Smashbox Cosmetics Essentials

I'm in my early 30's and am only really just starting to become interested in make up.  I know what I like in terms of how make up looks and feels but I have never bothered to take the time to learn how to apply it properly or well.  I spent my teenage years heavily involved with ballroom and latin American dancing where you applied your make up with a spatula and ended up looking like a drag queen (which was the look we were all going for to "be seen" on the dance floor BTW!).  Outside of dancing most of my teenage friends weren't interested in make up and it didn't occur to me wear it.  By the time I finished university and I got my first job, my make up routine consisted of a big pot of "Natural Glow" bronzer and mascara and it has pretty much stayed that way ever since.  Just call me low maintenance.  14 years on I still love my bronzer and mascara.  To me, someone with clear, even toned, bronzed skin with full feathery eye lashes looks a picture of health but I'm realising there is a little more to that healthy sunkissed look than just bronzer and mascara.


A few weeks back I was lucky enough to have my makeup done for a wedding by the incredibly talented Sam Hart, lead make up artist for Smashbox New Zealand.  She worked some serious magic on my face and it made me realise what can be achieved with some quality products and a little know how.  I wanted to know how to create this look myself but take it down a few notches (I don't have time be applying false eye lashes each morning!) transforming it to something I could apply myself and be comfortable wearing daily.

Plus it had to be "Mum Friendly" in terms of time.  So I went along to a Smashbox Masterclass to learn about the products and how to apply them.  Here are four of the stand out Smashbox products which I loved...

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer $76.00
This award winning product is the most famous product in the Smashbox range.  You apply the primer (avoiding your eye area) with your finger tips after you have cleansed and moisturised your face.  The Photo Finish Primer smooth's your skin helping reduce the appearance of fine lines and pores, and creates a surface for your foundation to adhere to meaning it will "behave" and last longer through out the day.  The difference in the texture of my skin was incredible!  Velvet smooth!  There are eight different varieties of Primer including hydrating, colour correcting, blemish control and SPF20 plus there is also a Lid Primer and Under Eye Primer too.

Smashbox Camera Ready CC Cream $64.00
Very similar to the Smashbox BB Cream, the CC Cream is heavier than a tinted moisturiser but lighter than a foundation.  Available in eight shades, the tinted formula is incredibly lightweight, evens your skin tone and dries with a natural powder finish.  It is SPF30 and is also proven to fade dark spots, sun spots and post acne scars with use over time.  Apply either with a brush or your fingertips, starting at the centre of your face (again avoiding your eyes) and work outwards.

Smashbox LA Lights Blendable Lips and Cheek Colour $51.00
I loved this!  Once you've even out your skin tone you need to add some colour back in for a healthy glow.  I loved this multipurpose product.  A few dots along the cheek bone then blended then straight to the lips.  Too easy!  Available in five sunkissed colours.  I loved Mulholland Mauve.

Smashbox Brow Tech To Go $47.00
I was tentative about using a brow pencil because I've seen some pretty heavy, dark and massive eyebrows about town lately!  I realise this is the current fashion but some of them are absolutely terrifying looking!  But I was shown how to use the Brow Tech To Go pencil to gently define and then shape my eyebrows for a well groomed look.  It's all about good technique - small lines in the direction the hair grows and the angled head of the Brow Tech To Go brush makes this really easy.  The other end of the Brow Tech To Go is a small wand with soft hold gel to hold your brows in place.  Of all the products I felt that this one made the most difference to my face.  Available in two shades.  I used colour Taupe.

Here was the end result...

I loved it!  Very natural with a sunkissed glow!  Just what I wanted to achieve.  We played around with a few other products but the four mentioned above were the stand out ones for me.  They are all extremely quick to apply.  You'd be done and out the door in just minutes.  I've still got a lot to learn but the Smashbox Masterclass went along way improving my knowledge and skills and was definitely worth while.

Smashbox Masterclasses are available by appointment at the Smashbox Ponsonby Concept Store at 342 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby, Auckand.