Review: Bobbi Brown Gel Eye Liner in Chocolate Shimmer Ink

Hi hearties,

Do you want:

1. an eye liner from a reputable brand?

2. a pigmented eye liner below RM100?

3. a gel eye liner that goes on smoothly and is easy to work with?

4. a waterproof eye liner that is suitable on the waterline and tight line?

5. a lightweight eye liner that does not cause discomfort to the eyes?

6. a neutral-coloured eye liner that does NOT BUDGE. At. All.

If most of your answers to the above questions are YES’, I highly recommend you to head over to the nearest Bobbi Brown counter and ask for Chocolate Shimmer Ink, one of its best-selling colours available.

Ain’t your typical brown eye liner, for it is neither too warm nor too cool!

After hearing good things about Bobbi Brown Gel Eye Liner for years, I finally gave in. I wanted a neutral-coloured eye liner instead of black, a colour that I have been religiously using since I started playing with makeup. Yes, I am comfortable that way, and I did not know what had gotten into me one fine day. I just picked this little pot that had “Chocolate Shimmer Ink” written on it. I made swatches with it, then I bought it instantly. No questions asked. Unlike most boring, dark brown eye liners, this gel eye liner shimmers beautifully. The reddish bronze shimmer is VERY subtle, and it does NOT have chunks of glitters that may be a turn off to some.

It stayed put even after I dipped my hand in a pail of water, and I rubbed it with FULL FORCE.

The staying power of Chocolate Shimmer Ink is crazy! I have recently put this gel eye liner to test where I wore it approximately 12 hours, and it lasted! If there is anything about Chocolate Shimmer Ink that I had to point out, it is that this gel eye liner has the tendency to dry up fast. I have been using this nearly every day for a month now, and I can “feel” that the eye liner drags a little, so I would need to dip my eye liner brush deeper to re-coat with colour. My advice would be to immediately screw the lid of the pot to prevent the product to dry up.

Retailing at RM88 per pot of 3grams, I never regretted trying this gel eye liner from Bobbi Brown. Have you tried one?

With love,

LY

Bobbi Brown Pink Peony Illuminating Bronzer: A bronzer or a blusher?

Bobbi Brown Cosmetics has recently released its Uber Pink Collection where some lovely Limited Edition nail colours, lipsticks, lip glosses and illuminating bronzers that are suitable for day and night were introduced. I was interested with its illuminating Bronzers – Antigua and Pink Peony, and although the Antigua Illuminating Bronzer could be found in BB’s permanent line, this LE Antigua has the print “Be Pretty” on the surface of the bronzer. Pink Peony, which is a re-promote, has “Be Bold” craved on the bronzer, too. Illuminating bronzers from its permanent lines has got no prints on the surface.

Illuminating Bronzers from the Uber Collection. SO PRETTY.

 

Initially, I wanted to get both Antigua and Pink Peony, but after trying Antigua on the counter, the supposedly warm, sheer pink-peach  shade turned brown on me after it settled on my skin. Nevertheless, the shimmer in Antigua makes it a very pretty bronzer to wear, indeed. Not a bronzer fan myself, I find brownish blushers or bronzers makes me look dull. It was no doubt that Pink Peony went home with me since I adore pink blushers/bronzers.

Bobbi Brown Pink Peony Illuminating Bronzer is 8grams! I don’t know when I can ever use this up!

Pink Peony is a medium deep pink with gold flecks that leans cool on me. This is rather shimmery (which I don’t mind at all), and the tiny gold sparkles does not migrate once applied. Since I have never own a bronzer, this illuminating bronzer confused me, initially. I thought, “Why bother naming it a bronzer when this is a blush? Such a pretty pink! With tiny gold sparkles?? Come on, this ain’t no bronzer?!”

3 x Swirling my brush on my Pink Peony, and I get this. Colour is definitely easy to build up!

Well, I know some people love using bronzers for that healthy, sun-kissed glow, but once this medium deep pink illuminating bronzer is built up, it somehow gives an additional twist where you can definitely look RADIANT + PRETTY + still have that sun-kissed glow. To achieve that, however, I only recommend a heavier hand from you hotties who are NC30 and above. When applied lightly, Pink Peony makes a beautiful blusher for the cheeks.

Me with Pink Peony on, after 7 hours. Forgive my terrible-looking, dehydrated skin! It’s menses day, so I will somehow look like SH*T.

I wore Pink Peony Illuminating Bronzer to work, and I was happy to see that the colour only faded a little after 8 hours! Now I can “cheat” others into thinking I have used a bronzer in my life! Tee-hee! If you have been afraid of using a bronzer, perhaps you can start with either one since both Antigua and Pink Peony are quite sheer to begin with. The shimmers make the entire look more interesting, and they sure draw some attention to the cheeks, but in a good way – as though you have spread some highlighter to enhance your cheekbones. Try it to believe it!

*This lovely product was bought at Bobbi Brown retail store in Mid Valley, Kuala Lumpur for RM140.*

Have you tried any illuminating bronzers from Bobbi Brown? How are you liking them? Would you get Pink Peony yourself? =)

 

With love,

LY

Bobbi Brown Long Wear Cream Shadow: I will HEART you more if you have MORE shimmer!

Bobbi Brown Long Wear Cream Shadow

My awesome friends and readers would have known by now that I love cream eye shadows more than the powder form. So far, I have only tried a few brands, and their cream eye shadows did not disappoint. This is my first cream eye shadow from Bobbi Brown, and I bought it in an instant when I found the colour is somewhat similar with Chanel Illusion d’Ombre (Initiation) that was released last holiday, but lack the generous amount of shimmer and contains more brown in it.

Left to Right: Bobbi Brown in 2 swipes; Bobbi Brown in 5 swipes, and Chanel Initiation in 1 swipe.

I was very disciplined by not getting more cream eye shadows from Bobbi Brown because I wanted to test how well this hold up on my oily lids. Just in case you need to know, none from my circle of buddies that I hang out with have tried any eye colour from Bobbi. Having had a pleasing experience with its eye shadow palette, I decided to get No.16 Beach Bronze, which is a deep bronze shade.

The very little shimmer here does not, however, transfer onto the eye lids, much to the relief to those who despise having shimmer on their lids!

Upon first swatch on my arm, the formula looks pigmented and glides on smoothly. On the lids, however, the colour appears SHEER, and I would need to quickly work on layers as it dries up pretty quickly. Using a dense brush would pick up more colour, but I prefer using my fingers when I use a cream eye shadow so that I could work the depth of colour according to the shape of my eyes. Nonetheless, Beach Bronze is a very pretty colour. Its lightness in pigmentation would be suitable to be used a work or during days where one wants to go a little natural with makeup.

I like the fact that it stays put for hours, and it is crease-resistant with the aid of my current eye primer from Urban Decay (review up soon!). Hotties with dry eye lids, who tend to shy away from pigmented shades or do not like much shimmer on their eye lids, will LOVE this. To prevent from this colour to crease easily on my oily lids in the future, a dab of loose powder over the lids would help, though. For RM98 per pot, I am happy for the amount of a pretty bronze shade I got. Bobbi Brown makes beautiful shades of neutrals, really!

Do you own any cream eye shadows from Bobbi Brown, and how do you like it/them?

With love,

LY

Bobbi Brown Rich Chocolate Eye Palette can be Quite Yummy on The Eyes!

Thank you Bobbi Brown Malaysia; you guys are awesome!

I recently won myself an eye palette from Bobbi Brown during its Gift of Glam event for Christmas (thank you loads, BB!); in fact, I had not owned any eye palette from BB until two days ago when the mailer came. I opened my gift and honestly, I yawned the very first time I looked at this WARM eye palette. I personally love COLOURS for my makeup, so anything nude or brown is a no-go for me. I know, I know brown is a colour, but it is boring…to me. I am currently working in a conservative environment, so having bright colours simple make me happy! Anyway, this chocolate-y eye palette came at the right time as it may be a good introduction for me to start a neutral eye makeup.

The very minimalist packaging of The Warm Smokey Eye Palette. I like!

Now this eye palette consists of 7 matte, shimmer and sparkle colours that come with a dual-ended brush. I find the brown packaging suits the rich chocolate theme, and I love eye palette that comes with at least a good brush. However, I find the brush a little slim for my fingers, so I prefer using my own makeup brushes.

From far left to right: 1. Bone [matte], 2. Stone [matte], 3. Frappe [matte], 4. Caramel [sparkle], 5. Champagne Truffle [shimmer], 6. Cocoa [matte], 7. Rich Chocolate [matte]

Don’t these colours remind you of chocolate truffles? *salivating*

Let’s take a look at the swatches!

Don’t let these swatches deceive you!

On my hand, the colours do not look pigmented. Some eye colours look far more pigmented than these just by a swipe or two, using fingers. Luckily though, my makeup brushes (also from Bobbi Brown) managed to pick up the colours for my eye makeup application.

Here is the order for my simple eye makeup:

1. Highlight my brow bone using Bone.

2. Apply Stone on the upper eye lid.

3. Use Rich Chocolate on upper eyelid, from outer to the middle. Go right up to the crease line to look more intense.

4. Apply Cocoa across upper lid and into the crease, blending up and out of the crease.

5. Heavily pat Caramel in the middle of the upper eye lid for some definition.

6. Line outer 2/3 of upper lash line with a black liquid eye liner.

7. Line 2/3 lower waterline using Rich Chocolate while 1/3 inner corner using Champagne Truffle.

8. The magic wand of mascara to make my eyes pop! This is a MUST.

Please forgive my angry zits here and there!

After using this Warm Smokey Eye Palette, I must say Bobbi Brown can expect a NEW FAN to purchase its eye colours every now and then! Although I did experience some fall-outs when I was applying the eye shadows, Bobbi Brown really knows how to combine its colours to make a beautiful eye palette that works for everyone (errr…I mean, for the ladies). The staying power is good as my eye makeup looks the same after 6-7 hours. Most importantly, the eye palette contains not only matte colour, but it also has soft shimmer and sparkle ones that help make smokey eye possible!

I skipped concealer altogether as I was testing a cream foundation. This is my look, paired with a neutral red.

What do you think? Work appropriate? If you are interested in getting yourself a neutral palette, go to Bobbi Brown! This Warm Smokey Eye Palette is from its Holiday 2013 collection, which of course is a limited edition item, so if you like it, grab it fast! Price: RM200. Excuse me now; I need to head to Bobbi Brown for more goodies! ^_^

With love,

LY