Smashbox Try It Kit | Review & First Impression + Dupes

Hi guys, 

back again with another review.

This time I am going to talk about some Smashbox products.

I have to admit I have never owned (or used) one Smashbox product before so this really is a 'first impression'.

Walking through Arnotts, one of the make up department stores in Dublin this small stand at Smashbox counter has caught my eye. It was the Smashbox Try It Kit, which is a set of small sized bestselling products from this brand.

It includes 5 'bestselling' products and costs €22.00, which is quite a decent price for High End make up set considering that You are actually getting a generous amount of each product, even though they are meant to be "sample" sized. 

I have not actually picked up the product the first time I have seen it as I was not sure about it, but I have recently discovered that Boots in Liffey Valley has added the Smashbox stand to their Premium Brands collection and since I get 10% off with student discount I thought I might as well try it out.

As I have mentioned before, this set consists of 5 products which include foundation primer, eyeshadow base, eyeliner, mascara and a lipgloss.

The first product is the World's known Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer (0.25fl.oz./7.1ml)

It is meant to "Smooth the appearance of fine lines and pores while creating a flawless canvas for make up application."

It comes out clear as you can see in the picture below:

 

This primer is very lightweight and goes on the skin very smoothly. I will keep using it to see what my final opinion on this is and whether I will re-purchase it in the full size.

The second product is the Photo Finish Lid Primer. (0.02 fl.oz./0.5ml)

 "Instantly smooth and perfect lids with this ultra luxurious formula to keep shadow last all day."

 It comes out as a nude/skin colour. It is also creamy and quite light on the skin. After using it for the first time I must say it did keep my shadow on all day as it claims to, but my Urban Decay Primer Potion does the same job and I don't think there is anything special about it, although I do really like it. 

Next is  the Limitless Eye Liner in Onyx.(0.03 oz./0.08g)

It is a "waterproof, long wearing eye liner that won't smudge or budge for up to 8 hours." as the producent claims.

This eyeliner has a very deep black colour. It has stayed on my waterline for the whole day and it really did not move! Quite impressing. It goes on very smoothly and is very easy to work with.

It also really reminds me of my Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliner Pencil in Zero. The same texture and finish. And the amount of product there is I am definitely going to get a good amount of use out of it.

Another product that You get in this set is the Full Exposure Mascara.(0.14fl.oz./4ml)

 This mascara is meant to help You "Expose your longest, fullest lashes with no clumps, no flakes. Just maximum-impact, scene-stealing lashes."

This mascara has a HUUUGE wand. It looks very simple, like any other mascara that you could find in a drugstore or some high end products(Very similar to Dior Show Mascara), but the formulation is quite impressive. I really have experienced no clumps, but to achieve the length I had to apply good few (3-4) coats. Mascara did not flake onto my under eye area and stayed on truly black colour all day with the just-applied finish. I am really liking this after the first use, but the final opinion will come within next few uses.

And the last (and my Fave) product is the Lip Enhancing Gloss in Illume.(0.14fl.oz./4.20ml)

 The shade that is presented in this kit is meant to be Smashbox's best selling shade. It is a nude coloured gloss with tiny light reflecting particles. The colour is very pretty and would definitely suit any skin tone as it actually ends up matching your own lip colour in my opinion. It looked really pretty applied over a nude coloured lipliner or over the Angel Lipstick from M.a.c. that I have worn with it today. It is a non-sticky, lightweight and very easy to apply lip gloss. Definitely my favourite product out of all these. You are also getting a good amount of product there.

Final verdict:

Definitely a nice kit to try out. Nice way of introducing the products to a customer with a decent price. Products are really good quality, nice amount of product in each allows to really try out the product.  Very universal shades that will suit all skin tones. Nice sleek packaging, same as the original sized products. Do get this set if You are curious about trying out Smashbox products. Trying out this kit has definitely encouraged me to pick up more Smashbox Make up products soon.

Hope You find this helpful,

talk soon, A. X

Nars Sheer Glow Foundation | Review & Colour Dupe !

Hi guys,

long time no talk.

I have not posted anything as I have lost a bit of motivation for writing. 

Recently I have picked up my second bottle of Nars Sheer Glow Foundation and I thought I would share my opinions with you.

 

(the one on the left is the old bottle and the one on the right is the new)

So my story with this foundation has begun few months ago when everyone was raving about this on YouTube (as it usually is with new make up products I get).

I was really skeptical about getting another High End foundation as my experience with the M.A.C. foundation was not the best and it was a whopping € 36,50 spent on a foundation that I've probably used 10 times and almost the whole bottle of it is still standing there decorating (as this is the only use it's making) my make up collection.

This time I was a bit smarter and before I decided to spend another bunch of
€€'s ( it costs €40.00) I have asked for a sample. The girl at the Nars counter in Brown Thomas was lovely and she really took time to help me with the shade of foundation. She gave me a small glass bottle of the colour Ceylan and told me to try it out and if the shade was not right, I'd come back and she'd give me another sample. The sample lasted me for around 3-4 applications (which is quite a generous sample in my opinion !).

It was love at first sight ( application hehe ;) ) ! 

The colour I have got matched with is yellow based and it really helps to cancel out the redness of my complexion. The girl at the Nars counter also told me that majority of their foundations are yellow/peachy colour based. The consistency is quite runny/liquid'y and goes on very smoothly and quite sheer (hence the name of the product). You are getting 1 Fl. Oz./30ml of the product.With the first application you receive very natural even finish. The foundation also feels very light on the skin and this is a massive +, as you don't really feel like you are wearing a foundation at all.  The foundation is very build-able and easy to work with and few more layers you can receive a flawless full-coverage finish. I usually stick to 2-3 thin layers of foundation.

I have heard that it is good to apply this foundation with your fingertips but I tend to use either my Real Techniques Face Expert or the Real Techniques Buffing Brush and I get a flawless almost airbrushed finish.

 The previous bottle has lasted me for around 4-5 months with sometimes everyday sometimes on and off use (and I'm pretty sure there's still a good 1-2 applications left in the old bottle I have.

Also I have heard that some people with dry skin did not find the foundation good, but I have very dry skin and with a good moisturiser and primer (never apply your foundation directly onto not moisturised/primed skin). It worked well for me both when applying it straight after moisturiser or also when using primer too.

In my opinion it is one of the best High End foundations, great colour match, no unpleasant fragrance, really good consistency and you are getting a great amount of product. Definitely worth trying out ! If the price (€40.00) is scaring you off, go up to the counter and ask for a sample ! :)

Also I have recently found a great colour dupe for the colour Ceylan that I am using. I was on a hunt for a cheap alternative with the same colour benefits and I have found the Lorea'l True Match Foundation in colour W2/Golden Vanilla.

It is a perfect match ! And the texture, consistency and finish are quite similar for  1/4 of the price ( I got it for €10.04 with a 33% reduction that was going on in one of the pharmacies :)) so I couldn't resist trying it out. Definitely a great Everyday-use alternative ! 

 As you can tell from the picture above, even the colours in the bottles look the very same !

 And above there's the swatch of the Nars Sheer Glow in Ceylan.

 And here you've got the Nars Sheer Glow in Ceylan on the left and Lorea'l True Match in W2/Golden Vanilla.

Hope you find this review helpful,

I will be reviewing more products soon. 

Talk soon, A.