Valentine's Day Prep 101

Getting prepped for Valentine's Day can be stressful for some so I am making it easy on you this year to look your best! For those of us not blessed with natural Cara Delevingne-esque brows, have no fear.

Wink Brow Bar’s technicians use organic brow threading and vegetable dye based tinting to give you the perfect shape and long lasting color. For a more temporary color, check out TouchBack BrowMarker which features a fine tip marker that deposits the perfect amount of color for even, natural-looking coverage that won’t budge.

Make your lips irresistible with kiss-proof color that will last all day.

Smashbox Be Legendary Lipstick comes in 120 shades that are guaranteed make your pucker pop. Get a little more daring and pair it with Smashbox Insta-Matte Lipstick Transformer to give your lipstick a matte makeover instantly.

Don't let the cold weather stop you - beachy waves are within your reach

Bring him in with smell of summer thanks to Sun Bum Sea Salt Spray, while giving hair extra body, waves, and texture for that beachy windswept look. Plus, with John Frieda Salon Shape Hot Air Brush it’s easy to get frizz-free, full-bodied curls and waves without wasting any time. 

New from Smashbox!

Not only do I use their contour palette on a daily basis, I also love their Liquid Halo HD Foundation, Be Legendary Lipsticks, Always Sharp liners...you get it, right?! The mere fact that Smashbox collaborated with the incredibly well know Fashion Illustrator, Donald Robertson, only made my obsession for Smashbox more intense! Who doesn't love Donald (I know I certainly do)?! Before that my beloved street artist Curtis Culig collaborated with them, too! 

Now it is time to show you what is NEW...

·The most-coveted Contour Palette features deeper shades to help women of all skin tones put their best features forward.$45 at Sephora

·CC Concealer hides imperfections for a full 24-hours with budge-proof Photoset Polymers that work like a liquid bandage to stick to and move with skin. $25 at Smashbox.com

·Camera Ready BB Water works with pigments suspended in water give skin the cocktail it craves for a radiant finish that hydrates all day.Exclusive Photoset Polymers make your look last through happy hour into after-hours, and SPF 30 protects from environmental damage. $42 at Smashbox.com

·Shape Matters Palette includes 1 brow wax, 2 brow powders in Taupe/Soft Brown, 1 highlighter, 1 illuminator, 1 bronzer, 1 contour powder, 9 matte and shimmer shade Photo Op Eye Shadows, 1 double-ended shadow/brow brush, #SHAPEMATTERS inserts with shaping steps for eyes, brows, and face, and interactive #SHAPEMATTERS cards with how-to contouring tips. $65 at Sephora

More swatches and looks to come as this 

palette is FABULOUS!

Spring Looks: Bright Lips, Dewy Skin and Glossy Hair

For this season and beyond into Summer, I’m thinking….BRIGHT lips, DEWY skin and GLOSSY hair.

LIPS – SMASHBOX BE LEGENDARY LIPSTICK in Legendary for a True Red (Pink tones) and Fireball Matte for an Orange-Red (Olive and darker tones) fit the bill and I love their long lasting wear!

Smashbox Lead Pro-Global artist and friend, Lori Taylor-Davis, gives a tip on picking the perfect red lip. Lori says “Choose cooler "true" red tones with a bit of blue if you have pink in your skin or are super fair-skinned. A warmer orange-red tone works best for olive-skinned women."

DEWY SKIN – SMASHBOX HALO FOUNDATION AND LUMENE BRIGHT NOW VITAMIN C BB CREAM + BB SERUM

The best thing to make skin glow is to use a dewy foundation/bb cream for lighter coverage and an illuminator, like the Lumene BB Serum! With illuminating LIGHT PIGMENTS it helps to catch light and diffuse dark circles, spots and lines!

SHINY, GLOSSY HAIR – CONAIR INFINITI PRO ARGAN OIL BRUSH with TOUCHBACK SHAMPOO and NIOS SHIELD LEAVE-IN CONDITIONER

To get bouncy, shiny, healthy hair, there’s nothing better than ARGAN OIL – which moisturizes without weighing hair down. 

All of these products are meant to nourish hair from the inside out, with the added bonus of TOUCHBACK SYSTEM, a COLOR DEPOSITING shampoo and conditioner that adds sheen and gloss to hair (and happens to be available EVERYWHERE in drugstores like CVS)!

Smashbox x Donald Do It Again!

They're BAAAAAAAAACK collaborating once again and I am swooning over the new Be Legendary Lipsticks and Photo Angle Pure Pigment Gel Liners. I awaited with delight as Davis Factor, Lori Taylor Davis and Donald Robertson are pure geniuses! I love when beauty and art collaborate and this is one helluva collection!

“I looked everywhere to find a lipstick that’s smooth and creamy but had a truly matte finish. I used to have to mix two different textures to get this finish—now it’s in one amazing lipstick that looks perfect on camera.”  -Lori Taylor Davis, Smashbox Global Pro Lead Artist

Mad for mattes, you say? Get in on the trend with 6 new must-have shades of ultra-luxe matte lipsticks! Smashbox has partnered with Instagram star artist (and one of the most intriguing people I know of) Donald Robertson to promote their matte collection of best-selling Be Legendary Lipsticks.

Featuring custom illustrations on the sleeve from Donald himself, the bold lipstick gives you the daring style of a legendary beauty. The rich formula provides intense color saturation with a single swipe, and its ultra-creamy texture feels soft and luxurious on lips. It’s a new classic in the making that will have you looking chic for every click of the camera.

With a burst of vitamins and supercharged with antioxidants, this lipstick nourishes and protects your lips with a shine-free finish. Upgraded adherence power means color stays put all day, with a silky feel that’s flexible and comfortable.

Available shades: Paris Pink Matte (pictured), Mauve Matte, Femme Fatale Matte, Fireball Matte (pictured), Punch Drunk Matte and Magenta Matte (pictured). $20 each. Available at Sephora (US only) and Sephora.com and note that Donald Robertson artwork exclusive to Sephora.

INTRODUCING THE LONGEST. WEARING. LINER. EVER.

“Every makeup artist I know loves a good gel liner, but it can get really messy on set with those tiny pots and fussing with brushes. This liner fixes all of that. It’s super pigmented and so portable, not to mention the colors! They’re to die for—like gorgeous little magic markers for your eyes.” -Lori Taylor Davis, Smashbox Global Pro Lead Artist

The latest collaboration between Smashbox Cosmetics and Instagram art star Donald Robertson brings you gel liner in high-impact, pop-art colors in a convenient pen. The pigment-packed pen features custom one-of-a-kind illustrations on the sleeve by Donald himself. Let your creativity run wild with a uniquely angled tip that lets you create any look with ease! The waterproof formula dries instantly and offers serious color that can make any picture pop. Go for statement-making wings or precise lines—with intense color as bold as Donald’s designs, you’ll have a high-impact look that will last up to 36 hours. So go ahead. Be as imaginative as you want—no brush required.

With just a twist, you get ultimate pigment in a smudge-proof, water-proof liner. Its exclusive formula and precisely angled tip offer the bold look of a gel liner with all the portable convenience of a marker for endless eye possibilities.

How to use:

• Twist to dispense pigment – only one click needed per eye. Using short strokes, lightly line the upper lash line, working from the middle to the outer corner. Then, return to the middle and fill in the inner corner. To remove, use your favorite oil-based makeup remover.

TIP: Lashes need love too! Try applying to lashes as a color mascara.

Available shades: Jet Black, Cocoa, Plum, Smoke, Sapphire, Lilac

COST: $22

WHERE TO FIND IT: Sephora Store (US only), Sephora.com *Donald Robertson artwork exclusive to Sephora.

My J.Crew x Donald Robertson T with the new 

Smashbox x Donald collection!

Smashbox x Donald Robertson: Mobile Art Exhibit

All I had to see were those lips and I knew they were created by none other than Donald "Drawbertson" Robertson. I have been a fan of his for the past few years on Social Media and he is certainly a cult- favorite illustrator. For the collaboration, Smashbox Cosmetics selected its award winning Legendary Lipstick in Bing to show where the cosmetic aesthetic and Robertson's art meet.

"Smashbox Studios has built a legacy as a place where creative collaborations between artists, photographers, and creative talent come to life. We are always looking to art for inspiration. Since I've followed and admired Donald's work for many years it made perfect sense to work on this project together," said Davis Factor, Smashbox Cosmetics Founder and Celebrity Photographer. "His illustrations, use of different mediums, and overall sensibility really spoke to me as being the ultimate personification of the Smashbox lifestyle. I knew we had to do something with him."

There was a kickoff in November featuring one of the artist's iconic prints painted on a Vintage 1974 Cadillac El Dorado. The traveling exhibit started at Smashbox Studios Los Angeles on 11/29 and concluded on 12/7 at Miami's renowned Art Basel.  I watched it's every move on Social Media and followed the true journey of a mobile art exhibit. 

The sleeve of the new limited edition Smashbox Cosmetics Legendary Lipstick also has Robertson's classic design. Bing is a true bold cherry red shade and I love it! 

You can follow all that happened by looking at #bingtobasel via Instagram. I love that Smashbox Studios does such great creative collaborations. How can I ever forget one of my favorite collabs Smashbox did with my beloved artist, Curtis Kulig?! I now own a Love Me pillow, necklace, teddy bear....

The lipstick is available for purchase ($21) at www.smashbox.com and on "Spring" a new mobile app. If you are looking for a bold red lippy, Bing may be just your hue! 

Birchbox Opens It's Flagship Store in SOHO, TODAY!

BYOB in largely lit letters is easily visible as you walk into their flagship store located at 433 West Broadway in Soho.  No, it does not mean Bring Your Own Booze but actually stands for Build Your Own Birchbox! 

The store has over 250 brands and is absolutely easy to navigate through. You have your specific sections such as lips, face, eyes, etc. to peruse on the top floor as well as having a hair and nail touch up area on the lower level where appointments are encouraged. There are so many products available at the store and it works like it's online set up. 

There are suggested looks, stations where you can test products and a very friendly, well trained staff. I was in beauty heaven as I liked the way I easily moved through the two floors. Although there is so much to see, I did not feel overwhelmed. I overheard that you can also use your points in the store if you are already a BB subscriber online. I have been a subscriber for the past four years and have seen the company grow and grow. Birchbox has introduced me to many beauty lines I had not used before like MAKE and JOUER. I spotted Stila, Smashbox, Cynthia Rowley, Liz Earle ( a BB exclusive),  OPI, Deborah Lippman, Dr. Jart, Oribe, Fekkai, the balm, NCLA, Ruffian, Supergoop, Joie, Juice Beauty, Caudalie, Color Club, FRENDS... to name a few. I think Birchbox has helped to make a lot of these companies household names, in my opinion. Take a peek at the store- you will not want to leave. I know I didn't...

Yes, there is also a Birchbox Man section, too! 

What's New: SMASHBOX

I remember sitting in the room with Davis Factor, Smashbox Founder and Celebrity Photographer and Lori Taylor (now Lori Taylor Davis), Smashbox Global Pro Lead and thinking how innovative and creative they were. At the time, Terry Richardson was shooting their advertising campaign and I loved the vibe in all areas of production. I kept in touch with Lori over the last few years and I am so pleased to review some of their latest launches.

Smashbox Be Legendary Long Wear Lip Lacquer ($24) available in 20 shades has vitamin E in it's formula and has a lacquer like stain to lasts the whole day! It was created with a proprietary triplex of vibrant staining pigments and the two I reviewed did not budge nor lose their high gloss color (Knockout and Mo Money Honey). With so many color options, there is certainly 1...or 2...or 3 with your names on them?! Available at both Sephora/Sephora.com and Smashbox.com.

Also new is their best selling mascara available now in waterproof, Full Exposure Water Proof Mascara ($ 20 in Jet Black). My, my did my lashes take well to this mascara. Just with one swipe they were longer and more voluminous looking. You can see by the pictures, this mascara opened up my eyes beautifully. It's also sweat and humidity resistant which is a value added plus on these super warm days. No dots below my lower lash line and no clumping nor smudging occurred.  

I also got to sample the Photo Finish Foundation Primer Pore Minimizing ($39) and the Photo Finish 24 Hour Shadow Primer ($ 20) and they both applied gently and kept my skin looking oil free and my pores were blurred to the eye. I used all products in the photo below plus their wonderful Always Sharp Lip Liner in Ruby ($20) as well as their Admire Me Eye Shadow Palette (from when Smashbox collaborated with artist Curtis Kulig), Nude Always Sharp Waterproof Kohl Liner ($20) in the inner rim of my eye and along the browbone and the Navy Always Sharp Waterproof Kohl Liner ( $20) to line my upper lid. 

Please go to SMASHBOX to see how to videos as well as getting expert tips on how to use their newest products! 
Thank you again, Lori!