As a Professional Makeup Artist, Spring reviews would definitely be missing a gargantuan something, if I were to overlook one of my all-time favourite brands, the iconic SMASHBOX.
Smashbox Studios was founded in 1990 by Dean & Davis Factor (Davis, a renowned photographer), great grandsons of Hollywood makeup legend Max Factor.
Spawned from these early photographic roots, the Smashbox Cosmetics brand was launched 6 years later, bringing products tested under intense studio conditions in to the home. There’s no denying, that for a photographer, having to stop for makeup touch-ups on Set is a big headache, so the Smashbox objective has always been to develop products that stay on and look amazing in both studio conditions and outside in the sunlight……well, that’s what we all want, right?
So, do they live up to their own hype? Consistently excellent market, consumer and blogger reviews, would suggest a resounding yes!
A purveyor of some of the best products on the Market, it’s been hard to limit myself to just one Smashbox product to test, so I’ve decided on two high profile launches for Spring 2017; their new BE LEGENDARY LIPSTICK PALETTES in both Matte …… and Cream!
Retailing at £55 each, with free standard delivery, I ordered online from Smashbox UK http://www.smashbox.co.uk on Thursday evening and my palettes arrived the following Tuesday.
Aesthetically, they are gorgeous. Sleek black palettes, with large mirrors and 25 shades in each. You really feel you’ve purchased something special; just opening the palette raises expectations.
So, what’s inside? Here’s a concise résumé of the Smashbox description…….
Collectible palettes, each containing 25 lipsticks that include some of their most beloved matte and creamy shades of Be Legendary lipstick. A blend of intense pigments and luxurious emollients saturate lips with brilliant colour that stays put and feels feather-light. Every hue is shade-tested in Smashbox Studios L.A. to ensure that the colour stays true in photographs and stays put from call time to the last cover shot. The moisturising satin-smooth creams soften and protect with Shea Butter and vitamins C and E and the Silky vitamin-fortified mattes with super staying power won’t settle unevenly on the lips or dry out.
As a professional Makeup Artist, any product needs to prove its metal to earn valuable space in my kit bag. Several factors are key to usefulness in a lip palette and pretty packaging, though important, isn’t top of my list. In the main I’m interested in, How it looks? How it feels? How it lasts?
Both palettes contain an extensive and eclectic colour range and popularity of the individual lipsticks is testimony to their desirability. Lush vibrant reds, corals, pinks, plums, violets, as well as neutrals, browns and nudes. Twenty five of the most popular colours from their 120 strong, Be Legendary range. As an artist, I need to be able to blend and mix; to create bespoke new colours. A palette needs the diversity and ability to translate the looks & colours I visualise in my mind and reproduce them in the home or studio. These palettes certainly have that flexibility. Want to recreate any Signature Lip Look? These palettes have it covered
Application is even and the finish creamy and comfortable; even the mattes don’t feel dry on the lips.
My verdict? There’s always been something very cool about Smashbox; maybe the links to those creative first L.A studio days in the nineties? Powerful pigments, with numerous lip shades achievable and a great range of nudes. Considering that the individual lipsticks retail at £17.50 each, it’s a great way to get your hands on all the range favourites.
As Smashbox might say, “Quite definitely, Lipstick Nirvana!”
Christiane Dowling is a Professional Freelance Makeup Artist for Weddings, Bridal, Proms, Photo Shoots, Makeup Lessons & all Special Occasions.
Based in Sandhurst , Christiane covers all of Berkshire, Hampshire & Surrey including Sandhurst, Crowthorne, Yateley, Finchampstead, Eversley, Shinfield, Reading, Burghfield, Wokingham, Binfield, Bracknell, Maiden’s Green, Warfield, Ascot, Sunningdale, Sunninghill, Virginia Water, Egham, Wentworth, Chertsey, Eton, Windsor, Datchet, Chobham, Woking, Guildford, Godalming, Frensham, Hindhead, Farnham, Churt, Bentley, Bordon, Aldershot, Church Crookham, Fleet, Hartley Wintney, Hook, Basingstoke, Farnborough, Fleet & across London.
Christiane also works nationally & internationally.
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