I doubt Hollywood’s even looking for a short, sassy Filipino chick without any acting experience to star opposite Ryan Gosling in an upcoming romantic comedy, but if, perchance, I’m ever stopped by a famous director at Petco and asked to play the wind beneath Ryan’s wings, you can bet I’m putting down those 20 cans of gravy, girl, because we’re going to Hollywood! 🙂
Logic places the chances of this happening somewhere below 0.000001%, but ya never know… Maybe the new limited edition Smashbox Be Discovered palette (about $60, from the new Snappy Holidays 2011 collection) will improve my odds.
Maybe…?
Okay, well, a girl’s gotta have dreams, and if yours happen to involve holiday kits brimming with color, Smashbox would like you to consider this: the 66-piece Be Discovered palette, with its four mini-makeup brushes and shades for eyes, cheeks and lips. At $60, it works out to less than $1 per piece.
Not too shabby, tabby.
For more on the Smashbox Snappy Holidays collection, check out…
The bulk of the pieces in the palette consist of products for eyes — 45 powder shadows and nine cream liners, to be exact. That’s more color than a girl could shake a blending brush at!
But (there’s always a but), like the eyeshadows in the company’s Click You’re It palette, also out for holidays, these like being babied. Some of them require lots of layering to show up on my tan skin, and more often than not, I also end up sweeping away a considerable amount of fallout.
A few thoughts on the rest of the kit…
- Cheek Products — My favorite pieces in the palette! The Bronzer, Blushes and Soft Lights Highlighters apply smoothly with commendable color, yet despite being packed with pigment, they remain easy to blend.
- Cream Eyeliners — I like the soft, dreamy lines I’m able to draw with these, as well as the variety of colors, but some of them migrate when I forget to pat a powder shadow on top.
- Lipglosses — Preternatural pigment and a three-hour wear time for the win!
- Mini Brushes — They get job done, but I wouldn’t depend on them for everyday use (unless I had a crush on scratchy bristles).
The Smashbox Be Discovered kit: click here to see more product pics, and here to see oodles of swatches
All told, I’m fond of this kit, but I don’t feel that lusty urge for it — or ache, if you will — like I’ve felt from some of the other holiday palettes I’ve seen so far this year (see: Laura Mercier). In terms of value, though, because of the range of colors it contains and the price per piece, I wouldn’t overlook it entirely.
I only wish that the eye products could step up their game.
PRICE: about $60
AVAILABILITY: TBD
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B
Ahh, Wednesday… Sweet, sweet hump day. I hope yours has gone well. 🙂
I’m trying my best today to finagle a mid-week movie date with El Hub. I’d originally wanted to see Puss in Boots, but now I dunno. I read some of the reviews, and I’m open to other suggestions. If you have any recs, please let me know. I feel like I need a movie fix tonight.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
AnieJ says
November 2nd, 2011 at 6:17 pmI agree with your final thought: there is just nothing screaming “buy me” about this huge palette. I would rather get a palette of four shadows, one blush, and one gloss for the same price and have them all be fantastic quality, but that also means I will probably be able to use all that money’s worth of product…and want to!
AnieJ recently posted … Smashbox Camera Ready Foundation SPF 15
Karen says
November 3rd, 2011 at 8:10 amYou might want to check out Laura’s holiday palette. It is AMAZING.
Chris25 says
November 2nd, 2011 at 6:23 pmThe pink and purple shadows look good on you!
Karen says
November 3rd, 2011 at 8:09 amThanks, Chris! 🙂
Kim says
November 2nd, 2011 at 6:58 pm50/50 was really, really good, but bring your tissues if you decide to see it!
Karen says
November 3rd, 2011 at 8:09 amThat film is getting really good reviews. I couldn’t deal with anything to heavy, so we ended up going with Footloose. It was surprisingly very good!
Maricel Edwards says
November 2nd, 2011 at 8:52 pmOmg! So i didn’t finagle a mid-week movie from my hubs but i did manage to sneak one in with a former student of mine who is an assistant manager at the local theatre and a good friend. We just saw The Three Musketeers and if you’re in the mood for eye candy(can we say Matthew Macfayden?), swashbuckling 21st century style (insert slow mo action here) and campy fun (this flick does not take itself seriously at all), then you’ve gotta see it! Run. Don’t hobble in those five-inch heels! Oh, wait! That’s me! ;p
Btw, can i just say thank you for this blog? As a fellow filipina who’s pushing forty and has never worn makeup before her current mid-life crisis, i find it disconcerting to be taking tips from uoutube makeup gurus whose skin tone never matches mine and who can’t be older than twelve. Live long and prosper!
Karen says
November 3rd, 2011 at 8:08 amLive long and prosper right back atcha, Maricel!
What makeup are you liking these days?
Maricel says
November 3rd, 2011 at 9:12 amI’m really loving NYX for its price point and quality of product. I can’t really attest to the former, though, beyond knowing it’s easy to apply, even for my clumsy, neophyte-at-makeup hands. But I do know that, in this economic climate, I can’t afford to build up my makeup arsenal with the good stuff (MAC, Urban Decay, etc.), so NYX it is. Have bought some e.l.f. stuff but have yet to use them besides the brushes. I got Wet n Wild eye shadows because they come highly recommended but I can’t for the life of me apply eyeshadow and blend correctly and after I discovered NYX jumbo eye pencils, I’ve almost given up on traditional eye shadows. 🙁
Karen says
November 3rd, 2011 at 9:44 amAww, you can do it! I just takes practice, time and the right brushes. Soon you’ll be knocking out eye looks in no time flat.
Okay, I know you mentioned that MAC might not be in the cards now, but if you ever decide to splurge on a shadow, let that be Soft Brown. It’s a Filipino gal’s BFF:
https://www.makeupandbeautyblog.com/mac-makeup/mac-unsung-heroes-soft-brown-eyeshadow/
Maricel says
November 3rd, 2011 at 10:39 amOoooh! Indeed! Thanks for the tip and the link. I especially like the office-inspired look; so I guess it works as an all over the lid color as well as a crease color, eh? I shall continue to practice and when I’m feeling sparky, I’ll treat myself to that shade as a reward. No NYX dupe for it, though, huh?
Karen says
November 3rd, 2011 at 8:33 pmYes, it works both as an all-over shade and in the crease. I also like to apply it along the lower lash line for more definition. It is a FANTASTIC color that you can literally wear Every. Single. Day.
Hmm, I’m not sure about the NYX shade. I wish they’d post the finishes on their website…
Maricel Edwards says
November 2nd, 2011 at 8:52 pmI meant youtube. Vdyrccfh! I hate typing on an ipad!
Vonvon says
November 3rd, 2011 at 12:42 amI would buy this on a whim had I not had a Smashbox Eye Wish palette from 2 years ago or longer which is still in its pristine condition. 🙁
Vonvon recently posted … Photos From Our Halloween Celebration
Karen says
November 3rd, 2011 at 8:07 amUh-oh, what happened to it?
Hang says
November 3rd, 2011 at 3:05 amYou’re always so creative and funny with your posts’ introductions! It looks great as a gift, but I’ve never been in love with their shadows…
Karen says
November 3rd, 2011 at 8:28 pmThanks, Hang. 🙂
Kim says
November 3rd, 2011 at 5:02 amYou won’t be surprised to hear that I’m overwhelmed by this palette (and it’s just so colorful!). I do agree that $1 per piece is a great deal for someone looking for lots of shadow options, who doesn’t mind some fallout. 🙂
What did you end up going to see last night? It’s been quite a few months since I’ve seen a grown up movie at the theater, so I’m no help with the recs, sadly.
Karen says
November 3rd, 2011 at 8:07 amI felt the same way when I opened it. It’s a LOT of eyeshadow.
We ended up watching Footloose, and get this, it was actually REALLY GOOD!
Kim says
November 4th, 2011 at 7:25 amI’m definitely going to watch it – sometimes those are the best movies (the ones that you’re not all that excited to see, but turn out to really like). I watched about 2/3 of Waitress last night and it’s definitely cute. They could have named it “watch Nathan Fillion make out for an hour” instead, but I can think of worse things to watch. 🙂
Nina says
November 3rd, 2011 at 5:55 amoh wow. that is a spendy yet not so awesome product. that is getting scratched off my list!
Karen says
November 3rd, 2011 at 7:57 amDon’t you collect Smasbox blushes (or is it Lorac?). You might already have the blushes already (they’re the best part of this kit!).
Happy Thursday!
Nina says
November 4th, 2011 at 8:26 ami collect smashbox blushes and lorac palettes. well, among other things, that is! 😀
TGIF!
stephanie says
November 3rd, 2011 at 1:04 pmomg this looks absolotuely amazing! i am obsessed with palettes! have to have!
tzeyien89.blogspot.com xxx
Karen says
November 3rd, 2011 at 8:28 pmGlad you like it!
kelly says
December 10th, 2011 at 12:18 ami just got this, i like it but i have very fair skin. i found a lot of these colours to be really similar to one another though i do enjoy all the neutrals. great pics