The other day I was invited to Roodebloem studios to learn a bit more about Smashbox cosmetics new goodies and get a little makeover before having my portrait shot.

If you didn’t know, Smashbox is one of those go to brands when it comes to primers; they have more than ten of them including this fab new one for oily, spot prone skin.

I’ve never really been a fan of primers as most of them are riddled with silicone and cause my skin to grease up fast but this one feels unbelievably light and is infused with a little salicylic acid to help keep your pores clean and clear. Very, very nice.

Another nice newbie from the brand? Smashbox Always Sharp Waterproof Kohl Liner (R200). It glides on like a dream, stays put and self-sharpens every time you twist open the cap!

Hair-wise, I was given a few wavy curls that hung around all day thanks to a few spritzes of ghd’s Curl Hold Spray. You apply a light misting of it to each lock before you wrap it around your curling iron and it helps protect it from heat while ensuring your curls keep their shape.

As far as make-up goes, I liked my look but was made up with a foundation that was about two shades too pale for my skin tone.

In all fairness though, I was given the option to get a re-do but was running late for my next appointment. I want to show you this piccie though ‘cos I want you to see the concealer technique she used. See how she placed it in little dots to create a V shape that ran all the way up to my temple? This was then blended in to create the illusion of an instant eye lift.

Anyway, the foundation she used was Smashbox’s new Liquid Halo HD foundation (R370). Its pigments are encapsulated in a translucent gel that creates a gorgeous, radiant-looking glow. Later, I found it in my goodie bag in a shade called 3 and this was a great match for my NC25 skin. And yes, it really does create an incredibly natural, healthy look.

Other make-up used to create my look included these guys. I think:

God knows why but the bronze colour in Screen Shot looks grey in all my pics. (I’d pointed the trio out to my make-up artist and asked if she’d use it but now suspect she did her own thing.) Of everything, I was most impressed with the lid primer. It ensured my shadow still looked freshly applied come the stroke of midnight with ZERO creasing. If you’ve ever struggled with shadow that creases in your lid, this will be your new best friend.

This was my final look:

Still, as I’m set in my ways and action packed with control issues, I grabbed a brighter lippie on the sly to try and warm thing up a little. That zombie tutorial was last week, y’all.

Anyway, if you’re keen to get your mitts on any of Smashbox’s new goodies, you’ll find them in store as we ‘speak’.

Love, love

Leigh