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Posts with tag smashbox

Debra Davenport's Spring 2009 collection at Los Angeles Fashion Week

Filed under: Fashion Week

Debra Davenport's Spring 2009 collection, shown during L.A. Fashion Week, was exceedingly wearable. It was also a bit scattered. Davenport took cues from Cynthia Rowley and Nanette Lepore, featuring floral, citrus and vibrant green fabrics. But the through line was lost somewhere between 1950s Euro chic and lady pirate.

Continue reading Debra Davenport's Spring 2009 collection at Los Angeles Fashion Week

Beauty products that they DON'T recommend

Filed under: Hair Care, Cosmetics, Skin Care

bad beauty productsMost of the time, we find ourselves asking one another what we use for wash our faces, moisturize, get ride of zits, erase fine lines. Very rarely do we ask the opposite question, "What do you not use?" Why would we? We don't need to know about something we'd never buy and try. Still, TotalBeauty put together a list of the 12 beauty products that earned the lowest ratings from their editors. I guess the best way to use this information is to watch out:

See which products you should avoid:




  • Smashbox Lip Enhancing Gloss
  • Revlon Tourmaline Ionic 1875 Watt Hairdryer
  • Redken All Soft Gold Glimmer Perfecting Shine Treatment
  • Murad Firm and Tone Serum
  • NARS Body Glow
  • Bobbi Brown Everything Mascara
  • Skyn Iceland Arctic Face Mist
  • Maybelline New York Define-a-Lash Mascara
  • Lush Jungle Conditioner
  • Sally Hansen Smooth Glow Stubble Reducing Moisturizer
  • John Frieda Frizz-Ease Straight Answer Spray
  • Molton Brown Naran Ji Fine Liquid Hand Wash ($23)

LA Fashion Week: Smashbox lip palette

Filed under: Cosmetics, Fashion Week

smashbox lip palette la fashion week One of the best parts of going to Fashion Week is the "gift bag." It's shameful to admit such greed, but it's true.

Inside of the generous bag put together by the folks at Mercedes-Benz, I received a lip palette by Smashbox. I swear I will never have to buy another tube of lipstick again.

This ultra-thin palette contains 18 lip colors from nude shades to a stunning classic red. The kit even comes with a lip brush, and not just one of those tiny ones. This brush is full-sized.

So far, I have tested out the red, nude, and clear glitter color and have been pleased by the results. The lip color doesn't go on too heavy like a traditional lipstick and it isn't at all sticky like a lip gloss. The staying power isn't too shabby either; I had to re-apply about halfway through the workday.

You can buy this palette online for $39 (retails at $60). With a price like that you should definitely pick one up for yourself and another for a friend.

Luscious lips

Filed under: Cosmetics

Luscious Lips

I am not a lipstick girl, I wish I were but I'm not. Lipstick takes far too much effort; you have to apply it right the first time, use lip liner, re-apply, and hope you don't any on your teeth. To keep my lips looking pretty and to keep me from going insane I opt for lip gloss and chap stick to keep my lips in check.

For a low maintenance look: I just glide on a little bit of Burt's Bee chapstick. If you haven't picked up a tube of this magical lip potion you are crazy. Available at any drugstore, grocery store, and some beauty stores; this stuff with change your life; the tingle lets you know it's working.

For heavy conditioning: I recently gave BORBA's Cashmere Fiber Lip Kix (yes with an 'x') and I have to say I love it. It conditions without feeling medicated. The tube of gloss has a very light vanilla almond scent to it and goes on smooth and buttery, as opposed to thick and greasy.

To shine on: Remember the days of MAC lip glass? It basically took a medicine dropper to apply that thick glycerin like gloss. Your lips may have looked glossy and sexy like in the magazines but trust me no boys enjoyed locking lips with that goopy mess. Go for something lighter, cheaper, and food flavored like Lip Smackers gloss in vanilla frosting. Best part is this is sold at your local drugstore for around $3.

Add some color: You can achieve a luscious lip color without going all crazy with the lipstick. Try Smashbox for a lip gloss that will give you the illusion of having fuller lips and gives you color that will last for hours.




Smashbox is smashing, darling

Filed under: Cosmetics

Smashbox After Party
If you haven't tried Smashbox cosmetics you are missing out. Smashbox, the Los Angeles based cosmetic company, really does make the best makeup out there. A few months back I reluctantly picked up one of their beauty kits at Sephora. It was only $60 (retail value $180) so I figured why not. I was blown away by the quality of the cosmetics and how wonderful they made me look. My favorite product is the Photo Finish primer, a primer for your skin that will make your face appear flawless.

Since I was so happy with my purchase I was extra happy to know that Nordstrom was offering a similar kit for their Anniversary sale. I woke up super early just to make sure I could get my grubby little hands on the Smashbox kit before they were gone. The Smashbox Nordstrom exclusive "After Party" kit includes the Photo Finish primer, three eye shadows, black mascara, cream eyeliner duo (this stuff will not smudge), soft lights blush duo, and a lip enhancing gloss, all packed in a quilted gunmetal bag; all of that goodness for only $55, a $151.50 value.

Be sure to check out Smashbox.com for beauty tips and information on their latest products. You can also rest assure that Smashbox does not test on animals. In fact, they just won the PETA Proggy Award for Best Cruelty-Free cosmetics. Now go get pretty why don't you!

Convenient or over-priced samples?

Filed under: Cosmetics

Two things amaze me about travel these days. One being the strict regulations, I know they are necessary to a degree but taking off your shoes and forfeiting liquids over 3oz can get pretty old. Two, the fact that anyone who can will profit off of our inconvenience by repackaging products so they can market them as air friendly.

Sephora had a "fun" little section on their site today called Airplane Approved Beauty, which is fine until you see the items that grace these pages. They are samples! Samples that cost mega bucks mind you. See this .5oz tube of Smashbox Photo Finish Primer, how much would you say that costs? Free, no guess again... its $15.50.

The product that really grates me are these CARGO ColorCards, which are merely samples of eyeshadow. Granted each case holds 28 cards, but still that is 28 single use shadows held together on a piece of foil. How much does that cost? It costs $24 and out of those colors you might end up liking one or two only to never be able to use them again unless you buy a single container which is only $16.

Be the next Smashbox face

Filed under: Cosmetics

If you've got the modeling bug but you are a little scared of trying out for America's Next Top Model, (those girls are fierce) then perhaps Smashbox might have the answer for you. If you are between 13 and 25 years of age, and at least 5' 7" tall, then you are eligible for the 2007 smashbox cosmetics Model Search Contest. The prize for the contest is the chance to become the face of a Smashbox campaign. The cool thing is that this contest is being run on the web and anyone can vote. You just fill out a form, upload your pictures and you are in. The first phase of the contest ends June 10, 2007 and those with the most votes will go to phase two for another voting round. The final winners are chosen by Smashbox and Photogenics Management from June 26, 2007 through July 9, 2007. If you enter, let us know in the comments so we can check you out and throw votes your way.

Even without a V-day date, you can get that O-Glow

Filed under: Cosmetics

smashbos o glowEven if your plans for tonight include a pair of flannel pajamas, a cashmere throw, your trusty eyeglasses and that book that's been gathering dust on your nightstand for months, that doesn't mean that you still can't get that gorgeous glow that a girl normally gets when the presence of another sets her heart racing. Smashbox Studios' O-Glow is the "first-ever intuitive blush" that "reacts with your personal skin chemistry to turn cheeks the exact color you blush, naturally."

The "natural" part comes from goji berries. Goji berries are currently the "it" ingredient in everything from smoothies to now, blush.Apparently, moisture from the skin activates the goji berry complex in the blush that creates a flush in your cheeks, or wherever else you happen to apply the stuff.

Available from Smashbox Studios for $26.

Smashbox wants to give you that special glow

Filed under: Cosmetics

A blush that figures out what color you naturally blush? That's the claim for Smashbox's new O-Glow (does every hot blush product have to be named after the orgasmic flush these days?). Smashbox says the product is the first-ever intuitive blush, a gel that goes on clear and then reacts with your skin's chemistry to deliver the perfect shade. It contains Goji Berry-C Complex which "creates a microcirculatory effect" giving you that special glow (sounds a longer lasting version of pinching your cheeks). It sells for $26. An interesting product if you are just looking for a bit of color but it sounds like you can't really control the shade. Smashbox is also offering a mini lip glosses and mirror package free with each $40 purchase.

Smashbox Tokidoki for your inner tween

Filed under: Cosmetics

If you are a fan of Hello Kitty and of shimmery pink makeup you are going to love the new Tokidoki line from Smashbox. Can you handle the cute? This stuff is absolutely precious, from the star-emblazoned makeup mirror to the shiny pink lipglosses and super sparkly pastel eyeshadows. It gives me a bit of a sweetness toothache just looking at it. You can buy the whole collection for $178 or individual components start at $18.

The greatest makeup tip ever!

Filed under: Cosmetics

Yesterday when I was poking around the Smashbox website, I stumbled across a professional makeup tip that tops all other professional makeup tips! I've mentioned before that my great beauty woe is having dark circles under my eyes that remain no matter how much sleep I get. It's a genetic thing -- my father has them, too. On better days, I consider them "soulful" or even "unique", but to tell you the truth, I'd buy just about any product to get rid of them.

After reading about concealer application on the Smashbox site, I realized that it was possible that part of my problem was not the product but the application. You see, usually, I paint on my concealer in one direction, starting at the corner of my eye, and traveling along occipital ridge (check it: physiology knowledge). Smashbox suggests using a cross-hatch pattern with the concealer brush starting directly under your eye. This morning, I tried the new technique out, and I'll be a monkey's uncle -- it worked!

Oh how I love you my new cross-hatch makeup application technique!

We're going to be running around LA Fashion Week

Filed under: Events: On the Scene, Accessories, Clothing, Shoes, LA Fashion Week, Fashion Week

mercedes benx fashion week, los angelesFirst we visited New York, then peeked in on London, Milan, and Paris, and now, since some of us actually live here, we'll be galloping around the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in Los Angeles at Smashbox Studios in Culver City. The week doesn't officially kick off until Sunday, October 15, but the festivities (yes, with all those pretty clothes and beautiful people, I call them "festivities") started gearing up this past week.

We'll keep you posted as we go along, and if you are going to be there, maybe we'll run into you!

Smashbox lip service for breast cancer

Filed under: Cosmetics

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a great excuse to buy something you don't quite need but definitely want. The Lip Service Lipstick Palette from Smashbox falls into this category. With 18 shades of lip shades in a wide variety of colors and sheens (from barely there sheers to matte creams and sparkly shimmers) it's far from the basic pastel pink that is usually associated with breast cancer month. The palette sells for $39 and includes a lip brush. A portion of the sales go to weSPARK Cancer Support Center, an organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for cancer patients and their families and friends. Smashbox also sponsors "The Booby Trap" a show that runs all month long and is a celebration of all things breast.

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