Hello lover....
It's rare that a product will leave me speechless, giddy and in full knowledge that I'll be buying it if I'm not sent it to try. Say hello to the Smashbox Full Exposure palette. This only arrived last week and I sat at my desk, dying for 4pm to come so I could collect it from Joanne on my way home!
I kind of felt bad for the Wondervision Christmas collection that we were shown when the team was over in November, because as gorgeous as Wondervision was, and it was, sure I bought a palette and lip gloss set, when we all saw the Full Exposure palette, there was gasping, swooning, oohing and aahing. At the photoshoot last week, National Makeup Coach for Smashbox, Janine Bird, used the palette on my peepers and it solidified my love for it forever.
So the palette. We're talking 14 eyeshadows, 7 matte and 7 shimmer graduating from light to dark and like any Smashbox shadow I've tried, each shade is soft, pigmented and beautiful. It comes with a mini Full Exposure mascara and a double ended brush which is quite interesting altogether. One end is a flat eyeshadow brush that's to be used with the shimmery shades. It has black hairs on one side to use with the darker shades and white hairs on the other side for use with the lighter shimmery shades. The other end is a fluffy blending brush that you can use with the matte shades.
First impressions are that I'm not mad on the duo fibre flat brush. It doesn't work great with the shimmery shades, picking up more of the fine shimmer than the actual colour itself. It needs to be more tapered at the tip, rather than being as thick as it is because it's too fluffy to work properly for me. I've been using it to pick up the matte shades and it works better that way, but there's still fall out. The blender side however is fantastic. It's nice and soft and blends away any harsh edges no muss no fuss.
On to the main event though, the palette.... There are varying shades of nudes, browns and greys, with a mix of warm and cool tones meaning that it's nice and versatile. The shimmers are wonderfully soft and buttery and are finely milled so you don't have to worry about big chunks of glitter blinding anyone who's looking at you!
A tip that Janine gave me last week was to apply the shimmer shades with your finger because you won't lose any of the shimmer, the pigmentation will be even stronger and you won't have any fall out. So listen to the professional! My favourite shade is the darkest, gunmetal one. It's the one Janine was wearing last week and in turn, I wanted it on my eyes! I do love a shimmery shadow and I know I'll get so much use out of this lot.
The mattes... Oh they're just gorgeous. Velvety soft, buttery goodness in eyeshadow form. There's not one shade I don't love and the swatches below speak for themselves. There's no chalkiness, no dryness, just loveliness! I can't wait to rock a neutral eye with a feline flick thrown in for good measure.
So €43 is the damage and of course the main question on everyone's lips is "Do I need another neutral palette"? As I said above, I was ready to break my spending ban and go and buy this myself, that's how much I wanted it. I haven't seen this many matte shades in a palette before and none of them are duds and the same goes for the shimmers. If you're daunted by this many shades and aren't sure how to use them, there's a chart that shows you how to achieve different looks with it depending on your eye shape which I'll be using myself!
I believe Full Exposure and I are going to have a long and happy relationship. It's on counters now and should be there until March or thereabouts. So tell me, are you intrigued?
Stay tuned for a video coming up featuring the palette!
Oh my goodness, this is a really lovely palette! I like the idea of matching shimmer and matte shades. Plus the dual brush sounds interesting. XD
ReplyDeleteIt's one of the best pallets I've seen in ages and I'm loving the mix of mattes & shimmers :)
DeleteThis looks divine, the matte shades look like butter!
ReplyDeleteYou have it in one! So soft and pigmented x
DeleteI had decided against it, but after your report from the shoot last week all my resolve crumbled faster than a powder shadow as it hits the tiled bathroom floor.
ReplyDeleteHaha you paint quite the picture!! Yes go and visit it in person because it's a beaut
DeleteI think this is the palette that Google decides to show me in every advert of every page I click on recently, so clearly it knows my weakness! i love the look of it, and I thought the pale shades wouldn't show up much but they're so pigmented on your swatches. The last thing in the world I need is another palette but I'm sure this will end up in my collection soon x
ReplyDeleteClaire | AgentSmyth
Claire, I think it's the universe's way of telling you to get it, and you have to listen to the universe ;)
DeleteOh wow this looks incredible!! Hate not having enough mattes in a palette but this one definitely has enough - love it!
ReplyDeleteMe too, I always wish for more mattes!
Deleteahhhh I need this... please Smashbox keep it around til after my spending ban :) it looks beautiful
ReplyDeleteOh it will Mags, I checked and if I hear otherwise, you are fully entitled to break the spending ban to get it because it's very special indeedio!
DeleteOh wow, this looks gorgeous! I think MAC had a a similar brush & I wasn't very impressed with it either. But the pallet looks amazing!
ReplyDeletealex @ pinkelephantbloggin.com
If it was a bit more tapered at the tip then I'd be all over it, but I use it for the mattes and it's grand. The palette is a beauty :)
DeleteOh this is lovely, theres a really nice collection of colours x
ReplyDeleteIt's pretty isn't it? Warms, cools, mattes, shimmers, it has it all :)
DeleteIt looks gorgeous ! I think I'm gonna spend some pretty euro bills on that palette soon...
ReplyDeleteI like your thinking and the acceptance you have that the purchase will happen ;)
Deleteoooh this looks perfect, i wouldn't normally consider Smashbox when thinking of eyeshadow palettes but this one looks lovely!
ReplyDeleteJade
Beauty Butterfly | UK Beauty Blog
Go check them out, I haven't met a shadow I haven't loved!
DeleteLovely selection of colours, swatches look great. I'm also (sort of) on a spending ban, well, I'm just trying to make myself use up what I actually have before buying anymore makeup! xx
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your spending ban, it's so difficult!!!
DeleteI actually love this so much its not funny, wondering if i can hold off til i head stateside in a couple of months to make the purchase!
ReplyDeleteI never got the hype over all the naked palettes....see I'd be more in love with this one! It's beautiful! Interesting brush too! x
ReplyDeleteWhere can you still buy this!?
ReplyDeleteyou can buy it at sephora !
Deletei just want to know if the blending side of the brush is like the mac 217 brush ? please answer my question , thank you .
ReplyDeleteI've really been debating this the past few day, but this post has jut sold me!! If off out to buy it tomorrow! Thank you :)
ReplyDeletehttp://lifeisbeauty1994.blogspot.ie/?m=1
Where in Ireland can you pick this up? I've been searching and searching with no joy...
ReplyDeleteThe shimmer eyeshadows are very sheer not at all as they look in the pallette.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI bought mine on boots.com. Love the blending sidè of the brush. I'm really dissapointed with the shimmer shades. They're not buttery at all. Dry and just about no colour payoff. I'm wondering did I get a dud palette. I have seen a good few amazing reviews for this palette and some very bad reviews. Seems to be 2 different quality palettes out there. For me it's a waste of €43.
ReplyDeleteLove the blog. Keep up the great work.x
Carmel Ryan