One of the most eagerly awaited launches of the season is always what’s new from Smashbox Cosmetics. There’s just something so perfectly wonderful about their high performance, on-trend collections with beautiful, wearable colors and formulas that feel very luxurious. Smashbox was born in the studio, but translates to the woman on the street, too. The Spring 2012 Color Collection is called: “Be Discovered” and it’s a smash. The vibe is soft, pastel, pretty. It’s a relief after the deep, intense, dark colors of the cooler months. Find your “inner pretty” with these products!
For lips, there are three new fashion-forward shades in the silky, creamy, Be Legendary Lipstick ($19.00). One is in the “must have” shade of orange/melon called ‘Melondrama” but it’s orange with enough “Creamsicle” so it doesn’t go to the crazy side of orange. “Pink Petal,” is a covet-able, bright clear pink (not too warm or cool) that reminds me of bright peonies. It is so fashion-forward, editors were nearly swooning to try it at the launch. But for those who eschew bold colors,”Honey” is a nude with enough color and a hint of warmth, so your lips look like lips and not like they’ve been covered in white out. The lipsticks arrive in seriously chic, black metal tubes with a pink “Smasbox” on the front. Inside, the formula has good-for-your-lips Vitamins A and E and shea butter and a unique moisture complex to keep you lips moisturized. More shades from the cream formula include: Legendary, Grenadine, Primrose, Pout, Posy Pink, Mandarin, Nylon Nude, Chai, Truffle,
Cognac, Mocha, Fig, Vivid Violet, Chestnut, Black Plum. The Matte shades with saturated color include: Matte Infrared, Matte Fuchsia Flash, Matte Electric Pink, and Matte Latte.
Spring is the perfect time to lighten up the colors of your eye makeup. The Smashbox Be Discovered Eye Shadow Palette ($44.00) features eight super-silky eye shadows (you can apply them with a fingertip because they’re so soft and smooth) in pastels that are neither too warm nor too cool. The shadows are either matte, or slightly perled, but not shiny or garish. The color choices are soft purple, ivory, peach, brown, taupe, copper, grey and eggshell. The color is long lasting, too. While these aren’t for a dark smoky eye, you can add more intensity with layering. But the point of this palette, I think, is to soften up and lighten up. This palette is perfect for bridal parties, and for special occasions when you want to put your “pretty” forward first. 
If you to add more color, definition and drama, try the Jet Set Waterproof Eye Liner and Brush Set ($22.00) with a gel-based waterproof formula that stays put (without parabens) so you can even use it on the inner eyelid. The set comes with a mini-sized (but serviceable) angeled liner brush and a little pot of beautiful color. The available shades are Intrigue, and Id. ol: a deep brown and a dark slate grey. This photo that I took at the event with my Blackberry is close to the actual colors, but the real ones are a little more vibrant.
The only thing better than a Smashbox blush, is three in one! The Cream Cheek Trio ($29.00): Sweep on one or more in a layer of the three cream blushes in this pinwheel, and liven up your complexion in seconds! “Showbiz” features a raspberry pink, bubble gum pink/peach, and a cool ivory highlight for you to play with. For warmer skin tones there’s “In Lights” with a coral, rose and warm highlight. No matter what your skin tone, all of these are flattering as these cream blushes can be as sheer or as intense as you wish. Play around and find your own special “formula” for beauty.
ONE MORE THING! Although it’s not specifically part of the Be Discovered Spring Collection, I am including the Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream SPF 35 ($39.00) in this review. I’m a stickler for products with SPF and this one is a must have! I know most people simply aren’t going to apply sunblock before leaving home in the morning, but when you wear face-enhancing products with enough SPF, it’s at least a small start in the right direction. This multi-tasking beauty product is a lightweight, fragrance-free formula with five skin-perfecting essentials in one tinted cream with enough SPF protection (SPF 35) to keep you covered for daily use. The tinted makeup feels creamy and can go on very sheer and blended out, or with more coverage. But no matter how you apply it, it’ll help protect your skin against the sun’s damaging rays, while it reduces the appearance of pores, evens out skin tone and gives your skin a natural (not crazy) glow.
If that’s not impressive enough, it also hydrates and keeps oily shine down throughout the day. These are the benefits you can see, but long term it may also help to reduce fine lines and wrinkles while it actually improves the hydration and look of your skin.
There are four shades: Fair, Light, Medium, and Dark, but by the time this review is live, there should also be a new color added: Light/Medium. Light was perfect for my light but not porcelain skin, so I’m guessing the new tint will be slightly darker but still do-able for those with reasonably fair skin. This little tube of BB do so much that it’s well worth it. I’m sold on this beautiful BB Cream!
WHERE TO FIND SMASHBOX: Smashbox.com, Sephora, Sephora inside JCPenny, Ulta, Nordstrom, Beauty.com, and select Macy’s
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