Smashbox Crease Brush 15

To really get your eyeshadow poppin', you have to get your crease going. And by that I mean you need to define your crease.

The Smashbox Crease Brush 15 makes this technique so easy. It's a small, round-tip brush with soft, yet densely packed bristles. The denseness of the brush give the eyeshadow application a more concentrated look, and the small size and round shape makes it easy to get the color directly in the crease.

But what makes this brush truly special is that it won't leave you with a harsh looking line. The incredibly soft blue squirrel bristles gently soften the line as you apply the shadow.

Once I've applied all of my crease color with this brush, I like to go back over it a few times with this same brush to blend my shadow. By blending with the crease brush, this helps maintain the shape of the shadow and gives it a seamless look.

Smashbox Anti-Shine

Oil and water don't mix, and neither do oil and long-lasting makeup.

Prepping skin with a mattifier like Smashbox Anti-Shine can help quelch oil production and keep your makeup looking fresher, longer.

This colorless, powder-gel gives skin a matte finish and absorbs surface oil during wear.

For this product to do its job, a decent amount needs to be used--about a nickel-sized dollop. The initial sensation leaves much to be desired--it feels like you've smeared glue all over your face--but fortunately the feeling subsides after a few minutes.

While it doesn't keep skin looking flawless all day, this product does provide 6ish hours of matte skin and makeup intact.

Smashbox Soft Lights in Prism

My nickname at work is Barbie (I totally embrace it), so to say that the MAC Loves Barbie Collection rocked my world--well, you know I mean it. Pearl Blossom Beauty Powder (pictured bottom left) has been in heavy rotation ever since its debut last February in the limited edition collection, but once the bottom of the pan started showing, panic ensued.

Until I found Smashbox Soft Lights in Prism, a perfect clone to my beloved. This silky, shimmering powder doesn't translate on the face as overly-pink. The color that shows up can only be described as magic.


Granted, I'm a huge believer in the power of highlighters, but the pink powder does something a little more kittenish, a little more girly than standard shimmery beige highlighter. In short, I cannot live without it.

Another beauty crisis averted. Phew!

Smashbox Photo Finish Lipstick

My weakness for lipstick dates back over two decades (I started young), and still, there is nothing like a fresh tube of lipstick. Smashbox Photo Finish Lipstick is one of the standouts in my massive collection. The ultra sleek, futuristic-looking tube makes me feel like this lipstick could double as a camera for a Bond girl. In person, this lipstick casing is a gun-metal gray, with a mirror finish and looks so bad-ass.

Infused with Sila-Silk technology, this lipstick has the same smooth feel as the legendary Smashbox Photo Finish Primer. It glides on looking moist and luscious, and wears comfortably and evenly on the lips. While I'm not sure about the other shades, mine has a good color-payoff despite its sheer texture. (My shade is Smashing Lush; I think it has been discontinued).

Photo Finish lipstick is available in cream, sheer and shimmer finishes.