I’ve been liking Smashbox more and more lately and this bronzer I received in a value set from Sephora has not disappointed.  The Smashbox Fusion Soft Lights bronzers are supposed to give you a lit from within glow with a soft shimmer that doesn’t look overly glittery or shiny. I think these come in a few different shades but the one I have (Dusk) works beautifully on my skin tone. The texture of this powder is smooth and silky and blends easily.

At first glance I thought this might look too orange, but the color payoff is subtle but still gives me a noticeable warmth and glow. I wouldn’t recommend this for contouring because of the slight golden shimmer but the sparkle is barely noticeable when blended out.

I’ve also been loving this for eyeshadow. The powder is so soft and blends with zero effort. This product is awesome in the morning when I’m in a rush because I can use it all over my face and on my eyes. Depending on my mood I use my eyeshadow brush in all or just one or two of the shades and then I finish with my Tarte SmolderEYES liner in bronze and black mascara. Literally takes 1 minute!

The top shade is all the colors blended together

Things To Know:

1. For all over the face I like applying this with a fluffy Kabuki Brush

2. This has super fine golden sparkles in it. It won’t make you look like a disco ball though. The shimmer is very subtle

3. This product is a little pricey at $30.00 but you can use it as a bronzer and an eyeshadow so it won’t go to waste!

Shop:

Smashbox ‘Fusion’ Soft Lights

I feel like I have a ton of products I found myself reaching for this month so I’m excited to share them with you. My foundation routine hasn’t changed much, I’ve been mixing my CoverGirl Nature Luxe Foundation with my Makeup Forever HD so I didn’t include those products in this list!

The Body Shop Shea Body Butter: This is such an amazing product! It’s completely eliminated my dry skin, even when I forget to use it everyday. I only have a travel size of this but as soon as I run out I will be buying the full size version.

Crown Brush Buffing Brush: I’m not sure the exact name of this brush but I got it off hautelook for only 10 dollars! It’s buffs my foundation in flawlessly and is so soft.

Maybelline Great Lash Lots of Lashes Mascara: I’ve had this awhile but just recently rediscovered it. The brush for this is so good at seperating and defining lashes. The pointed tip makes it easy to get those inner corner lashes for a full fanned out effect.

Both my Tarte Mascaras, Gifted and Lights, Cameras, Lashes: I like using the Gifted mascara on days I want a soft but full lash look and Lights, Cameras, Lashes when I want something slightly more dramatic. I actually layer these quite often as well.

Smashbox Photo Set Finished Powder: This is a must-have HG product for me now.

Revlon Lip Butter in Shade Creamsicle: Great everyday color, easy to wear with everything.

Your Best Friend Automatic Eye Brow Pencil in Universal Taupe: This is my favorite and quickest way to fill in my brows now. This color matches doesn’t look to warm on me and I like that I don’t have to sharpen this pencil.

Tarte SmolderEYES Waterproof Liner: This came in a Tarte set I bought a few weeks back and gives you a gorgeous dramatic smokey eye in about 2 seconds. Plus this lasts all day with no smudging.

Maybelline EyeStudio Gel Liner in Blackest Black: I’ve been using this for a dramatic winged liner look. It’s really easy to work with and doesn’t flake on me.

Tarte Park Ave Princess Bronzer: This is the perfect all over bronzer. Their is slight shimmer in this but it doesn’t show up when I buff this all over my face. It really warms up my complexion without looking orange and I’ll be purchasing the full-size of this when this little mini I have runs out. Definitely one of my favorite bronzers of all time.

Physicians Formula Happy Booster Blush in Warm: I adore this blush! It’s a warm peachy shade that can be built up to a more orange glow if you desire ( Which I do, it actually looks really beautiful) I wear this almost everyday.

Tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Illuminating Serum: I’ve been mixing this in with my foundation to add a glowy finish without looking greasy or shiny. This is also supposed to have a lot of skin benefits which is always a plus. I want the full-size of this product as well!

Revlon ColorStay Quad in the shade Inspire: The colors in this are surprising wearable and the navy shade makes the perfect eyeliner. I really surprised myself with how often I’ve been reaching for this!

Rimmel Glam’Eyes Trio in Orion: Great for a neutral eye. Works really well with the Tarte eyeliner!

Lorac Lipgloss in Vintage: This gloss smells so good! It’s a great neutral lip gloss that is pigmented enough to wear alone but also looks great over other nude lip products

1. With the light brown shade all over my lid and then the dark brown as a liner along my upper and lower lash line. I use the cream as my brow highlight.

2. With the darkest brown all over my lid and then the light brown shade as a blending color in my crease. Then a little of the dark brown along my lower lashline.

3. With the dark brown shade in my outer v area and then the highlight shade in the center and inner corner of my eye.

The color payoff of these is actually alot better than what appears in the swatches. I find I can skip eyeliner and just use the darkest shade when I want to define my lash line. These blend so easily and have little to no fall out when I use them. The packaging says these shades work best for blue eyes but I think the browns really highlight the green in my eyes. This is my second time purchasing this trio so I really recommend it.

SHOP:

Rimmel London Glam Eye Shadow Trio

My overall thoughts, I do like the formula of these compared to most of my Maybelline or CoverGirl lipsticks. The colors I have are very pigmented, don’t feather outside my lipline or slip around too much and feel light on my lips. I love how wearable the reds and nudes in this collection are. You don’t need lipliner or gloss with these and the packaging feels very high-end. My 3 complaints, you don’t get very much product and because of how creamy these are I find they can get very messy in the tube ( I purposely didn’t clean mine off so you could see what I mean). Also, if my lips aren’t exfoliated this formula really highlights any imperfections in my lips. I also own peach parfait but it was in my car so I didn’t have it to photograph or swatch. I will repurchase all of these colors when I run out

The colors I own:

Creamsicle: A peachy nude that I LOVE! This is such an easy to wear color and looks great with a warm smokey eye. This has no shimmer.

Creme Brulee: The most true nude in the collection. This applies slightly beigey on me and can wash me out if I don’t apply a gloss over it. This has no shimmer.

Candy Apple: The name says it all, this is a bright candy apple red and probably my favorite red out of all my lipsticks. This is opaque but looks because it’s a moisturizing formula it doesn’t look pasty or dry on your lips ( does that make sense?) I feel like it’s easy to wear and looks so pretty with a neutral eye and winged eyeliner. No shimmer

Red Velvet: A dark red that looks really pretty for an evening look. Probably the most opaque in this collection. No shimmer.

Cupcake: A bright cool-toned pink. This looks very pretty on but looks fairly frosty in certain lights. Contains shimmer.

Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter, Creamsicle

This is one of those products I wish I had never tried because it’s pricey but now that I’ve used it I can’t live without it. This retails for around 30 dollars and can be purchased anywhere that sells Smashbox.

This is a micro-fine translucent powder that I use after I’ve applied my foundation.  I was kind of skeptical of its “airbrushing” capabililities but this really softens the appearance of pores and lines. It blurs any imperfections you might have without looking like you’ve added anything extra to your skin.  It also drastically reduces the amount I have to powder throughout the day, even more than my Urban Decay setting spray, this keeps my t-zone shine free for hours. I’ve read that if you have decent skin you could apply this without needing foundation to give yourself a glowy flawless face. I have tried this without foundation and while it does eliminate shine, minimize my pores and soften any imperfections it’s translucent so it provides no coverage over scarring or red spots.

I like applying this with a big soft kabuki brush after my foundation has dried.  It also helps tame down blush if you apply to much. You definitely don’t need a lot of this product, just a quick swirl in the lid of the jar and I have enough to cover my face.

This product also contains SPF 15.

I love using this with my Makeup Forever HD foundation. Those 2 products combined probably give me the best looking skin I’ve ever had.

So while this is a pricier item I think it’s worth the splurge. Setting your makeup with regular powder is fine, but this gives you a much smoother, polished finish and literally eliminates shine for me the entire day. I’ve never had a product do that for me before. This is definitely a HG product!

Smashbox Finishing Powder

From left to right:

Smitten: A creamy mid-tone plum. This goes on very opaque and is definitely a statement color. No shimmer.

Temptress: A bright warm pink. Very opaque and has no shimmer.

Darling: A mauvey nude with barely there shimmer. This would probably be a “my lip but better” shade for a lot of people.

Sweetheart: A light pink with shimmer.

Delish: A nude that wears slightly on the orange side. No shimmer, nice opaqueness

I never wear a gloss over these, they all have natural shine to them. My favorite to wear of these is Temptress! It looks so nice with a tan and is perfect for summer

Madison Mauve, Temptress, Darling, Sweetheart, Delish

Shop these lipsticks at the link below:

Covergirl Lip Perfection Lipstick Temptation

Colors starting from the left:

Peachy Scene: This is a pinky peach shimmer

Warm Me Up: A mauvey nude, very wearable and doesn’t make you look sick. No shimmer.

Coral Crush: A pigmented reddish coral that’s very bright. This would work great for anyone who is too afraid to wear a true red lip but still wants a bold look. No shimmer.

Coral Lustre: A sheer coral with microscopic shimmer. Would look great with a tan!

Tigerlily Treat: Currently my favorite pink. This is a mid-tone pink with no shimmer.

Madison Mauve: Probably my most wearable plum shade. This goes on slightly sheer and has some shimmer flecks.

Red Revival: A deep brick red shade. This color is super pigmented and rich looking. I always use a brush with this lipstick or it makes a mess.

The first set of swatches was taken with flash and the second in indoor light. While some of these don’t contain shimmer I still wouldn’t consider any of these a true matte finish. They all have a bit of sheen and shine to them, you don’t need any gloss with these.

Cleansers I have been loving:

L’oreal Go Clean 360 Deep Exfoliating Scrub: This is the wash I’ve been using in the shower. This has been doing a good job at buffing away dead skin cells and leaving my skin looking more polished. I actually really like the little scrublet thingy that this comes with and I use it with other face washes as well. I’m not sure how well this works at unclogging pores but I have been seeing almost zero breakouts in recent weeks.

Neutrogena Deep Clean Long-Last Shine Control Daily Scrub: This is the cleanser I love using in the morning. I feel like it really works at controlling excess oil on my face throughout the day, therefore helping my makeup last longer! This is also supposed to be a deep-pore cleanser and I do notice my pores seem less visible since I started using this stuff. This contains very small exfoliating beads to help improve skin texture. Most days I use the L’oreal Go Clean scrublet to buff this onto my face before rinsing with warm water.

Aveeno Positively Radiant Brightening Cleanser: One of my main skin concerns is hyper-pigmentation from old acne scars so I wanted to introduce a brightening wash into my routine. This is a really creamy cleanser that is great to use when my skin needs a break from exfoliating. I use this on nights I don’t shower and just use my fingers to massage it onto my face. This is supposed to help improve skin tone and texture and is really gentle.

Toner:

Neutrogena Acne Stress Control Triple Action Toner: I use this day and night after washing my face. This is the only actual Acne Control product I’ve been using and it seems to be doing the trick at keeping breakouts at bay. This contains Salicylic Acid which I find works best on my type of breakouts. My skin feels super refreshed and clean after I use this without that tight feeling some toners seem to leave me with. My only complaint is I’m not crazy about the smell, it’s super sweet but still kind of medicinal smelling.

Makeup Remover:

shu uemura White Recovery Ex brightening cleansing oil:  This stuff works so well at removing makeup. I just rub a little onto my face and eyes and the makeup just melts off.  After you’ve massaged it into your skin add a little warm water to create a lather and then rinse off. I like to leave this on a minute or two to really work on my skin.  My skin feels soft, smooth and balanced when I wash this off. Not oily or tight or sticky. It’s amazing.

Twice Weekly Mask: 

Dermalogica Gentle Cream Exfoliant 2.5 oz.: I purchased this because one of my favorite make-up artists Lisa Eldrige recommended this as a great, gently exfoliating mask. It contains Alpha and Beta hydroxy acids and natural fruit enzymes to eat away at dead skin cells without being abrasive or harsh on your skin. I use this after washing my face usually twice a week. Just apply and let dry for 10-15 minutes then rinse away with warm water. This has no bells or whistles to it, it’s just a boring white paste, no fragrance or gimmicks,  but I do notice my skin is smoother and brighter after using this so it’s worth the buy.

Moisturizer:

Pond’s Ponds Clarant B3 Anti-Dark Moisturizing Cream, For Normal to Dry Skin, 7oz Jars (Pack of 2): I randomly stumbled across this at Target one night and bought it on a whim. It’s a cream moisturizer that is supposed to improve skin tone in 2 weeks and lighten dark spots in 4. Since using this I’ve noticed a drastic difference in the appearance of my old acne scarring. It’s much more faded and in some spots has completely disappeared. I was worried this might leave me feeling greasy or that it might break me out but it absorbs into my skin quickly and has not irritated my skin at all. I use this day and night after my toner and apply it all over my face and then add another layer over any areas with bad dark spots and scarring. It’s Made in Mexico and almost all of the writing on the jar is in Spanish but if you can find it don’t be intimidated by the odd packaging and give it a try!

I purchased all three shades available at the store, Fair/Light 230, Light 245, Medium 430. These really do change to better match your skin when applied so you can play around with the colors for different areas of your face  and customize the use of these. I like to use Fair/Light under my eyes, and Light over hyper-pigmenation, and when I’m tan Medium works well for me. I can also use these to contour and highlight in a pinch.

From Top to Bottom: Medium, Light, Fair/Light

The applicator is a squeeze tube/brush which works pretty well. I usually squeeze the product onto my finger and then dab onto my face where needed.

The thing I like most about this product is how easily it blends into my skin. I apply where needed and then just tap it in with my beauty blender sponge and it’s practically invisible. It works great under my eyes but can also be used all over my face so it’s super vesatile and quick to use.

The texture of these is very creamy. It’s not dry or waxy at all so it doesn’t look cakey or too thick but it still covers well.  These can be hard to find in stores, I was excited when I saw these at CVS but if you can find them I highly recommend trying them out.

The biggest con of these is I go through them kind of quickly. A tube of the Light which I use most often (almost everyday) lasts me about a month and a half.

Things To Know:

1. This is one of the most versatile concealers I own. It works all over the face and under the eyes and I can use these to contour and highlight when I need to.

2. This concealer has a creamy texture but doesn’t slip or slide too much. It won’t settle in fine lines either and it doesn’t break down my mascara.

3. I wouldn’t say this is particularly long-lasting or water-proof but if you set your face with a powder these should wear as long as your foundation.

4. I prefer blending these out with my beauty blender or fingers.

5. I do notice that the colors of these adjusts slightly when I apply it to my face. The back of each concealer also lists which Rimmel foundation it matches best with.

If you can’t find these in store you can purchase on-line using the link below!

Match Perfect Skin Tone Adapting Concealer

MAC Warm Soul Blush

Korres Pomegranate Mattifying Treatment

Smashbox Shades of Fame Eye Shadow Palette

Lorac Lips With Benefits Lip Gloss in Chuck