Buffy: The Dry Skin Slayer

Day 4: Bobbi Brown Buffing Grains For Face
By Cavewoman

When I was a teenager, my Mom used to buy a little canister of facial scrubbing grains for my sister and me. We mixed them with water and rubbed them on our faces, making a facial scrub to try to rid ourselves of teenage oily skin and the occasional pimple breakouts. They were a product from Helena Rubenstein. What a fascinating woman, that Helena! If you are at all interested in the history of beauty products, you have to read about Madame Helena. Look for her biography by Patrick O'Higgins for a real peek at one of the first ladies of skincare. She was innovative, smart, and her products changed the way women took care of their skin and revolutionized the cosmetic skincare industry. She was a true pioneer, and a very quirky lady, to say the least.

Skincare scrubs and exfoliators have taken a fast turn from that old cannister of grains. Chemical exfoliators such as AHA's, glycolic acids, and pore-clearing BHA's along with mechanical scrubs like the venerable St. Ives Apricot Scrub have become popular now, and can be very effective once you find the right ones for your skin situation. I've used them all, to varying degrees of success. But when I saw these Bobbi Brown Buffing Grains, I was feeling a little nostalgic for my old Helena Rubenstein scrubbing powder, and so I forked out the outrageous $40 for a jar. Yes, $40. For ground up adzuki bean powder. I bet I could make my own for about a dollar. And yet I caved.

The dry grainy product comes in an elegant glass jar, and under the cap, the grains can be poured out a little at a time thanks to the nicely designed small opening in the jar. It's designed to be mixed with just about anything, facial cleanser, toner, or just plain water. I prefer the latter. With many scrubs having a cream-type base and leaving my skin feeling as if there's a coating of cream on it, I like the fresh feeling of nothing but the damp grains and I think they work better than a cream-based scrub. Pour a little bit of grains into the palm of the hand, and add a drop or two of water. As you rub in the dampened product, you can feel it gently removing rough patches and giving a thorough exfoliating cleansing. It's almost impossible to over-scrub. The grains are gentle, not sharp or scratchy, and they roll around the skin easily. And unlike a cream-based scrub, it's so easy to remove the grains when you're done. Just rinse with water, or use a damp warm washcloth. Nothing remains on the skin, no residue at all. I follow this scrub immediately with a good treatment product, usually Lauder's Perfectionist CP+ (former version, not the new serum.) My skin looks fresh, rosy, glowing, and smooth as glass, with no irritation at all. The effect of the scrubbing lasts for several days, too.

What these Buffing Grains won't do is deep-clean pores. This is strictly a surface-smoothing exfoliant. But with this terribly cold Winter, and being indoors most of the time in artificial heat, my dry, parched skin gets flaky and dull-looking. I use the grains once a week to refresh and renew my dry skin. Very little product is needed, and I think my expensive purchase will last quite a long time.

Maybe Bobbi Brown is following in Madame Helena's footsteps! I like to think it's possible that she used the Rubenstein scrubbing powder when she was a young girl, too. It might have been a little seed planted in her mind. A little adzuki bean seed.

Disclosure: This product was purchased by the reviewer
Photo Credit: Cavewoman for Blogdorf Goodman
Credit: Melanie Parker/Veronica Lake in I Married a Witch.

Fight For Your Right To Party

Bobbi Brown's Extreme Party Mascara

This is a new mascara offering from Bobbi Brown. I am a tough critic when it comes to mascara. My lashes are pretty limp, short and resistant to all curl. They are the bane of my existence. The only mascaras that have successfully worked for me are Dior's Iconic, Prescriptives False Eyelashes, Exceptionnel de Chanel Intense Volume and Curl Mascara, Max Factor's Volume Couture, Lancome Definicils and Shu Uemura's Fiber Xtension.

Extreme Party is a good mascara. It provides great separation, extreme and exceptional layerablility and improved fringe action. Extreme Party dries quickly and leaves no mess. My lashes looked neat with no clumps, smudges or flakes. They also looked and felt soft to the touch. There was no crunch factor. This is a characteristic that sets it apart from my beloved Chanel and Shu mascara. The lengthening action was above average in comparison to every Bobbi Brown mascara. It also would stand up well to the competition listed above. Each lash was lengthened and thickened by the mascara. The curl properties is what comes into question. It did not add a spring to my lash. It did not weigh it down either. The lashes were poker straight. Like a lash visor. A very long lash visor.

My lashes did not inspire any gawking from my co-workers. My lashes were not having a party. However, they were not studying at the library either. Extreme Party is currently only available in black and is easily removed with eye makeup remover or soap and water. In fact, this is the only mascara, that did not leave any smudges or specks the morning after.

Extreme Party Mascara is priced at $22 and is available at your local Bobbi Brown counter. Visit http://www.bobbibrown.com/ for more details.

Disclaimer: A press sample of this product was provided by Bobbi Brown cosmetics

Hearting Chrome

Bobbi Brown's Chrome Collection

Holiday 2009

The Chrome Palette Review

Chrome is cool and icy-it's a very modern but still pretty way to illuminate the skin.

quote from Bobbi Brown

Bobbi Brown palettes are like trading cards in the beauty junkie set. They are often drooled over, dissed, debated and doted on. The palettes sell out and become a thing of legend.

I do not doubt that this limited edition palette will join the ranks of palettes past.

This is a beautiful and useful palette. It is heavy on the shimmers with colors that lean toward a more cool toned complexion. The stand out shades are Polar Ice, Thunder, Cyber Grey and Chrome. Cyber Grey alone...is worth spending $75.

The palette is bento-like with a mirrored top. The shadows are in a hidden pocket. This keeps the shadow crumbles from contaminating the lip gloss pockets. The palette includes a mini eye shadow and lip brush.


I enjoyed the shadows both dry and wet. I used a mixing medium for the wet swatches.

The Shadows

1. White Eye Shadow: A very chalky white. Standard.
2. Polar Ice Shimmer Wash Eye Shadow: A violet casted silver. High smitten status! Stunning with dry or wet application.
3. Storm Cloud Sparkle Eye Shadow: Shimmery coco puff.

4. Iron Eye Shadow: A taupe based charcoal soot.
5. Thunder Metallic Eye Shadow: With a wet application, a green cast is evident.
6. Moonlight Sparkle Eye Shadow: A penny copper with a rose cast.
7. Cyber Grey Shimmer Wash Eye Shadow: Serious gorgeous factor. A silver based taupe.
8. Foil Metallic Eye shadow: High shimmer(fallout occurs) with a dry application. Did not swatch wet.

9. Chrome Metallic Eye Shadow: An Erika F dupe with more green cast. Both applications very similar.
10. Charcoal Haze Eye Shadow: A sooty brown black. Wet application is a true charcoal color.

The lip section of this palette boasts 4 glosses.



The Lippies

1. Pink Mist Shimmer Lip Gloss: Mist is the perfection description. A cloud of baby pink. It does not show up on my pigmented lips. It disappears on my skin.
2. Winter Bronze Glitter Lip Gloss: This is a caramel shade with low wattage shimmer. Great for warm tones.
3. Berry Glitter Lip Gloss: This is "your lips but better" shade. More low wattage glimmer.
4. Chrome Pink Shimmer Lip Gloss: Metallic misty Pink. High shine. Wattage is significant.

The Limited Edition palette retails for $75 and is available at your Bobbi Brown counter in November.
Visit http://www.bobbibrown.com/

Disclaimer: A press sample of this product was provided by Bobbi Brown Cosmetics.

The Tale of The Black Forest

Bobbi Brown's Forest Shimmer Ink Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner

This is a deep forest, slightly sooty green with gold pearl action. It is in the same family as MAC's Greensmoke eyeshadow. The depth of the color is astounding. It is gothic dark and mysterious. Bobbi Brown's gel eyeliners are whipped smooth but are tough as nails. It will not budge on the lid.
It retails for $21 and is available at your local Bobbi Brown counter.

Visit http://www.bobbibrown.com/ for more information.

Swatch Picture: From top to bottom-MAC's Greensmoke(wet), MAC's Greensmoke(dry) and Bobbi Brown's Forest Shimmer Ink Gel Eyeliner

Disclaimer: A press sample of this product was provided by Bobbi Brown

Never Invest In Any Idea You Can't Illustrate With A Crayon

Bobbi Brown Lip Crayon from Fall 2009

This chubby pencil combines the lux feeling of a high end lipstick with the ease of a pencil. The creamy texture is slightly startling. It feels too moisturizing and cashmere-like to be a pencil. Each husky pencil comes with a handy sharpener and retails for $22. The shades are honeysuckle, coral pink, raisin berry, posey, dusty nude and wild rose. The only drawback is the taste. My BB chubs never had a taste or scent before. I can not pinpoint what I am tasting. Is it mint? Let me know in the comments.

Pictured above is Dusty Nude
Quote from Peter Lynch
Visit http://www.bobbibrown.com/ for more information

Disclaimer: A press sample of this product was provided by Bobbi Brown

No more pencils. No more books. No more teacher's dirty looks.

"Pencils are black in a big way for fall. They're quick, mistake-proof and can go from subtle to bold in one easy stroke"
Quote from Bobbi Brown

This is a creamy pencil that applies like a dream. It glides on smooth and features a built-in smudger on the opposite end to soften the liner for easy smoky eyes. Each pencil comes with a complimentary sharpener. It is available in 9 shades.
Jet
Walnut
Caviar
Midnight
Hunter
Brown Plum
Dusk
Charcoal
Mahogany

I am currently testing Jet. This is a sooty black that manages to stay put on my upper lid. Application is truly a dream. It does not drag, crumble or gook up. Jet does not survive a full day on my waterline...but no one ever does. Curse my damp lid ridge!
The black is pretty dark but nothing like MAC's Feline.

They are currently at your local Bobbi Brown counter and retail for $20.
visit http://www.bobbibrown.com/

Title from Alice Cooper
Disclaimer: A press sample of this product was provided by Bobbi Brown

Ivy League Admissions

Bobbi Brown's Ivy League Collection for Fall 2009
Review for Bash Metallic Eye Shadow

This limited edition eye shadow is from the Fall 2009 collection from Bobbi Brown. The collection is called Ivy League and features an assortment of fabulous creamy eye pencils, lip crayons, a new gel eyeliner and two new eye shadows.

Bash is a metallic sooty myrtle green shade. The color straddles the line of a leafy spinach and a British racing green. Bash is glorious.

The texture and pigment of Bobbi Brown metallic shadows is first rate. They have great depth and fire and feel like cashmere. Bash retails for $20 and is available at your local Bobbi Brown counter. Visit http://www.bobbibrown.com/ for more information.


Pictured: Bash with a wet and dry application.






Credit: Blogdorf Goodman and Bobbi Brown

Disclaimer: A press sample of this product was provided by Bobbi Brown

Are Friends Electric?
Review for Sheer Gloss from Bobbi Brown

These are glosses that leave a tinge of color with a whiff of candy cotton.
Sailor in the tube looks like a rapberry jelly. In reality it leaves a "just bitten" smidge of pink. This is a very wet looking gloss but without a annoying tacky feeling. I think it feels very balm-like.
Marina Pink looks vampy in the tube but on the lips it is a crushed berry. This is cool toned and way flattering. Marina Pink truly surprised and delighted me.

These are limited edition and retail for $20.
Visit http://www.bobbibrowncosmetics.com/ for more deets.
FYI: Sailor is still available online.

The post was inspired by the Gary Newman cover by The Dead Weather.
It is so damn good.
http://www.thedeadweather.com/media.html

Disclaimer: A press sample of this product was provided by Bobbi Brown

Bobbi Brown 25% off sale!

Today begins the 25% off online sale at Bobbi Brown.

Enter SUMMER1 at checkout to enjoy the discount. If you spend over $60(which is fairly easy to do!) you will get standard free shipping.

This all ends June 11 2009.

Bobbi Brown Lip and Eye Palette

I love the bento-like palette containers. The seperated compartments for shadows and lippies is sensible and good design. The 4 lippies range from a muted dusty mauve to a boozy burgundy. There is no shimmer or shine. The pigment is whispery yet evident.
The bottom compartment houses neutral shimmers. There is a gray taupe that will catch the eye of taupe lovers. It is limited edition and retails for $60.

Disclaimer: A press sample of this product was provided by Bobbi Brown.

Bobbi Brown Friends and Family

Bobbi Brown's Friends and Family ends today, December 3rd 2008 at the stroke of midnight!
Shop online at bobbibrown.com and get 20% off your order and FREE standard shipping.
Enter code BFF08A at checkout.
Happy shopping!
Let us know what you cave on!

Bobbi Brown's Fall Lip Glosses

Mauve Lip Gloss is a muddy mauve shade that is strangely appealing and works. On the lips it is a puddy nude with just a hint of mauve. My lips are pigmented and naturally a raspberry color. The Iced Mauve Shimmer Lip Gloss is like a lippie version of Shu Uemura's ME Brown 850 with the added bonus of shimmer. This is the most wearable of the three fall lippies.

My personal favorite is Black Orchid. It is unique and captures the fall taupe trend. Taupe is going to be the new Black Satin and Navy.

This fall collection is pretty fabulous and one of Bobbi Brown's personal best. It is wearable and fashion forward. This morning the collection is on the Bobbi Brown website and at your local BB counter.

Disclosure: A press sample of this product was provided by Bobbi Brown

"I can't give it my all onstage without my Blake" Amy Winehouse

Bobbi Brown's Blake Mauve Shimmer Ink Long Wear Gel Eyeliner

This is an inky mauve shade infused with bronze and gold pearl pigments. This is not a reddish mauve. This has more smoke and black plum with just a touch of shimmer. It satisfies the sparkle junkie or hater. It is priced at $19.00 and is available at most BB counters. The official launch is July.

Disclosure: A press sample of this product was provided by Bobbi Brown Cosmetics

A Fall Workhorse Palette Bobbi Brown Mauve Face Palette


Bobbi Brown consistently creates workhorse palettes. They might lack the bells and whistles of other brands but they always become a staple in your makeup stash.

The Mauve palette contains three neutral eyeshadows, one dusty rose blush and three lip colors. The shadows are cool toned. Navajo (also featured in the Stonewashed/Nude Palette) is an antique cream shade. Vintage eyeshadow is a taupe. This taupe has less silver than the stonewash shadow in the Stonewashed/Nudes Palette. It has a smidge of shimmer. The third shadow is called Chocolate Mauve. This is a rich brownie shade.

The lippies are more brown based than pink. Dusty Mauve Creamy Lip Color is a sheer rootbeer shade. The Mauve Lip Sheer is a whisper of a garnet shade. It was very similar to my Bobbi Brown Red Plum Lip Crayon. Vintage Mauve Lip Color is a deep red velvet cake shade.

The blush is a matte cool dusty rose shade.

The palette is starting to show up at local Bobbi Brown counters. The official launch is in July. It retails for $55.

Disclosure: A press sample of this product was provided by Bobbi Brown Cosmetics

The Curse of the Black Pearl

I am test driving the new Bobbi Brown Mauve Collection. I am loving everything but one product has managed to capture my heart.
Black Pearl Shimmer Gloss is a silverish heather shade.
It retails for $19 and will be at your local Bobbi Brown counter in July.

While I was in Paris, I became entranced with this mysterious lippie that every female television personality wore. It was this twisted gossamer grayish shade. It was like nothing I had ever seen before. I instantly started the coveting process and went on a fruitless search to find it.
I had no luck until Black Pearl.
It is a cool almost dirty heather gray. The pigment is light and there is only a slight shimmer.
It is both subtle and startling at the same time.
I paired it with a smoky eye and was promptly hooked.

I think this lippie is unique but it might be labeled unwearable by the MUA masses.
This is a lippie that might be an acquired taste.
It is far from bubblegum or coral.
This is a gloomy yet sophisticated lippie.

Credit: Blogdorf Goodman
Disclosure: A press sample of this product was provided by Bobbi Brown Cosmetics

Morning Makeup Porn

Griffie's Bobbi Brown Shimmer Blush in Flame.

It is quite pretty and retails for $22.

Credit: Blogdorf Goodman

Disclosure: This product was purchased by my friend Griffie

Bobbi Brown's Almost Bare Fragrance

Almost Bare will launch in June 2008.
It is a musk based fragrance with notes of Italian Bergamot(almost herb-ish),violet leaves, creamy jasmine petals, cedar and amber. The musk is not powdery or cold. It is dry and warms on the skin.
The sillage is whisper light and stays close. Truly perfect for the summer months.

It will retail for $60.

Credit: Bobbi Brown
Disclosure: A press sample of this product was provided by Bobbi Brown Cosmetics

40 Days and 40 Nights of Beauty Cult Classics
Day 34, Bobbi Brown's Chocolate Palette

"If you are not feeling well, if you have not slept, chocolate will revive you. But you have no chocolate! I think of that again and again! My dear, how will you ever manage?" - Marquise de Sévigné

The Bobbi Brown Chocolate Eye Palette was my first dip into the BB world. I was going through a heavy MAC and Nars phase.
I always skipped my local Bobbi Brown counter because it looked boring and safe. I was not ready for the life of neutrals.
I wanted to be a Nars girl forever.

My friend Shawn was the one that encouraged me to cave on the Chocolate Palette.
He felt that it would be a great addition to my shadow collection since I did not own one brown shade.
The palette contains workhorse shades called Bone, Caramel Toffee Shimmer Wash, Frappe, Champagne Truffle Shimmer Wash, Cacao Shimmer Wash, Stone and Chocolate. I hit pan with Bone and Cacao Shimmer Wash.
This small step into browns created a lemming monster.
Today I have a huge drawer filled with neutrals.

"Love is like swallowing hot chocolate before it has cooled off. It takes you by surprise at first, but keeps you warm for a long time." - Anonymous

That is what I feel about Bobbi Brown and brown eyeshadows. You resist them...but they managed to win your heart in the end.
Let me know what you think of the palette in the comments.

Credit: Blogdorf Goodman

Disclosure: I purchased this palette at my local Bobbi Brown counter.

Bobbi Brown Nude Palette

Another workhorse Bobbi Brown Palette!
This one is in a bento-like box with a myriad of useful shades. There is a Buff and Nude Shimmer Wash with Bare and Naked Eye Shadows. The lippies are Bare and Beige along with Brownie Pink and Cocoa Lip Color.

The eye shadows are perfect for a daytime workplace appropriate look. They give a sheer wash and finish. The lippies are not shades that I am normally attracted to.

I generally shy away from browns.

The Bare shade is quite possibly the perfect pinkish nude. I have used it alone and mixed with other shades like Nars Foul Play Gloss. I received more compliments wearing these browns than any pink themed lippies. These shades will help build or complete any brown lippie wardrobe. Vastly useful and flattering. Plus the added bonus of the texture and feel of BB lippies is above average. They feel like a lippie version of Stila Eyeshadows. They apply velvety smooth and rich on the lips.

The Bobbi Brown Nude Palette retails for $60 and is limited edition. You know the drill.

Credits: Blogdorf Goodman
Disclosure: A press sample of this product was provided by Bobbi Brown Cosmetics