Bobbi Brown

The Bobbi Brown Nectar & Nude Collection Intoxicates Makeup Lovers With an Ambrosia of Beige, Brown, Peach and Coral

February 17th, 2014 by Karen 23 Comments

The new Bobbi Brown Nectar & Nude Collection

Truth be told, I was not expecting to run into this ray of sunshine when I swung by the Bobbi Brown counter at the mall today.

I was just stopping by to spritz a little Beach on my wrist (seriously, on a cold day, that stuff is better than an electric blanket), but then I spotted this limited edition collection…

Bobbi Brown Nectar & Nude Collection — Clockwise from the round pan in the lower left: the limited edition Pot Rouge for Lips & Cheeks in Hibiscus ($26); limited edition Nectar & Nude Eye Palette ($48); limited edition Glitter Nail Polish in Bare Peach ($15); and the limited edition Lip Glosses in Nectar, Nude Pink and Bare Peach ($25 each). Not pictured from the collection: limited edition Nail Polish in Nectar ($15) and the permanent Nectar Shimmer Brick ($42)

It reminds me of 2012’s Neons & Nudes collection (remember that one?), but with peach and coral instead of purple and hot pink.

I do wish the eyeshadows weren’t so…well, nude. I would’ve loved to see some darker, richer browns, but that’s probably just my tan talking (“Please, Bobbi! Don’t make me have to apply so many layers!”). Lighter lasses should be able to pull off these shades (and do great things with them) more easily.

Bobbi Brown Nectar & Nude Eye Palette — The Nectar & Nude Eye Palette ($48)

Bobbi Brown Nectar & Nude Lip Glosses — Nectar & Nude Lip Glosses ($25 each)

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Glow On With Yo’ Bad Self! Bobbi Brown Heralds 2014 With the Nude Glow Collection

December 17th, 2013 by Karen 18 Comments

Six of the 10 pieces in the new Bobbi Brown Nude Glow Collection, coming January 2014

So, last night El Hub and I were having dinner at this Puerto Rican place we like called Sol Food in San Rafael (YUM! Any Bay Area girls been there?) when he asked what I wanted to do for New Year’s.

“Hmm…” I said. To be honest, I hadn’t given it any thought. I forgot that we’re barely two weeks from the end of the year.

Can you believe it? 2014 already?

So, I have no clue what to do for NYE, but even if we end up staying home and just watching the ball drop on TV, there will be sparkly makeup up in the mix. Of that, you can be sure. 🙂

Bobbi Brown may be able to help, too. She says that her new Nude Glow makeup collection is like sparkly jewelry for your everyday wardrobe.

Yeah…I can get behind that.

The release hits counters in January with 10 pieces, including eyeshadow quads, sheer lipsticks, nail polishes and new shimmer bricks (aka, Brightening Finishing Powders) — all limited edition.

The theme, like we’ve been seeing a lot lately, is look brightening. The pieces are designed to instantly, easily enhance your skin tone and brighten your look, and get you gorgeously glowing for early 2014.

The Bobbi Brown Nude Glow collection includes…

Limited Edition Eye Palette in Nude (Shades: Dove Grey Eye Shadow, Ballet Pink Sparkle Eye Shadow, Nude Eye Shadow and Cement Sparkle Eye Shadow), $44

Limited Edition Eye Palette in Crystal (Shades: Porcelain Eye Shadow, Opal Sparkle Eye Shadow, Mica Sparkle Eye Shadow and Angel Pink Eye Shadow), $44

Limited Edition Eye Palette in Bronze (Shades: Gold Bar Sparkle Eye Shadow, Amber Shimmer Wash Eye Shadow, Toast Eye Shadow and Rich Bronze Eye Shadow), $44

Limited Edition Sheer Lip Colors in Pink Rose, Pink Flush and Pink Gold, $28 each

Limited Edition Nail Polishes in Pale, Ballet Pink Glitter and Bronze Shimmer, $15 each

Limited Edition Brightening Finishing Powder (Shades: Brightening Nudes, Porcelain Pearl and Bronze Glow), $50

Let’s see… “Luminous” is the best word I can think of to describe these pieces. The eyeshadow quads and sheer lipsticks all have that radiant, glowing quality that Bobbi does so well. Sparkle features prominently, but it’s not, like, club glitter, if ya know what I mean. Everything here, even the silver packaging (LOVE IT, but it’s a paint to keep clean), looks luxe and expensive to me.

Here’s a quick peek at six of the 10 pieces. Let me know if something here catches your eye…

Bobbi Brown Nude Glow Collection Sheer Lip Color — Sheer Lip Colors from the left: Pink Flush, Pink Gold and Pink Rose, $28 each

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For a Fussy-Free Date Night Look, Try the New $30 Bobbi Brown Date Night Lip & Eye Palette

November 12th, 2013 by Karen 11 Comments

Maybe I’ve passed the point of no makeup return, but when I think of date night, my first thoughts are usually something like, “Oooh, let’s pop two different colors in the crease,” or “I wanna layer these three liners for a smokey cat eye gradient, yeah!”

Then again, I do have a tendency to over-complicate things (says the woman who just mixed three different concealers to customize a color for her cheeks).

Bobbi Brown’s new $30 Date Night Lip & Eye Palette tries to keep things easy and streamlined, and even though I don’t usually equate paring down my makeup with date nights, I appreciate its simplicity, because sometimes those holiday palettes with, like, 25 different eyeshadows and 10 different lipsticks are just straight-up overwhelming.

Sometimes it’s easier to make a decision when you limit your options, ya know? And I think that’s one of this palette’s strengths. It comes with just enough to put together a pretty date night look, and you can always incorporate other products if you feel like it.

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Because the Eyes Are the Nipples of the Face: Bobbi Brown’s New Smokey Eye Crayon Kajal Liner

November 7th, 2013 by Karen 21 Comments

Bobbi Brown Crayon Kajal — That’s Bobbi Brown’s new Crayon Kajal in Black Coffee on my lash and water lines

“The eyes are the nipples of the face.”

Yes, truer words were never spoken. 🙂

Ha! OK, let me explain. I was watching My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding the other day (whatever, don’t judge!), and that’s what one of the girls (14 years old, wearing booty shorts with pink rhinestone hearts) said while she was doing her makeup for a matchmaking party her parents arranged to help her find a husband.

FUN FACT OF THE DAY: The quote is originally from The House Bunny, starring Anna Farris.

So that’s what I kept thinking this morning while I was applying my eyeliner, Bobbi Brown’s new Smokey Eye Kajal Liner in Black Coffee.

Face nipples. I’m lining the nipples…OF MY FACE.

The liner’s new and comes in six colors, including the Black Coffee shade I’m wearing here. Their big selling point: that they’re super soft, smooth and won’t tug at your skin. They’re also very, very pigmented (also known as uber-pigmented) and easy to smudge. Better for messy rocker chick looks with soft diffused liner than looks with sharp lines.

The fancy formula stays creamy, so you can buff it out and play with it throughout the day, but it still lasts 5-7 hours along my lash lines.

Which is cool.

Of course, that wear time doesn’t extend to my water lines, where it gives up the ghost in 1-2 hours. If you’re looking for a long-wearing liner that will set and last there, Smokey Eye Crayon Kajal probably isn’t ideal.

Bobbi Brown Crayon Kajal Swatches from the left: Black Amethyst, Black Coffee and Noir — Swatches from the left of Black Amethyst, Black Coffee and Noir

Something like Bobbi’s Long-Wearing Gel Eyeliner might be better. Twelve hours on lash and water lines. Jet, the basic black, used to be my jam. I wore it all the time until my water lines started acting up (no idea why). Now I use Urban Decay’s 24/7 Glide on Eye Pencil in Perversion.

Now, even with that limited water line wear time, Bobbi never billed these as long-wearing, so there’s that. They’re designed first and foremost for smokey eyes.

Bobbi Brown Crayon Kajal Swatches from the left: Jade, Pacific and Storm — Swatches from the left of Jade, Pacific and Storm

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Of Lists and Lashes: 15 Things I Learned Today About Bobbi Brown Smokey Eye Mascara and Life

November 7th, 2013 by Karen 20 Comments

15 Things I learned today about Bobbi Brown’s Smokey Eye Mascara and life in general

Today is a new day.
The world is not falling apart. It only felt like that for a little while.
It helps to set a timer when you write. Ten minutes is a good starting point. More than that, and you’re apt to spew a lot of crazy talk.
When it comes to busting through writer’s block, don’t think too much. Avoid the urge to self-edit. Just dictate the words as you hear them in your head.
It helps to read about writer’s block when you have it (go figure).

A little light reading…

3 Simple Steps for Staring Down Writer’s Block

How to Identify the Dread Writer’s Block and Its Relatives

How to Deal with Writers Block

Strategies for Overcoming Writer’s Block

Overcoming Writer’s Block

The constant sound of construction in my neighborhood (it seems like all of my neighbors are doing work on their homes right now) is surely contributing to my agitation.
It almost always helps to make lists.
Playlists are also pretty cool.

It also helps to straighten your hair (seriously), and flat irons are great.

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Working Through Some Things With the Bobbi Brown Limited Edition Twilight Pink Lip & Eye Palette

November 6th, 2013 by Karen 30 Comments

Bobbi Browxn Deluxe Lip and Eye Palette — Wearing the new Bobbi Brown Limited Edition Twilight Pink Lip & Eye Palette

Friend, I’m hoping you can help me through this bout of grade-A writer’s block by forgiving me for rambling and blabbering on (more than usual) while I slog my way through it.

Truth is, after 8,729 posts about makeup (seriously, that’s how many posts I’ve done)…sometimes you run out of new ways to say, “This is (or isn’t) a pretty kick-@ss palette.”

First, this was supposed to be a post about Bobbi Brown’s new limited edition $80 Twilight Pink Lip & Eye Palette, but whether it ends up being that or something else, we’re about to find out.

Ha! I made myself laugh…

At least that’s a start. 🙂

So, back to the palette. It’s new for the holidays, houses 10 powder eyeshadows in a mix of matte, shimmer and glitter finishes; four sheer lip colors and two tiny brushes (which, eh, are just OK).

See, here’s the good thing about wearing smokey eyes…

Uh…I don’t even know what I’m talking about. I’m just going to sit here and move my fingers until I think of something to say.

I warn you — it might take a while.

Bobbi Brown Deluxe Lip and Eye Palette eyeshadows — The eyeshadows

Alright, Karen, what’s the most surprising thing about this palette?

Gosh, Karen, I don’t know. I keep trying to think of a snappy intro, like, I could make a joke about Twilight, the movie, or maybe say something about the lack of warmth in the palette.

Gawd, my hand is throbbing… This is what I get for not cleaning the floors. I actually fell, slow motion, in my office today, and the lamest thing of all was that I was barely moving when it happened. I was just walking slowly to my chair.

Honestly, it’s a miracle the bookshelf didn’t fall on me.

I guess we can just file that under “Not-So-Exciting Things That Happened Today.”

As for things filed under “Good Things That Happened Today,” I did a dark smokey eye with this palette, and it didn’t turn out half bad.

Bobbi Brown Deluxe Lip and Eye Palette lip products — The lip products

Maybe I should talk about the palette now…

OK, the palette, the palette, the palette! It’s by Bobbi Brown, new for holiday, WOOTY TOOT TOOT! Bobbi Brown’s new limited edition holiday palette features 10 powder eyeshadows and four lip colors housed in one sleek mirrored kit. There are also two mini brushes included as well for on-the-go touch-ups.

I HATE THAT WORD FEATURED. I HATE THAT WORD HOUSED. I HATE FEATURED, HOUSED, BOASTS, OFFERS, because I would never, ever say any of those words in casual conversation. Holy sh*t, this is angry, angry typing. I can barely see straight.

Anyway, new palette, new for holiday. It’s got a lot of cool-toned colors.

Oh, boy, I’m not going to be able to use any of this at all. Keep breathing, don’t freak out, pretend you’re just talking to Jen.

I guess I would tell her that most of the colors are very cool-toned, with a couple of neutrals. Not a lot here for people in the warmer skin tone department.

I hate that word, “department.”

Bobbi Brown Deluxe Lip and Eye Palette packaging — The packaging

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My Warm Skin Tone Is Warming Up To the Neutral Cool Shades in the Bobbi Brown Smokey Cool Eye Palette

November 4th, 2013 by Karen 23 Comments

The Sisterhood of Sparkly Shadows will probably kick me out of the sorority for this, but eff it! — I’m saying it anyways: Bobbi Brown’s Smokey Eye Cool palette could really use one fewer glittery eyeshadows and one more matte brown.

There. I said it. 🙂

“This carefully edited mix of six eye shadows is the perfect palette for those who prefer their smokey eye look on the cool side. Featuring everything you need to take eyes from day to night including Bobbi’s beloved base shadow in Ivory and an array of sparkly and shimmery textures in cool grey hues. A Mini Dual Ended Shadow/Liner brush completes this mirrored compact-all it needs now is a bow.”

— bobbibrowncosmetics.com

I’m really not trying to hate on the sparkly stuff, ’cause you know I love me some glitter.

WOO-HOO! TEAM GLITTER! *fist bumps*

It’s just that I tried to make this work using only the six shadows in the set (it comes with three mattes, one shimmer and two glitters), but I couldn’t tie them all together without a medium brown shade to ease the transition from the lighter shades into the darker ones.

It’s like a piece of the puzzle is missing, ya know?

Now, if I were able to swap one of the Sparkle Eye Shadows, which are Bobbi’s take on pressed glitters, for an easy-to-use golden brown along the lines of MAC Cork, it would be so on…

Bobbi Brown Smokey Cool Eye Palette swatches from the left: Ivory Eye Shadow, Graphite Sparkle Eye Shadow, Smokey Grey Shimmer Wash Eye Shadow, Truffle Eye Shadow, Platinum Sparkle Eye Shadow and Caviar Eye Shadow — Swatches from the left: Ivory Eye Shadow, Graphite Sparkle Eye Shadow, Smokey Grey Shimmer Wash Eye Shadow, Truffle Eye Shadow, Platinum Sparkle Eye Shadow and Caviar Eye Shadow

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Get a Flattering Nude Glow That You Don’t Have To Get Naked for With Bobbi Brown’s New Nude Glow Shimmer Brick

November 4th, 2013 by Karen 31 Comments

Wearing the new limited edition Bobbi Brown Nude Glow Shimmer Brick ($45)

This is the look I wore on my lady date with Jen and Cindy yesterday, although really, I didn’t expect either of them to notice because 1) the Bobbi Brown Nude Glow Shimmer Brick I’m wearing wasn’t designed to stand out like that, and 2) neither of them are hard-core makeup people. In fact, the day Cindy turns to me and says, “OOH! I like how you blended that highlighter into your blush!” is the day I expect to see pigs flying and RyGos ceasing to be frickin’ adorable.

With Nude Glow, that’s exactly what you get — a nude glow, like kind of shine your skin takes on after a really good facial…or an entire day spent chillin’ at a spa (and not doing a damn thing for anyone).

This is one of those highlighters with a super forgiving sheen, and I think that’s why a lot of women — especially mature gals — are going to dig it.

I’ve worn the Shimmer Bricks in Bobbi’s permanent line and have also tried a few of her limited edition ones from previous collections, but this one, with its exceptionally fine powders, seems to be a step above the others.

Bobbi Brown Nude Glow Shimmer Brick pan closeup — A closer look at the pan…

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