Bobbi Brown Denim Extreme Party Mascara For Fall 2010

Bobbi Brown released her fall 2010 Extreme Party Mascara in a blue denim color just as my personal blue mascara obsession is in its height. Denim (3) is, of course, part of Bobbi's new Denim & Rose line and I find that it's right on-trend with several of the other fall collections. It's been years since I tested any of Bobbi Brown's mascaras. I was never impressed with any of them, but I don't even remember which mascaras I tried and I'm pretty sure the formulas have changed enough to warrant a second chance. And there's that blue factor.

Extreme Party Mascara was a pleasant surprise. While I don't think there's anything extreme about it, the results it's been giving me are pretty good, especially in the volume and definition department. I'm mostly reminded of my perennial favorites, Clinique High Impact, which gives a lot of character to the lashes without ever looking overdone or fake. The brush is pretty standard with lots of bristles and a tapered nose, it gives a good coverage, makes lashes look full and thick but isn't super cooperative when trying to reach the corner or individual lashes. The formula is of medium thickness, easy to apply and doesn't smudge, coon or dot.

The blue shade of Denim is dark enough to frame the eyes nicely. It's not bright and doesn't scream "Blue" but is definitely noticeable enough and interesting. I usually prefer to pair a colored mascara with a black eyeliner, but I've also tried a monochrome eye with Bobbi Brown's Denim Ink gel eyeliner and various blue eye shadows from different brands and collections and the result is quite pretty, even if I personally prefer less obvious looks.

Bottom Line: Very good.

Bobbi Brown Denim Extreme Party Mascara ($22) is available at just about every department store as well as from bobbibrown.com

All photos by me.

Bobbi Brown Denim And Rose Palette Fall 2010

A large part of  Denim & Rose palette's charm is the packaging. The zippered pouch (is this a first for Bobbi Brown? I think it might be) is cute and I find it very practical, since it can be shoved as is into a purse. This, of course, highlights the palette's one major flaw: it doesn't come with any brushes, so you must also pack your own. Still, the cuteness was irresistible to me.

A reader who commented yesterday about the colors of the Denim & Rose collection said they didn't work for her and she thought they were only suitable for people with cooler skin tones. I can see how it might be the case, but I've always found the strict cool vs. warm thing quite inaccurate. Skin undertones are not necessarily so strictly identified. We can have several degrees of pink, blue, yellow, red and green,/olive tones, and sometimes more than one of those. So I urge you to keep testing and experimenting with a wider range of colors and see what works for you.

There are four eye shadows in the palette. I don't know why Navajo is such a Bobbi Brown favorite. It was also part of the 2008 Mauve palette and I didn't like it then, either. It's completely sheer on my skin and doesn't provide even the slightest "eye opening" effect under the brow. It's not that I'm looking for much (or any) color in a basic nude eye shadow, but a little matte highlighting or brightening of the brow bone area can make a huge difference, as proven by such shades as Lorac Posh, Youngblood Alabaster or Le Metier de Beaute Naked.

The other eye shadows are a lot more interesting. Grey Denim, a smooth matte, is a bit warmer on my skin than it appears in the pan, and looks great blended on the lid and into the crease. It's simple, wearable and works well with many items in and outside this palette. Pink Granite is a sparkling cool toned pink that takes the modest and unassuming Grey Denim into evening territory, but if used judiciously can be daytime friendly. The star of the collection is Dark Rinse, a vivid deep blue with shimmer particles. As always, I could live without the fairy dust, but I seem to be in the minority about this. Still, Bobbi Brown is good in keeping the shiny civilized, so for me Dark Rinse doesn't cross the taste level lines. It's dark enough to function as a liner and those who favor the smoky eye look can do a lot with it. I use it just above the lash line and blend it carefully into Grey Denim. I would be very cautious about pairing this shade with the Denim Ink gel liner- I agree with yesterday's comment that it can be too much.

The blush, Pink Rose, seems like a mostly universal shade. It looks natural, the intensity can be built up (I used a lot in the swatch. You can go much lighter) and it seems to pick the warm undertones from my skin, so it works well for me. My one issue with the blush is caused by the palette's shape. You need to be careful with your blush brush and avoid touching the eye shadows or you'd find yourself with blue streaks on your cheeks.

The four lip products are probably the weakest links in the Denim & Rose collection. The two cream lip colors are nice and wearable and can also be mixed together. The glosses however are not the best choice. Iced Lilac is a sheer almost pink shimmer, less intense in use than it appears in the pan, so it's pretty harmless. The Hot Pink one, though, just looks cheap and doesn't belong in a carefully edited palette. It doesn't play well with the other lip colors, so after several tries I just gave up on it.

Bottom Line: Not perfect but I'm already using it often.

Bobbi Brown Denim And Rose Palette for Fall 2010 ($60) is available at department stores everywhere and from bobbibrown.com

All photos are mine.

Bobbi Brown Denim Ink (28) Gel Eyeliner Fall 2010

Bobbi Brown has fully redeemed herself from a year of blah with her fall 2010 Denim & Rose Collection. Tomorrow I'll show you the gorgeous face palette and next week I'll discuss the Denim mascara. Today is about the new Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner color, Denim Ink (no. 28).

Bobbi Brown's Gel Eyeliners are among my favorite products. They are ridiculously easy to apply, stay on all day without budging or smearing and the colors are always beautiful and never look garish even in the bolder shades. The new Denim Ink color is right up my alley- it's a very dark navy, a bit on the gray side (at least on my skin- if you're pale and very pink the blue might stand out a little more). The color is darker on skin than it's in the pan  and has a little shimmer. I was surprised the name the gave this color doesn't indicate the shimmer, but I don't really mind. Bobbi Brown knows how to keep things elegant even when she goes to the frosty side.

I apply it with either Bobbi Brown's Ultra Fine eyeliner brush or even with thinner brushes when I want to really keep it close to the lashes. Both work well with the gel's wonderful texture.

Bobbi Brown Denim Ink (28) Gel Eyeliner ($21) is available from most department stores and bobbibrowncosmetics.com

All photos are mine.

Bobbi Brown Rich Color Gloss (Merlot and Ruby Red)

I bought these two Bobbi Brown Rich Color glosses when they first came out months ago, took a few pictures (the outdoor ones, which sharp eyed readers and my mother would notice are still from the old house), added them to my regular rotation but somehow never got  to actually reporting on them. I blame it on all the seasonal limited edition items that take all the limelight. The Color Rich range is definitely deserving some attention, as it belongs to the growing trend of high moisture-high pigment lip products that border on the liquid lipstick line but are easier to use without getting tons of color on one's teeth.

The Rich Color glosses are stickier than Bobbi Brown's regular glosses, but are also more hydrating so it can be forgiven. I like any product that makes my lips feel plumped  up with moisture. The color pay-off is impressing and the coverage is almost lipstick worthy. It doesn't survive the first cup of tea and there's no staining left on the lips, so you have to reapply quite frequently, but that's the only issue.

The colors I have are Merlot, which the Bobbi Brown website accurately describes as "chocolate rum", and Ruby Red which is more of a red plum. Merlot can be a bit too brown (depending on outfit and other makeup choices), so I often mix it with pink glosses. Ruby Red is gorgeous and wearable on its own day or night. I can actually see myself running out of this color quickly (Bobbi's gloss tubes are thankfully small, so I'm never stuck with a three year old product that is almost full) and repurchasing.

Bottom line: A staple. I could use more colors.

Bobbi Bron Rich Color Gloss ($20) is available from most department stores and online. I bought mine at Bloomingdale's.

All photos by me.

Bobbi Brown Sheer Color Cheek Tint (Sheer Mauve 7)

I was in the market for a new cream blush. I just finished a Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge in a limited edition or discontinued color  and wanted something similar, but none of the current colors in this range seemed to work. I love the texture, but the most of Pot Rouge shades are very dark with red or brown undertones that looked frustratingly heavy and muddy. The SA suggested I try the Sheer Color Cheek Tint which is a stick blush- not my favorite format (probably because the first ones I've ever tried were the ones from Tarte which I deeply disliked)- but the colors were interesting enough.

I was surprised how great the Sheer Cheek Tint felt and looked. It was a smooth application with no sticky feeling. The pigment was sheer but noticeable, blended easily and I liked the natural appearance. Sheer Mauve (no. 7) was exactly the  color I needed. It complements olive skin that isn't tan, adds some life and a healthy flush without going over the too-pink line.

The staying power of this stick blush isn't the greatest when on its own. The Sheer Cheek Tint needs good anchoring to last the day- a real foundation (tinted moisturizers tend to fade and take the blush with them) and powder, not to mention a primer underneath it all. It probably wouldn't be a good choice for the melty days of August, but right now this is my go-to blush. It also helps that the stick is tiny and takes minimum space in a makeup bag, easy to use on the go and only requires blending with your fingers, so no extra brush to carry.

Bottom line: It makes me look alive.

Bobbi Brown Sheer Color Cheek Tint ($22) is available from most decent department stores as well as from bobbibrowncosmetics.com. I bought it at my local Blommie's.

All photos by me.

Bobbi Brown Earth Metal Palette Holiday 2009 Collection

It feels like we're always rushing the seasons. Fall collections appear in July and often sell out before August 1st. Halloween is still 10 days away, but the makeup counters are already in full sparkly Holiday mode. I'm not sure I'm ready for any of that, but the Earth Metal lips & eyes palette from Bobbi Brown was too pretty to ignore until the right mood and weather arrive (and, let's face it- most chances it'd be gone by then).



The palette consists of six metallic eye shadows in some of the nicest colors of the season, including a golden green and a rich evergreen. There's a taupy plum and a couple of warmer shades. All have the familiar Bobbi Brown metallic finish which is both subtle and elegant. The colors are quite neutral and can easily be office-appropriate as long as you don't pile them up, while giving many options for a stunning evening look. Most of these eye shadows go beautifully with Bobbi's newest gel eyeliner color, Forest Shimmer Ink. I'm very happy with the pigment level in this palette. Then again, the metallic colors of the last couple of years have always been rich.

The lip colors pale a little in comparison. They are lower in pigment than they appear in the palette and are mostly nude washes. It took me a while to warm up to the texture, which isn't as creamy as I'd like (I've been spoiled by the gel-like consistency offered by several of the top brands like Chantecaille and Le Metier de Beaute). You absolutely need to use a lip brush (there's one in the palette) and work it thoroughly through the pan, almost like you're whipping it. Mixing and blending is also a good idea, as it allows you to customize the color to your exact preference. The final results are very pretty, but I won't deny it takes a bit of work, unlike the eye shadows that are am instant thrill.

I don't like the thin eye shadow brush. It's too flimsy for my liking. The lip brush is decent and I'm getting a good use out of it, though it also could have been thicker.

Bobbi Brown Earth Metal Palette ($60) is a Holiday 2009 limited edition, available right now at decent department stores and online. I ordered mine from bobbibrown.com.

All photos by me.

Bobbi Brown Lip Crayon (Raisin Berry)

The reintroduction of of Bobbi Brown's lip crayons into the collection is proving to be a great idea. The thick pencils are among the most useful lip products one can find. They are wonderfully creamy and easy to apply, even when one is in a hurry. They travel well and do great on the go. The texture is like a high quality matte/satin lipstick, so you can wear them plain or topped with a clear gloss (my preference, though the pencil is light and not drying at all). The staying power is superb- the color barely transfers to the bottle of water or tea cup. I couldn't ask for anything more. The crayons come with their own sharpener, which is always nice (I really need to find an efficient way to store the various sharpeners).

I bought the Raisin Berry crayon, which was the darkest one offered. It's a brown-based berry with a bit of red in it. Good for evenings but also appropriate for daytime, especially if your lips are naturally dark. I also tested and liked Wild Rose, but decided I have enough "my lips, but better" neutral shades. Still, highly recommended.

Bottom line: Love.

Bobbi Brown Lip Crayon ($22) is available from every semi-decent department store and the company's website.

Photos and freaky looking inner wrist: all mine.

Bobbi Brown Ivy League Collection- Eyes

Bobbi Brown's first offering for fall, the Nude look might have been a huge snoozefest, but she has fully redeemed herself with the Ivy League collection. It has a cute "back to school" vibe, pretty colors and green eye shadows. I couldn't ask for more.

The Ivy League collection offers a new Long Wear gel eyeliner color, Forest Shimmer Ink. It's a dark almost-green brown with gold shimmer. The color is very pretty, perfect for daytime (don't be scared of the shimmer- it's low key) and it coordinates well with green eye shadows as well as with taupe and brown neutrals. The quality is the same as always- this eyeliner stays put and doesn't budge. The color, however, loses some intensity after 8-10 hours.

By the way, Bobbi Brown re-did the Ultrafine eyeliner brush. It is now cut even slimmer, making it easier to draw the finest line. I've seen SA for other lines use these brushes on customers, so I feel even more justified in loving Bobbi's tools.


My eyeshadow of choice from the Ivy League collection is Golden Leaf (Bash is a stunning metallic deep emerald green, but I've already bought the new Chanel Murano quad, so my greens are covered). It's a delicate shimmer golden khaki/brown color. Hard to describe, beautiful to wear. The pigment is substantial and can be deepened if you pile it on, but I see no reason to go that way. I wear it over a primer and the shadow stays on without creasing, crumbling, flaking or fading until I take it off. The golden green color is very flattering and brings out my eye color- they look extra chocolaty brown.

Bottom line: Love.


The model for this collection speaks to the 80s preppiness in us and Ralph Lauren lust, but I looked for older fashion inspiration and found this cuteness from vintage Seventeen magazines. All photos are from 1948-1953:



Bobbi Brown's Ivy League Collection is available from most decent department stores and from bobbibrown.com.

Product photos are mine
Vintage scans from myvintagevogue.com