Thursday!!!!!

Okay reason for my excitement? let's do lunch special is today and todays special is a free eye shadow single in the shade of "honey"..this is a great shade for under brow to highlight ...is so light you can use in corners of eyes to make eyes appear larger and "pop" more...so...i am thinking i will be picking up those eyeshadow singles in the curtain call that i didn't get before and having one of these thrown in my box is an added bonus!
platinum = 12.00
honey = free
targeted pore & line primer mini or endless lip gloss mini or onyx eyeliner mini  = free
lid primer packet = free
shipping free
tax $0.72 = 12.72....AND 60 pretty points towards another gift card (10.00 for every 500 points)
hmmmm yep i am shopping between 9 and 2 today....are you?
 :)


(oh and join ebates and get 4% cash back= $0.48 - more then half the tax back)

now just need groupon to get hooked up with smashbox :)

oooo SALE!!!

Okay...just checked the email and found a wonderful surprise from smashbox that anyone who joined their points program probably also received...if not...here's the details...(copy and paste from message i received)

TODAY ONLY! Earn double rewards: Spend just $50, get a $10 rewards certificate‏

link posted in separate post! enjoy!

1 DAY ONLY! Double rewards in our Pretty Points program

1 DAY ONLY! Double rewards in our Pretty Points program

Loving "Let's Do Lunch" and "Curtain Call"

Well today was Thursday and Smashbox.com had their "lets do lunch" special again....todays gift was softlights tint (16.00 value) and you can use it with the curtain call items...for those who dont know....

On Tuesdays and Thursdays Smashbox offers a special....load up your cart on any day but checkout and pay on tuesday or thursday from 9 am - 2pm pst,  and receive a free gift with your purchase.  (yes you have to know time differences if you do not live in pst range). Now, what I love about this is that you can use this with the "curtain call" items (their version of clearance department) AND with the new customer loyalty program ...more details in a moment....you make out like a bandit on smash stash! I am sooooo in my element at the moment :)

Smashbox loyalty program = 5 points per dollar spent on smashbox website and at 500 points you get 10.00 gift certificate...AND you can do "lets do lunch" and shop in "curtain call" - purchases count toward your 500....in addition to the gift cards, birthday presents are given to members along with bonus deluxe samples added to every order.  You have to sign up for the program ON THE SMASHBOX WEBSITE. ( I put it in caps as reminder, this site is not smashbox's and I do not work for smashbox in any way).  I love this company! They are always finding innovative ways to part me from my money....and it's working :)

Anyway, I updated some of the collection links (not saying which ones so you have to look around on the site) and remember...feel free to comment on this page about anything you see on the site, as well as on "suggestion box" especially if you know of any collections i am missing, items for the tip page, or things you think i should add to this...(it is still a work in progress)

Contest!!!!

Smashbox is holding a contest...details are simple.

If you have facebook, simply like the smashbox fan page, then click the link to sign up for the contest.  There are some rules such as must be in usa and over 21 and other small technicalities...but..the prizes are fantastic....I am copying and pasting straight from the fan page so I don't mess up the details :

1ST PRIZE:Trip for 2 to New York City, including tickets to LCD Soundsystem’s FINALSOLD-OUT concert at Madison Square Garden on April 2, 2011.

2ND PRIZE:Trip to L.A. for you and three friends for a party at Smashbox Studios with a livestream of the concert from Pitchfork.com on April 2, 2011.

3RD PRIZE:“Ultimate Studio” giveaway, including a digital camera (handpicked by Smashbox co-founder/renowned photographer Davis Factor) + $500 worth of Smashbox goodies

I so want the 2nd or 3rd prize more then the first, though smash reps did post that the 1st and 2nd prize winners would not be disappointed when it came to smash stash items :)  Keep in mind this is a contest held by smashbox and not by me (am only clueing in those who might not know of it)....so ...you are subject to their rules of entry and winning.  Have fun and good luck :)

Spring cleaning

Well this weeks fun and games for me include the spring cleaning of my cosmetics vanity.... never a fun job.  You know those multi-item palettes that we are all a sucker for around holidays and as new product lines come out? The ones where you tell yourself that "I love all the colors and will use all of them" ....and then don't?  This weeks project includes sifting through all the palettes that have giant empty spots from the 2-3 colors I did use and flawless colors in all the others.....  My tips page touches on this but I will be attempting to break down all my bulky palettes that have been committed to the back of the drawer,  into small jars to be used as eyeliners and highlighters.. After all, having 20 palettes that won't get touched as is, might as well try to salvage what I can from them.  (If I consolidate, I am thinking it makes room for the holiday goodies smashbox is sure to bring out for fall and winter..)

The other bright spot of this week...Smashbox came out with new lip glosses (back in November) and they are offered via QVC only until sometime this month... I just received mine and love / hate them.  The gleam / dazzle set (hot pink / mauve) and the  brillant / luster set (peach / nude) are the 4 shades offered (so far).  Tech specs : swivel up pen that lets you see how much remains in it.  Silicon applicator that reminds me of whats in lip tech.  ok, wore the gleam shade all morning while running errands to see how it holds up, results are : these are VERY shiny glosses with lots of glittery to them. color is minimal but there is some there. application is awkward in beginning until you get used to it ...holding it horizontally while applying seems to work best.  If not eating / drinking, lasts about 1-2 hours before reapply. After gloss is gone, glitter remains. If using it to keep lips moist with minimal color it is great until you eat / drink / smoke and then need to reapply more. tackiness is minimal (had car window down a bit and very little issue of hair clinging to it),  if wanting some color with gloss, definately need to apply over a lip color because there is not enough in these though they are labeled as highly pigmented (grrrrr).  I am still working on how to get photos up, if I can figure it out, will post swatches.

Remember....feel free to follow this and comments are always welcome!

details details details

I have been slowly getting more of these kits listed, and I realized something....the time is not in typing them up, thats easy enough to do, but my book has them listed in no specific order before I started actively collecting the kit items in spring 2010.. and when I did, I never thought to write in year of collection grrrrr. sooooo my time is mainly being spent looking up the years that they were made.  I am coming across duplicate kits though while doing this....the public release kit vs the qvc versions so to make it simple, i plan on making a note if it is qvc and drastically different. if only minor difference, i am just merging them since the older ones are no longer sold as actual kits, i do not see problem in doing this since to purchase, you would be tracking down each item separately anyway.  besides a bulkier kit of color co-ordinated choices can only be a good thing....right?  (i like grabbing the items for the one I am using in morning and seeing a couple glosses to pick from vs the 1 only).

Anyway....according to the ticker thingy at the bottom ....i am having people pop on and view this....and my pages stats thing says people are looking around....so....feel free to comment and say hi! I promise...I wont bite and having someone offer suggestions or let me know how this is coming so far is only a good thing (IMO).

Back to dealing with life away from computer....happy reading! :)

The expert advice link...

That leads to a smashbox promo that was sent to me today....takes you to their website. If you didnt get it in your mailbox this morning, enjoy. It shows how-to's on makeup application as well as other site exclusive items on the smashbox site :)

Expert Advice Just For You!

Expert Advice Just For You!

smash stash refill arrived yesterday!

I am so awful about checking my postbox immediately....I need to work on that! Yesterdays post held a treasure of goodies from my online retail therapy binge...bottle of brush cleaner, 4 light cast detail highlighters i found for 5.00 each with free shipping (yayyyy), 3 illuminating serums (found for 7.99 with free ship), some mini lip glosses, and i hit motherload of travel sized photo finish foundation primers (yes it takes a few to = 1 bottle FS but was equal to getting 4 bottles for around 18.00 each - basically around half off)  Sorry SB but I wouldnt resort to cruising other sites if you hadn't discontinued my light cast highlighter...I love that stuff!  also in my goodie packages was basic items like a cream eyeliner duo to replace the 2 colors from my palette set i finished.

Smashbox has this wonderful palette cream liner set in metallics / proof / vixen - i think the site shows only metallics and proof as current available options for purchase. These palettes give a sample size of 10 shades each and at 32.00 a palette it is a great deal for someone wanting to play with color and try out the different shades (normal cream liner is 22.00 each and not all the palette shades are available individually at the moment). One of my main reasons for loving these palettes (besides the variety in colors) is that though they look like small amounts, there is quite a bit of each color and you have less chance of it drying out before finishing = less waste for your money and more color play. (I hate buying the full size and having it dry out and get thrown out before even half used - yes i am still ticked off about throwing out an almost full reign jet set duo palette that I paid full price for).  This is not a new item, but it is one of my favorite "staple" items due to amount of variety it gives.  Many times I have used a palette to try a new shade and then bought a duo or single once I was sure I liked it and would use frequently.  (I really hate how many cosmetics I have that I bought and used once then traded or put in drawer and forgot about) This palette helps stop that color regret...thank you smashbox :)

My last and final goodie in my smash stash delivery ...was an item discontinued a while ago but i was able to find someone who had 10 of them available....the lip illusion gloss duo. NOT the palette...(i didn't like the palette, not as easy application / use).  This duo helps rejuvinate your old lip colors...one end is white (vanilla scent) other end is black (berry scent).  I have my suspicions about this....I really think that it was changed to the o-gloss shimmer and o-gloss noir but I cant prove it :)  Anyway, the white lightens the darker lip colors and the black darkens the light colors with just a touch of shade to it making previously tired colors new and more vibrant.  Something to look for when your on one of the sites....having a few of these, I still buy the o-gloss noir from smashbox as i love the packaging and i am weak when it comes to glosses :)

ok...i updated a few of the collection links...still way to many to type up but need my morning coffee and thinking of hitting the mall today instead of tomorrow for the smashbox items on sale at ulta....

Getting there......slowly

Well, as you can see, I have my sections set up / headers for pages...feel free to click some of the years and you will find a start of the collections listed as well as what was in the collection, what is great about it, and any tips on improving it that I found from my own experience.  (at moment 1 from 2005, 2 -2009, 2-2011).  I also set up a suggestion page so that anyone can offer kit / collection info or tips in addition to posting on main home page here.

I am also going to try to list the approximate values of each item. My reason for doing so is simple. If a collection is selling for 40.00 complete, but you need only a 5.00 item from it...why spend the 40? Now you're probably laughing and thinking 5.00 for a sb product? is she nuts? yeah I probably am just a little...after all, I decided to undertake listing 100+ kits / collections and eventually a running list of all single sold items (lip colors / liners / etc) made.  However....i found that if I really loved a collection and how it looked on me, but it was no longer produced, (not even to be seen in "curtain call"), sometimes I have luck finding the item in ebay and the jungle :) and thats where you find for the 5.00.

***PLEASE NOTE, doing so is at a risk. These items have been bought by others first and though there is rule of no selling used products, it is impossible to know for sure what the climate conditions other people stored items at. That being said....I have found some of my favorite items that were discontinued (dang it!) in those sites and have been able to collect quite a few back ups of my stock favorites (illuminating serum, light cast detail highlighter, and off set converter to name a few). Eventually I will have to find replacements that are just as good or better....but for now I am still happily in denial about the death of productions.

 ok, I am rambling and my poor eyes need a break if I want to be well rested to brave the mall tomorrow for the spring sales! I will try to get more collections posted tomorrow...2011 and 2010 first as they are most recent, then the oldest to newest after that until they are all listed....who knows, you might find a new look idea based on only needing 1 or 2 items to round off...and I do try to be accurate in my titles and years so that you can easily search out photos online of the collections / colors used.  Once everything is listed, I will decide if I want to swatch them all or just leave it for everyone to look them up on their own.

Nighty Night

Day 2 ...still here, novelty of blog not worn off yet

2 things...
1- Don't forget to stop by Ulta for the 21 days of beauty....today is the smashbox promo 1 of 4 that will happen. You do not have to be there on these days for the prices, but you do if you want to talk to the reps from smashbox.

• dates for smashbox are : 3/18, 3/20, 3/25, 4/2

• can get the limitless beauty collection for 39.00 (value of 115)
• a 5 shade eyeshadow palette
• lip gloss limitless round the clock
• eyeliner limitless black violet
• blush rush everlasting?  (packages not marked and except for eye palette, I have all these)
• photo finish foundation primer 
• was at mall and stopped in ulta :( package not marked for shades and if me and the saleswoman are right on shades, only thing I dont have is palette so no new SB in my future until they sell it separately or I need replacements of those items enough to be worth it
• free travel brush set with any smashbox purchase - these well known brushes but in travel size, I included the numbers of the full size for reference only
• crease, #10
• smudger #20 (brush end not sponge end style)
• try me kit for 19.00 - made for those just getting into smashbox, it includes the smaller, travel sized items that are staples in any addicts collection (please see my post in the 2011 collection page if you want detailed breakdown of sizes / colors / values of items)
• photo finish foundation primer
• photo finish lid primer
• lip gloss
• eye liner
• mascara

2-Ok, I was doing more research on the older collections and realized that in one collection the shadowliner trio is called "scene marker" and in another the same trio is called "blockbuster". Good thing I check before buying things or I would wind up with yet another duplicate item...

But this got me thinking I need to start listing collections so others have info and can add to their collections or know when to avoid buying item they already would have...thats assuming anyone actually ends up reading this :) though the stats page says I have had 4 visitors so far...  must be my friends who are being supportive :) thank you :)

So, my daily goal will be to list at least 1 collection a day on the page I just started, and if anyone knows of a collection or sees one I post as incomplete....please let me know.

Starting this blog...

Well, this is a new experience for me....I have commented on blogs of others in past, but never thought to start my own. Someone made suggestion of marketing my personal "beauty bible" and well, I would rather just expand it and allow others access... that said, I guess I should explain what it is...


I use Smashbox cosmetics exclusively. For those who have bought the products in the past, you know that it can be pricey keeping up with having all the latest color combinations and kits put out there by the company.  I decided to get around that....


In a journal style notebook, I started google-ing for "smashbox kits" and writing down the products that were in each....then went through my own cosmetics and checked off the items i already had in each of those kits.  The way I see it, a girl can only use so many onyx eyeliners and reflection lip glosses when there are SO many other gorgeous shades out there to play with.  What started with me being tired of buying kits and ending up with multiples of certain products, turned into a custom shopping list to check before buying a new kit- many times I already have all but 1 or 2 items from the newest kits ...


And though it is hand-written logbook, I am familiar enough with the sets released by Smashbox since 2005 to page through the book in the mornings and pick my colors for the day based on my mood and what I am wearing without having to see the compacts laid out in each set. Though at some point,I just might start wasting printer ink and turn it into a scrapbook of collections, whether me wearing each combination, or the promo ad for the kits....Not sure yet, need to think on it and get advice from people first.....


Well, I rambled enough for tonight...if anyone sees this and cares to comment or offer suggestions on new product lines to check out, I will eventually start "reviewing" and posting swatches ...maybe...need to test out how good uploading to this is from my phone and picture clarity first..