Smashbox Photo Op Palette: Softbox with Turquoise

I've been seeing a lot of gorgeous eye looks that are basically neutral with a pop of bright color under the eyes, so I thought I'd try one, using my holy grail product: the smashbox Photo Op Mega Palette.

I used the Softbox quad you can see at the bottom of the above picture. I put Fizz all over my lids, Pebble in the crease, Minx in a wedge shape on the outer edge of the lid, and Sienna along the upper lash line.

I used smashbox Full Exposure mascara, and then lined the eyes all around with Midnight Brown gel liner (see below.) But I left the space from the middle toward the tear duct free and filled it in with the Turquoise Eye liner pencil. I sealed it with some Physician's Formula eye shadow in a similar color from the Green Eye Pop palette.

I used the blonde and taupe shades shown below (third row down) on my eyebows, applying the wax, and then mixing the shades onto my brows with an angled brush from my Real Techniques collection.

I also used the Warm Apricot blush on my cheeks

I like the way the turquoise in the middle pops the green shades in my eyes.
The glitter in the NYX pencil likes to travel a bit, though.

Here are the pencils I used around my lash lines:

Sephora Flashy Liner Waterpoof in 08 Flashy Blue
NYX Slide on Pencil in 02 Black Sparkle

Sephora Flashy Liner Waterpoof in 08 Flashy Blue
NYX Slide on Pencil in 02 Black Sparkle

So, Lovely Ladies over 40, would you try this pop of bright color on your lash line? What do you think?

I think it would also be cool with an emerald or spring or dragonfly green.

Thanks for reading my post. Share your thoughts about this new trend below!

Cheers!

:)BeautyJones

smashbox Photo Op Mega Palette:

I love color, but some days, neutrals totally rock!

Smashbox Photo Op Auto Focus Eye Shadow Trio

With this mauvey-rose colored top, a neutral eye, and some pink blush and a soft pink lip

No one loves bright pretty colors more than me, but with a monochromatic look based on neutrals  you can achieve such subtle effects.

This makeup look uses browns and tans flushed with pink, so even the slightest hint of a brighter shade, like the posy-pink blush, and the poppy-pink lip, really jumps out. Just a bit of contrast in color becomes a bit dramatic, especially on a look meant for daytime.

I love this mauve top. I got it down at the Terranea Resort, where they sell really beautiful yoga wear.
These flat cultured pearls are a peachy-cream color, with shades of turquoise and green in the light—those subtle shades are more visible because of the monochromatic look.

The Products: This look is almost completely out of the smashbox Photo Op Megapalette:

Cheeks: Posy Pink

Lips: Bitten gloss

Eyes:

Photo Op Auto Focus:

• Champagne: A shimmery cream, all over lid from lash line to brow bone
• Flamingo: Not well named, sorry, smashbox. Anything named 'Flamingo' ought to be bright peachy pink. This is a more conventional shimmery peach with some rose tones. I do really like this shade.  I just have this OCD issue about naming things. I put this on the lid up to the crease
• Java: A matte deep brown. This should not blend as easily as it does. Matte shades are notoriously hard to blend.  Not this little beauty. I put this along the lash line, and in a soft wedge on outer lid blended up into the crease. Seriously, the ease of blending saves so much time and stress. Did I mention I am in love with this palette?
• Midnight Brown cream eyeliner, from Photo Op Mega Palette.  I just washed this out of my bdellium angled eyeliner brush, and it is so darned pigmented. Getting it out took some doing. But I don't mind. That pigmentation means you can do a brown rather than black, and keep the look soft but still strong.
• Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara in jet black. In terms of control, lack of clumping, and coverage, this is still the best mascara I've ever owned.

Here are some money shots of the palette:

Auto Focus is in the center. Now would you call that center shade 'Flamingo?' Way too subtle for that.
I"d call it Bermuda Sand.

So, Happy Friday before a 3-day weekend, every body!

I hope this post was fun and interesting, and gives you some ideas for your own daily face. Drop me a line, let me know what you think.

Also, follow me on Twitter at @BeautyJonesToo. I post Instagram shots and little reviews when I pick up random items from the CVS and Ulta, and other cool beauty spots.So much stuff to share, makeup and beauty-wise.

Have a great day, and if you are in L.A. like I am, be careful in the rain!

Cheers!

:)BeautyJones

Review: Smashbox Mascara and Lip Stain

Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara in Jet Black

 I recently ordered a mini-haul from the Smashbox site.  Here's what I ordered:

• Smashbox Shades of Fame Reflection High Gloss Collection (Review to come at a later date)
• Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara in Jet Black
• Smashbox Limitless Lip Stain and Color Seal Balm in Sangria

Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara in Jet Black

Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara in Jet Black: The Label

Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara in Jet Black: The Wand

 THE MASCARA:

• Goes on in thin layers
• The wand, although large, isn't awkward to use
• Absolutely no clumping
• One coat covers all of the lashes on one eye
• Virtually no smearing onto the eyelids!
• The color is black, but I think could be a bit more blackest black
• Multiple applications add drama; layering works
• On my blondie-brown lashes, multiple coats are necessary
• I would rather do multiple coats than try to separate ugly scary clumps, as I always had to do with my Stila Lash Visor Waterproof stuff
• This mascara isn't waterproof, but later that night at a club, my friends played a really beautiful moving song about Moms, and I really cried, and it didn't run.  How is that possible??? NO TAMMY FAYE!
• Verdict: 4.5 stars out of 5. Love this!!!

 SMASHBOX LIMITLESS LIP STAIN AND COLOR SEAL BALM IN SANGRIA:

• Love this deep berry red shade
• Stain applies easily and with precision
• Balm has a nice texture
• Last 4 hours on me
• Wish the Balm end retracted so that when I pull the cap off, I don't risk dinging up that nice smooth balm stick
• Verdict: 5 out of 5 stars. This is the real deal.  The Cadillac of long-wearing 2-step lippies!!!

Just Mascara, Foundation, brow pencil, Sangria Lip Stain, and Cinema Secrets White Cream Shadow

 Above, freshly applied mascara, and lippie.

In the golden light of my bathroom, the Sangria Lip Stain looks true red, although it's a more berry color in most other lights.

 See those precise lines on the lippie?

After finishing the face at the office

 An hour or two later, the color has settled a bit into the lines on my lips, but I don't know a product that doesn't do this. Color is going strong!

Copper Shade from my Pop Beauty Eye Shadow Palette, and some evident shine on my nose.

 Oh, that bluish light in my office is hell on my dark circles!

Lip Stain/Balm at midday, 4 hours after original application.

 Midday, and time for another coat of Sangria!  Not the beverage, the stain & balm, of course!

Full Outfit: My pink is in the scarf. Weight Watchers is working! I'm only 5-7 lbs from my goal weight!

 I love this scarf! These jeans are too loose! Yay!

My Pink Instagram. Toluca Lake is full of gorgeous pink blooms this time of year!!!

Smashbox Shades of Fame Reflection High Shine Lip Gloss - Review coming soon!

 

 

Cheers, BeautyJonesers!