Tag: Smashbox

On the Search for the Perfect Foundation: Smashbox Studio Skin

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Smashbox’s Studio Skin

Cost: $42.00 US Dollars

Available exclusively at your local Sephora.

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Description: “Stay flawless for 15 hours with this photo shoot secret for picture-perfect skin. This long-wearing, hydrating formula blurs imperfections using light-diffusing, encapsulated pigment spheres, and delivers natural-looking, buildable medium-to-full coverage. Its sweat-free, transfer-proof, humidity-resistant formula keeps skin hydrated and shine-free all day.”

First Impression: I like that the foundation shades are yellow-based and not pink. Foundations used to be pink-based and they always looked unnatural and pasty on any wearer (think of foundation from the 60s). Studio Skin smells like sunscreen and also has another chemical-based scent that I can’t quite put my finger on. It’s a liquid foundation that falls between watery and creamy when it comes to texture. It is highly pigmented, buildable, and does produce a very natural finish. I found that when taking photos while wearing Studio Skin, this foundation photographs very well and does give you that airbrushed effect.

SPF: None. (One of the reasons why it photographs so well. Be sure to wear sunscreen though.)

Shade: Smashbox has 12 shades available and since they are yellow-based, there is a bigger chance that you’ll find something that matches you perfectly. I matched myself to be a 2.4 Natural Beige although if given more time, I can find a better match. This one is nearly perfect but I may have to go one shade higher. I’m crazy about having the perfect match and I literally won’t wear a foundation if it doesn’t blend in with my skin tone and look good with the rest of my body.

Shade 2.4
Shade 2.4

Finish: Natural. Smashbox’s Studio Skin emulates skin at it’s natural state. There is no excessive shine or glow. It just looks like healthy skin. This foundation is great because sometimes you don’t want all the bells and whistles. You just want a foundation that covers everything without looking like you’re wearing anything.

Texture: The texture is normal when it comes to what a liquid foundation feels like. It’s not thin and watery like Chanel’s Vitalumiere nor is it dense like Lancome’s Photogenic Lumessence. I dotted the foundation on my cheeks, forehead, nose, and chin and that was enough for me when it came to full face application. It is blendable until it sets. Remember, this is a 15-hour wear foundation so you know whatever it is that is in there is going to make it stay all day. So work fast and work diligently.

Coverage: Smashbox, like MUFE, are known for creating products that look good even in HD. Their products are camera-ready so I am not surprised to find how pigmented Studio Skin is despite the fact that it still has the ability to look like skin. It has medium to full coverage although I’ll say you easily end up with full coverage at any rate. It covered all of my blemishes and even my broken capillaries (facial veins).

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Workable: Very workable in my opinion. Like I said earlier, just make sure you do it before it sets (it’ll set in about five minutes so you have a lot of time).

Longevity: It’s marketed as a foundation that will last 15 hours so there is definitely no need for any setting powder (I think that would actually dry your skin out). It is sweat-free (I don’t sweat), humidity-resistant (a must for anyone who lives in Atlanta), hydrating (I hope so!) and keeps you shine-free all day. It does not transfer at all once it sets so I’m actually quite happy about that. I’ll update on how this foundation did by the end of the day in the postscript.

Application: I applied this foundation with my fluffy mineral powder brush and with my fingers as well.

Type of skin: This foundation is oil-free and hydrating so I think it’s suitable for all skin types. It does tend to lift at the edges of those flaky patches so I think a hydrating mist will be needed throughout the day. I actually have the worst skin today because of the foundation I tested yesterday (Dior Skin Nude … I’ll update on it’s review article and explain everything). I have a terrible dry patch in the area between my nose and my lips (usually my problem area) and Studio Skin is doing pretty well with not drying out or irritating that area. It doesn’t feel tight around that area, but it’s just that if you look really close (like an inch from my face), you’ll see faint outlines of those patches of skin. I think Smashbox is doing a great job keeping my skin hydrated because NARS Sheer Glow always dries out my dry patches of skin. Anyway, I think this foundation would be great for any skin type as long as you thoroughly take it off at night. Also, once it sets, it doesn’t feel tacky like Dior Skin Nude does. It makes your skin feel really smooth and cool.

Packaging: Smashbox Studio Skin comes in a cylindrical glass bottle with a black pump.

The Verdict: Smashbox Skin Studio is a definite yes for me. I will be purchasing this foundation after the marathon and I’ll use it for those hot, humid days, on days when I need all day wear, and probably on days when my skin is feeling better (I recommend never wearing foundation when your skin is feeling bad. However, I have to work and see hundreds of people every day so I don’t really have an option). Since there is no excess shine, I find that my blush, lipstick, etc. really pop and stand out. Studio Skin reminds me of MAC Cosmetics and MUFE so I am glad that this foundation does actually deliver what it intends to do. I’ll test the shade that it one shade lighter than this one to see if I like it more. If I don’t, 2.4 will be the shade that I stick with. I highly recommend Smashbox Studio Skin.

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It sells for $42 and this is worth. I honestly can’t stop looking at my face!

For more information on Studio Skin, check out this link below:

http://www.sephora.com/studio-skin-15-hour-wear-foundation-P292403?skuId=1349380

Tomorrow’s review will be about Korres’ Antiageing Foundation. The cast member at Sephora highly recommended it so I had to try it. Take care and see you all tomorrow. :D

My Day Off

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I love Mondays and Tuesdays; They’re practically my weekends. For some reason, I think people tend to find that a bit disturbing as to why I favor working on the weekends and relaxing during the slowest days of the week. I’ve thought of many reasons and there seem to be many that are justifiable for my situation.

  1. People typically party, get drunk, etc., on the weekends so by the time Monday morning rolls around, they’re hungover and/or cranky. I’d rather avoid coming into close contact with those people.
  2. People generally hate Mondays. They associate it with their real life which is a drastic difference from the life they escape into during the weekends. So with all the hate that Monday generates, I wish to not be hated as well since I work with people all day.
  3. I like to work, but not overly work. However, I don’t want to be bored out of my mind working the slowest days of the week. Generally, if I am by myself then that could mean the higher possibility of a scammer approaching me during my shift.
  4. I like to run errands and it seems impossible to run them on a Sunday when administrative offices are closed, clinics are closed, and when stores typically close at 6PM if not sooner. It irks me to not be able to get things done.
  5. Before I started working, we had a set schedule of Peter being off on Mondays and Tuesdays so we’ve kind of fallen into our own rut.
  6. Last but not least, I’ve learned that my manager typically works on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays. I think one day of working together out of the whole week is enough.

Many people like to stay at home, but I am generally a person who likes to get out-and-about. I like to explore new places, see new things, and generally, I don’t spend too much time with the TV (except for when I come home from work at night). I feel like I work myself so hard that it makes sense to do something special on my days off. Sleeping-in is not considered special to me. E3 will be starting in an hour so that is something that will throw my schedule off a little bit (and something I’ll have to blog about). I was planning to go get my whole face threaded at The Arches Threading Lounge mostly because my eyebrows need a little TLC. However, I’ve got peach fuzz all over my face so it only makes sense to do the whole thing. My mom said she has done it once and that it does hurt but you do get used to it. She is generally unpredictable when it comes to pain tolerance. For an example, she would probably hurt more getting her face threaded than what she would feel if she had broken her leg (which she has). I also want to go to look at shoes and see what I come up with. In case you all do not know yet, I love collecting and purchasing shoes. I recently went to Off Broadway Shoes for the first time so I’ll have to post my findings in another post since it’s way too massive for this one.

WORK

Work has been stable and now that I am working five days a week, I’m getting my system used to it during the transition from four to five. Some people wouldn’t think too much about it, but there certainly is a transitional phase for one’s own body and psyche. I think this week has been certainly better than the last. Last workweek was so mentally-tiring and frustrating but I’m glad I persevered.

MAKEUP

I’m going to be doing a massive article on eight different foundations for drier to dry skin so I went to Sephora to get samples to try out. So far, I wore Guerlain’s Lingerie de Peau yesterday and I’m so excited to write about it. The foundations to be reviewed are:

  1. Lingerie de Peau by Guerlain in Beige Moyen 04
  2. Photogenic Lumessence by Lancome in Bisque 8N
  3. Vitalumiere by Chanel in Beige 40
  4. Resilience Lift Extreme by Estee Lauder in  Outdoor Beige 4C1 (03)
  5. Skin Nude by Dior in 040 Honey Beige
  6. Studio Skin by Smashbox in Natural Beige 2.4
  7. Antiageing Foundation by Korres in Tan 25
  8. Illuminating Liquid Foundation by Stila in 60 Watt

I’ll be comparing them to my current foundation, NARS Sheer Glow in Stromboli Medium 3. Sheer Glow has been good to me for the past two years but it has accentuated some of my drier spots so I’m on the hunt for a better foundation. I was joking around with Peter that if the foundations all work as well as the Guerlain one, I might end up getting them all. I know Guerlain is made very well is considered a luxury makeup brand so I can’t wait to venture into trying out their famous primers and powders as well.

XBOX ONE

I’m excited and I hope you are, too. E3 is going to start at 12:30 PM so I have a few more minutes until I have to blog my ass off. See you then and have a happy Monday!