Beauty Product Reviews

GREAT Smokey Palette with great, non-traditional colors.

Recently I picked up a new palette and I am completely in love with it!

The Smashbox SmokeBox is a collection of 6 highly pigmented shadows that compliment each other and can be used to achieve a gorgeous smokey eye. At first glance I didn't think this palette was anything special but after I swatched the colors in the store I knew I HAD to have it! Of course there was only one left so I felt like it was a sign that it had to be mine :)

This palette includes one matte color that is gorgeous when used all over the lid or as a highlight under the brow bone (Bliss). It also includes two shimmer colors that can also be used all over the lid but I prefer to use them as highlights in the brow bone area or the inside corner of the eye (Mist & Putty).

The rest of the colors are extremely pigmented and are gorgeous when used in the crease for a nice, smokey effect. At first the blue color (Nocturnal) turned me off but once I swatched it I was outrageously impressed with it. The color is a dark, almost cobalt, blue with a medium amount of shimmer. Blue is not my style AT ALL but when applied to the crease this blue isn't bright or overwhelming but instead adds a bit of interest to an otherwise standard smokey eye.

To the left of the blue is a matte dark violet (Royal) that, like the blue, adds a bit of interest to the eye. My only complaint with Royal is that, when swatched, is very similar to the shade above it (Putty). They are different colors, of course, but I don't think that the color difference between the two shades is very noticeable once applied. In the picture above you can see the swatches of each color and I think that while Royal is darker that it is very similar to Putty.

The Smokebox also includes a black shadow (Blacktop) that has a gorgeous shimmer to it. I couldn't get it to swatch well in the photos but when applied to the eye is is one of, if not the, best black eyeshadows I've ever used. My #1 black eyeshadow is Stiletto from the Too Faced Naked Eye Palette but that is a matte black so I don't think it can be in the same category as the Blacktop. I generally prefer matte shadows but the shimmer in this black color is SO beautiful!

I'm really glad I took a chance on this palette because I think it is a great addition to my eyeshadow collection. This is actually my first Smashbox eyeshadow purchase and I love it so much I know I'll be back for more. Now I've got my eye on the SoftBox, of course!

How about you guys? Do any of you have this palette? How do you feel about Smashbox in general? I'd love to hear what you think!

Until next time :)

I LOVE this palette! The quality is outstanding and it is incredibly universal and easy to use for both daytime and nighttime looks.

A few weeks ago I picked up the Smashbox SmokeBox palette and was completely head over heels in love. I mentioned in that post that I couldn't decide whether to buy the SoftBox or the SmokeBox palette and that although I went with the SmokeBox that I couldn't wait to get my hands on the SoftBox.

Well, guess what finally got stocked last week?!

Upon first glance, like with the SmokeBox, there are some colors that I may not have picked out on my own but I'm glad to have. In the SoftBox that color would have to be Ignite which is a beautiful, firey copper color. I am usually not a copper girl at all but this color looks AMAZING when layered with the copper brown color on its right (Sienna). I haven't used it all over the lid quite yet but I am already dreaming of using Ignite all over the lid with a deep brown in the crease.

My favorite colors so far (although I love them all) are probably Pebble, Minx, Ignite, and Sienna. I really enjoy Fizz and Vanilla as well but since they are lighter colors they don't exactly stand out to me. The darker colors are so gorgeous and blend so well that I naturally want to gravitate towards them.

As far as quality goes, Smashbox has done it again with their creamy smooth shadows that last literally ALL day. I used this palette yesterday and wore it for 15+ hours and it looked just as good at the end of the day than it did after I was finished applying my makeup that morning. There was no creasing, no smudging, and absolutely no wearing down throughout the day.

I am a sucker for any palette that can create both a natural eye and a dramatic smokey eye at the same time and this palette is absolutely no exception. I'm still playing around with the colors but I am completely loving the looks I am creating! I'm definitely going to post a tutorial on my YouTube channel using this palette once I figure out which look I want to recreate for you guys.

So what do you think? Do any of you have either the SmokeBox or SoftBox palettes? Let me know how you like them if you do!

Until next time :)

Not the best primer in the world but great when mixed with foundation!

I don't know what it is but I am obsessed with obtaining a nice "glow" when doing my makeup. I used to really prefer a matte finish to my foundation but now I find that I want that nice, dewy finish because there IS a difference between greasy and dewy.

When I heard about the L'Oreal Magic Lumi Primer I thought it might be a great way to get a nice, healthy glow with my normal makeup routine without using too much shimmer or shine. It seems that finding the perfect highlighter is a ton of work! Or maybe that's only me, lol.

I finally got my hands on this "primer" and I use the word primer loosely because I wouldn't consider this a primer at all. It does nothing to smooth out my skin or prep it for foundation and is really, in my opinion, a liquid highlighter (but there's nothing wrong with that!)

As far as packaging goes, the "primer" is packaged in a narrow tube with a pump at the top and I LOVE that! I am a sucker for any product with a pump so naturally I got all sorts of excited when I saw this. The bottle is tall and narrow and doesn't come with a ton of product (20ml), especially for the price. I've seen this online for anywhere between $10-13 so for a drugstore product it is on the pricier end.

Right out of the bottle it does have a white cast (similar to NARS Copacabana Illuminator) but after being blended in doesn't leave the skin looking chalky.

When applied to my skin as a primer I don't notice any "glowing" going on so I have been alternating between mixing this with my primer, my foundation, or using it strictly as a liquid highlighter. Obviously I don't do all these things every time, haha! I have not been very impressed with the results after applying this as a primer and then using foundation all over so I've been alternating more between mixing it with primer or foundation or using it as a liquid highlighter.

THE BOTTOM LINE:

Would I repurchase? Right now I'm not 100% sure. I like the idea behind it but I am not sure that for the price that it's completely worth it. I think the next time I'm in the market for a liquid illuminator I might go with NARS Copacabana because it reminds me a lot of the L'Oreal Lumi Primer and you get a LOT more (although it is more expensive).

Who would this product be good for? I think this product would be great for anyone who, like me, wants a glowing effect with their makeup.

Who would this product not be good for? People with oily skin might want to shy away from this as the "glow" could draw attention to a normally shiny face.

Do any of you have this primer? Do you love it or hate it? Any other highlighters I should check out?

Until next time :)