Smashbox: Beauty Secrets

Smashbox are a headline sponsor for Vancouver Fashion Week this season! Every beauty look you see on the runway as been created by a talented team of Smashbox makeup artists backstage. During the entire week, Smashbox has been out in the audience offering touch ups and various samples. I caught up with Natasha, a Smashbox beauty expert, during a show intermission to learn more about their products and secrets of fabulous makeup application.

Natasha showed us how a few key products can simply transform your look. Here’s how she achieved the natural, airbrushed look in the ‘after’ photo below.

Natasha created a base using Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer, which is Smashbox’s no.1 seller. The primer smoothes the skin, taking away any redness, fading visible pores and fine lines, leaving your skin feeling luxuriously soft with a healthy and natural glow. The primer can be worn alone or under foundation to keep your make up looking ‘just applied’ throughout the day.

Next Natasha applied Smashbox BB Cream with her fingers. “The key is to smooth the cream onto the skin
then press with your fingertips to set it,” she tells us. This is a moisturizing, sheer cream that can be built up if needed. In addition to reducing redness, Smashbox BB Cream is also SPF 35 which makes it ideal for daily use and to protect the skin from sun exposure.

Next Natasha takes Smashbox Halo Hydrating Perfecting Powder and using a large brush lightly, applies a layer to the skin. Halo gives the skin a hydrated, bright appearance. Natasha’s industry secret when using this product is “less is more!”

Using the highlighter in the Smashbox Limited Edition Step-by-Step Contour Palette, Natasha applies this under the eye area to minimize any visible shadows. The lighter brown powder in the palette is applied to the top of the cheek bone, in light sweeping movements towards to the top of the ear. Gently build the colour for a natural defined look. In the hollows of the cheek, beneath the cheek bone, lightly brush on the darkest powder in the palette. The palette comes with a handy guide to show you exactly where to apply the powders.

Natasha shows us how versatile the palette is by applying the powders to the eyes. Using the highlighter, she brushes this over the eyebrow bone under the eyebrow. Applying a little of the lighter and darker powder to the same brush, Natasha applies this to the eyelid, focusing on the crease of the eyelid to achieve soft, smoky eyes. With the palette still in hand, Natasha uses the darkest powder to lightly define the eyebrows.

Finally Natasha uses Smashbox Full Exposer Mascara to add volume to the eyelashes. “Containing natural waxes, this mascara will never clump,” Natasha reveals. Applying a coat over the top of the mascara the model already had on, she was right – no clumps! – just glossy, voluminous lashes.

If you would like to know more about the products demonstrated and used at Vancouver Fashion Week, visit the smashbox website (www.smashbox.com).

Written by, Lauren Bennett