Do you ever wonder what it would be like to be famous? Pretty much, I think it would not be fun. Not being able to run to Target in my jammies for bananas and dental floss, or have lunch at a sidewalk cafe without hearing everyone around you whisper, “It’s that actress from that show with that guy,” or accidentally do something really awkward and ridiculous, like falling on your butt in the rain and cursing, “Dammit all to hell!” without it going viral on YouTube later that night.
No thanks.
The closest I want to get to fame is the new Smashbox Shades of Fame Eye Palette ($48). 🙂 I did a couple of looks with it today following the tutorials from the booklet that come with the kit.
The Test Shoot look
The Meet the Photographer look
The Smashbox Shades of Fame Eye Palette (took some swatches here)
Smashbox really stepped it up with their shadows this time. I’ve been noticing way less fallout from these shadows than I’ve had with the shadows in their past few limited edition eye palettes.
They still aren’t completely fallout free — especially when I apply them using a fluffy domed brush like the MAC 217 — but they’re much improved in terms of overall performance and pigment. Rumor has it Smashbox reformulated their shadows recently, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they did.
It’s either that, or my skin’s just in a really good mood. These also seem to stick to my skin better, blend more easily, and don’t look as heavy or grainy on my lids.
Smashing job, Smashbox. Keep up the good work. 🙂
PRICE: $48
AVAILABILITY: Available now at Sephora and sephora.com
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A- (still a little fallout)
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
dani@callitbeauty says
They sound fantastic! Now I *really* gotta get my hands on them!
Karen says
Yup, my hat’s off to Smashbox this time. I’ve always like the idea of their palettes, but their performance has up till now kind of held them back for me. Hopefully this marks the start of a trend.
How’s your weekend coming along, dani? Did you get to see the supermoon?
Let says
They look awesome!
I loved it when I swatched it in Sephora, but most of the colors reminded me of Too Faced’s summer palette, which I have, so …. *sigh*
Karen says
Hi, Let. How are you liking the Too Faced summer palette?
Let says
I love it! 🙂 I need to experiment more to pull off the coral/orange shade though..
Becca @ The Beauty Sample says
Good lord, Karen–you look so tan and glowy and pretty!!! I really need to get my butt to Kauai…:P
Karen says
Thank you very much, Becca! I picked up a bit of a tan, but I’m already seeing it fade, and I’m sad, more for the fact that it means vacation’s over than for the actual loss of the tan, LOL!
Hey, but at least we’re coming up on summer here, so the sun will be out for a few glorious months.
What are you up to this weekend?
Joyce says
Seems like every company is stepping up their game and reformulating their eyeshadows. You could even find good quality eyeshadows at the drugstore nowadays, so the mid-range and high end brands really have their work cut out for them.
Karen says
Hi, Joyce. Bingo! The pressure’s on the mid-range and high-range now to either innovate — like really innovate, and not just release a new color we haven’t seen before or only saw once 10 years ago — or to lower their prices, and yet I’ve been seeing a general increase in prices at the high end over the past couple years.
Seriously, what’s up with that? I think some luxury brands are justifiably able to command a premium, but not the premiums we’ve been seeing lately. Approaching $50 for a lip product is pretty ridiculous no matter how you slice it.
Megan says
I ordered this without swatching bc I just love the idea of golds and soft neutrals with a pop of color for summer. And love the metallic liners! The only color I’m concerned about is sherbert (which looks gorgeous on you!). I hope it works on fair skin!
Sunny @ Mostly Sunny says
You look SOOOOO super gorgeous in these pictures, Karen! Your holiday evidently did you a lot of good!
Glad to hear the formula has improved too. I have very limited patience for fallout!
Vijaya says
I like the look you put together with these!
Naomi says
That pacific shade is gorgeous!
Karen says
Hi Naomi,
It’s really pretty. That whole bottom row of the palette reminds me of a toned-down version of Urban Decay’s Get Baked from a few years back!
Paris B says
Yikes! I actually like the look of this one! :O I love the looks you did. Gotta go check them out 😀
Karen says
Hi Paris,
Thanks! Do you guys get Smashbox in your neck of the woods?
Nina says
Ohh super yay for less fallout! That kinda sorta seals the deal for me! The palette is gorgeous as evidenced by my grabby hands pawing all over it at Sephora during one random lunchbreak. I had concerns about fallout since I seem to get that a lot from the couple of Smashbox palettes I own, but yayandyayagain! 🙂
Karen says
Hi Nina,
Yay indeed! You still may want to stick to using flat eyeshadow brushes with it though…the fluffy ones definitely left a little on my cheeks.
Let me know when you get this! We can compare notes. 🙂