The new, limited edition Smashbox Master Class 11 Meet The Masters Palette ($59), available now exclusively at Sephora.
Smashbox Master Class 11 Meet The Masters Palette
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A Thursday Beauty Break With Starbucks and Summer Makeup From Tokidoki, Korres, Smashbox, Laura Mercier and More
Tabs is quite the taskmaster, as you well know, but every once in a while, about as often as a solar eclipse, he takes pity on his lowly assistant and grants her (me) a break.
Today was one of those days. I was given a break from my official feline assistant duties and two hours of company sanctioned “me time,” or “meow time,” as Tabs likes to say.
He’s a big fan of meow time. 🙂
Behold the face of a kitty dictator!
Today, I decided to spend my meow time on a beauty break — ya know, some noms, a little window shopping and, of course, makeup.
Join me! It’ll be fun.
First order of business: Starbucks. Grab a seat, and I’ll get us some tasty beverages. Gotta fuel up before we browse.
Where should we start? How about Sephora? There’s one just down the street.
Don’t worry about spending money. We’re just going to look around. Promise.
Well…unless we come across a completely awesome life-changing color. In that case, all bets are off.
Lately at Sephora, I’ve been starting in the Tokidoki section. The cheerful packaging gets me every time, like this new limited edition Love From London Palette…
Isn’t it cute!? Eight eyeshadows, a bronzer and a keychain for $42. That’s not bad. And the pans look pretty big, too.
I like the mix of neutrals and blues — oh, but they swatch pretty sheer…
I think I might like it more for the cute factor than anything else. Let’s keep moving…
Ah, some new stuff from Korres!
The Cheek Butter cheek tints ($25 each), which are supposed to be hydrating and long-wearing, feel surprisingly thick and creamy.
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Reflections on Life, Lipgloss and the Smashbox Shades of Fame Reflection High Shine Lip Gloss Set
Smashbox Reflection High Shine Lip Gloss in Hibiscus
Dear Self,
Please keep in mind these notes on lipgloss and life, and hold on to them when you’re feeling sad or yucky.
Remember…
…that you can always change your circumstances. It’s not always as easy as changing your lipgloss, but sometimes it’s the smallest changes that make the biggest impact (see: the Smashbox Shades of Fame Reflection High Shine Lip Gloss Set, $29, which includes five tiny travel-size glosses).
If you’re lonely, reach out! Put those fingers to work, and email, tweet or text a friend or coworker. Maybe make a lunch date.
When you start feeling like you’re stuck in a rut, shake things up! There are BIG shakes, like planning a trip, so you have something fun to look forward to, and little shakes, like committing to do just one thing differently today, even if it’s just walking down a street in your neighborhood that you’ve never explored before.
Always remember that you’re not alone, even when you feel lonely. The pressure you sometimes feel to be funny, creative and interesting, the doubt, the constant wondering if you’ll be able to think of exciting new ways to call something “neutral” or “nude.”
People understand that you’re only human; no one can be on all the time.
Remember what works for you, and write like a crazy person! Write with reckless abandon. Write as fast as you can! Don’t worry about word counts, deadlines and cutting stuff down, because you can deal with all of that stuff later.
Remember that you have the power to change your point of view. See silver linings, and welcome new challenges with open arms and a positive attitude.
Remember that you can do this. You can write raw, and you can write real.
Remember that everyone sees the same things in different ways. Some might see the five tubes in the Smashbox Shades of Fame Reflection High Shine Lip Gloss Set, and think, “Meh, just another limited edition batch of standard summer glosses…”
They may not get beyond the surface details, like how thick and sticky these feel, how moisturizing they are (very), their light vanilla flavor and scent, sheer-to-medium pigment or their three-hour wear time.
Others might see the same glosses, however, and think, “Wow… Lipgloss is kinda like life.”
Sometimes, it’s all sparkly and beautiful and everything you ever wanted it to be. Other times, it’s gritty, and not at all what you expected. Sometimes, it disappears too fast, or you get your hair stuck in it, and that really sucks … especially if you’re on a bicycle without brakes (been there, done that).
Papaya
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Smashbox Is Showing Shades of Brilliance (and Much Less Fallout) With the Smashbox Shades of Fame Eye Palette
Do you ever wonder what it would be like to be famous? Pretty much, I think it would not be fun. Not being able to run to Target in my jammies for bananas and dental floss, or have lunch at a sidewalk cafe without hearing everyone around you whisper, “It’s that actress from that show with that guy,” or accidentally do something really awkward and ridiculous, like falling on your butt in the rain and cursing, “Dammit all to hell!” without it going viral on YouTube later that night.
No thanks.
The closest I want to get to fame is the new Smashbox Shades of Fame Eye Palette ($48). 🙂 I did a couple of looks with it today following the tutorials from the booklet that come with the kit.
The Test Shoot look
Fame Awaits Eyes and Lips With Smashbox Shades of Fame: Pictures and Swatches
Smashbox has a thing for celebrity. Over the past year or so, they’ve featured film, photography and now straight-up fame, with the Smashbox Shades of Fame collection for summer 2012.
For eyes, there’s the $48 warm-toned Shades of Fame Eye Palette & Brush, with its nine powder shadows, two cream liners, a tiny tube of Photo Finish Lid Primer, dual-tipped eye brush and a tutorial booklet with step-by-step instructions to create three different looks.
And lips get love, too, with the $28 Shades of Fame Reflection High Shine Lip Gloss Set and its five frisky travel-size glosses in Candy, Buff, Hibiscus, Papaya and Star.
Star… Candy, a movie buff, wore a hibiscus in her hair when she accepted the Academy Award for her performance in Papaya Star.
LOL! Everyone wants to be a star. 🙂
Both sets are available now at Sephora stores and also online.
Here’s a closer look at spring’s Shades of Fame…
Picture Sheer Pastels, and You Get a Snapshot of the Smashbox Be Discovered Eye Shadow Palette
Lipgloss, keys, cat food, camera — I never leave home without ’em! They’re my essentials, especially the camera.
Oops! And my phone. Can’t forget that…
Gotta be ready to go paparazzi at a moment’s notice, because you never know when you’ll cross paths with a 1-pound tub of neon orange cheese balls or when you’ll find a cute kitty stowaway in the back of your car.
I’ve gotten so used to feeling the weight of a camera strap around my neck that I feel totally and completely weird without it (well, weirder than usual), and I’ll catch myself reaching for it from time to time, my fingers fooled by a phantom photography limb.
When I spotted the lights and photography umbrellas gracing the new photography-themed Smashbox Be Discovered Eye Shadow Palette ($44), my first thought was, “This was made for me!” The umbrellas are used to direct and diffuse light, hopefully, I assumed, like the palette’s colors.
Now that I’ve spent some time with these shadows, I see how they resemble photography in at least a couple of ways. First, they require time and effort, just like learning how to use a new camera or lens.
Over the past few seasons, I’ve felt like Smashbox’s eye palettes have moved toward sheerer and sheerer levels of pigment, and the Be Discovered palette continues that trend. Lighter lovelies who like less intense shadows, holla! This palette’s eight pastel and brown powder shadows were made for you.
If, on the other hand, you’re a darker diva and/or prefer bolder eyes, brace yourself for a workout; I find I have to apply a lot of layers with these (a minimum of five!).
A Good Zombie Survival Kit Should Include the New Smashbox Be Discovered Cream Cheek Trios
Wearing Smashbox Be Discovered Cream Cheek Trio in Show Biz
To someone with survival training, including the Smashbox Be Discovered Cream Cheek Trios ($29 each) in my zombie apocalypse survival kit probably makes about as much sense as a Shake Weight, but believe you me, if the dead one day rise, I will not go down without a fight, and I won’t evacuate without bringing at least a little bit of makeup.
El Hub laughs, but it’s the truth. (SIDE NOTE: I used to work with a woman who wore false lashes every single day, even once when she had to go in for surgery! Now that’s what I’m talking about.)
The two new trios are part of the Smashbox Be Discovered collection for spring 2012, and since they fit in the palm of a hand, it’s not like they’d take up much space in a typical survival kit. There’d still be plenty of room left for peanut butter, toilet paper and various kinds of weaponry.
Tabs might even let me stash them in his cat carrier (along with his Fancy Feast in gravy, of course). 🙂
Both trios come with two cream blushes and a cream highlighter. The first, In Lights, leans warm, while the second one, Show Biz, leans cool.
If I happen to run out of room to pack brushes, no problem. With these, I could always rely on my fingers to apply and blend. Not only would it be easier, but it would also keep my hands free to wield a machete for zombie self-defense.
I’ve had trouble with some cream blushes sliding off my skin, but not these. They latch on like zombie teeth and don’t let go for nothin’!
Wearing Smashbox Be Discovered Cream Cheek Trio in Show Biz
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I’m Feeling Catty About the New Smashbox Be Discovered Jet Set Waterproof Eye Liner & Brush
Ooh, Tuesday morning cat drama! Guess who just sauntered across the front yard with a twitchy tail and her little kitty nose raised up in the air? — the Russian Blue from next door, exuding tons of cattitude.
It’s been a while since the last time she visited, and when Tabs caught a glimpse of her through the window in my office upstairs, he hissed like a fiery cobra!
The window overlooks a row of overgrown rosemary bushes and what’s left of a large catnip plant, the same plant that Tabs caught her snacking on before their last altercation.
Judging by Tabs’ reaction this morning, tensions are still running high. I actually think he might be a little jealous, too, which is understandable, since I’m always gushing about the other cat’s dreamy grayish blue coat.
It’s just so gorgeous… I’ve been trying to build a collection of eyeliners in the exact same shade, or as close to it as possible (sorry, Tabs).
For the longest time, Laura Mercier’s Stormy Grey was the closest I could find, but now there’s a new contender in town, Smashbox Be Discovered Jet Set Waterproof Eye Liner & Brush in Intrigue ($22).
It’s a gel liner, one of two shades in the new Smashbox Be Discovered Collection for spring 2012, and in kitty terms, it’s great like a Costco-sized case of gravy.
If you go gaga for gray liners, or if you’re just looking for a softer alternative to good ol’ black, you might just fall in love.
