DeLush

Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick

What They Say: "Bobbi's innovative stick designed for portability and adjustable coverage. Easy to apply and blend all over the face or just where you need it. For all skin types, except very oily."

Jen's Experience: I started using this product after my Bobbi Brown makeover in September. Their representatives highly recommended it, even though I told them I have very dry skin (especially in winter) and that I like a full coverage foundation. From my experience, this product is for neither. I guess you can keep layering on this pancake-y foundation until it becomes full coverage, but it's so thick that you would look something like a cross between Barbie and Tammy Faye Baker. So, needless to say, I haven't gone that route. Unfortunately, another problem I've found with this foundation is that my skin just doesn't look very good when I take my makeup off. I get a little bit of redness and sometimes even a small breakout after even one day. I don't recommend this for anyone with sensitive skin. It hasn't been cold enough yet here to really be able to tell yet, but I also think that it would not be good for anyone with dry, flaky skin in the winter. It always leaves my skin a little drier than it started.

One good use for this foundation: if you're looking for a lightweight concealer that blends well if you're just going out to walk the dogs, this is a good solution.

Retail Price: $36.00 (Bobbi Brown)

Rating:

It's a Concealer Miracle!

I've had a problem with dark under-eye circles since I was in college. It's a mixture of natural coloring, I think, and the amount of sleep I've been getting and how hydrated I am. Sometimes they get a little better, but most of the time (probably due to my general refusal to sleep for 8 hours each night), they're so dark I have to hide them before I walk out of the house every day.

I went to the Bobbi Brown counter looking for concealer because I'd heard theirs was phenomenal. I ended up buying their corrector, concealer kit and their concealer brush. All three were a hefty $82.00, but they were well worth it considering that they really work and the amazing advice their representative gave me for applying the concealer. It goes against everything I ever thought when it comes to concealer application, but it absolutely works. While I still have the dark circles, they're concealed so effectively, they're invisible for hours!

Want to know how?

** Warning: the following photos contain graphic material of Jen without her makeup on.

The Bobbi Brown representative told me to always start with a generous dose of a good quality eye moisturizer. I've been using my Shiseido Under-Eye BioContour Cream and have had excellent results. Make sure that the undereye is thoroughly moisturized before continuing.

The next step is corrector. This is the first time that I've ever purchased a separate corrector, and it's amazing. It does most of the heavy lifting. Use your concealer brush to paint on the corrector until you can no longer see your dark circles at all. Paint up the side of your nose toward your brow, and don't be afraid to use concealer well beyond the outer corner of your eye. If you're following along right now, you're thinking, "I look like a clown." Well, yes you do, but it will all be worth it soon enough.

Give that a few minutes to soak in. It will plump up the fine lines under your eye and very nearly cover any darkness under your eye, but mainly, we're going to use this as a primer for your concealer. You don't really need to blend the corrector into your skin, but you will want to smooth the corrector at the corner of your eyes so that it blends in with your skintone.

Now, apply a layer of concealer with the brush. Don't be afraid to use a lot. Sparingly doesn't conceal well. After you've completely coated your undereyes with the concealer, wait about 10 minutes before you touch your undereyes again. So go walk the dog or just style your hair, anything to allow the conealer time to soak in without any micro-managing.

When the time is up, go ahead and apply your foundation on the reddest areas of your face. Work the foundation line into the concealer line until completely blended. Don't smear the makeup or smooth it in. You want to press the foundation and the concealer into each other and into your face in order for your makeup to look like it's your own natural skin.

After you've pressed the concealer under your eyes lightly, you might want to follow with the light yellow powder that accompanies the concealer in the concealer kit. The yellow powder will keep you from looking shiny in pictures, but it also will dry you out. If you've got dry skin and you aren't going to be in any pictures, you can skip this step entirely. I generally do.

Voila! Flawless concealer coverage. If you see yourself in the mirror later in the day and it looks less than perfect, you can usually revive the look by pressing lightly on the concealer. The picture to the right was taken after I added foundation and blended with my concealer. See? No circles!

Hopefully this will change your life like it did mine. When I told a friend at work recently about my concealer miracle, she responded, "you don't even have dark under-eye circles!" That's when I knew beyond a doubt that this miracle was worth sharing with our DeLush readers.

By the way, the steps I've outlined work for any brand where a corrector and concealer are offered. I've used the same application technique with my Revlon concealer duo, applying the pink and then working in the more yellow shade and gotten very good results. While I may use other brands on the weekends, the Bobbi Brown really is superior and is always my choice for work.

Fall Makeover: Bobbi Brown Edition

I was really surprised when I saw Bobbi Brown's Fall Face. In magazine after magazine I looked through this fall I saw a sea of very dramatic, very smoky eyes. Totally pale lips beyond nude. And here in front of me is this natural look, with defined but not overly dramatic eyes, gorgeous jewel-toned lips, and glowing skin. Did I want a Bobbi Brown fall makeover? Absolutely!

For the event I attended, several of Bobbi Brown's make-up artists were on hand to demonstrate proper application and show off their new colors. My make-up artist, Jen, worked beside Bobbi Brown at Fashion Week in New York, and I can see why. She seemed to have a real eye for color. I wanted to provide a full interview for you, but the artists aren't allowed to provide quotes for media, and so I am just going to pass on what I learned from her.

I asked Jen why Bobbi Brown wasn't pushing the smoky eyes look, and she explained that she doesn't always buy into the trend. Her ideal is that her customers look like themselves -- only better. Fair enough!

Jen spent a lot of time making my skin look great. After she cleaned it, she applied some moisturizer, and once she saw my skin suck in the moisture like it was water, she applied even more. She paid special attention to moisturizing the area around my eyes, which despite my twice-daily eye cream applications, were really dry. Once I was fully moisturized, my skin looked great, so I actually needed less makeup. She thoroughly concealed my dark under-eye circles, but when it came time for foundation, she really used very little. Then to make my skin really glow, she dusted bronzer on my forehead, cheeks, and chin.

For my eyes, she used very light pinks and plums. I never buy shadows this light, so I was really surprised by her color selection, but it looked great. She started with a winter white over my whole lid, which brightened my eyes and seemed to give my brow a little more definition. Then, she lined my eyes with jet black eyeliner across the entire top of my lid with their Gel eyeliner. She used a pretty thick line, but it didn't look overdone because of the light shadow colors. She finished up with two types of mascara, one to plump up my lashes and the other to lengthen and curl. That's something I'd never quite considered, using multiple mascaras to fulfill specific needs.

My review of Bobbi Brown lip colors for fall follows below, but the deep plum color in the lipstick really finished off the look. Everyone who walked by commented on the finished product. My makeover was completed around 2PM, but I was so pleased by the results that I wore my makeup out for the night and it lasted until the wee hours.

Once my makeover was completed, I asked Jen what she recommended for Fall for all our lovely DeLush readers. Her answer? Moisturizer. When the air becomes cooler and drier, you really have to switch to something that deeply moisturizes your skin, so that you can keep that glow.

Stay tuned to DeLush in the following weeks for some more Bobbi Brown related features. I purchased several other products after my makeover that I will be reviewing. Plus, later this month I will be giving you a special make-up how-to session on applying concealer. Your undereye circles are going to disappear. Seriously.

-- Jen

Bobbi Brown Lip Liner and Lip Color

About the lip color: "Give lips creamy, semi-matte color with rich, full coverage in a variety of shade options. Wear alone or pair with Lip Liner and Lip Gloss - depending on your desired effect. Cassis featured in Bobbi's NEW Winter White look is also available in the limited-edition Sexy Glamour Palette. Slopes, Brown, Rum Raisin, and Sandwash Pink shades featured in Bobbi's Picks-Lip Color palette."

About the liner: "This creamy formula goes on smoothly and evenly to give lips subtle definition. Available in a wide shade range to complement a favorite lipstick or gloss."

Jen's Experience: After seeing the richly-colored lips of the Bobbi Brown fall face, I bought their Plum liner and Tulle lipstick. The colors were exactly the types of shades that I would normally choose for myself, so I had a feeling I might like them!

My Bobbi Brown artist applied the lipstick first and then used the lipliner to seal in the color around the edges. That makes sense, but I think I prefer my normal approach to lip color. I apply the lip liner first over my entire lip and then apply the lipstick over it. I do think it is good practice to use a lip brush to apply the lip stick. You get a much finer layer of lipstick that really makes it last longer. After the lipstick, the artist applied their Hot Pink Gloss. Since I already own a zillion glosses, I didn't buy the Bobbi Brown gloss, but instead use LipFusion or even my Malin + Goetz Lip Moisturizer to give my lips some shine and to give my lipstick some staying power.

I think the lip liner may have been one of my best purchases from the makeover. The color is fantastic and it really has tremendous staying power. It stays true until well after lunchtime and is great for a night on the town -- your lips are never naked. The liner is non-drying and goes on very smoothly. I very often wear the lip liner alone with clear gloss on top for a more natural look.

I also like the color they picked out for my lipstick. I don't find the lipstick to be extraordinary in any way. It's not particularly long-lasting, but it is nice and creamy. I think you can probably find a similar color and texture in a drugstore brand like Revlon, though.

I think this lip palette is a great look for fall, and is a great alternative to the smoky eyes and pale lips look. That't not something you can wear to work, but some color on your lips will brighten any fall day.

Retail Price: $20/Liner, $20/Lip Color (Bobbi Brown)

Ratings:
Lip Color

Lip Liner

Bobbi Brown Gel Eyeliner in Black Ink

What They Say: "This innovative eyeliner offers the precision of liquid liner and the ease of a gel-based formula. Long-wearing, water-resistant color can be used to create subtle to dramatic looks. For best results, apply with the Ultra Fine Eyeliner Brush (sold separately). Granite or Black Ink shades recommended for Bobbi's Winter White look."

Jen's Experience: I went to the Bobbi Brown Fall Makeover session at my local Parisian store a few weeks ago and received a full make-up application from one of Bobbi Brown's makeup artists from New York. I will be telling you a lot more about what I learned from that session in some of my upcoming posts, but since we're talking about eyeliner this week, I just had to pass on my experiences with this gel eyeliner.

I thought the eyeliner looked okay in the store, but I have to say, my friend and others at the counter really thought it made a major statement. Since it drew such rave reviews, I picked it up so that I could try it at home.

My eyeliner skills are pretty marginal since I don't wear it all the time, but I have to say, this product is remarkably easy to apply with a small eyeliner brush (and I'm using an older brush, even better results could probably be had with a Bobbi Brown brush or even a Target Sonia Kashuk brush). Not only am I able to make the line as thick or thin as I like, I am also able to use the brush to push a little into my lash line so that the black line seems to fade into my lashes. And, since it's not liquid, I don't make a huge mess when I start blinking.

What's really impressive to me is how long-lasting it is. My eyeliner was applied by their make-up artist in early afternoon, and yet this eyeliner stayed in place for a night on the town without smudging or smearing.

With the current trend of dramatic eyes and eyeliner, this is going to be your new best friend. Instead of sticking to the plain black, I may be going back for some of their other fun colors. The Bobbi Brown rep that I worked with told me I would end up with a collection of all the colors of these great eyeliners. I think she's right!

Retail Price: $18.00 (Bobbi Brown)

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