Smashbox - Cosmic Celebration Collection Review

I was still at school the first time I tried anything from Smashbox Cosmetics, and the launch of a new brand in Boots in our very quiet and unappealing high street gave us all something to be excited about. I remember getting myself a Primer - not quite realising how to use it, I just remember being told that it would make my skin look smooth and flawless for those ever important facebook selfies. Fast forward nearly a decade later, and apart from a few lipsticks and a contour kit, I’ve never really played around with any other products from Smashbox. So when the lovely PR reached out to gift me a bunch of their Christmas gift sets, I knew I had to test them out and share my thoughts with you.

So lets start from the base up, I’ve used the original Photo Finish Bluer & Smooth Primer many many times, but this was my first time using the Photo Finish Radiance Primer. This is designed to give you that golden hour glow, its not a product I would use on its own, but once the foundation was applied I understood why its called a radiance primer. It really makes your skin look healthy and radiant, its a satin-smooth formula which allowed my foundation to glide on and I loved that it left my skin still feeling hydrated and fresh. The foundation I used was the Studio Skin 15 Hour Wear Hydrating Foundation- its available in 40 shades with a range of undertones so finding your shade should be easy. I love a full coverage foundation and although this isn’t full coverage, it is medium to buildable which means it leaves a smooth and even finish. I don’t like using too many layers, and one layer of foundation all over was enough to provide decent coverage - it still looked fresh and not cakey. 

I also used the Cosmic Celebration Planetary Cheek Palette for the first time and its another product that I love. Its a multifaceted highlighter and blush palette, and whilst I normally opt for matte blushers, I’ve recently been loving shimmer blushers as they leave the skin looking youthful, rosey and sun kissed - everything the skin of a sleepless mum craves! The highlighter is a mix of champagne shimmer, warm bronze and gold sparkle which I think is perfect for warmer skin tones. 

The collection also includes the Cosmic Celebration Star Power Face & Eyeshadow Palette - a multi use metal palette featuring 3 blush shades, 1 bronzer shade, 1 highlighter shade and 15 eyeshadows in a range of mattes and shimmers. Its a perfect palette to take away with you when you’re travelling and if you’re someone who doesn’t wear make-up too often this is ideal as you have everything you need in one place! 

I haven't worn lipgloss in the longest of times, but it's not secret that its back in trend. Smashbox have put together a trio of their most popular gorgeous lipglosses in the Cosmic Celebration Divine Shine Gloss Angeles set. This retails for £25 and all 3 shades are super wearable on a day to day basis but would work nicely with a glam look too. I love the formula of these as they’re non-sticky, hydrating and leave my lips looking plumped. The retail value if purchased individually is £45 and at the time of writing the Smahbox website has 20% off so these are a bargain at £20. 

So as I mentioned earlier, one product that I have used time and time again aside from the primers, is the Cali Contour Palette. What I love about this kit is that the shades are really pigmented so you only need to use a little bit of product which means you get your moneys worth out of it. Although the shades are pigmented, they are also really blendable which means you won’t be left with harsh streaks or lines down you face. The palette also features a bronzer, highlighter and blusher so again super convenient for travel and means you’ll really use the whole product -  I often find with contour kits that I use 1 or 2 shades and the others are left untouched because they’re too light or too dark.

The final product I tested out was another gift set, the Cosmic Celebration Always on Lunar Liquid Lip Set. An absolute bargain at £25 (meaning you pay £5 per product), this gift set features 5 matte liquid lipsticks. Perfect for travel, each lipstick is infused with Primer Oil Complex for a non-drying, weightless feel which means they won’t cake or crack on your lips (because lets be real, no one likes that look!.) The set includes a few different shades including a nude, a red and mauve so they are all super wearable and perfect for the party season but also for year round use!

Have you tried any of the above products? Or maybe something else from Smashbox? What are your favouites? Let me know in the comments below :) To shop any of the products click on the product name - this is not a sponsored post although the products were gifted by the brand.