Smashbox Shadow & Highlight Palette Set

I'll readily admit that Smashbox isn't a brand that I typically get excited about. I bought last holiday's blush palette and have barely touched it. But I guess having most of the items that interest me combined with spotting a great value led me to be interested in this particular kit ($39, Ulta/Sephora, claims a $77 value).

Smashbox's Shadow & Highlight Palette kit has three small palettes in limited edition packaging:

Hiding in that packaging are two permanent releases and one palette I hadn't seen before: Cover Shot palettes in Ablaze and Sultry, and Spotlight Palette in Pearl. I'd been considering trying the Spotlight palette before (these were created with YouTuber Casey Holmes) and picking up a Cover Shot palette ($29 each), so why not try the trio I thought.

I'm going to spoil my review, but I'm really shocked and impressed. I may have nabbed two additional Cover Shot palettes when I spotted them at a discount because of my experience with this set.

Confession: I'm finishing posts that I've photographed weeks ago, and if I find a deficiency I can't always go back and correct it due to the eye reaction I'm currently experiencing. So there's only one eye look in this review, whereas I'd like to show at least one per palette. Sorry about that, but this is my window of opportunity to get posts completed.

Let's start with the palette that intrigued me the most- Cover Shot Sultry.

As far as I can tell, this is a new release for the holiday bundle. And since I've been craving cool tones recently it's perfect.

Sultry is decidedly cool-toned (yay) and features taupes and some purples.

There's a nice mix of mattes, satins, and metallics in this palette. As I played with it, I noticed some fallout, and I find this formula quite soft in the pan so it's prone to chunking.

Here's one of the eye looks I created with this palette:

Of course I went for the purples.

Here's the swatches, all labeled and everything:

I love this little palette. It's prefect for my NW15 skintone, and I've been reaching for it a lot. It's what made me want to try more of the range.

Next up is what I believe to be the most recent release from the line- the Ablaze palette.

Don't ask me why they put Ablaze in blue artwork. I find these tough to keep apart, although I think the artwork is cute.

I know I'm a little blurry.

I'm just going to guess that you're probably more familiar with Ablaze- the very warm-toned Cover Shot palette.

Again, a good mix of formulas represented here. I did find them soft and prone to fallout, but just do your eyes first and you're good to go.

And Ablaze, swatched:

I'll be honest, I'm so tired of warm palettes that there's no way I would've purchased this on my own. However, I'm glad to have it and can see myself reaching for it. These are decidely travel-friendly, and I've liked the two looks from the palette that I've done to date.

Now, we move to the cheek palette.

If I was going to pick up one of these, it would've been the Pearl palette. I'm glad I got it in a kit.

I'm slowly coming to realize that I'm over the BAM highlighter trend and have been craving a more natural look. If that's you, this palette is completely wrong for you.

The three highlighters in this palette are beautiful and suited for me (mostly), but on the skin they're very noticable. For most people, that's a good thing. But I don't find those formulas to be as flattering on me as more subtle highlighters.

They're quite pretty, but I did see a lot of texture that I didn't even know that I had with them. Just a fair warning. Out of the three, this is my least favorite palette.


Bottom Line: This is an incredible gift for someone- from the teen on your shopping list to the professional looking for office-friendly looks. I'm surprised how often I reach for the eye palettes, and I'm slightly disappointed that I'm so far behind on this particular release. These are pigmented and beautiful palettes worth your beauty dollars.

Urban Decay Naked Skin Highlighting Fluid in Sin

I don't normally review samples, but that's what we're doing today. I recently picked up a deluxe sample of Urban Decay's Naked Skin Highlighting Fluid in Sin from Sephora when it was offered as a 100-point perk.

Given my multiple, repeated complaints about not liking liquid highlighters, this is perfect-sized for me. This sample is 3.4g/0.12oz; the full size consists of 6g/0.21oz for $28.

Sin is the classic nude highlighter with a slight gold sheen- it's very appropriate for most situations.

I found it a little odd that this has a wand, like the concealer and the color corrector.

It does make it easy to swatch, though.

Here's what Sin looks like, blended out.

I'm going to set aside my aversion to liquid highlighter to talk about this objectively. I still continue to struggle with it in my regular routine, but this is slightly blingy for a no makeup look. That said, I'll get some usage out of this. I think it's really pretty.

It does last most of the day on me, and I continue to find unique ways to work liquid highlighters into my routine.

Becca Sunlit Bronzer in Capri Coast and Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Opal

I'm a couple of months late with these, but not everyone's paper white. I wanted to share two favorites that I discovered while self-tanned to about a NW18-20 this past summer- both from Becca. I'm quite late to this train, but that's ok.

Both of these products come in the classic Becca packaging. I think you can tell which one's the bronzer.

First, let's talk about that bronzer that I fell in love with this sumer.  Becca released a collection of Sunlit Bronzers ($38, 7.1g/0.25oz) earlier this year. I fell in love with Capri Coast.

Capri Coast is the second-lightest bronzer, making it way too dark for me at the moment but perfect for summer. Like all other Becca products, the compact is stunning and the pattern on the powder is so pretty.

Most importantly, here's how it looks, swatched,

Capri Coast is a warm golden bronze that imparts some golden sheen to your face. I could possibly dust a thin layer on this- especially if I've just redone my hair. I love the sunkissed effect that it gives. I need to stop thinking about using it- it's October!

The other super-basic favorite that I stumbled onto is the cult classic Shimmering Skin Perfector in Opal ($38, 8g).

Normally, I'm a Moonstone girl. But being self-tanned, I finally got why Opal's so universally loved. It just does wonderful things to your skin if you've got the correct tone. I normally don't have that correct complexion.

Aren't pristine pans lovely?

Here's Opal, swatched against my current NW13-15 skin. You can see why I've always stayed as far away as possible.

I'm happy to have both of these in my collection, and I think they'll make summer a bit more tolerable next year. I'm sorry that I stumbled on them rather late (late July), so they'll get lots of use in Summer 2018.

Just looking at these two makes me a little sad. I loathe summer, but I loved feeling like a bronzy, glowy goddess with this pair from Becca. They're a bit pricey, but worth it.

Becca Apres Ski Glow Face Palette for Holiday 2017

Today I bring you yet another one of those holiday releases that I wasn't going to buy, yet showed up when I was running merrily through Ulta during a 20% of coupon spree. Call it the red haze of shopping, but after one swatch of Icicle, I was done for.

Say hello to the Becca Apres Ski Glow Face Palette for Holiday 2017. This $54 palette contains six face products- three highlighters, two blushes, and one bronzer.  Each pan has 2.55g or 0.09oz product.

Yes, this is just as reflective but it's going to have to do. I happen to like the Becca palettes, so it was worth a try.

Let's take a look at the inside, with the large mirror.

Let's dig in, shall we?

First up is my favorite Becca highlighter of all time, Rose Quartz.

I adore this shade, which is a perfect beautiful highlight on me. I actually bought a backup. By the way, I think it's back for Holiday 2017. Thank goodness. It was the inclusion of this pan that tipped the balance on this whole palette for me, to be honest.

It's so lovely, right?

Next up is a brand-new shade- Icicle.

This is the other shade that lured me in. It's the perfect icy blue for my fair complexion.

I wish that this was available in a full pan, because I'd pick it up. After so many dark, warm highlighters it's nice to get the occasional pan from Becca that just works for me.

Next up is one of two blushes (or so they say) in this palette. Say hellow to Winter Berry.

This scared me. It's limited edition in this palette, but on the skin? Not as scary.

This is lovely- and a nice flush with a light hand. The shimmer is in the pan, but it doesn't translate other than a healthy flush to the skin.

The second row starts with Blushed Copper blush.

I think this is a straight up eyeshadow for me.

It's pretty, and I'll get creative working it into my routine.

Next up, the classic Opal highlighter.

I'm planning to do a full review of this soon- it's a classic for a reason.

Last up is Bronzed Bondi bronzer.

In the pan, this scares me.

But swatched and blended out, I can make this work. It's really more of a summer shade though. This is more of a nod to medium skintones, which I don't mind.

Here's a group swatch:

I wouldn't necessarily say that this palette is cohesive- the top and bottom rows are disjointed. Light and pale skintones would love row #1, medium skintones would love row #2. I think deep skintones would only like the Blushed Copper shade, honestly. It feels like Becca tried to make a palette for everyone and it just doesn't make a lot of sense.

That said, I think the top row's worth my investment and I'm thrilled to have it in my collection. I'd just think twice about gifting it.