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Bobbi Brown Tinted Eye Brightener Review, Photos, Swatches

Bobbi Brown Tinted Eye Brightener
Before / After

Concealer Reviews: Bobbi Brown Tinted Eye Brightener

Bobbi Brown Tinted Eye Brightener ($38.00 for 1.5ml) is a lightweight concealer/eye brightener.  This is a long-standing product, but it was recently repackaged into a pen delivery system.  The original version was available in a pot form, which some found a bit messy.  It always did a nice job of covering up undereye circles and instantly brightening the eyes on those hurried mornings, but I feel like the product in the new packaging just doesn’t do it for me–on all points!

Even though the pen makes it much more portable and easier to use on-the-go, because you don’t have to use a separate brush, and you also don’t have to worry so much about it drying out… It can also allow for more bacteria growth, since the product is coming into more direct contact with your skin and if you don’t clean or wipe off the brush, it can cause build-up.   For that reason alone, I’ve just never been a huge fan of brush-type anything (gloss, concealer, whatever!).  Because the product gets twisted up and delivered by being pushed up onto the brush, the product itself feels like it’s much thinner/runnier than the original pot version.  I find this almost makes it easy to over-apply, because you don’t have the same level of control over how much squeezes out of the pen.

My last complaint is the size — they really reduced the amount of product you get and upped the price.   It takes me awhile to get through a concealer (read: never), but I imagine for more dedicated concealer users, it can get pricey real quick.  (It used to be $32 for 7ml as compared to $38 for 1.5ml!)  I can get down with new packaging costs, upward costs, but this was a severe reduction in quantity (it’s not just 10%, it’s 7ml to 1.5ml — 5.5ml less!) along with a significant increase in price (it’s not just $1, it’s $6). If it was the same as it was before, in terms of quality, it might still be worth it, but it’s not!   Bobbi Brown is not YSL (the most direct comparison I could find), which is $40 for 2.5 ml, so I wouldn’t expect Bobbi Brown to be priced higher than YSL (by the ml).

It performs nicely–it brightens and lightens my under eye enough to give me a fresher, more awake appearance.  It doesn’t settle into fine lines or crease throughout the day, which are definitely two important necessities when it comes to an under eye concealer!   It’s a little on the thin side, though, so while it certainly feels lightweight, those with darker under eye circles may find this doesn’t give them enough coverage.

I would skip this, to be honest.  It’s not quite as good as the pot version, plus with the price increase and severe quantity decrease, it’s not good enough to fork over $38 for it.  Though I haven’t tried it myself, I’ve heard good things about Bobbi Brown’s Creamy Concealer, so I’d probably recommend that if you were looking for a concealer from Bobbi Brown!  Surprisingly, the Bobbi Brown website has a review system in place, and based on 52 reviews, the new Tinted Eye Brightener only has 3 stars–the Creamy Concealer has 282 reviews and 5 stars!

If you want to know more about how products are evaluated, read out Rating System FAQ! 🙂

  • Product: 25/30
  • Value: 4/10
  • Ease of Use: 4/5
  • Packaging: 3/5

Recommendation:  Keep the new packaging in mind–it may or may not be your cup of tea; and the price may keep you on the hunt for a different concealer–maybe Bobbi’s Creamy Concealer instead…

Availability: Bobbi Brown

Bobbi Brown Tinted Eye Brightener

Bobbi Brown Tinted Eye Brightener
Bisque / Light to Medium Peach

Bobbi Brown Tinted Eye Brightener

Bobbi Brown Tinted Eye Brightener

Bobbi Brown Tinted Eye Brightener

Bobbi Brown Tinted Eye Brightener

44 Comments

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Leila Avatar

Your eyebrows are fierce! Could you maybe do an eyebrow tutorial, please? I love your brows, but I never know how to fill them in or with what product to fill them in with. Thanks!

Catherine Avatar

Wow, that’s crazy – thanks for highlighting the cost increase and size reduction for us – I wouldn’t have known! It seems weird that they would have repackaged it this way since it can’t possibly be the same formula. I don’t like pen/brush applicators for anything either, too messy. I’ve always preferred cream concealers (even though I’m using MAC’s Select MoistureCover) right now. Will have to give BB’s Creamy Concealer a look after I finish it.

Kaylynrenee Avatar

Wow, that is a tiny little pen. What a shame. I’m glad you posted this. I’ve been thinking about getting an eye brightener. Have you done past reviews of others? Any recommendations? YSL? Smashbox? My biggest concern is settling into my fine lines and creasing…

Kaylynrenee Avatar

Okay, I did a search and found your YSL review. I also learned that we share similar concealing rituals; not using them regularly and concern for the fine lines.

Carolyn Avatar

Just a note to those of you who were thinking of getting this — on my dark circles, this product nicely brightens and I can’t go without this in my makeup routine. Maybe I just used more product than Christine? I will wholeheartedly agree w/ Christine though that this is super pricey. I also had the product before they repackaged and I was shocked at the price increase/product decrease. So, for me, if this product wasn’t so pricey, it would be my holy grail. But, given the price, I may be looking elsewhere after finishing this up…

Laura Avatar

I have use this product for years as no matter how much sleep I get I always seem to have a blueish shadow under my eyes. The pot version is AMAZING, brightens so well, covers everything without looking cakey and I have repurchased over and over again.

However the pen version isnt nearly as good (formula seems different) and I think the price increase is just insulting! Will not be purchasing this and would love to know if anything knows of something comparable on the market for when my pot runs out!

Angi Avatar

I see no difference whatsoever between the before and after. Granted, I don’t really see anything that needs covering in the before picture either so that may be why it’s tough to see a difference.

Ferarri Avatar

Bobbi Brown is almost twice the price of YSL by ml? YSL is $16 a ml, where BB is $25 a ml?

I would prefer to buy the La Mer under eye cream for that price!

BB is getting too ridiculously expensive!

Violet Avatar

Like others have said, I can’t see any difference between the before and after either.

I really want to tell you, though — as unpleasant as it is to write negative reviews, please keep doing this! I really appreciate hearing what to avoid, probably even moreso than what’s great. It also helps me to keep it all into perspective. I just want to let you know that it’s definitely appreciated!

Jennifer Avatar

I see a slight difference, but there are better eye brighteners out there. Thanks for posting this, now I know this isn’t a must have.

Vex Avatar

Your eye is gorgeous in both pictures, but I actually think it looks prettier without the brightener. The under-eye area just seems sort of randomly shimmery – it doesn’t seem to be necessarily flattering on anyone. Maybe it makes a bigger difference in natural light/real life, though? Or maybe it’s just that you don’t seem to need the cover-up that much! I’m way jealous of your lack of huge black circles; I’m a regular panda myself.

What more is, I can’t believe it only contains 1.5 ml. That’s nuts!

Christine Avatar

I noticed the difference, but I just don’t have super dark under eye circles, so it’s always kind of like, “Well, IS there a difference?” Although, admittedly, I tested this a few weeks ago (whenever something doesn’t excite me, I sit on it, because I’m not excited/uninterested, LOL), and I swear I have darker circles now!

Hilana Avatar

Even with a close-up so close up, your skin looks amazing! 🙂
Wow. Heavy price tag. I think only for the true BB followers, this one.

Akia Avatar

I have the pot version and I absolutely love. I tend to use it after I finish up my foundation and eyeshadow… TOTALLY brightens up my undereye area! As far as it being a true concealer, I don’t think so. It’s simply an ‘eye brightener’ for me, or great to use all around the eye on days when I’m not wearing eyeshadow. This pen is ridiculous though… go to a CCO and get the pot!

Theresa Avatar

I’m a die hard YSL brightener user – I love concealer and the YSL product delivers results. The BB is just meh to me, doesnt do much and is priced too high for little results.

Ashley Avatar

Doesn’t seem to offer much coverage. Although for a brightening concealer, that’s not uncommon.

Do you (or anyone else here!) have any recommendations for other brightening eye concealers that are NOT in a clicker pen? I absolutely hate that type of packaging, as I find it can be quite wasteful and irritating to use. My under eye circles aren’t that dark, and are purple-ish blue.

Kattia Avatar

This really works for me. I am over 40 and have tried so many concealers, mainly expensive ones. The touch eclat is great but coverage for dark circles is not brilliant.
The Bobbi Brown eye brightener is soft and blends well. It does not crease up in fine lines. It is delicate, good pigmentation because the dark circles are blended away. It does not give you a panda eye look but looks very natural.
After thoroughly cleansing skin, I dab this one and gently blend it in. It did not matter if I did this before or after my light foundation.
The most important thing, is that my eyes were not puffy after applying, as so many products have done this and had to stop.
This is a superb eye brightener and concealer for under eye and lids.

I noticed the girl who has shown this, is very young and probably has little affect. But as for me, it is fantastic!

aradhana Avatar

I hadn’t tried this when you first posted Christine, but I recently tried and bought it, and I’d have to say it’s a bit of an HG item for me.

I’m NW40, and my shade was Dark Peach. I recognise that there isn’t much product in there for the price, however I need to use possibly half the amount shown in your photo, maybe even less.

This product can be used with concealer applied over top, but usually I don’t. The peach tone cancels out the blue shadows, but some people need the concealer to bring the colour back in line with the rest of the face.

I originally tried the pot version of this product. Although there is more product for your money, with that one the concealer on top was a requirement for me….I found it gave a very ‘flawless’ look, yet for me a bit too cakey. But that might depend a lot on skin type as well as the finish one prefers. I prefer more dewy natural finishes, so I don’t usually feel comfortable with heavy coverage foundations and concealers.

I guess the format makes it less useful for makeup artists and more for consumers, since it’s really easy to carry around for quick touch-ups throughout the day without the need for separate brushes.

Nikita Avatar

I’m not really I BB fans but just to give some opinion on this issue. totally agree with all of you that BB shouldn’t increase the price with decrease the product. agree YSL is really amazing. you cannot see any difference of the 2 pics is because no.1 this photo was not capture by using a professional camera and thus wouldn’t show you how real the skin before and after. no.2 good concealer is not suppose to cover all of the skin color but just work at more brighten, instead of using brighten I rather will say “illuminating” if the product is thick enough to cover you under eye color such as purple, green.. that is too much and cakey, and you will lost the skin texture and looks like a magazine cover model(those photos were been touch up by us Graphic Designer). to cover more is a method, always apply more layer than 1 time a thick layer. trust me if you cannot see the different the 2 pics but a Pro camera will do coz our eyes are not as sharp as the camera. besides, make up, concealers really will help when making a photography, and it depends on the lighting the skill and the quality of the product. to cover our flawless sometimes not just “cover” but can be using distraction method. for example, to enhance your lips instead of working too much on the eye.. I’m sorry if anything I told if you are disagree, I’m just commenting base on my experienced. BB should not charge that price for a better packaging.

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