Smashbox Tips for a Flawless Face

Welcome to part two of our Smashbox series. In honor of the launch of the Smashbox blog, we are having a look at those essential Smashbox products that will have us all looking gorgeous in no time flat.

Tame Frizzies- In a pinch, use a silicone based primer to tame hair and smooth flyaways.

Smashbox Must Have Product: Photo Finish Foundation Primer

Contoured Cheeks- Sweep a darker shade of blush just under the cheekbone and a brighter, shimmery one on top to create a beautifully contoured cheek

 

Smashbox Must Have Product: Blush Rush in Bare and Fusion Soft Lights in Intermix

Concealer in a Pinch- If you run out of concealer, apply a drop of liquid foundation to the back of your hand and allow to dry for a few minutes then apply with a concealer brush. The thicker consistency is perfect for covering up flaws

Smashbox Must Have Product: High Definition Healthy FX Foundation

Sexy, Dewy Glow- Apply foundation with a damp natural sea sponge for a gorgeous radiant finish

Smashbox Must Have Product: Camera Ready Full Coverage Foundation

Summer Glow- For a sexy summer look that's perfect for every day, try sweeping a powder bronzer over lids

Smashbox Must Have Product: Halo Hydrating Perfecting Bronzer

Beachy Beauty- Dab a tiny amount of gel blush over the bridge of nose and base of forehead for a just-been-sunkissed look.

Smashbox Must Have Product: O-glow intuitive cheek color. 

Natural Tan- Fake a natural tan by sweeping a red-toned blush over the tops of cheekbones and across bridge of nose, where the sun normally hits.

Smashbox Must Have Product: Blush Rush in Ecstasy


All Over Glow- Buff a reflective powder over arms, legs, and decollete for a sexy glow from head to toe.

Smashbox Must Have Product: Soft Lights


Warm Up- Before dabbing concealer on the skin, warm it on the back of your hand, then apply with a synthetic brush for a smooth, flawless application

Smashbox Must Have Product: Camera Ready Full Coverage Concealer

Smashbox Lip Tips

Welcome to part 3 of our Smashbox Essentials series. This time, our goal is to fake a perfect pout.

Plump Pout- Fake a plump pout by dabbing a sheer highlighter on top of the cupid's bow.

Smashbox Must Have Product: Photo Op Under Eye Brightener


Pout Perfection- For a naturally full pout (without the use of harsh plumpers), apply your favorite lip color, then dab a pale, shimmery gloss in the center of the top and bottom lip.

Smashbox Must Have Product: Reflection High Shine Lip Gloss


Bold Lip Color- To keep bold lip color from bleeding, dip a cotton swab in translucent powder and trace around the lip line before applying lipstick.

Smashbox Must Have Product: Halo Hydrating Perfecting Powder

Long Wearing Lip Color- To help lipstick stay the day, first line then fill in the entire lip with a neutral pencil

Smashbox Must Have Product: The Nude Lip Pencil

Armed with the right tools, a perfect pout is not all that hard to accomplish. What are your lip favorites?


 *Product provided for consideration

Smashbox Tips- Eyes

In honor of the launch of the brand new (and very exciting) Smashbox Blog, I wanted to go ahead and bring you some great tips that were passed on from Smashbox to me. In these next few posts you will find some fun tips and tidbits, some old and some new. Accompanying each tip will be the Smashbox favorite that will help you get the look.

Part 1 is all about the eyes, naturally.

Get Wet- Deepen the intensity of any powder eye shadow by dipping your brush in water then swiping over the shade

Smashbox Must Have Product: Eye Shadow Trio in Shutterspeed


Shimmer At Any Age- The right tool is key! To avoid a disco ball effect, apply any shimmer shadow using a watercolor brush for a soft, sexy wash of shimmer.

Smashbox Must Have Product: Crease Brush #10


Soft Smoky Eyes- For the perfect smoky eyes, blend a cream shadow or liner all over lid, in the inner rim and along the lower lashline, then apply powder shadow to seal the color and give a soft, diffused look

Smashbox Must Have Product: Cream Eye Liner in Image

Wake Up Eyes- Dabbing a pale gold cream shadow in the inner corners of eyes will brighten your entire face

Smashbox Must Have Product: Waterproof Shadow Liner Duo in Cashmere

Perfect Liner- Don't try to draw a straight line of liner all at once. Instead make a series of small dots along the lashline, then connect and smudge dots together to create a perfect soft line.

Smashbox Must Have Product: Limitless Eye Liner

Bright Eyes- Blue Mascara on just the tips of lashes make eyes look whiter

Smashbox Must Have Product: Bionic Mascara in Indigo Ink

Long, Lush Lashes-Thicken and define lashes by applying two different mascaras. Apply a volumizing formula first, then a lengthening or defining one on top.

Smashbox Must Have Product: Bionic Mascara and Hyperlash Mascara

Lower Lash Perfection- To naturally define the lower lashes without adding length, glide a flat liner brush over your mascara wand then paint over lashes.

Smashbox Must Have Product: Cream Eye Liner Brush #9

Natural Definition- For natural-looking eye definition, sweep a matter bronzer into crease

Smashbox Must Have Product: Bronze Lights

Draw The Line- Liquid liner doesn't have to be intimidating. Try tracing over lashline first using a taupe liner, then going over it with the liquid formula for a flawless application every time.

Smashbox Must Have Product: Cream Eye Liner in Putty

Stay tuned for more flawless face tips from Smashbox. In the meantime, make sure you check out the Smashbox Blog. You would be hard pressed to find a more entertaining beauty brand blog, and that's a fact.


*Product provided for consideration

Your Daily Dose of NARSsism- Tips from an Insider

Marcel is at it again, and today he wants to tell you all about how to avoid greasy skin.

Marcel says:

“Everyone wants a dewy complexion. But there’s a fine line between a dewy glow and greasy skin.


Keep your face hydrated without looking oily by blotting with a tissue to remove excess cream or moisturizer.”

Stay tuned for more fun facts, campaign images and tips from Marcel to keep your makeup long-lasting. Check out the facebook page for additional footage from the NARS archives.

Your Daily Dose of NARSsism- Tips from an Insider

Beauty tips have gone to the dogs, as Francois Nars' adorable pup Marcel gives us all beauty tips and the insider's scoop as to what is going on in the world of NARS Cosmetics.

Beauty Basics and Face Prep- My Primer, Foundation, and Contouring Routine

Several readers presented an interest in learning my personal routine for foundation, contouring, and other makeup-prep work. Well here it is, a breakdown of what I use and how I use it. I am sure everyone has their own methods, but this is the one that works for me.

What I Use:

Make Up For Ever HD Perfecting Primer in Number 7, Pink (to brighten pale complexions)
Make Up For Ever HD Foundation in 115
Smashbox HD Concealor in Fair
To Contour: Whatever is on hand, usually Make Up For Ever sculpting powder duo. For my more low key days, Chanel Moisturizing Bronzer or Smashbox Halo Glow
Cheeks: Lately it has been MAC Beauty Powder Blush in On A Mission, Smashbox Blush Rush in Flush
Highlight: MAC Shell Pearl Beauty Powder, Smashbox Artificial Light in Flash

How I Use It: These videos pretty much goes step-by-step. Hopefully, you all find it helpful





And there you have it, my face routine. Did you find it at all helpful? I would love to hear your thoughts :)