We all have an urge to splurge on occasion but the still-precarious economy is enough to make any woman think, “Hold on to your wallet.” I’d never encourage anyone to spend beyond their means, particularly when there are so many great drugstore beauty products but if you’re in the mood for something that feels like a little more of an indulgence, check out Beautyticket.com.
This newly-launched online retailer of discount premium makeup, skincare, hair products, nail care, bath and body items sells a bounty of amazing brands, including PopBeauty, Smashbox, Vincent Longo (pictured left) and Stila – all at prices of up …read more

Guilty confession time.
Despite my beauty blogging ‘career’, there are loads of products that I just never lay a hand on.  Lipliner falls into that category, as does liquid liner.  Foundation primer, I must admit, is also iffy.
While it’s difficult to think about adding that extra layer between my skin and foundation in the heat and humidity in summer, a great primer (Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer, pictured left, has wonderful reviews on Sephora.com, for the record!) can help fill in lines, meaning that foundation applies more smoothly.
Primers also add staying power, especially in warmer weather (despite my concerns above.)
What do …read more

The fourth annual The Makeup Show NYC is sneaking up on me and I can’t even tell you how excited I am about it! This May 17 and 18, from 9:00am-6:00pm, leading brands and artists will invade the Metropolitan Pavilion and showcase the best new techniques and products galore.

It’s a great opportunity for networking and for artists, a must-attend thanks to the myriad hands-on workshops, seminars and keynote presentation. 
This year, seminars and hands-on workshops will explore the world of makeup from film and television to editorial and bridal beauty, including workshops for airbrush basics, FX techniques, and makeup for HD, to secrets …read more

Earth Month is here and hopefully, we’re all thinking of ways to get a little greener.  Smashbox is doing their part with the Mother Earth Palette ($45 ), which was developed to be totally earth-friendly, from organic formulas to environmentally responsible packaging. 

The beautiful wood palette includes four eye shadows and a blush all made from certified organic ingredients. The compact itself is recyclable while the carton was made from sustainable materials and printed with eco-friendly ink.
The prettiest part of all?  With each purchase of the Mother Earth Palette, a tree will be planted by Trees for the Future, a non-profit organization dedicated to creating …read more

Have you seen this? Smashbox has now come out with a 60% water-based version of Photo Finish called Photo Finish Light, made specifically for oily/acne prone skin. It’s oil-free and even comes in a square air-less pump.
 
*Photo: Smashbox.com

I know I will probably catch some heat from this review, but honestly my feelings are so-so about this product. All of my beauty blogger friends have raved and raved about Smashbox Photo Finish, but I feel just “meh” about it.
I looked high and low to try to find out what the ingredients were in this product, as the website and the product itself doesn’t say. I purchased the travel size Photo Finish and was shocked to find such a teenie tiny bottle to be considered “travel size.” However, the amount of product you need is so minute, this could …read more