This, I did not expect. It wasn’t until I was handed a bottle of the Smashbox Camera Ready BB Water just before Christmas that I found out this was going to be made available at Sephora. I would expect this to take longer to reach us but nope. It came far more earlier than I predicted.

The Smashbox Camera Ready BB Water has been one of the most highly raved product when it was launched in the U.S. It is a BB (Blemish Balm) water aka foundation-like that has built-in primer water technology. If you are a fan of the Primer water, you know this is going to be your next favourite product. Smashbox said the technological feature is their breakthrough system that suspends pigments in H2O. This means, you get a BB that gives you a demi-matte finishing that hydrates your skin throughout the day, thanks to Photoset Polymers, taken from medical grade liquid bandage technology. Now, I do not know about you but all this sounds too techie for a beauty freak like me lol.

The BB Water comes in a glass bottle with a pipette dropper. It has to come with a dropper like this due to its watery consistency. The bottle top opening is quite small, just a slight bigger than the pipette.

I don’t treat the BB Water as a BB Cream per se as nothing of that reminds me of BB Cream except for the name printed on the bottle label. In fact this Smashbox Camera Ready BB Water is alcohol-free and oil-free. And because of the water-like consistency, I have a problem with dispensing the product out. It is just too liquidy. Do not expect this to give you a full coverage like foundation. It is meant to give you a sheer, radiant finish. I find that using my normal flat top kabuki brush is an issue with this type of consistency. It just do not adhere well onto my skin. And it is a tad bit streaky too. But when I got the Missha Professional Oval Makeup Brush, it changes everything.

I have to admit I do not like this at first. I do have high hopes on this based on all the glowing reviews online. On me it is just blah. The application was blah, the finishing on me was blah, everything was blah. On me. But when I changed the brush, I started to use this BB Water more and more and by the time I know it, I like it very much!

First of all, I prefer medium to full coverage type of base makeup. This Smashbox Camera Ready BB Water only gives a sheer coverage. It does not covers blemishes I had on my face. The coverage is buildable alright but it would get so cakey by mid day. The Missha brush solves all that for me. For some reason I get a fuller coverage when I used the brush. I am also able to dab more onto problematic areas to cover up more. This way, my face do not get cakey by mid day. The shade I had is Fair/Light (the second lightest shade), which is just nice for me.

I did not know this at all until I looked back at the batches of photos I have taken after applying this BB Water. It is slightly greyish on me at first (not long after application) but everything sets to normal just like a foundation. I am not surprised as this is a BB after all. Just like every other BB, my face gets oilier on a faster rate. When my face starts to secrete some sebum say after 2 hours, I actually like how radiant and dewy my skin are. After that I have to blot

Here is how the BB Water looks like on me after I finish all my makeup. It looked just like normal foundation. No more greyish cast or whatsoever. It is demi-matte alright, but turned oily on me after a few hours. I usually amplified the coverage with my trusty Catrice All Matt Powder. I like that the BB Water does not contain any funky smell. It is very pleasant on the skin. It certainly does not feels heavy or sticky at all. For me, it is not love at first sight. I have to used it continuously, finding ways how to make it work for my preference and skin, until I like it

Have you got onto the BB Water bandwagon yet? It is now available at all Sephora stores!

Disclaimer: Product was sent to me for review consideration. This doesn’t affect my judgement in the review in any way.

The post Smashbox Camera Ready BB Water: It takes time to get the rhythm right and once you got it, you start to tango appeared first on Street Love. by Fiona

Undeniably, Smashbox has become one of my favourite makeup brand ever since trying a few of their products earlier this year and end of last year. I still cannot get over the Double Exposure Palette even now. No matter how much I used the palette I still don’t see a dent on the pan. Awesome palette I tell you

Now, I mentioned before I would not be able to do a run down on all holiday gift guide for 2015 like what I did last year. I will only be featuring holiday collection from press releases that I received in my email. Smashbox is special. I requested for the press release as I would love you to try out Smashbox and fell in love with it as much as I do

The perfect holiday style is a work of art. This winter, Smashbox Cosmetics is teaming up with star abstract artist Yago Hortal to make your season bright with the Art. Love. Color. collection. Each limited-edition kit is features gorgeous shades and unique textures, giving you the tools you need to create your own masterpiece. Best of all, each kit features custom artwork by Yago, so it’s ready for gifting with no need to wrap. Gift them to friends with impeccable taste, or indulge yourself in a festive treat. Go ahead…let your imagination run wild. The concept? THINK: Art. Love. Color. No giftwrap required.

ART. LOVE. COLOR. BESTSELLERS (RM129)

A seriously giftable set of Smashbox bestsellers for eyes, lips and face—all wrapped up in painter Yago Hortal’s one-of-a-kind, vivid artwork. WHY IT’S UNIQUE: ART. LOVE. COLOR. At Smashbox it’s all about sharing hot new talent. For the Christmas collection, Smashbox partnered with breakthrough artist Yago Hortal to bring you these mega-vibrant, limited-edition kits featuring all of the bestsellers in a range of shades—from bold pops of colour to always flattering neutrals.

ART. LOVE. COLOR. LIP GLOSS TRIO (RM85 / 5ml each)

A travel trio of best-selling Be Legendary Lip Glosses in a range of festive-ready shades—all wrapped up in painter Yago Hortal’s one-of-a-kind, vivid artwork.

Shades: Pout, Coraline, Disco Rose

GWP – ART. LOVE. COLOR. PRIMER DUO

Purchase ANY two (2) Smashbox products including Holiday 2015 Bestsellers or Lip Gloss Trio set and get a Primer Duo set for FREE!

The post Smashbox Limited Edition Holiday Collection 2015 Inspired by Artist Yago Hortal appeared first on Street Love. by Fiona

This year I have not been utterly excited with any new or upcoming makeup except for the Smashbox Double Exposure Palette. Whenever I am at Sephora, I always stopped by Smashbox shelf to look and swatch the Full Exposure Palette. Now, this is something I don’t do as I’m not into neutral shade eyeshadow palette and somehow I was attracted to Full Exposure Palette as many YouTubers are raving for it. I was still pretty much in awe with it until Smashbox Malaysia telling me somewhere last year that there will be a new palette coming and that is the Double Exposure Palette. One of my favourite YouTuber Shaaanxo reviewed the palette and when I saw the shades on the palette, I was sold there and then. It is definitely not an all-neutral palette and there are a wider selection of light fleshy shades with purple and blue within the palette, which is right down my alley

The Smashbox Double Exposure Palette is a 14 shadows versatile palette that transforms into 28 as this palette are specially designed to be used dry or wet. This latest innovation is all about mixing it up.

Within the 14 shadows, there are 7 shimmer shades, 4 satin shades and 3 matte shades. Each shadow changes in one of four ways when used with a wet brush thanks to coated pigments that create multiple effects. Add water to either amps up shade vibrancy, to turn shade deeper, to turns shade into metallic or to add extra sparkle to the lid.

It can be a little overwhelming as 14 shades is a lot to play around and it takes a bit of time experimenting each and every shade to find what shade turns to what and how it transform. The good news is, there is a so-called guide card indicating what shade turns to what when used with a wet brush. At the beginning I was referring to the guide but later on I find myself loving the idea of experimenting the transformation myself, mixing and matching the shades each time I’m doing my makeup. I must admit. I get carried away with the experiment that I’ve been using it every evening before jumping into the shower as I was so eager to see how each shade transform and how I can create so many different eye makeup look. It has been quite some time since I get so excited with an eyeshadow palette

Together with the palette, you will also get a deluxe size Full Exposure Mascara and a #SHAPEMATTERS insert with how-to’s for 6 eye shapes. This insert will give you a clearer indication on how to do eye makeup according to your eye shape. As for me, I don’t really bother about eye shape. I just do whatever eye makeup I feel like

Smashbox has always known to include a top notch brush together with their eyeshadow palette. Not a cheaper version from the brush line or any cheapo brush but a darn good brush. This time it’s not exceptional either. Inside the Double Exposure Palette is a high quality double-ended brush. I usually don’t use the brush included in the palette but this time I find myself relying on the brush a lot. I wish it comes with a few! .

On one end of the brush is the Domed Side. It is a shorter bristle shader brush that are densely packed but yet soft, designed to be able to absorbs just the right amount of water for impactful color to the lid.

On another end of the brush is the Angled Side. It has longer bristles but yet dense enough for a precise line when used wet or a diffused line when used dry. I personally like to use this brush dry for the lower lash line. It still gives me a deep, pigmented precise line, which other brushes couldn’t give me. The bristles are slightly tapered on the sides, which is why I like the precise line on my lower lash line.

Here is an up close look at the palette and the dry and wet guide card before I start dipping my brush in it

Swatches time!

The top row of the palette consists of mainly shades that I like to call light and fleshy shades. All 7 shades are mainly shimmer shades except for Mauve and Veiled which are both satin shades. The top row is also what attracts me to the palette. It is so hard to find shades like these for the mobile lid. I probably use these type of shades more than everything else to brighten the eye and eye makeup look.

The bottom row on the other hand is more darker in shades and smokey. There are a healthy varieties of satin, shimmer and matte shades here. Haze and Copper are shimmer shades, Midnight and Temper are both satin shades while the balance Noir, Fig and Espresso are matte shades. It might freaks you out that out of 14 shades, there are only 3 matte shades.

I have actually done 2 eye makeup tutorial look using the Double Exposure Palette for this review but later on decided to do a third look, which is this Soft Cut Crease look. I think this tutorial is easier for everyone to follow although I still use a total of 7 shades in total lol

Step-by-Step Soft Cut Crease Tutorial

Step 1: Put a scotch tape (or any normal tape) from the outer corner of the eye to the tip of the eyebrow as a guide. You can place it straighter if you prefer a flatter look.

Step 2: Apply a bone shade / highlight on the under brow bone.

Step 3: Take a fluffy blending brush, apply Veiled on the upper crease line, bringing the shade all the way to the inner corner of the eye.

Step 4: As there is no transition shade in the palette, lightly dip a blending brush into Espresso and apply slightly lower than the crease line where Veiled was applied on earlier. Use a clean blending brush to blend both shades together if Espresso is too harsh. I prefer to use a stiffer brush (Bdellium 776) for this step as I like a deeper and sharper brown shade for the gradient effect.

Step 5: Take a pointy crease brush (Zoeva 231 Petite Crease), dip into Temper and with eyes looking straight into the mirror, apply on top of the lid, bringing the shade all the way to the inner corner to create a dimension.

And using the same Temper and the same brush, apply the shadow below Espresso in a tringle shape on the outer corner, winging the shade out.

Step 6: Take the Smashbox double-ended brush, mist some Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Water (or just water) onto the Domed Side brush, wipe the excess water on a piece of tissue paper, dip into Quartz and apply onto the area on the lid where there is no eyeshadow aka the mobile lid. This will instantly brighten the eye and bring the whole look livelier.

Step 7: Remove the scotch tape. You will find a crisp sharp line on the outer corner. I usually like to use a finger to gently tap on the line to soften the line a bit.

Step 8: Take the Double-Ended Brush, using the Angled Side, dip into Temper again and run it along the 3/4 of the outer lower lash line.

Step 9: Use a smaller shader brush or the same Angled Side brush, dip into Peony and apply onto the remaining 1/4 of the lower lash line. You can do this wet but I chose not to as I want a softer highlight on the 1/4 inner corner.

Step 10: Take a small pointy brush, mist some Primer Water, dip into Blanc and apply onto the tear duct area. This will complete the whole look with the instant bright lift!

This is optional but I like to clean up the under eye using a little bit of concealer and blend away using a Beauty Blender.

Apply eyeliner and mascara as normal. I decided to go back with a short bristle shader brush and dip into Fig to smudge out the bottom of Temper shade slightly on the lower lash line. The warm brown will give a little bit of warmth to the look and it will look more complete

This is the finished look . I hope you like my version of Soft Cut Crease tutorial. I don’t usually use scotch tape and if I need to use a tape for the outer corner, I would use a small loytape. I find that loytape doesn’t give a crisp sharp line like how scotch tape gave me and I prefer that. I’ve decided to go with scotch tape just because everyone is using it. In my opinion, use whatever tape you like . Or you can skip the tape and use a wet tissue to clean up in order to get that crisp line. The line has it’s pros too. Applying eyeliner thereafter is so much easier. All I do is to follow the line.

This look can easily be recreated using the brown and the blue from the same Double Exposure Palette. All you need to do is to switch the shades up a little bit and the effect will be somewhat different and unique in it’s own way despite applying with the same steps.

Most eyeshadow palette claimed that their shadow can be used with a wet brush and in the end the wetness from the brush created a hard layer on top of the eyeshadow pan and the eyeshadow could not be used anymore. I notice that it doesn’t happen with the Double Exposure Palette. No matter how many times I wet my brush and keep dipping the brush onto the pan, it doesn’t create a hard layer on top of the pan and the eyeshadow still performs as good as it was before. That is what I really like about the palette beside the versatility.

On another note, as you know I have very sensitive and watery eyes. Although I notice some shadow fallout on the palette, it doesn’t give me any fallout during application and the powder does not sting my eyes or make my eyes watery. That is really a plus point for those who had the same sensitive eyes as mine. Some of the shades may be a bit too sheer when used dry but once added with a little bit of water, it become intense so this solved the issues where some people may think the payoff is sheer. All you need to do is to wet the brush . I also notice that there is no colour transfer for hooded eyes and no creasing especially on the mobile lid where I usually put the shade down using a wet brush.

Disclaimer: Product was sent to me for review consideration. This doesn’t affect my judgement in the review in any way.

The post Smashbox Double Exposure Palette Review + Step-by-Step Soft Cut Crease Tutorial appeared first on Street Love. by Fiona

Every girl started their makeup journey with one particular product. I often spoke about mine, which was a 2-way powder foundation. I was on 2-way powder foundation for a good 10 years (and more) until I discovered the wonders of liquid foundation. Powder foundation out the window and hello liquid foundation! I have not look back since then. Yes the application time and steps are longer than using a powder foundation but the finishing is beautiful. To be honest, when I saw that Smashbox launched three new products back in April 2015, I was least excited with the Photo Filter Powder Foundation. Not because it was horribly bad but because I’ve grown out of powder foundation. Now, it is my most favourite new product from Smashbox among the three items. Surpise, surprise, eh?

Smashbox signature packaging and colour has always been matte black. Don’t expect anything more than that because this is how Smashbox is. Simple, and black . I have no issue with the packaging except for powder finger prints on the casing. Then again, nothing that a wet tissue couldn’t do.

The casing is medium bulky as a compartment space is needed to store the special double-sided sponge on the underneath.

Overall, there are 8 shades available. The shade that I got is Shade 2. Usually I would go for Shade 1, which is the lightest. After using this Photo Filter Powder Foundation for a good few weeks, Shade 2 works just fine on my skin. The swirl on the top of the pan does disappear after quite some time but it takes a long time to totally disappear . I thought you would want to know that.

I didn’t know that this Photo Finish Powder Foundation is such a hit until I start doing a bit of a research. Again, this is not just an ordinary powder foundation. It’s a photo filter in a compact that was infused with light filter technology – says Smashbox. What it does is to diffuse light in various directions, blurring imperfections while keeping the subject in focus.

Now, the star of the product is the powder foundation itself BUT for me the star is also the special double-sided sponge that is included with the product. What’s so special about the sponge is that one side comes with some kind of short and fine hair aka the velvety side, while the other side is a smooth surface sponge. The sponge gave the powder foundation application two different coverage – Velvety Side for a natural looking sheer-to-medium coverage and Smooth Side for a demi-matte full coverage.

I started my experiment with the Smashbox Photo Filter Powder Foundation with none other than full coverage. Powder foundation generally doesn’t provide as good coverage as liquid foundation so I assumed this product is the same too and I decided I would use the Smooth Side sponge for a fuller coverage. To my surprise, the powder on the pan seems somewhat creamier than any other powder foundation I’ve ever used. I used the fold the sponge, dab + blend in small stroke, blending from the center of the face towards outwards as seen in this video. Now, it can get cakey towards middle of the day IF you apply more than 2 thick coats so the key to using this powder foundation is to use it moderately and as sheer as possible. If you plan to build coverage, start with a sheer layer. Do not just dab only. Must use the dab and blend technique.

Here is the Before and After comparison

It wasn’t until last week that I’ve been wondering about the type of coverage that the Velvety Side sponge gave. So I thought it would be interesting to show you how it looked like side by side.

What I notice was that the powder on my face using the Smooth Side sponge (full coverage) tend to oxidize just a tiny bit by the time I started applying on the other side using the Velvety Side sponge (medium coverage). Other than that, it doesn’t oxidize throughout the day. Application using the Velvety Side is easier for some reason. It may be the tiny fine hairs on the sponge that speed up the application. It also covers up every flaw on my face pretty well. In fact more than what I expected. Undeniably, the coverage is also much more smooth, while the full coverage side is demi-matte therefore the pores on my face is more visible.

I like that the powder is creamy but yet NOT causing my face to oil up at all. I also like that my face doesn’t look powdery. A powder foundation that is creamy, now…that’s my first

Does it gave me 2 different look on the face? Absolutely not. Once both side’s powder sets, I hardly can tell the difference. The coverage is absolutely superb. It adhere to the skin effortlessly as the polymers are created with medical-grade liquid bandage technology, which helps the powder to adhere to the skin all-day. It’s non-drying definitely, non-powdery, non-streaky, and non-cakey if you apply sheerly.

Whenever I’m using Photo Filter Powder Foundation, I skipped concealer all together. This is because the coverage of this powder is way better than I imagine so I normally would either use a smaller brush to do pin-point concealing or simply just use the sponge to dab more powder for coverage.

The Smashbox Photo Filter Powder Foundation reminds me of BareMinerals powder foundation but this one here is way more comfortable on the skin and easier to apply. It also doesn’t accentuate my larger than life pores like BareMinerals one does. I like that it keeps the oil at bay, provided you used it the right way.

Can you see why I like this so much? It’s flawless finishing!

Disclaimer: Product was sent to me for review consideration. This doesn’t affect my judgement in the review in any way.

The post Smashbox Photo Filter Powder Foundation: A versatile coverage photo filter compact foundation for flawless looking skin appeared first on Street Love. by Fiona