 plus powder is winner.

Happy reading.

CREAM LINER AND LOOSE SHIMMER ($32)
Three sultry cream liners and a sparkling loose shimmer in one mirrored pot. These liners provide totally customizable eye definition that doesn’t flake, run or tug. An ideal tool for creating the perfect smoky eye, the mistake-proof formula is ultra-smooth and super-blendable. The loose shimmer provides the finishing touch for wickedly lovely eyes.
Available in: Wicked Lovely (liners: metallic taupe, metallic bronze, metallic charcoal; shimmer: sparkling pewter)

BLUSH RUSH in CHARM ($24)
Get a gorgeous rush of color with this ultra-luxurious, long-wearing blush. Packaged in an innovative swivel mirror compact, BLUSH RUSH is perfect for touch-ups on the go.
Available in: CHARM (soft warm pink)

EYE SHADOW DUOS ($24)
Sweep these luxurious shadow duos across lids for a super smoldering look. The velvety cashmere texture glides on and blends smoothly for gorgeous looks that last. These shimmering duos can be worn day or night to play up eyes.
Available in: SEXY/DEMURE (muted brown, shimmering peach), SINFUL/PURE (dirty teal, shimmering ivory)

DOUBLETAKE LIP COLOR in ($22)
A double-ended lip pencil and creamy lip color in one, this vitamin-packed formula has caffeine and nourishing wheat glycerides to moisturize and protect your pout while defining lips and imparting beautiful luminous color.
Available in: GOSSAMER (lip color: peachy pink; pencil: soft pink)

BIONIC MASCARA ($19)
BIONIC is the first ionic mascara that delivers longer, stronger and more voluminous super-power lashes. The specially engineered brush gently coats lashes with a long-wearing, water-resistant formula for a high impact lash in just one sweep. Aloe, wheat protein, and silk strengthen and condition.
Available in: BLACK



http://www.smashbox.com/ and sephora, department stores.