Product Review- Smashbox BB Cream

Smashbox BB Cream Review


From the Brand: Your go-to for flawless skin. Just let it BB.

So what does BB do?

PRIMES: Wear alone, or under your favorite foundation to create a smooth canvas.
PERFECTS: Tinted formula in 5 shades evens out skin for a flawless finish.
HYDRATES: Improves skin moisture in 4 weeks. Guaranteed.
PROTECTS: SPF 35 guards against UVA/UVB rays.
CONTROLS OIL: Minimizes shine with no chalky finish.


Retails for: $39.00


Where to Buy:  Smashbox.com, Ulta.com, and Sephora.com as well as Ulta and Sephora stores


My Thoughts:  This was the very first BB cream that I ever tried, and I think it set a bit of a precedent for those that came after it in my mind.  I still find myself comparing them to this BB cream.  The coverage of this is more that of a light to medium coverage foundation.  It really contains a ton of pigment and evens out skin beautifully.  It looks very natural on the skin and has a nice satin finish.

However, the downside is that I still definitely need to layer a moisturizer underneath it for my dry skin.  I think it's much better suited to those with combination to oily skin.  I've heard this feedback from several other makeup artists, too. 

After wearing it all day, I felt that the pigmentation didn't last very well in my t zone ironically.  For someone with dry skin, I wouldn't expect the coverage in my t zone to wear away, but it does.  If I wear this BB cream, I'll put a little bit of concealer around the sides of my nose and then set everything with a powder for better all day wear.


Final Verdict:  I don't notice any special difference in my skin with using this brand vs drugstore brands of BB creams, so personally I find this a bit pricey.  They do have a really great kit that offers a small size of the BB cream, their Photo Finish Primer, and the Halo Powder (which I ADORE) for only $29.00, so I'd recommend trying that first before purchasing the full size to see if it's right for you.

**Disclaimer: As with all my product reviews, I was not paid by the cosmetic company to provide feedback or review/promote their products. This article contains some affiliate links provided through Viglink.com. All the opinions expressed in this article are my own. These items were purchased with my own money. For more information on my policies, please view my Let's Chat page.

Smashbox Full Exposure Palette Review

 Smashbox Full Exposure Palette Review



From the Brand:   
What it is:
A set of universally awesome neutrals that’s essential, effortless, and enhanced for your eye shape.

What it does:
This totally versatile palette is organized with crease-resistant, long-wearing shimmers in the top row and velvety smooth mattes along the bottom. Fourteen essential neutral shades include a range of nudes, blacks, shimmers, and mattes. Use the brilliant eye shape chart, dual-ended brush, and Full Exposure Mascara to complete any look.

This set contains:
- 0.035 oz x 7 eye shadow in shimmer shades (top row): Chocolate Brown with Golden Pearl, Deep Golden Brown with Gold Pearl, Soft Gold with Gold and Silver Pearl, Light Tan with Gold and Silver Pearl, Golden Wheat with Gold Pearl, Midtone Slate with Silver Pearl, Rich Grey with Multicolor and Silver Pearl
- 0.035 oz x 7 eye shadow in matte shades (bottom row): Matte Warm Chocolate Brown, Matte Midtone Brown, Soft Matte Midtone Tan, Creamy Matte Beige, Soft Light Taupe, Ashy Dark Brown, Suede Black
- 0.14 oz Full Exposure Mascara deluxe sample
- Get-the-look eye shape chart

What else you need to know:
Smashbox has taken the guesswork out of application with a cool, new dual-ended brush. There’s a fluffy end perfect for blending matte shades and a flat end to easily lay down the shimmer shades without sparkle overload. Plus, it’s double-sided with black bristles on one side and white on the other, so you’ll never accidentally dip a light shade into a dark shade.


Retails for:  $49.00


Where to Buy:  Sephora stores and Sephora.com, Ulta stores and Ulta.com


My Thoughts:  If you’ve read my review of the Lorac PRO Palette, you’ll know I’m a huge fan of palettes that have coordinating matte and shimmer shadows.  For each shade from soft nude to deep smokey, you get a matte version and a shimmer version in their amazingly pigmented eyeshadow formula.  I love this palette so much it’s joining my Lorac one in my professional kit.  (I’ll be popping off the heavy mirror though to cut down on weight.)  Not only do you get both matte and shimmer of each shade, the left half of the palette is more warm yellow based browns, and the right half is more cool grey based browns and a black, so no matter how you like to do your nude makeup, there’s a perfect shade for your style.

The formula of these shadows is super soft with very little fallout.  However, on first application with it I did find that the mattes are a bit dry looking on the skin and can get a little muddy when blended together.  I’d recommend using at least one of the shimmery shades with the mattes so that you aren’t looking very dated in your look.  In my video review, I’ll show you the shades I used to create the look I’m wearing.

The staying power is fantastic.  Over a primer, you’ll easily get 15 hours or more.  It also comes with a travel size Full Exposure mascara to complete the look.  I love to use the deep matte black shadow pressed over a black pencil liner to give it ultimate staying power and to soften it up a bit for a sexy look.

The highlight of this set is that it comes with a great dual ended shadow brush to give you a variety of looks.  This little baby is staying with me though!  I’ll have to slip a brush guard over one end to store it in my brush cup on the bathroom counter, but it’ll be a huge travel friendly space-saver come Christmas time when we go home to Florida for the holidays.


Final Verdict:  Great palette at a great price.  Very versatile, and cuts down on products when you travel!

**Disclaimer: As with all my product reviews, I was not paid by the cosmetic company to provide feedback or review/promote their products. All the opinions expressed in this article are my own. These items were purchased with my own money. For more information on my policies, please view my Let's Chat page.

Product Review- Smashbox High Defining Concealers

Smashbox High Defining Concealer Review

 

Smashbox High Defining Concealer Review 

 

From the Brand:   Our revolutionary weightless concealer instantly smoothes skin and makes dark circles and imperfections virtually disappear. Soft focus pearls reflect light to minimize the appearance of fine lines and blemishes. The soft touch precision applicator provides the smoothest application for the most delicate skin areas. Provides buildable coverage with a natural finish. Try pairing with High Definition Healthy FX Foundation for a flawless complexion.

Retails for:   $22.00

Where to Buy:    Smashbox.com, Sephora Stores, Sephora.com, Ulta Stores, Ulta.com

My Thoughts:   I love these concealers!  As you can see, I own them in every color, and they are a regular part of my wedding day makeup kit.  When I finally switch over to airbrush only in my commerical/private practice, I'll be taking these along with me.  They blend amazingly well with my airbrush makeup, both being silicone based.  Straight out of the tube, they are very pigmented but very creamy and a thin enough consistency that you can get great coverage without a lot of product.  It's the perfect concealer for people who wear a sheer tinted moisturizer or BB cream instead of a heavier coverage foundation.  It will look completely natural on the skin while still providing coverage.

The only thing negative I can find to say about these are the color fair is super super light.  I haven't found anyone who really needed a color that light straight out of the tube, but I could see someone of my coloring using it as a highlighter to brighten the under eye area and sculpt the face for a contoured look without a shimmery highlighting product.  Also, you shouldn't use their "applicator", and squeeze it out onto the back of your hand or other clean surface and apply it to your face from there.

If I'm applying it a bride, I need to know that it's going to be an all day lasting product, and I definitely get that with this concealer.  It doesn't settle under the eyes, disappear, or melt with the heat when used on other areas of the face due to its silicone chemistry.

Final Verdict:  One of my all time favorite high end concealers and worth the higher price tag for the quality, coverage, and lasting power.

 

 

**Disclaimer: As with all my product reviews, I was not paid by the cosmetic company to provide feedback or review/promote their products. All the opinions expressed in this article are my own. These items were purchased with my own money. For more information on my policies, please view my Let's Chat page.

Product Review- Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara

Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara Review

 

Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara Review

 

From the Brand:   

Inspired by the on-set technique of layering a lengthening fiber mascara over a volumizing formula, our new studio-tested mascara exposes your longest, fullest lashes. No clumps, no flakes. Just maximum-impact, scene-stealing lashes.

    • 104% increase in lash volume
    • 32% increase in lash length
    • 34-degree increase in lash curl

Retails for:   $19.50

Where to Buy:   Smashbox.com, Sephora Stores, Sephora.com, Ulta Stores, Ulta.com

My Thoughts:   I have been using this mascara in my professional kit for at least the last year or so, and I'm a huge fan of it for the formula.  It seemed for a while there that every time I ordered something from their website, I was either getting a full tube as part of a collection or set or getting a trial size as a freebie.  I tested it out on my own lashes and wasn't a fan of the jumbo mascara wand head, but the formula is so awesome that when I apply it with a disposable mascara wand it's the perfect mascara for using on set or clients.

The formula is nice and thick, so it only takes a few quick swipes to build up a lot of volume and decent length.  Length I believe really comes more from the mascara wand head than the formula, unless you are using a mascara that has lengthening fibers in it which this one doesn't.  That being said, it does coat all the way to the tips with a nice amount of product to build up the ends of your lashes into a more noticeable effect.  it doesn't dry to a stiff crunchy mess, and it doesn't melt or smudge in the humidity.  I don't really notice any flaking either even after wearing it all day.  It works amazingly well to blend together false lashes with your own lashes with a single coat, although I do like to run a metal lash comb through afterwards to give them good definition.  (I'm one of those people who applies mascara after falsies.)

Since I mostly use it on eyes that have false lashes, I can't make any observations on its claim of curling, but does help lock the natural lash into the curl of the falsies nicely without a lash curler.

The only negative thing I can really say about the mascara other than the large head (the bane of my tiny eyes!) is the smell of the mascara itself.  All mascara has some kind of smell, but some are more offensive than others.  Not that I'm huffing the tube mind you, but it is strong enough that I can notice it if I open it near my face at all.  It's sort of a peppery smell.  Not enough to discourage use, but if you are sensitive to smells, it's something to be at least aware of.  I don't notice it when it's on my eyes though.

Final Verdict:  While I'm not a fan of the application I get with the included mascara wand, it's a fantastic mascara!

 

 

**Disclaimer: As with all my product reviews, I was not paid by the cosmetic company to provide feedback or review/promote their products. All the opinions expressed in this article are my own. These items were purchased with my own money. For more information on my policies, please view my Let's Chat page.

Product Review- Smashbox Bronze Lights in Suntan Matte

Smashbox Bronze Lights Review

 

Smashbox Bronze Lights Review 

 

From the Brand:    This bronzer perfects skin while creating a beautiful warm, matte glow.

Retails for:   $29.00

Where to Buy:    Smashbox.com, Sephora Stores, Sephora.com, Ulta Stores, Ulta.com

My Thoughts:   This is the brand of bronzer I use every time I apply my makeup to give me an even naturally looking tanned look.  Even in winter, I know that I can add a touch of color to my skin without looking orange or shimmery.  I love that it's matte.  It adds color and looks so natural on my skin.  It can also be used to contour, but I prefer the Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzing Powder instead since it's a bit darker.  I use the two in conjunction to give dimension to my face and sculpt my cheekbones.  My favorite brush to apply is the Bronzer Brush by Clinique, since it's huge and fluffy.  There are two shades, Suntan and Sunkissed.  I believe the Suntan (which is the shade I use) is the cooler of the two.  The website lists the Suntan as a deep bronze with the Sunkissed a soft bronze.  It's been a while since I've seen the two side by side, but I remember that one of them is slightly cooler (pinker) with the other being more warm (golden). 

Final Verdict: I'm a huge fan of this bronzer.  It adds believable color without tons of shimmer that makes it look like "bronzer" has been applied to your skin.

 

 

**Disclaimer: As with all my product reviews, I was not paid by the cosmetic company to provide feedback or review/promote their products. All the opinions expressed in this article are my own. These items were purchased with my own money. For more information on my policies, please view my Let's Chat page.

Product Review- Smashbox Limitless Eyeliner

Smashbox Limitless Eyeliner

 

From the Brand: Our waterproof long-wearing liner provides bold definition for up to 8 hours. This creamy, easy-to-apply formula contains vitamin E and jojoba oil to protect. The cap houses a unique built-in sharpener so you'll always have the most precise application.

 

Retails for: $19.00

Where to Buy: Smashbox.com, Sephora stores and online, Ulta stores and online  (Personally, I recommend buying directly from the Smashbox website.  Sign up for their rewards program and earn money off future purchases, bonus samples for your birthday, and a deluxe sample with every order. Shipping is always free, too.  PLUS, if you order on Tuesdays or Thursdays during the designated time, read more here, you'll get a bonus free product. It really doesn't get any better as far as rewards programs go!)

My Thoughts:  I'm a huge fan of the Smashbox liners.  I use them in my professional kit for all my weddings, as I find that the black is a nice deep intense matte black and the brown is a very rich dark brown without being too orange or too black.

 

My favorite feature is the fact that they have a sharpener in the cap!  I mean, in my world that's straight genius.  How many times have you forgotten your sharpener on a trip?  Yeah, me too.  All. The. Time.  Which is why I normally go for the twist up, but with the Smashbox liners you can get the super fine point of a wood pencil with the convenience of easy sharpening.  Win win in my book/blog. haha!

 

They do have a limited color range, but unless you're going for a bright look they cover all the basic necessities.  You have black, brown, navy, a khaki, a deep grey, medium tone purple, netural teal, and deep purple.

 

They go on smoothly without skipping and are very long lasting.  They don't dry too quickly to smudge for a smokey look, but they also aren't dry and waxy either.  I like that they have jojoba oil in the formula, which give it the creamy consistency.  They are waterproof, which makes them perfect for summer or brides!

Final Verdict:  Convenience and effectiveness in one little package.  A definite good buy!

 

**Disclaimer: As with all my product reviews, I was not paid by the cosmetic company to provide feedback or review/promote their products.  All the opinions expressed in this article are my own.  These items were purchased with my own money.