This year’s fall makeup collections have begun to trickle in, and the one I’m spending quality time with today is Smashbox’s new Reign ($19-48/item).
Inspired by England’s Tudor period (circa 1485-1603), a time that encompassed Queen Elizabeth I’s reign, the eight pieces feature shades of berry, peach, plum, black and champagne.
Smashbox Reign Eyeshadow Palette in Majesty ($42), Lip Gloss in Crowned ($22)
For today’s 4-step eye makeup look, I grabbed the Smashbox Reign Majesty Eye Shadow Palette ($42), one of three eye palettes in the collection. It comes with three baked eyeshadows (a champagne, a reddish plum and a black), each with a dollop of matte shadow surrounded by a shimmery version of the same shade.
Top row: shimmery shadows. Bottom row: matte shadows.
I was in the mood to wear something soft today but wasn’t sure if I could make the red shade work for a daytime look — that is, until I discovered that with enough blending the shade looks somewhat reddish brown (!).
Smashbox Reign 4-Step Eye Makeup
- First things first. I grab my MAC 239 Eye Shader Brush and wet the head with a spritz of MAC Fix+ Rose. Applying shadows with a wet brush like this intensifies their color. I load the brush with the shimmery champagne shadow from the Smashbox Reign Magesty Palette and apply it over the entire eyelid and along my lower lash line.
- Next, with a Sonia Kashuk Crease Brush, I apply the red eyeshadow (mixing the matte with the shimmer) from the same palette into my crease, concentrating more of the color toward the outside (closer to the ear), and use a MAC 217 Blending Brush to soften the edges.
- Then, to make the whole look really pop, I apply a mix of the shimmery black and shimmery red shadows with a Sonia Kashuk Angled Eyeshadow Brush, drawing a thick line along the upper lash line and smoothing out the edges with a MAC 217.
- Finally, with the same brush and a mix of the shimmery and matte black shadows, I line the lower line.
Lips and Cheeks
I wanted the cheeks and lips to reflect the same softness as the eye look, so I went with peach. That’s Smashbox Blush Rush in Masterpiece on the apples of my cheeks and a layer of Smashbox Reign Lip Gloss in Crowned on top of MAC Cremestick Liner in Summer Fruit on my lips.
What do you think of the palette? I think that red’s a little tricky, but it seems pretty wearable.
I spotted it at Sephora.com today, but it wasn’t available yet through the Smashbox site.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
You look fresh and pretty. The colour swatches remind me of the Clarins So Sublime quad from last fall though. Still no Smashbox here darn!
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Hi Paris B,
Oh yah, it does. I hope you guys get Smashbox soon. The glosses are too GOOD!
Wow, you totally changed my mind about the reddish color. It actually looks wearable! (on you at least) My blending skills are still uncultivated. They’re still developing. Lol. 😉
You look really pretty!
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Hi Maggie,
Thanks! My blending skills are still cultivating, too. I think it’s a never ending quest. 😉
Ah, how I love learning about the Tudor Era. Bloody stifling for women (they literally had no rights at all) but the fashions are ridiculous and I love learning what they thought was “proper” and “improper” (no, it doesn’t just refer to what was “right” and “wrong”). It doesn’t help I’m completely addicted the The Tudors on Showtime (why don’t I have this channel? Damn premium channels). Brutal time to be living in as well.
I wish they had made the red a true plum shade instead of a red. I have that type of fair skin where red near my eyes make me look sickly. The one time I attempted my mom asked me if I had an allergic reaction to my eyeshadow!!!
Eight pieces? I see seven colors. Did it come with a blush or something?
It looks fabu on you!
Zena would send kisses or something but she’s off sleeping for the night. She did leave, however, bookmarked on my computer a set of “Rat Terrier” door hangers from Etsy that she wants Daddy Dearest to buy. They all say “Stop! Do not Disturb!” and then the set of 4 comes with different slogans underneath the sign (“Rat Terrier Inside and Eager to Escape,” “Shhh! Rat Terrier Inside and Sleeping,” “Rat Terrier Private Party,” and “Rat Terrier Inside”) followed in fine print “Please Keep Door Shut.”
Maybe the seller has a set for tabby cats for Tabs?
Hi Kate & Zena,
How cute! Tabs needs one of those for every room of the house. He thinks he runs this show. Maybe he does, LOL! Right now he’s sleeping in front of the heater. His tummy is up and his legs are spread eagle. Too funny!
Yup, there’s eight pieces — two Doubletake Lip Colors, the lip gloss in Crowned, Lash DNA Mascara in Plum, Fusion Blush in Regal, two Eyeshadow Palettes and the Jet Set Palette.
Looks great! Why do you wet the brush?
Hi EB,
Wetting the brush head intensifies powdered shadows. 🙂
Oh okay, I only saw the two.
By the way, the seller does sell kitty door hangers (I just checked). The seller is “KnobNots,” if you’d like to check it out. I think the set for Tabs is called the “Cat Private Party Set.” I don’t know. I’ve been distracted by pretty fabric on the Joanns website. I’ve been feeling crafty.
OMG, Zena loves sleeping on the laminate floor near the front door after she comes in from “sun bathing” outside so everyone can trip over her. One of the living room vents is near the door so I think she sits there for some semblance of a breeze. I think she takes great pleasure in seeing us fall over her when we come careening down the stairs without looking as she wears a grin that reminds me of “Puss in Boots.” It drives me nuts!
Hi Kate & Zena,
Pets have the knack for getting in the way. I think that we all secretly love it! Tabs’ new favorite thing is to jump on my desk and nap in front of my keyboard while I’m working. I never have the heart to move him… I just type around him. 🙂
Cool, I’ll check out KnobNots’ store. I love Etsy and could spend HOURS on it!
Karen you look fabulous!! I think the blush and liner/gloss suit you SO WELL! I was not interested in the Majesty palette at all… I think Monarch would suit me better but it looks so pretty and subtle on you! I’m definitely going to have to swatch it in person now.
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Hi Catherine,
Yes, swatch it! You never know if you’ll fall in love with it, right?
I am interested in the Monarch one as well. The colors sound so pretty.
Karen, you look beautiful! I love your dress/top…Very pretty!
Hi Tiffany,
Thank you! 🙂 Do you think you might try any of the items from this collection?
The palette looks so cute but I don’t think the colours’ll work for me. I’ll have to check out the other(s) 🙂
Love the lip combo on you 🙂
Hi Karen B.,
Thanks! I am really digging the Smashbox glosses as of late. Have you tried any? They feel so good on the lips.
You look gorgeous and fresh! That’s a very nice palette, the colors look very wearable.
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Hi Gio,
Thank you! The plum was certainly a nice surprise. 🙂
Hmmm it really does look great on you. The packaging is what kills me, anything with a *hint* of British-ness makes me hand over my credit card…
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Hi Vampy Varnish,
Yah, I was kinda shocked to find the red so wearable.
Oh, I thought of you yesterday. I swatched the new Chanel release and there’s a ton of gray in the eye stuff — esp. the quad. Do you like greenish grays?
You look pretty. I think we need a whole body photo of your dress/blouse. 🙂
Hi Meream,
Yah, that’s an old favorite from Banana Republic. Those colors always cheer me up!
Karen, I have a problem! I set aside 40 dollars a month to spend, and half that is my cell phone plan. I’m saving up for a new phone until august, and I know I’ll be able to buy an MES from Colour Craft but not Colour Matters kohl from Makeup Art this fall! What’s the general MAC policy for putting items on hold? Also, how long are LE collections around? I might not have enough money by the time they’re off the shelves.. 🙁
Hi Redhead,
You’ll have to check with your store regarding the holds — I think it depends on the individual counter. I’ve always had great customer service with Nordstrom so maybe check there. Also, the availability of the LE’s depends on the demand. Some items sell out super fast! On occasion you’ll be able to find select LE at the Cosmetic Company Outlet stores, but that tends to be hit or miss.
Karen,
This look is just so soft & beautiful on you. I absolutely love it!!! AllCosmeticsWholesale.com has had this palette on sale since about April. They got a hold of it pre-release & are selling it for $16.99 which is a heck of deal compared to the $42 price tag when it launches. It really seems like a pretty palette to have in your collection. Thanks for the FOTD. I love when you do these sooo much!!
Hi Nicole15,
Aww, thanks!
And super thanks for letting us know about that deal — $17 is an awesome price!
Yes I love greenish grays! Any gray or green really 🙂 I don’t know how I am going to resist that quad!
Hi Vampy Varnish,
It looks like gray is really huge for fall. LUCKY GIRL! I can work ’em if I try really hard… it’s not one of those colors that looks good on it’s own for me.
Love your look! Reds are hard to work with for everyday. I’ve been working on using them recently due to they make blue eyes pop! When using a red under the eye you have to be careful because it can make the veins in your eyes appear very red and larger. I think if I was to buy this particular collection, I’d probably use the champagne on the inner third and under the eye about 1/4 of an inch, then use the red on the remainder of the lid, increasing the height of the red where my eyebrow arches, then use the grey/black looking shadow onthe outer corner and highlight with the champagne under browbone, once it’s all blended you don’t really see this red looking look. I would also sweep the reddish shad under eye to meet the champagne on the inner eye, then use brown fluidline on top and bottom smudging with the 219 brush under eye so you end up with a reddish brown under eye. This works really well if you have blue eyes. I have brown contacts that i will use because I want to wear purples and they just don’t do justice to blue eyes or maybe I just don’t know how to apply them correctly. so any tips would be great!
Hi A.C.,
Wow, I’ll have to try the look you proposed. I dunno if I could get away with the red on the lid (I’m afraid it’ll make me look like I’ve been crying), but I am not afraid of a challenge. 🙂
As for purples, I always like doing smokey purple eyes with plums and blacks.
I wonder what that red will look like on pale skin? Probably horrific!
BTW, Karen, I’m loooovin’ your tuts. I tried out your Benefit 4-step eyes for a potluck picnic on Sunday (with similar colors I already own) and got toooons of complements! Thanks for helping me get out of a makeup rut!!! You rule, girl.
Hi Anastasia,
Would you like to see a swatch? I can grab a pale friend and do some quick swatching…
I’m so glad the Benefit look worked for you. YAY! 🙂
Anastasia,
For reds, it’s truly dependent on your skin tone, especially for us pale ladies. I look very sickly with reds near my eyes. I have genetically dark under-eye circles and I have cool-undertones.
If you’re still unsure, try getting a drugstore red-toned purple and try it out.
Hi Karen! You can barely see the red once you blend everything together….and I’m very pale NW15….so I have to be careful that I don’t look like a vampire! LOL! I’m starting to experiement with the reds, peaches, and believe it or not oranges. I’ve found some great tutorials on youtube for using oranges to make blue eyes pop! I love the smokey eye look and when I put my brown colored contacts in (I got these specifically so I could wear purples,greens, and blues)I’ve been experiementing with purples…do you have any e/s color combo suggestions?
Hi A.C.,
This look with shimmery purple and red eyeshadows is one of my favorites. The eyeshadows are LE from the MAC Antiquitease collection from 2007, but you can easily do it with dupes in your collection!
hi karen, how are you tonight?
i’m a student, and when i go to class, i do not like to wear shimmer eyeshadow especially because it’s daytime and i feel like it’s a bit too much.
i do however enjoy matte shadows to highlight my eyes.
for example, adding a blue shadow to my lash line looks subtle but also really clean.
i use light matte neutral tones to highlight my eyes by applying it on my lids.
the problem is… i am a student and i am financially limited.
the only expensive brand i own is an eyeshadow trio by smashbox, and it ended up not suiting my complexion.
my eyeshadow (drugstore) always smears or comes off, especially covergirl shadows which are a bit powdery…
can you recommend some eyeshadows that are matte, that will not come off?
help por favor?
(SORRY THIS IS SO LONG! I DONT KNOW WHAT I WAS THINKING LOL)
I love how you dress all fancy for these #-Step Looks. That’s really neat of Smashbox to have a palette with both shimmer and matte versions of the e/s. You’re absolutely right about blending down reddish e/s. I had a few I thought I could never pull off until I started mixing and blending them with some peachier, brownier, plummier e/s as well. Haha.
good pics, now watching your video on guidance 🙂 hehe.. so much to learn as beginner.
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