MANILA, Philippines—According to Smashbox Cosmetics’ international makeup artist Lourd Ramos, it takes a host of products to get the perfect base, but the results are worth it.

“Applying primer before putting on your regular makeup ensures that you will be retouching less, and that your makeup colors will stay put,” Ramos said. “Also, primers make bright colors pop out more.”

He explained, “To be able to make your makeup look better and last longer, it’s necessary to apply a foundation primer, eye and lip primer, and brow powder and wax, at the very least. This prevents you from adding more makeup later on, which has a tendency to look chalky when piled on.”

Fresh batch

Ramos, who was recently appointed as one of the brand’s chief makeup artists, has unveiled a fresh batch of beauty products from Smashbox. Some of them are re-engineered versions of existing products (such as foundation and lip/lid primers, which the brand is known for), while others are new collections of makeup.

The latest re-engineered product is an old standby for makeup junkies: tinted versions of the brand’s famous silicone-based Photo Finish Primer. The colors include green (for neutralizing red), purple (for livening up sallow tones) and bronze (for a sheer, natural-looking tan).

The new products include the Sheer Focus Tinted Moisturizer, Halo Hydrating Perfecting Powder and Brush Set Fusion Soft Lights powder, O-Glow Lip Gloss, and Bionic Mascara. Smashbox’s latest makeup collection, Desert Chic, also includes a Bronzing Powder and Brush Set, Fusion Eye and Cheek Color, Lip Enhancing Gloss, and Oasis Shadow and Liner Quad.

The Desert Chic collection recalls exotic destinations such as Peru, Mexico and other South American countries. While mostly in shimmery brown and cream colors, the collection throws a punch with a couple of unexpected bright colors like turquoise and fuchsia.

Standout product

However, Smashbox’s standout product, hands down, is the O-Glow Lip Gloss. The thick (but not sticky) gloss goes on clear and adjusts to your body heat, so you end up with a customized shade of gloss that goes from nude to hot pink, depending on your body chemistry. It’s like magic lipstick, only better. The gloss also has a slight plumping effect similar to DuWop’s Lip Venom.

Another product you might want to check out is the Halo Hydrating Perfecting Powder, a compact of pressed mineral powder. The product gives the usual benefits of mineral makeup (less breakouts, good coverage) without the mess that loose powder usually provides.

The ingenious packaging allows the user to twist the compact so that the blades in the compact shave off bits of the mineral powder. That way, you can shave off and use only what you need.

Smashbox is available at Beauty Bar outlets nationwide.

E-mail the author at biancaconsunji@yahoo.com