Smashbox Cosmetics - Glambox Vol. 3

My friend modeling for the colors (including the bonus fusion soft light). Note: we put the colors as thick as possible to show true colors. The actual colors are a lot lighter when worn or blended in.

For my birthday my friend got me a gift certificate from Smashbox.com, which pretty much made my day. Ever since I’ve got their Try Me Kit from Sephora I became a huge Smashbox fan. After hours of researching, the first thing I’ve bought was the Smashbox GlamboxVol.3 – Beauty on the Go for my friend. Initially priced at $68 ($190 in value) but it was on sale for $49.90, plus free shipping (no taxes) and a bonus Photo Finish Foundation Primer sample (probably the best primer out there). It also came with a full sized Smashbox Natural Glow Fusion Soft Light Cheek Palette as part of their let’s do lunch promotion.

The kit (check out the Penney to guess the size). It said exclusive for Nordstrom on the box (but you can get it at Smashbox site with no tax and free shipping).

Without lids and bonuses

The kit included:
- BIONIC MASCARA in JET BLACK (full size)
- BAKED CHEEK DUO in ON THE TOWN (full size): 10 & 11
- SHADOW & LINER TRIO in HOT DATE (seemed like full size): 7, 8 & 9
- SHADOW & LINER TRIO in GIRLS NIGHT OUT (seemed like full size): 4, 5 & 6
- LIP ENHANCING GLOSS (true color) in HAPPY HOUR (mini size): 1
- LIP ENHANCING GLOSS (true color) in COCKTAIL HOUR (mini size): 3
- LIP ENHANCING GLOSS (true color) in AFTER HOURS (mini size): 2
- TRAVEL ANGLED BLUSH BRUSH
- TRAVEL PRECISION LINER BRUSH
- TRAVEL DEFINER BRUSH
= Natural Glow Fusion Soft Light Cheek Palette – Full size (Let’s do Lunch bonus): 12, 13, 14
= Photo Finish Foundation Primer – Deluxe sample

Fusion Soft Light Palette in Natural Glow

The cheek: The colors were beautiful to look at with light shimmer in it. You can use them individually or combined. Unfortunately they were too light for us. My friend, whose skin tone is wee bit darker than mine, barely show any color.

The shadow/liner trios: they were both nice to look at. Unfortunately again, the color really didn’t look right on our skin tone. It was too light for my friend. It seemed like they weren’t highly pigmented. The Hot Date’s purple eye shadow had lots of shimmer in it (which we liked) but the Girl’s Night Out’s brown shimmy liner really didn’t pop. Overall the colors might be good for people with fair skin tone (make sure you use a good eye primer) but it’s not for us (medium to dark skin tone)

Bionic Mascara: It is clumpy and not the best out there. Not to mention it has alcohol in it. My friend has beautiful long naturally curly lashes, even she had a hard time with it. Like many other volumizing mascaras it’s very gunky and the application can be a messy affair.

Mini Lip Gloss: Those were light in colors, with little bits of shimmers in couple of them (initially we loved them). However after application, the color seemed to disappear in mare 20 minutes.

Brushes: Overall they are relatively well made. I didn’t have high expectations but we’re fairly happy with them. One thing I can’t stand is the flat top liner brush or #9 brush. It makes the applying eyeliner a messy affair for me (they should replace it with #21 brush instead). I liked the angled blush brush (made the contouring easy). The definer brush wasn’t disappointing as well.

Final Verdict: The kit isn’t highly pigmented. Good for people with fair or light skin tone (the blonde woman on the box should be your queue). Don’t buy if you are from people of color.

The similar kit is Bright Lights, Big City Beauty Kit. It has about half of the stuff of Glambox Vol. 3 at a similar price ($48). So you do the math (seriously who’d buy this set over vol. 3?).

Glambox Vol. 4 – Pro Collection ($68) seemed to have better color option for our skin tones and it has #21 brush.