With an illustrious portfolio spanning over two decades, Lori Taylor Davis commands admiration within the beauty industry. Her exceptional artistic flair has adorned the visages of renowned Hollywood A-listers, counting Sandra Bullock and Bruno Mars among her clientele. We get up close with Lori Taylor Davis, the LA-based Global Pro Lead Artist of Smashbox Cosmetics, as she unveils the brand’s newest releases, offers professional application tips, and reveals the key to discovering your own unique makeup style in the ever-evolving landscape of social media trends.

Interview with Lori Taylor Davis, Global Pro Lead Artist  at Smashbox Cosmetics

Hi Lori Taylor Davis, it’s a pleasure to meet you. Could you please briefly introduce yourself to our readers?

Image credit: @loritaylordavis/ Instagram

Hi Beauty Insider Malaysia, I’m Lori Taylor Davis, and I am the Global Pro Lead Artist at Smashbox Cosmetics. I have been at Smashbox going on 22 years, and my journey at Smashbox has been one from being in store at a counter to working New York in LA Fashion Week. I am the Lead Artist, which means that I work with all departments at Smashbox, and my department that I work with most and closely is not only creative, our creative department, but I also work with our product development department.

So I actually not only get to use all the Smashbox products, but I get to help give my artistry insight to creating a lot of the products you see there. Because I have been at Smashbox for 22 years, I am basically the voice of the brand, so I give a kind of a voice and a feeling to all the products that are created at Smashbox. I have a great job. Like I said, I’ve been there 22 years, and I’ve loved every single moment of it.

As the Smashbox Global Pro Lead Artist, could you share more about the latest releases from the brand and what you particularly love about the Always On Skin Balancing Foundation and Halo Healthy Glow 4-In-1 Perfecting Pen?

Okay, so the one thing I’d love to say as a makeup artist and also kind of being one One of the people that helped to create these two amazing products is if each brand in Cosmetics is pretty much known for something.

Some brands are known for cheeks, some brands known really amazing eye colours, other brands are known for lipstick, and some are for liner. The one thing that I can say that is most proud of is at Smashbox, we do skin the best. Skin is kind of our signature because if you get skin right then makeup just lays better and it just everything just looks kind of better when you get that perfected flawless look to the skin.

The Always On Balancing Foundation and Halo Healthy Glow 4 -in -1 Perfecting Pin are kind of like a double duty BFF’s of creating beautiful skin that doesn’t look makeu-py. The Always On Skin Balancing Foundation took about two years to create from the colour range to the formulation to a launch of this particular foundation and the things that I love most about it are number one how it wears.

It goes on, it glides on. You need very little product initially to just kind of even out the complexion. What I like to say is it’s best applied with your fingertips because your fingers help the foundation meld and really attach itself to the skin.

Another thing I love is that it has really amazing ingredients but it almost has this new ingredient that’s called an adaptogen and what it does is it really helps the foundation to flex and no matter what’s going on with your skin if you’re drier some days or oily or on other days, or even if you are just very normal, the Foundation works not only with what is going with the skin, it also helps to work well in any environment.

The colour range is also really amazing because we are really trying to teach our makeup client how to identify not only their colour but we want them to understand that knowing your undertone and knowing the depth of your skin will help you to get the most natural and flawless flawless application so we won’t skin to look like skin. One of the things we say at Smashbox is we like to enhance the skin, not mask the scan, and we want skin to always look as flawless as it can be, and never, it needs to always look very healthy and beautiful and not mask-ey.

The 4 -in -1 Halo Healthy Glow Perfecting Pen is kind of like the boost that you would need. The applicator first is something that’s really special. So it has this kind of flat tip brush applicator, which is fantastic. So you can use this pen as your, you could use it as a foundation. You can use it as a concealer. You could use your colour corrector and you also use your contour shade depending on how many different tones you use.

Both of these products, the Always On Skin Balancing Foundation and the Halo Healthy Glow 4 -in -1 Perfecting Pin, both of them are long wearing products because at Smashbox it’s very important that everything look natural but also be very long -wearing.

So I’m really, we’re really excited about this launch and I am most excited this launch because although colour is fun and everyone loves, you know, amazing eyeshadows and blush and lips, one of the things that we are known for is really getting your skin in tip -top shape of course especially if you’re starting with a primer first and then laying on either the Always On Skin Balancing Foundation or the Halo Healthy Glow 4 -in -1 Perfecting Pin.

The Always On Skin Balancing Foundation features a groundbreaking formula with oil control and hydration to balance the skin, along with other amazing benefits. Do you have any professional tips on its application for individuals to achieve results similar to those done by a professional?

I think I mentioned that in the last question, but one thing I will say is, although we love to use an applicator, people love any type of foundation brush, any type of sponge. You can use it with all those. The thing that I find, because of the lightweight, it’s a lightweight texture of this formula. I want to say it’s serum like without, but it has really ample coverage, but it’s very lightweight. 

I normally say if you’re going to use one pump of foundation, that’s enough to initially start. And what you want to do is work the foundation. You don’t want to really dot it. You want to actually apply the foundation working different segments of the face, starting in the centre of the face, working out and up this foundation, you will find that less is more. 

The first initial application goes on and it just kind of evens out the skin. The next application could be to cover anything that you might find that you don’t love about your skin. But I love this foundation simply because of the colour range. I love the texture. I love how it wears as very few touch ups, and it is something that’s really different than what you see on the market.

The Halo Healthy Glow 4-In-1 Perfecting Pen is an innovative product that has left us truly amazed by its versatile functions, encompassing concealing, highlighting, contouring, and correcting the skin. Could you provide a pro tip on how to use it?

This product is one of those products that I love. If you have a very small makeup bag or you’re a minimalist, or if you’re even a maximalist when it comes to makeup, you can get a lot of work and wear it from the formula and basically from the innovative packaging. Again, it’s a four in one. So you can highlight, you can conceal, you can contour, and you can correct the skin. 

I love this because the formula is actually very flexible. You don’t really need anything to apply it except the applicator and maybe your fingertips to kind of work it into the skin. Therefore, it’s one of those products I love to always tell people if you’re someone, again, that doesn’t want to have a huge makeup bag, or if you’re someone that’s travelling, you can literally take two to three different tones and really use this as your vacation makeup. Or if you’re someone that has a very active lifestyle or just someone that is really just a minimalist, it’s one of those really fantastic products. 

Because the formula, again, is long wearing, and depending, again, on which colour you use, you can contour the face. I love to take more warm or kind of like deep shade, normally about two shades deeper than your tone. And you can contour your forehead, your jawline, your cheeks, the sides of your nose. You can also highlight with different tones. So you can use it in the centre of the face. You can use it as your concealer, you can use it to brighten underneath the eyes. You can use this particular foundation. We made it so that it was very skin like, so that no matter what you do, it’s never going to heavy or cakey or artificial, which is absolutely fantastic.

With the proliferation of ever-evolving makeup trends on social media, keeping up with them can be quite challenging. What advice would you give to makeup enthusiasts struggling to find their unique style amid these trends?

I love everything that’s going on in social media because it really kind of keeps you in the know of what is basically out there as far as makeup. I mean, in the past, before social media, you kind of had to really go in store and kind of figure out what was going on. But now, as products launch, you can kind of stand the cutting edge of knowing what’s out there. What that does is it enables you to really customise how you want your makeup to look at any given time. I love it because makeup, there’s really a spotlight on makeup right now, so makeup is always in the forefront. 

One thing I do say is use social media as your inspiration or as something to kind of get your juices going. But really, you should really be trying to create a look and to keep your style as unique as you are, if you’re someone.  But I feel like as makeup wear, as soon as we can kind of get in a rut where we’re like, oh, I’ve been wearing the same lip or the same eye for so long, so I usually just use social media to kind of get the inspiration going in my head, and the rest is just, it’s makeup. 

So you really want to have fun with it and really enjoy it, and you don’t have to do all of the trends at one time. I mean, they change so quickly, and sometimes we feel like we’re falling behind, but that’s okay. What you want to do is really kind of take these trends in. Take these trends in, and then use them to kind of create your own personalised look, because you’re an individual, and that’s what makes you so special.

Makeup can take time to navigate, especially for newbies. What common mistakes do you often observe, and what advice would you offer?

For beginners, common makeup mistakes often include overdoing product application. It’s easy to apply too much. Start with a light hand and build up as needed. Avoid neglecting skincare and skin prep, as good makeup starts with good skin. A well-maintained skincare routine enhances makeup application by creating a smooth canvas. Primers ensure that the skin is perfected and ready to receive makeup, helping it last longer throughout the day. 

Not blending enough — whether it’s foundation, eyeshadow, or blush—is key to a seamless look. Proper blending ensures there are no harsh lines or uneven patches, achieving a flawless finish. My advice is to use social media to stay up-to-date on trends, but remember to stick to what works for you, as everyone’s skin is unique. With practice, navigating makeup becomes easier, allowing you to develop a look that reflects your individual style and personality. Remember, makeup is a form of self-expression, so have fun experimenting with different looks!

You have over two decades of experience in the industry, working as a professional makeup artist for numerous Hollywood A-listers. Could you share your personal favourite look that you’ve created thus far?

Enhancing the client’s natural beauty with minimal makeup, focusing on glowing skin, subtly defined eyes, and a natural lip colour. This timeless approach tends to be a favourite and the way it showcases an individual’s features.

As celebrity and professional makeup artists, we’re curious about your daily go-to makeup look. Can you provide us with a sneak peek?

Image credit: @loritaylordavis/ Instagram

Light-coverage foundation or tinted moisturiser, a touch of concealer where needed, a natural brow, mascara, and a lip colour that complements their skin tone. It’s all about looking polished but not overdone.

Here’s a quick, fun question: If you could only use five makeup products for the rest of your life, what would they be?

If I were limited to just five makeup products for the rest of my life, I would choose a tinted moisturiser or serum foundation, mascara, lip colour, a face palette and a versatile eyeshadow palette to create both natural and dramatic looks.

What beauty mantra do you always live by?

“Less is more.” Embracing your natural beauty and enhancing rather than masking your features can create the most impactful and personal looks.

In your role as a professional makeup artist, what trends do you foresee gaining prominence this year, and what should people anticipate?

Image credit: @loritaylordavis/ Instagram

The beauty industry is increasingly moving towards sustainability, inclusivity, and natural beauty. Expect to see ‘skinmalism,’ which emphasises natural texture and glow, advocating for ‘less is more’ when it comes to skincare. Bold colours and graphic liners provide a fun avenue for expressing individuality. Other prominent trends include sustainable and clean beauty, promoting products that are kind to the skin and the environment. Inclusive shade ranges signify a growing trend of brands expanding their offerings to cater to all skin tones.

Staying true to yourself while experimenting and having fun with makeup is the best approach, regardless of the changing trends. Remember, makeup is an art, and you’re the artist. What you create is up to you!

A go-to look might include a light-coverage foundation or tinted moisturiser, a touch of concealer where needed, a natural brow, mascara, and a lip colour that complements their skin tone. It’s all about looking polished but not overdone.

*This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Make sure to follow Beauty Insider on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news updates.