Smashbox Fall Reign 2009 collection bargains

I know, I know. I’m several months late on this one. It’s just Smashbox is rather expensive but I am a sucker for a bargain. This collection is currently on clearance at Debenhams so hurry, if you’re quick you should be able to grab some before it disappears. I got all this for around £35 when it should have been around £70!

First impressions are rather good. The mahogany coloured boxes are lovely if a little convoluted. The charm on the lip gloss is cute and the faux (I’m assuming) leather eye palette with embossed logo is to die for. Here I have the Monarch palette, there was another but I preferred this one. These are three shimmery brown/ bronze colours with matte colours in the centre of each. This is my perfect work palette. I wear these kinds of colours almost every day to work so I know I will get a lot of wear out of it though I haven’t had time to try it out yet so I can’t comment on the formula. The mirror is a good size too. I tried for a good 10 minutes to get a photo of the palette open but whenever I opened it her highness decided she should be reviewing it herself.

What did she think?

‘One finds it quite charming’ her eyes seem to say. ‘And tidy your room’. That’s me told...

I also picked up the lip gloss in Crowned which is a rather sexy peach shade. It seems much more spring/ summer to me than an autumn/ winter colour so I’m actually glad I bought it now. The gloss has a slightly sugary sweet smell to it that I’m not too keen on but the formula is nice. Not too sticky, lasts quite well and the colour payoff is good for a gloss even on my dark lips.


The only let down is the mascara – Lash DNA in plum. Now I love the colour, I even like the formula but there are some major negatives for me. For a start the packaging is quite dull (I’m being spoilt by the lovely Rimmel Sexy Curves at the moment. It reminds me of Cadbury Easter egg wrappers). Then there is the GIANT double helix brush which is too big for my piggy little eyes so it makes application difficult. But the real problem for me is the smell. I opened the tube to the unmistakable scent of...... playdough. I don’t know if I just got a dud tube but it really is quite off putting. I’ll try and wear it a couple of times anyway just because the plum colour looks fab with my very dark eyes and lashes.


All in all a very productive shop and I stand by my verdict that the packaging is very lovely. If you still fancy getting some of this collection then you had better be quick!

Cue final gratuitous cat pic: