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Under Review: Smashbox Cosmetics ♥
in I Want... Beauty!13 May 2010 | 10 Comments
Well, would you look at that: there's a post about advertising and product reviews, and then there's a product review! (Coming tomorrow - paid advertisements all over Frock & Roll starring boats. Oh I kid, I KID!)
But yes. This is in fact a product review, so let's give a warm welcome to today's guest, Smashbox Cosmetics!
Hi, Smashbox Cosmetics! The Photo Finish Foundation Primer, O-Glow Intuitive Cheek Colour With Goji-Berry Complex and O-Gloss Intuitive Lip Gloss With Goji-Berry Complex found itself into my mail box overnight, and I have to admit that I was highly excited, and not just because it wasn't a bill or another one of those darn cockroach control flyers! No, it's actually because Smashbox is a name that I've been hearing EVERYWHERE, and when everyone from Madonna to Drew Barrymore are going gaga for it, it was difficult not to feel the teensiest bit excited (read: whooping like a five year-old!) upon receiving the three products to try! So, who are Smashbox Cosmetics? Concocted by the great-grandsons of make-up veteran Max Factor, the brand was formed when the two brothers, owners of The Smashbox Photo Studios in Los Angeles, were asked to create a make-up line that met the perfecting needs and quality as required in their photo shoots. And sure, while their company was formed in 1996, and their products have been available on American and UK shelves for years, in Australia, they've only JUST started being imported here through Kit Cosmetics, and holy heck are they arriving with tremendous fanfare! (And that's not just because they don't test any of their products on animals.) Why? Let's find out! First up? 1. The Photo-Finish Foundation Primer, $52.95 Smashbox Say: "Smooth and perfect skin and extend make-up wear with Smashbox's best-selling, award-winning foundation primer!'' 
I Say: Ooh, yes! A couple weeks ago, after writing about primer and why it should definitely, definitely be an integral part of your cosmetic bag line-up, I received a few questions as to which brands were actually, well, worth keeping there. This number, despite the fact that yes, it is on the pricey side, is one that I would completely recommend. Why? Designed to hold up under harsh studio lights, it's oil-free, my make-up looked SIGNIFICANTLY better after I had applied it over the top of it, and even though I'm not usually a fan of ''it feels like you're wearing nothing at all!'' marketing claims (I can't help but think ''so, does that mean it will LOOK like I'm wearing nothing at all, thus defeating the point of me buying/applying this make-up?!''), this literally glided over my skin and did feel as though I was wearing nothing at all, but in an excellent way: a lot of primers posess a slightly heavy texture, but this one didn't - win! Would I buy it again with my own pennies? You bet your mascara wand I would!
2. The O-Glow Intuitive Cheek Colour With Goji-Berry Complex, $37.95
Smashbox Say: "This totally intutitive blush mimics the shade you naturally blush.''
I Say: Oh, my! Don't be fooled by its invisible-gel appearance! (Because I absolutely was.) Upon squeezing out a tiny dollop of the tube and seeing that it was clear, I was a) mystified; and b) intrigued, and decided that just a teensy bit more wouldn't hurt. And look! Can you see that bright pink circle on my cheek below?! Yes, a little bit goes a very long way, but luckily, it blends quickly (so I didn't have to leave the house looking like a circus extra), and after doing so, it's since hugged my cheek with the most delightful wee shade of pink. (No, really. Sick? Who's sick? WHAT'S sick? Nobody can tell that I'm sick today, and I suspect it's all because of this little tool of trickery!) A bonus? I think it would look 100% nifty when worn as an eyeshadow, too.
3. The O-Glow Intuitive Lip Gloss With Goji-Berry Complex, $32.95
Smashbox Say: "This intutitive gloss turns lips your own perfect shade of pink.''
I Say: Goodness gracious, this is one expensive little lip gloss! (Note to self: do not lose.) Is it adorable? Certainly! Did I persistently, annoyingly smack my lips together after applying it? Um... no... *looks away shiftily*. Would I purchase it again? Yes, but possibly only if I won Lotto!
No offense little lip gloss, you're very sweet, and yes, you sure do know how to reel in the compliments, but I'm a thrifty girl at heart and you're prooobably outside of my everyday-lipgloss budget. (Besides, I have to admit, I do frequently lose members of the lip gloss family and at $32.95, this would be an incredibly unfortunate loss!)
♥
Have you tried Smashbox Cosmetics before, or do you know anybody who's tried them before? Did their products live up to your/their expectations? And finally, if you're living in Australia, are you excited about their debut on Kit Cosmetics's shelves? (Gosh, questions, questions!)
xoxo
Comments (10)
No, I'd never heard of smashbox cosmetics before!
2 Jul 2012, eyeshadow, http://www.eyeshadowsale.com/
I've tried several primers and managed to use (and scrape out) every last dollop of this Smashbox variety. I was able to get a good deal on mine, which never hurts. It's pricey but worth it for someone who (a) has large pores and (b) is forced to wear foundation anyway because of flawed skin. Great stuff.
PS- love all the beauty talk, will definitely have to check in often!
3 Jul 2010, Becky, http://rebeckyjo.wordpress.com/
I am head over heels over Smashbox, really.
I had my first go at it when I was on holiday in Bangkok (I'm originally from Singapore, and am now in Perth (: ) and I bought every single thing that the stylist had tried on me. Seriously. Everything. The Photo Finish Primer, the O-Glow, and the Halo Perfecting Powder.
I was way way way thrilled when I found out Kit stocks them now :D
Smashbox products are definitely lightweight, flattering and totally gives you the "I feel like I'm not wearing make up feeling". <3 <3 <3!!!
Am dying to try their cream eyeliner though. They look faaaabbbbbbulousss.
(Oopsie a little long here. Bet you can smell my passion from there).
2 Jun 2010, Hannah, pocket101.wordpress.com
Oh I love Kit Cosmetics! =) Everything they do is always great (I love Benefit!!), so I'll definitely be buying some of this (especially if those are what their eyeshadows look like). Thank you!
13 May 2010, Ashley
I rarely use foundation, so the primer would probably be useless for moi! Aaand, i have annoying rosy cheeks, so i wouldn't use blush either! However, i love that photo of the eyeshadows ! Are they by the same brand? I'm an eyeshadow lover :)
13 May 2010, Asylum Dolly, http://dollyasylum.wordpress.com/
I became a Smashbox lover this past winter, after holding off on trying their products for AGES.
I adore their primer. It's been my favorite one so far, compared to Bare Escentuals and NARS. One suggestion-- don't use it in combination with moisturizer & foundation, especially if you're of the oily skinned variety like I am. By adding moisturizer, I was shiny & slimey mid-day, and I don't felt it "primed" my face as well as I expected.
BUT, with just the primer & foundation (or tinted moisturizer, like the one by Tarte), I had much, MUCH better experiences with it.
One of their foundations is really incredible-- I find it totally made my skin look flawless in Sephora. While it didn't look QUITE as perfect in real life, it was by far the best foundation I'd found to date.
So do I love it? Yeah, you betcha. Am I always pissed as hell it's always sold out at Sephora? Yeah, you betcha.
13 May 2010, Ashe Mischief, http://www.mischiefmydear.com/dramatispersonae
Alex - Oh, don't be embarrassed! Stealing a line from 'The Simpsons', what I don't know could fill a warehouse, so don't worry! ;D $52.95 is a price that I would usually baulk at too, but it's definitely worth it!
Julie - No, it's not! And gosh! *blush* Thank-you so much!
Katie - From what I've tried, I can hand-over-heart say that they are. And aww, thank-you very much!
13 May 2010, x Corrine/Frock & Roll x, www.frockandrollonline.com
I've heard of them but never tried any of them. They're expensive, but they sound like they're worth it?
You're really pretty xx
13 May 2010, Katie
No, I'd never heard of smashbox cosmetics before!
Can I just say that you look GORGEOUS in each picture?
It's so not fair that we don't get many small make up companies here in Mexico ¬¬.
13 May 2010, Julie, http://juliettemaxwell.com
Great review, Corrine.
I'm embarassed to say that I've never heard of Smashbox Cosmetics before, but they sound ah-mazing!
$52.95 is slightly more than what I'd pay for a primer, buuut, I'll see how I go.. you make them sound so tempting! x
13 May 2010, Alex, http://stockingsneededmending.blogspot.com
