MINTBOX: Smashbox on Sale + Cash Back!

Celebrate the July 4th weekend with a grand little spree from Smashbox!  This weekend and until 7/4 only enjoy up to 25% off your favorite Smashbox items, including their new products.  You have to be a Mintbox member to take advantage of the deal, so be sure to accept your invitation (link at bottom of post) to access the Smashbox offer and many, many others.

Roxy's Picks

Second Skin Concealer - This is my personal concealer of choice right now.  I've been using it for about six months and am enjoying the fact that I apply it once in the morning and it stays put all day.  Great feature (and unique when it really works) for a concealer.  Professional-level coverage that’s customizable, comfortable and weightless. This high-performance formula conceals stubborn imperfections (even tattoos), while keeping complexions natural-looking with encapsulated pigment technology that re-creates the radiance of your own skin. Plus, it’s waterproof for a flawless look all day. Available in four easy to blend shades and retails for $29 a tube.

Full Exposure Mascara - Inspired by the on-set technique of layering a lengthening fiber mascara over a volumizing formula, the new studio-tested mascara exposes your longest, fullest lashes. No clumps, no flakes. Just maximum-impact, scene-stealing lashes. $19

• 104% increase in lash volume

• 32% increase in lash length

• 34-degree increase in lash curl

Video: Watch Pro Makeup Artist Lori Taylor bring this sexy mascara to life

Limitless Lip Stain & Color Seal Balm - It’s a lip revelation! On one side of this innovative, two-in-one product: a feather-resistant stain that won’t budge for 8 hours. On the other: a very emollient balm that can be worn alone or over the stain for a lustrous touch. The vibrant tint of color is designed to mimic the look of photo gels on set in the famous Smashbox studios.  $23

Video: Watch Pro Lead Artist Lori Taylor create a thoroughly modern look highlighted by a bright coral lip

Enjoying the eye candy?  See these and more great Smashbox delicacies via Mintbox this weekend for great value and cash back.  You must be a Mintbox member to shop their great deals so let this be a 4th of July little gift to yourself (don't worry membership is free!).

Please Give Me Mintbox Access!

Your personal invitation

source/images: Smashbox; Mintbox

Fall Makeup Trend: Combining Hues on the Same Feature

Emilie de Ravin

Makeup pros are taking a hint from Old World master painters combining different colors on the same facial feature to yield a spectacular, dimensional effect.

CHEEKS
Layering bronzer and blush has a double benefit. "The bronzer brings out cheekbones and makes the face more three-dimensional," says makeup artist Benjamin Puckey, who created these looks. "The blush gives a glow."  The effect is beautifully worn by actress Emilie de Ravin in the image at top.

L-R: Smashbox Creamy Cheek Color in Intrigue ($29) and NARS The Multiple bronzer in Rapa Nui ($37)

TIP:  After smoothing lightweight foundation onto de Ravin's skin, Puckey used his fingers to swirl cream bronzer around the sides of her face in a large "3" shape, starting at the temples, working down to the upper cheekbones, and continuing down to the jawline. Then he layered pink cream blush along the apples of the cheeks, right on top of the bronzer.
 
 

LIPS
This two-tone look subtly contours the mouth, says Puckey. A darker shade around the periphery adds definition, while a slightly softer tone in the center reflects light and creates the illusion of fuller, juicier lips. "The key is to use two shades in the same color family," he says. "They should gradually fade into each other for an ombré effect."
 
 

L-R: Paul & Joe Lipstick C in Sahara ($22) and MAC Lipstick in Of Royalty ($15)

TIP:  Puckey used a firm brush to precisely apply a deep carnation hue along de Ravin's lip line, then blended it toward the center. Next, he brushed a paler bubblegum pink into the middle of the top and bottom lips.
 
 
More tips and trends for Fall beauty, hair and fashion coming soon! My favorite time of year ... can almost feel the weather turning more crisp, cool breezes blowing leaves from trees and that first sip of hot java warming my tummy. Bring it on!
 
source/images: InStyle

Sale at Apothica: 20% Off!

click to enlarge for detail

Can't pass this up!

Apothica, showcasing some of the best brands in beauty, is offering 20% off everything sitewide!

Now's the time to get your Clarisonic or buy early for Christmas for your mom, daughter or BFF. The gift of beautiful skin is yours and theirs thanks to this fantastic cleansing system.  While you're there, you can pick up some of your favorite cleanser to be used with your Clarisonic.  One of my faves is Mario Badescu's Enzyme Cleansing Gel.  Also popular, and in fact a 5-star product at Apothica, Dermalogica's Clearing Skin Wash doesn't injure your skin as it withdraws impurities. You'll be pleased as pie with your soft, smooth, and supple skin. Salicylic Acid purges the pores of oil. Tea Tree purifies the pores. Menthol cools the skin.

Some Apothica must-haves from top brands include:

CARGO Wet/Dry Foundation $32
The perfect blend of liquid and powder foundation in one compact. It gives you the most versatile coverage depending on your application method. It is also full of nourishing vitamins and skin hydrators, making it act as an actual treatment for the skin. Squalane binds moisture to the skin. Vitamin E conditions and fights free-radical damage. Vitamin C brightens and tones.

BECCA Showgirl Palette $65
A gorgeous grouping of eye, lip, and cheek shades. The Palette contains Lip & Cheek Creme - Hollyhock (berry), Nude Lip Gloss - Parisette (soft pink), Eye Colour Wash - Tulle (misty lilac), Eye Colour Wash - Charmeuse (mushroom beige), Compact Eyeliner - Emmanuelle (dark brown), and Dual Ended Brush - eyeliner/eye shade brush combination.

Smashbox Cosmetics Masquerade Eye Shadow Palette $35
I drooled over this palette earlier today.  You'll find every perfect for Fall eyeshadow shade in this set.  And the colors are absolutely beautiful, easy to apply and stunning on every eye color! From light peach to glimmering gold, the shades are organized horizontally in trios, to be worn solo or paired with shades in the same row. Wrapped up in a classy navy blue case with a mirror, this eye kit is a makeup must-have.  This may be one of my favorite Smashbox offerings ever!

Essie Fall Nail Polish Collection $8 each
Not much is needed to be said about these beautes.  It's Essie. The colors are right on trend for Fall. 'Nuff said!

Ole Henriksen Ultimate Lift Eye Gel $38
Instantly hydrates fatigued eyes. Aloe Vera Gel moisturizes, calms, and heals. Eyebright Extract calms, soothes and constricts the capillaries around the eye area. Cucumber Essence tightens pores.


What's completely wonderful about this offer?  Mike's offering the 20% off across all three sites.  That means we can shop at Apothica, SkinBotanica and SkincareRX and get 20% off whatever we buy from all three. That sends shivers up and down my spine!

Click HERE and enter code: MAKEOVER20 at checkout.

Offer good thru 9/13/10

QVC 26 Hours of Best of Beauty!!!

Enjoy 26 hours of QVC's best-selling beauty brands, customer top-rated items, exclusives, must haves and more during QVC's biggest beauty event ever.

What brands are there?
Oh so many and more than what is shown here: Philosophy, Josie Maran, Mally, Tarina Tarantino, Kate Somerville, Lisa Hoffman, Smashbox, Kiehl's.



Even better ... you'll be treated to extra special pricing, a Today's Special Value with Clarisonic's Mia Cleansing System in gorgeous new and exclusive to QVC colors, easy payments so you can pay a little now and a little later on.

AND ... you'll get to discover QVC's 2010 Customer Choice Beauty Awards winners!

Watch QVC beginning Friday, 8/27 at 10 pm and through the whole day Saturday, 8/28/10 for all the wonderful possibilites. or you can find even more on QVC.com. Enjoy, angels! xo

Allure's Annual August Giveaways! A Beauty Addict's Dream Come True

Allure has done it once again.  One might do well to meander on over to Allure.com for a treasure trove of goodies all up for grabs in their annual August giveaway event!

Each year seems to get better and better, and there are no holes barred yet again, my angels.  Among those brands we find sprinkled in the lot: Guerlain, Armani, Lancome, Smashbox, Redken, Kenneth Cole, L'Oreal, Essie, Chanel, Frederic Fekkai, Sebastian, Bobbi Brown, NVPerricone, Olay, NARS and soooooo many more.  There are over 32,000 products and fashions in this monthly giveaway, so please don't delay in getting your entry in!

Click HERE to enter the Allure August Giveaways now!

Sneak Peek: Smashbox's Newest Summer Products Debuted on QVC Tomorrow!

QVC is a must do tomorrow afternoon! There, you'll be treated to a wonderful spot on Smashbox's hot, new products with tips and showcasing by the uber-talented Holly Mordini.

Here's your unbelievable sneak peek into the event with products and sets you won't be able to resist. Seriously! You really won't. Be able to resist.

Smashbox Features in Focus is a nine-piece collection that includes cult favorite products among beauty enthusiasts, as well as latest product innovations.

Every woman who may love some of her features but would like to "fall in love" with them all will benefit from this kit. And, every woman who wants the benefit of beautiful skin.

This collection introduces you to products that will have you falling head over heels with your new gorgeous eyes, your better-than-ever complexion, and your "you must have naturally blessed" lips.

Begin by using the Halo Hydrating Perfecting powder as your foundation. Simply twist the dial to release the fine, loose powder. Then, apply to your entire complexion using the baby Buki brush.

Using the luminous shade of the waterproof shadow liner duo, apply the color to your lid, from lash to crease and just into the contour area, using it as a radiant shadow.

Next, using the second shade in the duo, swirl brush #30 into the pot and apply under the bottom lashes, smudging from corner to corner to create a soft smoldering effect. This is not intended to deliver a crisp edge or a fine line. Follow this same method along the top lashes, beginning in the outer corner of the eye and working inward. Follow with a generous coat of Lash DNA mascara.

Using your finger or the unique silicon applicator, apply Lip Tech to both lips, pressing in the pigment. Use a lip liner if you wish to create a more defined pout. Wear Lip Tech alone for a more satin finish, or generously layer the lip enhancing gloss over Lip Tech.

Always leave blush for last so you won't run the risk of over-applying. Begin at the apple of the cheek, swirl brush in a circular motion, moving along the cheekbone.

Apply the Soft Lights powder to the bridge of your nose, above your brows, and along the top of your cheekbones. Use this skin-softening powder as an allover illuminator. Love it up on your shoulders and decollete.

Includes:

•0.75 oz Halo Hydrating Perfecting powder

•0.1 oz Lip Tech in Sangria, a deep wine

•0.398 oz Fusion Soft Lights in Gleam, beige and rose shades

•0.2 fl oz lip enhancing gloss in Lavish Lips, a nude pink

•0.1 oz waterproof shadow liner duo in Emphaseyes, a warm cinnamon and soft pink

•0.31 oz Lash DNA mascara in black

•0.07 oz blush in Blushing Pink, a shimmery pink

•Shadow liner brush #30

•Baby Buki brush

The collection is being offered at QVC for the unbelievable introductory price of $77.28 (retails $170) and is available with QVC Easy Pay for 3 payments of $25.76 for a limited time! You choose your foundation shade.

Now here's one of their new products that I'm drooling over. Smashbox Pro Second Skin Concealer is professional level coverage that's customizable, comfortable and weightless on the skin. It's also waterproof for flawless-looking skin all day.

The high performance formula conceals skin imperfections, including rosacea, hyper-pigmentation, freskles, extreme dark circles, tattoos, while the encapsulated pigment technology recreates the radiance of your own skin making it look completely natural. (available in fair, light, medium and dark) Exclusive to QVC.

New! Smashbox Waterproof Powder Eye Shadow Palette is a breakthrough in powder eye shadow. This absolutely amazing waterproof formula glides on smoothly and evenly for beautifully blendable color. includes five gorgeous shades and an application brush.

New! Smashbox Lip and Eye Beam Duo double duty products highlight, brighten and perfect instantly. Eye Beam's double-ended pencil highlightens and brightens eyes in one quick step, while Lip Beam adds fullness and shine to your lips. Includes both pencils - Eye Beam Double-Ended Brightener and Lip Beam Double-Ended Pout Perfector. I'm really excited about this duo as well. It's amazing what a difference an eye highlighting/brightening pencil makes in opening the eye, making you look more aware and rested. Looking forward to trying both of these sure to be faves!

Exclusive to QVC - Waterproof Shadow Liner in Lucky Penny (a beautiful bronzey-copper shade) and Brush #30 Set. This easy-to-apply shadow liner glides on smoothly and evenly and is totally waterproof and crease-resistant, giving you the power to create soft, smoky definition in one quick step. Wear it as a won't budge smudged liner or as a radiant all-over shadow. Apply with Smashbox's specially designed Shadow Liner Brush #30 for flawless application.

Stay tuned for the Smashbox event on QVC, Subday, 6/27/10 at 3 PM and 8 PM EST. You'll also find Smashbox's Limitless Liquid Liner Pen, Naked Beauty Lip Gloss Kit, Complexion Perfection Kit, Naked Beauty Lid Primer and much more. For more information, visit qvc.com.

Create Your Own Kit: Smashbox All About Eyes

Smashbox Create Your Own Eye Kit



Better yet, create the kit with 3 full-size Smashbox products for only $32 (a $63 value), including the cosmetic bag! Woohoo ...



Mix and match their must-have eye products for a limited-time-only price. One week ONLY. You can create your own personalized makeup kit with three eye products of your choice packed in a chic black woven bag. Offer ends 6/21/10.

Click HERE to create your Smashbox All About Eyes Kit - on sale $32

Offer ends 6/21/10
Free shipping, as always, free jumbo samples too.

HAUTELOOK: Smashbox on SALE Today!

One of my absolute favorite cosmetics brands has come to HauteLook today to spoil you rotten!

Long before Smashbox Cosmetics was created, its founders, Dean & Davis Factor, were becoming legends as the ambassadors of style in Los Angeles.



It began when these brothers - two very unique entrepreneurs and the great-grandsons of makeup legend Max Factor - combined their talent & heritage to create Smashbox Photo Studios in 1991. With a slew of starlets passing through the Studios daily, Dean & Davis were frequently asked to create a makeup line that met the perfecting needs of a photo shoot. Dean & Davis decided to combine their skills - Dean, a business guru with an MBA, and Davis, a leading celebrity and fashion photographer - and in 1996 created Smashbox Cosmetics.



Today, Smashbox's state-of the-art facility is inundated with the most sought after artists, celebrities, models & photographers, and is also home to the celeb-studded Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Los Angeles. From Drew to Charlize, Gisele, Madonna & more, they’ve seen them all, and more importantly, swapped tips with their makeup artists. This means that they’re privy to insider beauty secrets & trends straight from the experts. And best of all? They share. At Smashbox, they believe that knowledge truly is a beautiful thing, and theirs is just too good to keep to themselves. From finding beauty solutions & quick fixes to demystifying makeup application, they're inspired daily to create innovative beauty products for women everywhere.

The sale begins Tuesday, 6/15/10 @ 10 AM CT

50% off makeup palettes and more!

Click HERE to shop the Smashbox Cosmetics SALE now!

SMASHBOX: Naked Beauty Summer 2010

Introducing Naked Beauty, the summer collection from Smashbox!

Expose your natural beauty with this gorgeous collection of sunkissed shades. Illuminating bronzers, creamy cheek colors and barely-there glosses create a sexy summer glow. Here's how to get the look:

FACE
Apply Photo Finish Color Correcting Foundation Primer in Blend all over face to warm skin, then apply your shade of Sheer Focus Tinted Moisturizer. Blend High Definition Concealer over any imperfections using fingertips. Dab the pink shade from Naked Beauty High Lights/Creamy Cheek Color over cheeks using fingertips, then dab the highlighter shade over the tops of cheekbones, down the bridge of nose, and on the cupid’s bow. Sweep Halo Hydrating Perfecting bronzer just under cheekbones using Face & Cheek Brush #2.

EYES
Apply Photo Finish Lid Primer in Golden Nude to lids. Sweep Eye Shadow in Ambient from lashline to crease using Crease Brush #10. Tightly line upper lashline with Jet Set in Dark Brown using Arced Liner Brush #21. Sweep Hyperlash Mascara over lashes.

LIPS
Generously apply Lip Gloss in Buff from the Naked Beauty Lip Gloss Collection.

More on the yummy products involved in the Naked Beauty collection

New!
Naked Beauty Photo Finish Lid Primer $20
Their best-selling, ultra-luxurious lid perfector in a shimmering nude shade.

Wear it alone as a glowy golden sheen or under one of your favorite summer shadows. This revolutionary formula contains Phytomoist™, a plant-based hyaluronic acid for ultimate moisturization plus skin perfecting amino acids.

Soft focus pearls help diminish the appearance of fine lines and discoloration on the lids, while the patented delivery system ensures effective results.

 
 

New!
Halo Hydrating Perfecting Bronzer $39
This revolutionary bronzer imparts a gorgeous sunkissed glow while dramatically minimizing the signs of aging. Halo is packed with high performance ingredients like gold, 48 minerals and a powerful peptide to perfect skin and get you glowing. Its patented hydration system delivers time released moisturization for a radiant, healthy complexion all day. Simply twist the shaver for the perfect amount of freshly shaved bronzer for a single application. In a universal true bronze shade that works on every skintone and never looks orange. Oil-free, talc-free, paraben-free.

Clinical studies show:
After 10 minutes, there is a 33% decrease in the appearance of wrinkles
After 6 weeks of use, the overall appearance of fine lines & wrinkles are reduced by 67%

New!
Naked Beauty High Lights / Creamy Cheek Color $26
The next best thing to a day at the beach. This duo of sheer, creamy cheek color and soft highlighter instantly gives cheeks a sexy flush and your complexion a radiant glow. This may just be my favorite new product of their summer collection! Soft, creamy blendable color.

Apply Creamy Cheek Color to apples of cheeks with fingertips, blending back toward ear, then apply High Lights over the tops of cheekbones. You can even dab the Creamy Cheek Color on lips for a softly stained pout.

New!
Naked Beauty Mini Lip Gloss Kit $25
From glistening nudes to peek-a-boo pinks, these eight mini glosses infuse lips with just the right amount of soft color and shine. All new shades! Includes: Lip Gloss in Bare, Buff, Naked, Nude, Exposed, Natural, Sunkissed & Pure

Watch the new behind-the-scenes video for Naked Beauty Summer 2010

For more information on Naked Beauty Summer 2010, visit Smashbox online. Don't forget, Smashbox offers free shipping and free jumbo samples with each order. Gotta love 'em!