As one of the LiB team’s iconic brands, as featured in our amazing 10 Year Anniversary ICONS box, Smashbox is our go-to for a flawless complexion, and it all starts with the brand’s notorious range of primers. Haven’t had the opportunity to try it? Pick up the ICONS box while stocks last and see the results instantly. To celebrate all that we love about Smashbox, we’ve teamed up with an esteemed SMASHBOX makeup artist to show you how to take your look from day-to-night in a flash, ensuring your makeup lasts, whether in the office or in front of the camera…
DAYTIME CHIC
The secret to a flawless complexion is primer, and Smashbox’s all-encompassing formulas are just the thing to keep your makeup looking fresh all day. Essentially working to fill in the ‘cracks’, the transparent Smashbox Photo Finish Primer gel provides an even surface texture so that products can be layered seamlessly on top. This handy travel-size tube doesn’t stray far from our makeup bags; it smooths skin, blurs flaws – and ultimately – helps our makeup look better and last longer, whether in the office or in front of the camera. Simply use your fingers to smooth a pea-sized amount onto your skin.
The next step is to ace that base and to do this we used Smashbox’s Studio Skin 15 Hour Wear Hydrating Foundation and mixed to shades (2.1 and 1.15) for a customer shade. Since skin tone is individual to each of us, we’d always recommend getting shade matched and not shying away from mixing different shades for the perfect match. This high-performing liquid foundation never settles into pores or lines and won’t oxidise. This long-lasting formula is available in 40 shades, so whatever your skin tone, there’s a look for you. For a chic daytime look, start off light, allowing you to add subsequent layers for the evening.
Once your foundation has settled into your skin, it’s time to tackle any imperfections or darkness under the eyes with Smashbox’s Studio Skin Concealer. Apply in a triangle shape under the eyes and blend outwards for a natural-matte finish that lasts for 24 hours. The waterproof, hydrating and oil-free formula flawlessly camouflages imperfects while subtly sculpting the lighter areas of the face.
Whether it’s for a day or evening look, we’re partial to a wash of colour on our lids, but before we can get creative with our favourite eyshadow palettes, it’s beneficial to prime your eyelids with Smashbox’s Photo Finish Lid Primer. Using shade Light (four other shades available), sweep over the lids with a brush or your finger, blending outwards to cover any pigmentation or veins. This shadow-enhancing lid primer will work to instantly intensify colour while keeping your shadow locked in place and looking freshly applied for eight hours.
Keep it natural for day time by sweeping one shade over your lid to subtly enhance your eyes. Using Smashbox’s Photo Edit Eye Shadow Trio in #GOALS, sweep the copper sheen metallic hue over the lid and blend outwards with a fluffy brush. These ultra-portable, mini eye palettes come in a range of wearable naturals, curated colour combinations and finishes to easily create day-to-night looks.
No look is complete without ensuring your brows are on point (and more importantly, last all day) and Smashbox’s Brow Tech Matte Pencil provides the utmost control for carving out and defining your brows, ultimately pulling your look together. Once you’ve opted for the right shade (Blonde, Brunette, Dark Brown or Taupe) draw fine hair strokes with the ultra-slim, long-wearing pencil to emulate real brow hair. Brush product through your brows using the spool end to disperse colour evenly and achieve the shape you’ve been eyeing. It’s a total brow-wow-wow!
If you know you’re going from the office to after work drinks, you’re going to want to prepare as much as your look without going too overboard. Contouring will add the right amount of shade and light to your complexion while gently sculpting your features. Smashbox’s Step by Step Contour sticks are perfect for targeting face shaping. Take the creamy contour sticks and blend below your cheekbones, side of your nose, chin and temples for a flawless chiselled look.
Once you’ve sculpted your look, use Smashbox’s The Cali Contour Palette to add some dimension with bronze and blusher. Lightly dust bronzer over your where you’ve previously used the contour crayon, before brushing the cheeks with a subtle hint of blush. This easy-to-use contour kit is pigment-packed with blendable highlighter, bronzer and blush powders. Use these versatile shades to create an effortlessly lifted neutral look or a warm, just cruised-down-the-coast glow!
EVENING GLAM
To up the ante of your look for evening, the best place to start is your eyes, deepening the crease and adding more colour for impact. You can do this by using the same eyeshadow trio as before and using the darker matte shade in the crease and outer corners, before layering a metallic shade and bringing it under the lower lash line to tie the look together. It’s now the perfect time to make eyes pop with Smashbox’s Always Sharp Waterproof Kohl Liner in Black. This creamy kohl pencil maintains a precise tip by automatically self-sharpening with every twist of the cap. Run this along the upper lash line and smudge outwards with a sponge blender.
For high impact, you’re going to want to go all out on your lashes. Don’t worry, no falsies are needed; simply apply Smashbox’s bestselling Super Fan Mascara by gently wiggly from the root of your lashes and watch as your lashes are transformed. This lengthening mascara gives you modern, fanned-out volume for up to 12 hours without any heaviness or clumping. Now you can hit the dance floor without the worry of the not-so-chic panda eyes…
For a fuller, punchier pout, first line the lips with Smashbox’s Always Sharp Lip Liner in Nude Medium, while shading your lips (yes, it’s really that soft). Follow with the brand’s Be Legendary Liquid Lip (we used the shade Bad B) for a powerful nude hue that provides the full coverage of a lipstick and the high shine of a gloss in a single coat. Voila! You’re now ready for evening drinks and beyond.
Do you swear by primer in your routine? Have any top tips? Let us know on Twitter. Don’t forget to tag us in your SMASHBOX looks using #LIBICONS.
