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My maid of honor and I met recently to pin down the date of my bachelorette party and discuss my dos and don’ts (because I’m a control freak that way), and in the course of our discussion, she asked me to list the specific things I’ll miss the most about Metro Manila when I move to Iloilo City next year.

One of the items on my list is access to my favorite beauty products, especially those from Beauty Bar, which has yet to make its way to Iloilo (please, open one there, you will have loyal customers, I promise!). This also includes getting first dibs on the latest cosmetics, like my most recent obsession: Smashbox Cosmetics’ latest collection!

Bringing no less than a curated assemblage of pigment-packed beauty essentials, Smashbox fulfills the wishes of beauty junkies and makeup hoarders in Metro Manila, Laguna, Pampanga, and Cebu by officially launching the Cover Shot Eye Palette, Spotlight Palette, and Always On Matte Liquid Lipsticks. I’m so glad I was still able to get my hands on them, so I can wear them to all the events and parties I’ll attend before the wedding—and so I can take a bit of my old look, self, life to Iloilo with me.

Always On Matte Liquid Lipstick

My hands-down favorite new item from Smashbox is the ultimate smudge-, budge-, and kiss-proof lipstick that can take our pouts from morning to night. The Always On Matte Liquid Lipstick (P1,250) stays put and highly pigmented for up to eight hours (and based on my experience, even after enjoying a dimsum buffet for lunch!), and it keeps lips hydrated and supple. I love how it looks as vibrant as if you’d just put it on—flawless, full coverage. It doesn’t even leave a mark on the glass when I drink!

Clockwise, from top left: Baja Bound, Stepping Out, Bang Bang, Big Spender, Disorderly, In Demand, Babe Alert, Dream Huge, and Bawse.

Always On’s velvety smooth matte formula is offered in 11 neutral, pink, and red shades. Subdued rose shade Babe Alert, neutral pink In Demand, and deep nude Stepping Out make for a perfect go-to for errands in the day or a hectic workday. The pink shades are just as promising: mauve pink Dream Huge and rose-toned Big Spender are soft, while pink coral shade Baja Bound provides a kick of color. Smashbox also keeps a variety of reds within reach, from the yellow red Bang Bang and deep red Bawse, to dramatic deep brick shade Disorderly.

Miss Conduct and Blast Off

My two favorite shades, however, are Miss Conduct and Blast Off. I’m into bold dark lips now, so naturally, I was drawn to the warm red-meets-plum Miss Conduct—just the shade I’ve been looking for to replace a lipstick I got abroad that I always get compliments for (even my dad told me it’s my shade!). And, I’ve always been drawn to flashy pink, so I use the punchy kick of Blast Off’s bright pink coral when I’m feeling a bit more playful. Both colors make me feel like the city girl I am and always will be.

The unique liquid matte formula is infused with Primer Oil Complex, rich in moisturizing jojoba, apricot, and sunflower oils. Always smooth and never drying (I swear, it’s amazing!), the new Always On Matte Liquid Lipstick keeps lips soft-as-suede, supple, and comfortable. It dries quickly, too, but keeps lips velvety smooth throughout. I don’t even need to apply balm before or after, my lips just never chap when I use it, which is such a pleasant surprise, given my experience with other matte lipsticks.

The only challenging part for me is the applicator. The precision tip is actually supposed to be used to expertly line lips and simply fill them in. Maybe I just need to get used to it.

Spotlight Palette

My second favorite new item from Smashbox is its Spotlight Palette (P1,800). This triple threat of a palette contains Blow a Fuse, Crank It Up, and Turn It On––two shimmer finishes and one high shine shade (naturally my favorite of the three!) to kick your glow up a notch. Available in Pearl, each highlight shade boasts of a glow-from-within effect that adds effortless dimension wherever applied (I like to apply the sparkly shade on my cheekbones and the most muted shade on the bridge of my nose). It’s officially my holiday beauty staple.

It’s no wonder it’s the highlighting must-have, as the Spotlight Palette was created in close collaboration with YouTube highlighting guru Casey Holmes. It even includes the best, pro tips to getting three of Holmes’ beauty looks!

To use, just wear each shade alone or layer together to build your ultimate glow. It can also be applied over blush for added dimension (this is what I usually do).

Here’s a tip: Brush it onto your shoulders and décolletage for an extra shot of shine!

Cover Shot Eye Palette

I think I may be over my eyeshadow phase (fine, except for the occasional wash of sparkly golden color on my lids), but I know a lot of my friends still aren’t. This season, Smashbox introduces not just one, two, or three, but four palettes of intense eye shadows packed with powerful pigments in mesmerizing colors that can take you anywhere.

Taking inspiration from of-the-moment trends that breeze through the doors of the iconic Smashbox Studios in Los Angeles, each swipe of the shadows from the Cover Shot Eye Palettes (P1,500 each) packs a punch of heavy-duty color that’s super blendable. Giving beauty aficionados all the elements needed to create unforgettable eye makeup looks, each pocket-sized palette houses six high-pigment colors and two base shades that blend like a charm.

Ablaze

Golden Hour

Perhaps best described as fire in a palette, Ablaze contains incandescent reds and browns inspired by the sear and scorch of the desert. Golden Hour promises a soft inner glow reminiscent of the sun’s rising and setting, with a moody purple shimmer as an unexpected palate cleanser. Aptly named, the Matte palette delivers ultra-pigmented creamy shades that go from neutral to dramatic. A stark opposite, the Metallic palette features golds, silvers, and pearlescent colors, all topped off with a fierce foil finish.

Metallic

Matte

To use, just have fun with it! Choose your base color and smooth onto your lids. Then layer, blend, and mix-and-match shades to create your own exceptional look—be it to work, a party, a date, or even a wedding. Pair with shadow primer for a long-lasting look.

In the Philippines, Smashbox is exclusively distributed by Stores Specialists, Inc., and is available in Beauty Bar stores located at Alabang Town Center, Central Square, Eastwood, Estancia, Galleria, Glorietta, Greenbelt 5, Robinsons Magnolia, Midtown, SM Mall of Asia, The Podium, Rockwell, Shangri-La Plaza Mall, Trinoma, UP Town Center, Paseo de Sta Rosa, Marquee Mall, and Ayala Center Cebu. Visit beautybar.com.ph, facebook.com/BeautyBarPH, or ssilife.com.ph for more information.

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