Smashbox Always On Sticks—Pro Eyes, Zero Fuss

Smashbox dropped its new Always On Eyeshadow Sticks 9/19 online—studio-tested, creamy, and built to shape, line and define every eye with a built-in sharpener and eight pigmented shades that won’t crease—or fade. In this Q&A, Lori Taylor Davis, Smashbox’s Global Pro Lead Artist with 30+ years of backstage wizardry, shares her go-to tips for using the sticks from day to night and how to get flawless, long-lasting looks with zero drama. —Noa Nichol

You’ve spent 30+ years behind the chair and on set — how did your experience inform the design and performance priorities for these new Always On Eyeshadow Sticks?

My career has always been about balancing artistry with performance – it’s the Smashbox way. I’ve been on sets where makeup has to look flawless for 12+ hours under hot lights, and I’ve also worked with real clients who need something that’s quick, easy, and reliable. With our new Always On Eyeshadow Sticks, my priority was to marry those two worlds. The pigment payoff needed to be bold enough for high-definition cameras, but the texture had to be creamy enough that anyone – not just pros – could apply it in one swipe without pulling on the lid. And of course, long wear was non-negotiable. These sticks were tested and refined until they truly performed like an artist’s tool but felt effortless for everyday beauty lovers.

For readers who aren’t professional artists, what’s the single most foolproof technique you’d teach them to use these sticks to shape and define any eye shape with confidence?

The easiest trick is what I call the ‘lift and line.’ Take the stick, place it at the outer corner of your lash line, and sweep it upward just slightly, almost like drawing a soft mini wing. Then, use your fingertip or a small brush to smudge the line inward along the lash line. It instantly lifts the eye and defines the shape, without needing a steady hand. It works on every eye shape and looks like you’ve put in a lot more effort than you really have.

The formula promises crease- and smudge-resistance with no tugging — what’s your secret for prepping the eyelid so these sticks perform their best, especially in humid or long-workday conditions?

If you know Smashbox, then you know primer is our thing – prepping is everything! I like to start with our Photo Finish Intensify 24 Hour Shadow Primer which is incredible for creating a silky canvas for the lid. Once applied, these sticks are designed to stay put, but that little bit of prep ensures they last from morning coffee to evening cocktails, even in humidity.

These sticks do triple duty—shape, line and shadow. Can you talk us through two contrasting looks (one daytime, one evening) using the same shade or a simple shade mix?

Absolutely, that’s what makes them so versatile. For daytime, I love using a shade like Trouble because it’s the perfect champagne color that brightens and awakens the eye. I’ll focus on applying this on the inner corner of the eye and the brow bone to make it pop, sometimes adding Stone Fox as a subtle liner alternative. It’s soft, polished, and perfect for work or brunch. For evening, I’m loving our deep violet shade, Big Flirt, which I like to apply as a nice wash on the lid. For the outer corner, I’ll reach for the deepest shade, No Angel, and use that lift and line tip to create an almost smudged wing effect as well as apply it along the lash line for depth. Suddenly you’ve got a smoky yet colorful, dimensional eye look.

Shade selection can be intimidating. What are your go-to shades from the launch for different eye colours or skin tones, and how do you recommend layering or pairing them for depth?

I always like to start with eye color as a guide. For blue eyes, warm tones like bronzes and coppers ( Trouble and Loaded) really make them pop. For green or hazel eyes, purples and plums (Big Flirt) add that beautiful contrast. For brown eyes, the truth is they can wear anything, but I love jewel tones like Nepo Babe or Night Rider. And across all skin tones, a universal neutral like Stone Fox and Hot Shot are a must-have for creating depth or as a blending shade. My pro tip is to layer a lighter shimmer shade at the inner half of the lid with a deeper matte tone on the outer half. That contrast creates instant dimension.

As a Global Pro Lead Artist, you train other artists—what’s one playful or unexpected pro trick you’d share that elevates a stick-based eye look from basic to editorial?

One of my favorite tricks is using the sticks as a base for graphic shapes. Because they’re creamy when applied but set down once they dry, you can use them almost like a sketch tool. I’ll map out a bold crease shape or even a negative-space liner with the stick, then layer powder shadows or even metallic pigments on top for extra drama. It’s quick, precise (thanks to its built-in sharpener), and instantly editorial. Even if someone’s not going full runway, just extending the shadow slightly beyond the natural crease or trying a double wing can make a look feel fresh and modern.