Behind The Brand: Smashbox Cosmetics

Date of Birth: 1996

Founding Fathers: Dean and Davis Factor

History: Smashbox cosmetics is the brainchild of Dean and Davis Factor, great-grandsons of makeup legend Max Factor. Born out of the famous Smashbox Studios in LA, the cosmetics brand launched in 1996, offering customers long-lasting products that stay intact even in the toughest conditions. The cutting-edge brand, loved by some of the most beautiful Hollywood stars, was acquired by Estée Lauder Companies in 2010.

The Tuesday Tip: Lipstick Before Liner

When it comes to applying lipstick, the standard rule is that lip liner should come first. Most girls apply liner before lipstick to help them see and trace the natural line of their lips. However this doesn't necessarily make the lipstick look better, it just helps with application. So I like to break the rules and apply my liner last. Imma bad bitch after all...

Ask TBI: Contouring A Square Face

Question: I really want to get into the whole contouring thing, however I have a squared shaped face and am unsure what parts I need to shadow and what parts I need to highlight. Help! - Hannah, London.

Answer: I am always asked questions about contouring, whether from readers or family and friends. Contouring isn't too tricky, however the biggest mistake people make is failing to focus on their face shape - so you're right to try and figure out what works best for your features.

Understanding...Foundation Primer

Makeup artists swear by it, beauty fanatics love it…so what is foundation primer?

Foundation primer, unlike some beauty products, is quite self explanatory – it primes the skin in preparation for further make up application. However, foundation primers have many other benefits that help make them so freakin’ popular.

A foundation primer can help to:

• Ease the application of foundation
• Even out skin tone
• Increase the longevity of foundation
• Create a protective barrier between foundation and skin
• Keep foundation in place in hot conditions
• Prevent foundation and face powder caking

Foundation primers are usually water-based or silicone-based and, like most skincare products, there are a variety of different foundation primers available that cater for all skin types. In all honesty, most primers work well with all skin types. However I would advise those with oily skin to beware of the generic gel primers, as these often contain high amounts of silicone that cause greasy skin to look greasier!

Recommendations

1. Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer Light (£25.00 Boots / $36.00 Sephora)
2. Urban Decay de-slick in a tube (£18.00 Debenhams)
3. Laura Mercier Foundation Primer Hydrating (£29.00 urbanretreat.co.uk / $33.00 Sephora)
4. M.A.C PREP + PRIME SKIN (£21.00 maccosmetics.co.uk / $30.00 maccosmetics.com)

Weekly Worship: Bieber, Smashbox and Stila

I always struggle choosing one product to worship each week as, fortunately, I try a lot of great beauty products throughout each month. So this week I've switched things up and will show you not one, but three  things I've been loving this week...

Price: £24.00 / $36.00 30ml

Stockist: Boots / Sephora

I have wanted to try the Stila One Step Correct for a while as I suffer from dark circles and slight redness. So a few weeks ago I bit the bullet and gave it a try...thank God I did.

This triple swirl helix primer combines lavender, peach and green tones that neutralise redness, conceal spots and pigmentation, counteract sallow undertones and brighten the skin. Not only does this beauty wonder do an amazing job at hiding imperfections, reducing redness and brightening the skin, it also doubles as the perfect primer. It reduces fine lines, wrinkles and pores, creating a super smooth base for makeup application, and it also gives makeup some serious lasting power - which is an added bonus!

Price: £24.00 30ml

Stockist: Boots

Justin Bieber Collector's Edition launched this week and I'm surprised to say that I really love it! The eau de parfum contains top notes of bergamot, pear and passionfruit, mid notes of honeysuckle, freesia and heliotrope and base notes of golden amber, white musk, sandalwood and apricot nectar. The result of this medley is a fresh, floral and fruity daytime scent that has real staying power. Nice work Biebs!

Price: £39.00 / $ 39.00

Stockist: smashbox.co.uk / ULTA

Smashbox's latest beauty tool, the Telephoto 3-in-1 Face Brush, is a dual-fiber, multi-tasking brush that expands out to provide three different coverage levels - full, medium and sheer. No matter what foundation you use, this brush lives up to its promise - you'll get a light, natural coverage with the 'sheer' brush and a maximum flawless coverage with the 'full'. All you have to do is rotate the base until you click into the brush you need, very simple.

I always work to achieve a full coverage foundation look, so this brush rarely rotates! The full brush is dense and firm, yet soft enough to access those harder-to-reach areas of the face. It blends foundation seamlessly and provides a gorgeous even finish. This little guy is now an essential part of my makeup routine and when he is not in my makeup bag, he's travelling with me in my handbag. I'm obsessed!

News: Santigold For Smashbox

Smashbox has collaborated with American singer - and all-around badass - Santigold, to create a new makeup collection.

The Santigolden Age collection will feature products for face, eyes and lips including:

• Eye Shadow Collage - two eye shadow palettes that include five shades of luxe wet/dry eye shadows
• Be Legendary Lip Gloss - two lip glosses that can be worn alone or layered with other shades
• Be Legendary Lipstick Ring - a collectible snake-pyramid ring adorned with Swarovski crystals with a limited edition soft coral shade of Be Legendary Lipstick hidden inside
• Double-Ended Limitless Eye Liner - a double ended liner available in blue, gold, yellow and green
• Nail Polish Art Strips - two sets of mistake-proof nail strips designed by Santigold and musician Trouble Andrew.

The collection will launch online on the 14th May and in stores nationwide on the 28th May. Prices will range from £10-£39.

Faithful Four: Foundation Primers

Illamasqua Matt Primer

Promise: “An essential for any screen goddess, Illamasqua Matt Primer helps create a flawless, shine-free and long-lasting base”

Price: £22.50/$32.00 30ml 

Purchase: www.illamasqua.com, Sephora

This primer has a watery, runny texture that spreads far and wide. It quickly absorbs into the skin, leaving it soft, silky and protected (SPF20). Like most Illamasqua products, the Matt Primer has a vanilla-like scent that makes it's application that much sweeter. It gives makeup the most amazing staying power and, even better, keeps skin shine-free. I would not recommend this product to those with oily skin as it has been known to make matters worse.

Laura Mercier Foundation Primer

Promise: “A lightweight, creamy gel meant to be used prior to foundation, creating an invisible layer that acts as a buffer to outside elements. Leaves makeup looking fresh & colour-true the entire day”

Price: £28.00/$32.00 50ml

Purchase: House of Fraser, Bloomingdale's

This is the original primer. It was created by Laura Mercier in 1995 and is still considered to be one of the best primers around. It has a gel texture that feels quite tacky when first applied to the skin, however after a few minutes skin is subtle, ulta-smooth and fine lines appear reduced. This primer contains vitamins A, C, and E - great antioxidants that protect the skin from harmful, aging effects of the environment. It is also non-comedogenic, however it is lacking in a SPF.

Dermalogica Skinperfect Primer SPF30

Promise: “Velvety silicones create an instantly smooth surface. Pearl powder and natural earth minerals provide a neutral tint to help balance tone and enhance luminosity. Peptides and AGE Smart® actives help firm and shield against MMP and free radical damage, as sunscreens shield against sun damage”

Price: £37.50 / $48.00 22ml

Purchase: dermalogica.co.uk / dermalogica.com

This silicone based primer glides onto the skin so lightly that it feels like you are rubbing your face with pure silk. Although this primer is silicone based and contains oils, it does not feel remotely greasy on the skin.  After application, skin is just left smoothed and plumped and fines lines appear reduced. The Skinperfect Primer also helps to reduce pigmentation and makes skin look more radiant. It is formulated with peptides and AGE Smart® actives, which help firm the skin and shield against MMP and free radical damage. The only downside is the price.

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer

Promise: “The silky blend of vitamins and antioxidants smooths and perfects skin, while the unique formula helps to inhibit the destruction of collagen, and fills in fine lines and pores for a flawless finish”

Price: £25.00/$36.00 30ml 

Purchase: Boots, Sephora

This primer has achieved cult status due to it's ability to make makeup last, and I mean last. Whether you're in a nightclub, gym or heatwave your makeup will not budge, I promise. The Smashbox Photo Finish Primer has a thick gel texture that reduces the appearance of fine lines and pores and gives skin a velvety-smooth finish. It is oil-free which makes it great for those with oily skin and it contains vitamins A and E, grape seed extract and green tea. The only downside is the lack of a SPF.