Smashbox Cosmetics and Sephora

The wild and untamed rain forest was at the heart of Smashbox Cosmetics’ Spring ’06 looks, which were showcased on the runway for the first time at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios in Culver City, Calif.

The show, called “Exotica,” was done in conjunction with Sephora. It started off with a wildly attired woman, wearing long pheasant feathers in her upswept hair, doing a vibrant dance down the runway to Brazilian music.

Each makeup collection was introduced by a model wearing only latex and glitter artfully arranged in designs to cover strategic spots.

To usher in the Copperhead collection, a model in gold glitter paraded down the runway ahead of the models, whose coppery gold makeup was accented by the crocheted swimsuits designed by Knit Fit by Bikini Islands.

For the Jungle Fever collection, makeup came in several shades, from super-hot tones to pale nude shades. The Cloud Burst Collection showed eye makeup in silver, gray and metallic blue. Pink highlighter was used on the skin.

Other makeup groups in the show included Purple Rain, which came in violets and soft lilac hues, and Thunderbolt, whose eye makeup gravitated toward charcoal browns and forest greens.

The makeup was done by Karl Giant and the Smashbox artistry team. Giant said he researched the colors found in the Brazilian rain forest for his makeup concepts.

To punctuate the Brazilian rain-forest theme, Smashbox and Sephora made donations to the international Rainforest Foundation.

—Deborah Belgum