Bobbi Brown Mahogany (10) Eye Shadow

We're still in a Bobbi Brown mood, since this is the last day of the Friends & Family sale on bobbibrown.com (20% off and free shipping on all orders over $65, no code necessary). Mahogany eye shadow (#10) is a classic and versatile item. The dusty brown color looks boring, but this is exactly why it works so well as an eyeliner especially when I'm going for a thicker line and black or espresso would be way too much. It's also an ideal eyebrow filler- muted ashy shades work best for daytime. And I also use it here and there for a very defined crease- it's dark and not as blendable as some of my favorite eye shadows, but when you're going for a precise and bold look this is the kind of product that works best.

Bottom Line: A staple

Bobbi Brown single eye shadows ($20) are available at the counters and bobbibrown.com.

All photos are mine.

Bobbi Brown Eye Contour and Eye Sweep Brushes

Bobbi Brown is having a (pretty rare) Friends & Family sale online (20% off and free shipping when spending $65 or more, no code necessary). This is a good time to review a couple of Bobbi's makeup brushes, as these sales are the best time to invest in good tools that will serve you for years to come.

 I've had the Eye Contour brush for about ten years, give or take a few months. I was drawn to it because it was  unusually large and angled- it had the feel of a truly professional brush, even if I wasn't quite sure how to make the most of it. Bobbi Brown has since redesigned the eye contour brush- the handle is a little shorter and the head is now more  squat. It's still a good tool for deep set eyes, as it's soft, dense and covers the lid up to the crease with an even wash of color. It's too big even for my crease, though, and is mostly useless for any precise or detailed work.

Bottom Line: Interesting brush but not an essential.

Bobbi Brown's Eye Sweep brush is a very different story. The round and full head is super soft (much more so than the contour brush) and is the perfect size and wonderfully comfortable. Again, it's not a detail brush, but it does a perfect job creating the base of the eye look and/or highlighting the brow bone (again- especially when you have a large area to cover). It feels lovely on skin and always picks the right amount of product. The eye Sweep brush is one of my most used and I always pack it in my brush roll when I travel. It's excellent and always reliable, no matter what kind of look I'm creating.

Here is a photo of the Eye Sweep brush (the darker one on the right) next to another favorite, Sephora Professional Large Shader #21 (black handle). The Sephora is flatter, shorter and not as soft. It performs similar tasks and I use it mostly when I want a more sheer base than the one Bobbi gives me. It's not a duplicate brush and not as well made, but might be a better alternative if you need a smaller tool.

Bobbi Brown Eye Contour ($28) and Eye Sweep ($30) brushes are available from most department stores and bobbibrowncosmetics.com.

All photos are mine, with the help of Peter The Gray and Kosh.

Bobbi Brown Face Blender Brush

I used to reach for Bobbi Brown's Face Blender brush a lot more before I acquired several wonderful other face brushes that do my finishing, blending and color application. Bobbi's Face blender does most of the above quite successfully and is truly a good brush. Just not as good. The Bobbi Brown website doesn't mention what kind of hair was used, but I'll go out on a limb and assume it's goat.

The brush is of medium size and density compared to other face brushes, and is soft enough to feel nice against the skin. It has some give and bounce, so it's just as good for blending and softening any lines that were left from bronzer or blush as it is for a light dusting of finishing powder and buffing it nicely. It's not the right brush if you're looking for a precise or high coverage powder application; that's where a flat-top brush can serve you better. I also prefer wider brushes for bronzing and a round head for blush. But if I were traveling and packing lightly, a multitasking brush like Bobbi's Blender would have been a good option.

Bobbi Brown Face Blender Brush ($45) is available from most department stores and bobbibrowncosmetics.com.

Photos are mine (and Sophie's). Here's a bonus photo of her tabbiness, just because:

Bobbi Brown Ivy Shimmer Ink Gel Eyeliner

It looks like I finally found my favorite non-pencil green eyeliner in Bobbi Brown's Ivy Shimmer Ink Gel Eyeliner. Of course, one could ask why I even want (need?) a green eyeliner. This kind of color is usually associated with some horribly dated makeup looks (and, yes, I watched the episode of My Strange Addictions on TLC with the green eyeliner lady). However, done right, a dark green liner adds just the right amount of interest to an otherwise conservative and low-profile makeup. A thin emerald green line coupled with a sand, taupe or medium brown wash brings out brown eyes and make them look brighter.

I was worried about the shimmer in Bobbi Brown's Ivy Shimmer Ink Gel Eyeliner- as you can see it's very visible in the jar, but once on the particles are not that visible- it's just an overall shine, maybe an almost metallic finish. Since I only draw a thin line close to the lashes you can't really tell it's "shimmer". It just adds some brightness (very helpful on red bunny-eye days during allergy season).

As with every Bobbi Brown gel eyeliner I've ever owned, Ivy is smooth, easy to apply, sets instantly and doesn't budge. It cooperates with any eyeliner brush I pit against it.

Bottom Line: the lady in the photo above might not be impressed, but it's a great addition to my makeup arsenal.

Bobbi Brown Ivy Shimmer Ink Gel Eyeliner ($21) is available from most decent department stores and bobbibrowncosmetics.com.

Eyeliner photos by me, the makeup horror one from somewhere online, image obviously belongs to TLC channel.

Bobbi Brown Plum Rose Rich Lip Color SPF 12 Lipstick

Bobbi Brown has joined the rest of the major cosmetics companies in offering us a new and improved lipstick formula. The Rich Lip Color SPF 12 Lipstick is a creamy and soft full coverage product that wears beautifully and comfortably, doesn't dry out the lips and performs as well as it looks.

Plum Rose (no. 10) is a lot more rose than plum. It's a great everyday color for me that perks up the face instantly and works well with both a typical Bobbi Brown toned-down neutral eye and with a sultry evening look if one wishes. I compared Plum Rose at the counter with No. 11, Rose Blossom. They were very (VERY) similar when swatched on my hand and I could have gone with either one of these Bobbi Brown lipsticks, but Rose Blossom ended up looking a tad warmer on the lips and I found the cooler toned Plum Rose a little more flattering on me.

Bobbi Brown's Rich Lip Color SPF 12 Lipstick is a good performer, a lot more impressive than other formulas from this line- it stays put, doesn't migrate and holds it own against a water bottle without transferring. The satin finish wears off after about 4 hours, but most of the pigment remains on the lips without drying them.

Bottom Line: A winner.

Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Color SPF 12 Lipstick ($22) is available from most department stores and bobbibrowncosmetics.com.

All photos are mine (and Sophie's).

Bobbi Brown Cleansing Oil

It took me a while to amass enough samples of Bobbi Brown's Cleansing Oil for a two-week testing. Once I got there, though, I find myself enjoying the oil a lot more than I expected.

First there's the scent- a green pine, almost incense like. It instantly puts one in a relaxing mood. The texture of Bobbi Brown's oil is thinner than the more famous Shu Uemura, and is easier to use as a face massage oil (contributing to the whole relaxing thing). The oil removes makeup very efficiently, including mascara, liquid liner and whatever else I pile on my face. It's also a great- and I mean it- GREAT- for unclogging pores and removing any gunk that's settled on one's face. You can see and feel the stuff working right there in front of your mirror, and thoroughly enjoy rinsing it off.

Unlike the Shu oil, this Bobbi Brown product isn't over-drying (even now, during the worst part of winter), and while I tone and moisturize right away, my skin doesn't feel tight and stretched.

Bottom Line: Excellent

Bobbi Brown Cleansing Oil ($39, 6.7oz) is available from most department stores and bobbibrowncosmetics.com. All the samples I used came with various purchases online and in store.

Bobbi Brown Tawny Blush

With all the palettes, limited edition colors and effort to attract the glitter-wearing customers who usually skip the Bobbi Brown counter it's easy to forget what Bobbi does best: wearable, natural looking shades of no gimmick makeup. Like her regular blush- a matte and silky pressed blush that comes in 15 pretty colors.

I chose Tawny, a very warm brown-based pink, to fill a gap in my blush wardrobe. It's among the most pigmented cheek colors I own and requires a light hand - my skin is olive but quite pale and doesn't look good with too intense blushing. I use a duo-fiber brush  to make sure the result is sheer and light enough- regular blush brushes pick up too much color in this case.

Bobbi Brown's blushes are very soft and silky, making blending as easy as can be. I love the matte finish- it's perfect for casual and daytime looks and allows me to add shimmer and highlighters separately, when and where I want them. I swatched Tawny pretty heavily here, but a sheer application seems to have the potential to look flattering on various skin tones (note to self: get my very pale sister to try this).

Bobbi Brown blush ($22) is available from most department stores, Sephora (only select colors, Tawny included) and bobbibrowncosmetics.com.

All photos are mine.