Smashbox Cosmetics Studio Skin Foundation and Concealer Review

Hi lovelies,

We have a rare post on here today. As you know, I don’t buy many foundations just because I don’t use them enough and I find it a waste when they expire so quickly. However, I had an interview at Smashbox and figured I should try their stuff if I wanted to work for them.

I’ve heard a lot of good things about the Smashbox foundation so I thought I’d try it out along with the concealer (I’m always looking for good concealers). I was pretty shook at the prices though as in the UK they are in Boots (drugstore makeup essentially, see here). The foundation retails for £29.50 (for 30mls) and the concealer was £20. You can also purchase these from the Smashbox website (see here) where they do provide a decent guide for helping you find your shade. Both products are cruelty free and vegan.

So, I got my Studio Skin 15hour wear Hydrating Foundation (what a mouthful) in the shade 1.1 fair. The “shade image boxes” on the website does look grey (see image below) so be wary when picking shades using these images. However, the images of the actual foundation and the swatches are a good representation of the shade.

Like I said above, I also purhased the Studio Skin Flawless 24hour Concealer but I got this one in the shade fair light warm peach. Again, the shade image boxes look completely different to the actual shade but the swatch images are good to use. I picked a concealer that is lighter than my foundation as I like to brighten certain areas of my face.

The packaging on both products are simple but effective. Both come with outer boxes that display all of the product information including an ingredients list. Both products are oil free meaning they should be perfect for us with oily skin. The foundation comes in a glass bottle with a pump and I’m not sure I like this. Generally this means you won’t be able to use ALL the product which I do find quite wasteful especially for this price. Also, with the lid, the top of the foundation can become quite messy. I’m pretty sure the concealer is also in a glass tube but I’m not 100% sure. There is a doe foot applicator for applying the concealer which is the norm.

I’ll start with the Studio Skin foundation. On the website, this foundation is described as medium to full buildable coverage, that doesn’t oxidise or settle into lines and pores. It also states that this is transfer resistant, sweat and humidity resistant and controls oil and shine for 24 hours. It is formulated without parabens, sodium lauryl sulfate, pthalates, oil, fragrance and talc. I’m loving that this has been formulated without all this as it makes it much better for your skin. It’s the sodium lauryl sulfate that can dry your skin out and leave you with breakouts so I’m really glad the foundation doesn’t contain this one.

After testing this out over several weeks, I can truly say this foundation does tick a lot of these boxes. It has great coverage without been overly thick and it is buildable if you want that extra coverage. It did oxidise a small amount after application but not enough to change the shade dramatically (see image below). It didn’t settle into my lines or pores until over 12 hours of wear which I can handle and it did last without transferring. Also, I didn’t need to keep adding powder in order to take away the shine of oil so that’s a huge bonus with my oily skin. I’ve tried applying this with a brush and also a sponge. It looks good with both but I prefer using the brush as you don’t need to use as much product.

The Studio Skin Flawless concealer is described on the website as a creamy and pigmented formula that delivers the perfect amount of product with 1 swipe. It’s also supposed to colour correct dark cirlcles, hyperpigmentation and redness without creasing, caking or settling. The concealer is ideal for all skin types been oil free, non-acnegenic and won’t cause breakouts or clog pores. It has been dermatologist and opthalmologist, meaning it is skin and eye safe.

For me, the concealer is not my favourite product as it is a little too creamy for my liking. Also, it does not successfully cover the dark circles under my eyes and can leave them looking a bit dry when layering up the concealer. However, on a positive note, it does apply smoothly and blends out easily, while lasting all day without creasing or settling into the fine lines around my eyes.

Overall, I am reasonably happy with my purchases from Smashbox but I’m not sure I’ll be rebuying the concealer. Unfortunately, it just didn’t work so well on my skin and at that price it’s not worth it for me. However, I am loving the Studio Skin foundation and I’m certain I’ll be repurchasing this one. It does everything that it promised while not looking cakey.

Thanks for reading. I hope you have enjoyed this review and that you will join me for more in the future. Don’t forget to hit the like button or add a comment, you could even subscribe if you loved it. Below are some images of both products in use.

Rach xx

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