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Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Color Lipstick Review, Photos, Swatches (Part 1)

Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Color Lipstick
Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Color Lipstick: Guava (1), Old Hollywood (2), Sweet Nectar (6), Soft Coral (7), Bikini Pink (8)

Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Color: Part 1

Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Color SPF 12 ($22.00 for 0.12 oz.) are new lipstick formula for spring (and being added to the permanent range). The line consists of twelve shades, and this review features five of those. According to Bobbi Brown, these are “lightweight, yet intense” and have “a clear base to deliver pure, crisp color with just one swipe.” The formula is also “creamy and moisturizing.” These shades are officially described as: Guava (bright pink coral), Old Hollywood (bright cherry red), Sweet Nectar (coral pink), Soft Coral (pale peach), and Bikini Pink (soft white pink).

I’ve road tested three shades from the line-up specifically for wear: Bikini Pink, Soft Coral, Old Hollywood. The idea is to test for wear and to do so with shades with different intensities. Bikini Pink is the lightest, while Soft Coral lies in the middle, and Old Hollywood, being a red, was likely to last the longest. The lighter colors inevitably fade/last less than deeper shades, as deeper shades often stain, which is why I try to test from both ends of a spectrum when it comes to a new lipstick formula.

  • Guava is a deep pink-coral-red with a hint of orange. It’s bright without being neon. It is slightly less orange than Illamasqua’s Mistress. It is darker than Laura Mercier’s Tangerine. It is more intense and deeper than MAC Crosswires.
  • Old Hollywood is a bright, rich cherry red with a blue-base. It is similar to Guerlain Greta, MAC Russian Red (but it’s not as bright), and Rimmel Alarm (it is darker).
  • Sweet Nectar is a medium-dark pink coral. It is richer and a little brighter than MAC See Sheer, slightly more orange-based than Milani Bora Bora.
  • Soft Coral is a softened orange; more orange than coral. It is more orange than MAC Ravishing, but it is less coral than MAC Vegas Volt.
  • Bikini Pink is a soft, light-medium pink with subtle yellow undertones. It is a few shades lighter than Cle de Peau #106, not as pink as MAC Angel nor as light as MAC Hue, but it is similar to MAC Overtime.

my thoughts on the formula: These are really comfortable to wear,with their semi-matte finishes, creamy but lightweight texture, and rich color coverage.  Every shade was opaque and needed very little product to achieve full color coverage.  They are also scent- and taste-free, which should appeal to some.  Wear was anywhere from four to six hours, with deeper shades like Old Hollywood lasting a full six and beginning to fade after that.  Lighter shades hung on for about four hours.

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  • Product: 30/30
  • Value: 8/10
  • Ease of Use: 4/5
  • Packaging: 5/5

final thoughts: I actually really liked these; I love how pigmented they are, but they’re creamy without actually being creamy.  They have the feel, glide, and finish of creamier formulas, but there is very little slip and very little product is on the lips, giving a rather featherweight feel.  These colors do not have a full matte finish, but they still wear well–no clinging or seeping into lip lines.

where to buy: Bobbi Brown, Nordstrom

Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Color Lipstick
Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Color Lipstick: Guava (1), Old Hollywood (2), Sweet Nectar (6), Soft Coral (7), Bikini Pink (8)

Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Color Lipstick
Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Color Lipstick: Guava (1), Old Hollywood (2), Sweet Nectar (6), Soft Coral (7), Bikini Pink (8)

Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Color Lipstick
Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Color Lipstick: Guava (1), Old Hollywood (2), Sweet Nectar (6), Soft Coral (7), Bikini Pink (8)

Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Color Lipstick
Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Color Lipstick: Guava (1), Old Hollywood (2), Sweet Nectar (6), Soft Coral (7), Bikini Pink (8)

Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Color Lipstick
Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Color Lipstick: Guava (1), Old Hollywood (2), Sweet Nectar (6), Soft Coral (7), Bikini Pink (8)

Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Color Lipstick
Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Color Lipstick: Guava (1), Old Hollywood (2), Sweet Nectar (6), Soft Coral (7), Bikini Pink (8)

Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Color Lipstick
Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Color Lipstick: Guava (1), Old Hollywood (2), Sweet Nectar (6)

Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Color Lipstick
Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Color Lipstick: Soft Coral (7), Bikini Pink (8)

Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Color Lipstick
Bobbi Brown Guava Rich Lip Color Lipstick

Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Color Lipstick
Bobbi Brown Guava Rich Lip Color Lipstick

Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Color Lipstick
Bobbi Brown Old Hollywood Rich Lip Color Lipstick

Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Color Lipstick
Bobbi Brown Old Hollywood Rich Lip Color Lipstick

Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Color Lipstick
Bobbi Brown Sweet Nectar Rich Lip Color Lipstick

Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Color Lipstick
Bobbi Brown Sweet Nectar Rich Lip Color Lipstick

Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Color Lipstick
Bobbi Brown Soft Coral Rich Lip Color Lipstick

Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Color Lipstick
Bobbi Brown Soft Coral Rich Lip Color Lipstick

Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Color Lipstick
Bobbi Brown Bikini Pink Rich Lip Color Lipstick

Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Color Lipstick
Bobbi Brown Bikini Pink Rich Lip Color Lipstick

118 Comments

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livnzoe Avatar

i loooove them!! iwnat guava rich and bikini pink!!
so sad that they’re so expensive in switzerland.. i think one of these lipsticks cost at least 35 USD in switzerland!!! 🙁

Alexandra Avatar

love it! went to my local bobbi brown counter yesterday and the MUA test drove some of these on me to see which colors looked the best with my skintone,etc. these feel amazing and smooth on the lips!

Phoebe Avatar

Christine, do you know where to get there Bobby Brown lipstick in Canada? Store or Online store? I know you are not from Canada but you might know something. I love these shades. So beautiful. Any Canadians out there? Please please let me know where i can get them. I’m from Toronto and i would love to get my hands on these babies. 🙂

Catherine Avatar

You can go on the bobbi brown website and they can tell you wich store is the closest to where you live. IF they are pretty far away (like for me, in Qc they only have store in Qc or MTL, not in my area at all) i would try to call to a counter, sometimes they can ship you whatever you want (mac do it).
Such a shame that the website don’t deliver to canada when they ship to hawaii and Alaska!

Laila Avatar

I went to the Holt Renfrew in my area (that carries Bobbi Brown) and the woman at the counter said Canada isn’t getting this lipstick line. Have any of you found them in Toronto?

Thanks 😀

Ani_BEE Avatar

I usually avoid Holt Renfrew for the evil of the pricing there (and me wanting to buy something). But I think I’ll venture in next time for Sweet Nectar #6 and Soft Coral #7. These look like there worth it, just wish Sephora would not restrict the brand to Canada.

There’s 3 store locations in Toronto/Ontaruo:

Murale
20 Marie Labatte Road

Holt Renfrew
3401 Dufferin Street
50 Bloor Street West

Dini Avatar

Holt in Canada usually carries Bobbi Brown, but a Murale store opened in my city last year, and they carry Bobbi Brown as well! I think Toronto has at least one Murale store. Don Mills, maybe?

Rae Avatar

Definitely try Murale! Not all locations carry the Bobbi Brown line afaik, but if you’re in Toronto, yours probably will 😉 (Plus, they use the Shopper’s Optimum program, so it makes the price a touch more manageable.)

kfm Avatar

Holt Renfew carries Bobbi Brown, as does Murale if you’re in a city that has either of those. If not, Nordstrom’s does ship to Canada, although their charges for shipping and handling redefine the word “ridiculous”.

Cassie Avatar

The pink and coral shades shades are simply divine! Of course, I’m still not so impressed with the price tag. I must simply take your swatches and go hunting for some dupes!

Nathalie Avatar

I’m really looking forward to these. I really like Old Hollywood and Sweet Nectar. I’ll have to stop by Macy’s and check them out this weekend!

Tish Avatar

I already want three of these! They look lovely! Guava, Sweet Nectar and Soft Coral are going to my list! Thank you for the lovely swatches as usual.

Crystal Avatar

That coral looks like a way less crappier version of Lime Crime’s Cosmopop, a lipstick I was so looking forward to and then so greatly disappointed with.
DO WANT.

Lors Avatar

All of the colors look great on you, esp sweet nectar. Gonna definitely check these out! Also, can you let Shaun your tech guy know that I bought a razor based on his review I remembered reading months back (Gillette Fusion ProGlide). My husband used it this morning and thought it was the best ever. Thanks for the rec! 🙂

Ann Marie Avatar

Buy both, I just did (plus Mod Pink)! They are all beautiful, but Guava is definitely more intense in person, Sweet Nectar is softer. Both perfect for spring and summer.

Eva Avatar

Christine,

Do you think these are most similar to a Cremesheen, Amplified, or Amplified Creme finish? I know MAC and Bobbi Brown are both owned by Estee Lauder, so I’m curious!

All the swatches look amazing on you. The finish on these is superb. Did you apply from the tube, or with a lip brush? The color is so even!!!

Rae Avatar

These look fantastic! (And the finish, oh my god. I am definitely, definitely a semi-matte gal, but it’s so hard to find good, non-drying ones.) Thanks for the swatches and review, Christine 🙂

Laila Avatar

Hey Christine, I just want to say I’ve been following your blog daily for a few months now (I’ve used it for reference well before then) and I think you do an absolutely fantastic job. I love reading you, it really helps me de-stress and take time out from my otherwise stressful day, and your style is fantastic. The reviews themselves are amazing, as is the lighting/swatches and overall quality of what you do. Just so you know, we’re all really grateful for what you do here.

LOVE these new lipsticks, I have my eye on Bikini Pink but I’m concerned that it might be too light for me. I’ve got tanend/dark skin and I’ve been trying to find the perfect light pink that Rihanna’s been wearing a lot lately. My skin is a close match to Rihanna’s so I was wondering whether I could pull off Bikini Pink or if there’s something else you’d recommend instead?

kfm Avatar

I’ve been looking forward to these! I love the look of Sweet Nectar and especially Guava. Thanks for the comparisons, I was just wondering if I could ask about one more: Is Guava at all close to Mac’s Fusion Pink? I have and love FP, but I don’t think I need another dupe.

Iva Avatar

Bikini Pink looks amazing on you it completely transforms your face, it gves you a ramantic look espacially with the lilac eye. Love it, go for it!

Laci Avatar

Christine, do you think Soft Coral or Sweet Nectar would look good on those of us with cool undertones? I’m an NW20. I’m trying to find an orangey color that’s a little less expensive than the Guerlain Euphorique. 😉

Jennifer Avatar

I love Guava and Sweet Nectar!

Christine, how different are Guava and Sweet Nectar from each other? Do I need both, or get away with one or the other?

Jennifer Avatar

Christine and everyone,
I talked with Bobbi Brown, and they said “Sweet Nectar” along with two other colors won’t be available
till the beginning of March.

Arantzazu Avatar

Such a beautiful lipsticks!!!
I like very much Sweet Nectar, and thought it could do it well for a everyday-look; but, in your lips, it seems more orange than in the swatch… And I’m not very sure it would to work on me! I’ll have to check it “in situ” =)
Thanks for the review =)

CeeBee Avatar

Squee! I have so been looking forward to your review on these – I think they’re completely gorgeous and I want at least 4 of them…

It’s nice to see that Guava and Sweet Nectar do look different on the lips since the swatches look so similar.

Can’t wait for Part 2, thanks so much Christine! 🙂

nella Avatar

Ahhhh love love Bikini Pink. Will get it! Thank you for this, i’ve been looking for a pink that will fit me and I think this is it. I only wear nude lispticks, but cant wait to try this.

Thanx a bunch for all you do!

Elisabeth Avatar

Will Bikini Pink look good with my slightly cool skintone? I asked a MAC lady and she said I was a mix between warm and cool, but I have pink cheeks. I look good with both gold and silver though. Does this mean I can wear all shades no matter cool or warm toned?

daphne Avatar

Ohhh. Christine, are you in love with Guava and Sweet Nectar? They look so, so pretty. Though I’d like them better with some shimmer, so I’ll have to think of what lipgloss to layer with them. I imagine I’ll get one or both before long.

Amanda Avatar

Bobbi Brown’s Sweet Nectar is basically just a tad darker version of Mary Kay’s Sweet Nectar, which is a lipstick I bought from someone I know who sells it. I think that is so weird!!!

Jessi Avatar

Christine – I looked on Bobbi Brown and Nordstrom’s sites and could not find Sweet Nectar listed. Do you know if they have run out already?!? Thanks!

Ingy Chin Avatar

I bought 9 shades today. They are Bikini Pink, Bare Pink, Mod Pink, Soft Coral, Cosmic Pink, Old Hollywood, Guava, Sweet Nectar, and Lilac. I couldn’t stop my heart over them >.< The texture is awesome. It's creamy but not smooth at finish. I don't know how to explain it, but it is awesome.

Lisa G Avatar

I am in love with the shade Sweet Nectar, but no one seems to have it. I’ve checked bobbi brown website, Nordstrom website, Macy’s and Sephora, but none have that particular shade.

Andreea Avatar

I bought Guava and broiught it back. Worst liptsick ever?! Does not last, dries extremely out, and they are scented – is there maybe a different formula for Europe?

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