Photo Shoot Fresh: A Review of the Smashbox Photo Strip Highlighting Palette

I’d been hearing positive things about the Smashbox Photo Strip Highlighting Palette for some time. I picked it up when it was part of Sephora’s Weekly Wow’s for $11.00 and I gotta say, I don’t regret it!

Smashbox Photo Strip Highlighting Palette | bellanoirbeauty.com

Smashbox Photo Strip Highlighting Palette | bellanoirbeauty.com
L to R: Pearls Gone Wild, Turn It On – Pearl, Crank It Up – Pearl, Peachy Sheen, Wicked Switch
Smashbox Photo Strip Highlighting Palette | bellanoirbeauty.com
L to R: Pearls Gone Wild, Turn It On – Pearl, Crank It Up – Pearl, Peachy Sheen, Wicked Switch
Smashbox Photo Strip Highlighting Palette | bellanoirbeauty.com
Pearls Gone Wild on cheekbones; my favorite of the bunch.
Smashbox Photo Strip Highlighting Palette | bellanoirbeauty.com
Crank it Up – Pearl and Turn It On – Pearl on cheekbones
Smashbox Photo Strip Highlighting Palette | bellanoirbeauty.com
Crank It Up – Pearl and Wicked Switch on eyes; Armani Lip Magnet 506 on lips

Smashbox Photo Strip Highlighting Palette | bellanoirbeauty.com

Smashbox Photo Strip Highlighting Palette | bellanoirbeauty.com

Smashbox Photo Strip Highlighting Palette | bellanoirbeauty.com

My skin type

Oily. I have minor texture issues on my cheeks due to acne scarring.

What it’s supposed to do

From the brandThis highlighting palette lets you customize your ultimate glow with five light-capturing pressed powder shades in finishes from subtle to cranked-up.

Included are: 

Pearls Gone Wild (soft lights highlighter), white with red pearl

Turn It On – Pearl (spotlight highlighter), shimmer neutral yellow

Crank It Up – Pearl (spotlight highlighter), shimmer neutral pink

Peachy Sheen (soft lights highlighter), shimmer coral

Wicked Switch (soft lights highlighter), warm shimmer coral

How I use it

Go with the flow! I use the highlighter brush (4) from the BH Cosmetics x It’s My Raye Raye collection and lightly swipe the powders on my cheekbones and blend out. I also tried the powders on my eyelids, which didn’t hold up by end of day, but it sure was pretty! After about 10 hours, I did notice that the highlighter on my cheeks had faded some. I love mixing the shades together and using them on their own, equally. Turn It On – Pearl can come off a bit stark on me but blending and toning down with a warmer shade solves that.

What I like about it

I love, love, love the how unique the shades in this palette are. Pearls Gone Wild is my favorite in the palette and was so unexpected! On my skin, it swatches as a holographic red. The highlighters can be subtle or you can go all out Midas, just as the brand claims. While it’s no longer on sale, it’s still a great buy! Very high joy on this palette, if you cannot tell.

What could be better

It took me more time than I’d like to admit to figure out how to open the thing lol (it opens sideways). I get the whole photo strip thing; it’s cute. However, I have never been a fan of the clear plastic/acrylic packaging. It works for this palette, though. I otherwise have no other complaints!

Joy Factor

Where to indulge

Sephora | Smashbox

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