The Best of Bobbi Brown
Whether you’re new to the brand, or you used them long ago, this post is designed to be an at-a-glance summary of the best Bobbi Brown formulas and shades. Bobbi Brown is a brand that does emphasize and focus on more “natural” beauty, so you’ll find plenty of basic shades of beiges, browns, and the like within the range. You won’t find an extensive range of bright and neon hues, but you will find some. A lot of the brighter colors get launched seasonally in limited edition collections, so if you like a formula, you might see a vibrant neon pink during the spring or summer.
Eyes
When it comes to gel eyeliners, Bobbi’s Gel Eyeliner ($24.00) is a cult favorite, and for good reason–it comes in a variety of shades, applies easily and fluidly, and lasts all day long. You have the classic black, Black Ink, along with fun colors like Ivy Shimmer Ink (deep emerald green) and Violet Ink (violet purple).
Her Metallic Eyeshadows ($21.00) are really plush; soft, smooth, and lots of color payoff with a frosted, metallic fiinsh. Shades like Forest, Burnt Sugar, and Cognac are lovely on warmer skin tones, while Mint, Midnight, and Velvet Plum are flattering on cooler complexions. For neutral eyeshadows with matte finishes, her regular Eyeshadow ($21.00) line is worth considering–pay attention to Bone, Caviar, Espresso, Hot Stone, Wheat, and Taupe.
From time to time, Bobbi Brown also releases eyeshadow and face palettes–some are amazing, others are so-so–but they’re usually worth at least a glance or two if you’re near a counter. My favorite Bobbi Brown mascara is Everything Mascara ($24.00), which results in really great everyday, natural-looking lashes.
Cheeks
If you love high shimmer, nearly metallic-finishes in your blushes and highlighters, you’ll find Shimmer Bricks ($39.00) right up your alley. Shades like Nectar can be used as blushers on light to dark skin tones as well as providing highlight. Each compact has five strips of color, which can be used individually or altogether.
If you’re into cream blushes, you might like Pot Rouge for Lips & Cheeks ($24.00), which is a multi-tasking color product that gives both cheeks and lips a soft tint of color. It comes in an assortment of shades (ten at the writing of this post). Calypso Coral is great for a pop of coral during the summer, while Chocolate Cherry is excellent for a bolder, darker cheek color. Raspberry flatters lots of skin tones, even deeper ones, as it has just the right level of intensity.
Lips
Rich Lip Color SPF 12 ($23.00) is pigmented, lightweight, and moisturizing, and it’s probably my favorite lipstick formula by the brand, though the regular Lip Color ($23.00) is rather good and her Treatment Lip Shine SPF 15 ($23.00) is great for a glossier (but still a lipstick) option.
High Shimmer Lipgloss ($23.00) may be my most favorite Bobbi Brown product, period, though don’t hold me to it, because it’s so hard to choose! They’re rich in sparkle and shimmer and look utterly dazzling on the lips (especially in the sunlight). Some shades are sheer with lots of sparkle, others are more pigmented with plenty of shimmer. My favorite shades are Canary, Electric Violet, Midnight Violet, Naked Plum, Pink Sequin, and Plum Gold.
Base
If you suffer from really dry skin and find most foundations emphasize dryness, EXTRA Tinted Moisturizing Balm is fantastic–it gives coverage and lots and lots of ongoing, all-day moisture. I wouldn’t recommend it for oilier skin types, because it would be too heavy. I haven’t tried her range of foundations very much–not enough to make recommendations–but check reader comments for possible options.
Skincare
I have normal-to-dry skin, so I do review and speak from that perspective for the most part, but of course, sometimes a product that isn’t hydrating enough for me but otherwise has a good texture may be a good fit for someone with oilier skin. I have tried and quite liked Hydrating Face Cream (thick but never heavy, nicely hydrating), Hydrating Gel Cream (quick-absorbing, lightweight, moisturizing), EXTRA Repair Moisturizing Balm SPF 25 (creamy, hydrating, slightly heavy), and Hydrating Rich Cream Cleanser (creamy, removes makeup and dirt well, never drying).
Tools
Every Bobbi Brown brush I’ve used, I’ve been happy with, but I haven’t used the full range. I love the soft, dense feel of her Blush Brush ($50.00) and full, dense feel of her Bronzer Brush ($50.00), which really seems like a buffer brush with a longer handle.
What are your recommendations for someone looking to try Bobbi Brown products?
MAC Capricious Lipstick
The Sultry Season: MAC Capricious Lipstick
MAC Capricious Lipstick ($14.50 for 0.10 oz.) is a rosy plum with subtle gold shimmer. MAC describes it as a “fanciful rose plum,” and it has a lustre finish. Lustre finishes are “demi-sheer with wet-look lustre finish … Very slick … Makes lips look soft, smooth, ultra-moist.”
If you can’t tell by the photo, Capricious has been a long-time favorite, and I’ve always found it an infinitely flattering shade. It’s got that pop of natural color that enhances lips but never overwhelms a look. It has a cool-tone edge to it but the play of gold shimmer works well to make it very wearable for both cool and warm undertones.
my thoughts on the formula: MAC Lipsticks are vanilla-scented but taste-free. I typically get four hours of wear, but some of the lighter lustre and glaze finishes tend to disappear by hour three. Amplified cremes and amplified finishes, however, tend to go beyond four. I find the formula comfortable to wear and not drying (but not moisturizing–a couple of the matte and lustre shades can be drying).
If you want to know more about how products are evaluated, read out Rating System FAQ! 
- Product: 28/30
- Value: 8/10
- Ease of Use: 4/5
- Packaging: 4/5
final thoughts: Capricious is such a great way to wear plum without being too dark or bold. It is as pretty in springtime as it is in fall. It was one of my first MAC lipsticks and still a favorite.
where to buy: Nordstrom
