Bobbi Brown Primer Plus Protection SPF50

RRP: £24

--What does the promo say?--
"A lightweight, fast-absorbing face primer that enhances the quality of your foundation while delivering invisible broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection. Helps prevent sun damage and premature signs of aging with broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection. Applies evenly and invisibly—perfect for layering under makeup. Helps balance skin’s natural moisture level with Sodium Hyaluronate. Paraben-free; sulfate-free; phthalate-free; mineral oil-free; vegan.

--Packaging--
The sleek and unisex monochrome packaging is typical of Bobbi Brown and is sophisticated and modern. The lid twists off easily when needed and clicks closed securely.

--Application--
The website advises that you smooth it onto skin after cleansing and moisturising, taking care to avoid the eye area, prior to applying foundation. So straightforward stuff.

--Appearance--
The lotion is white, but blends invisibly into skin.

--Texture and consistency--
Smooth and blendable; feels more like a moisturiser than a sunscreen.

--Scent--
Nothing discernible; just a clean, neutral scent, despite the aromatic oils used.

--Effects on the skin--
Protects skin from the sun effectively, even fair skin that normally burns easily. Makeup also stays put. Some reviewers on the Bobbi Brown website complain that it leaves their skin looking greasy or shiny even after makeup has been applied, but I have never found this.

--Value for money--
I was sent mine for free by Bobbi Brown's PR (thanks guys!) but would spend my own money on this product: it's reliable, effective, and of high quality.

perfect partners
Skin Foundation Stick, £31
Foundation Brush, £33

Bobbi Brown BB Cream SPF 35

RRP: £28
# of shades available: 5

--What does the promo say?--
"Moisturise, perfect and protect-instantly and over time. Now it's easier than ever to get great skin with Bobbi Brown's new BB Cream SPF 35. Inspired by a skincare/makeup hybrid that's a cult favorite in Asia, this formula combines moisturiser, treatment, SPF and a lightweight foundation in one. Plus, it's available in five skin tone correct shades carefully formulated by Bobbi herself. Consider it your skin's new best friend. The secret to its multitasking magic: Water-attracting molecules boost hydration; light reflective pearls brighten dull skin; botanical extracts and caffeine reduce discolouration and redness; pore-reducing peptides minimise fine lines; and finally, broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection and antioxidants fend off future damage."

--Packaging--
The black and white design keeps things minimalist and simple, and the dispensation of product is well controlled. Bobbi Brown also has the advantage on its side that BB stands not only for Blemish Balm but also for Bobbi Brown - so half of the brand's work seems to already be done.

--Application--
BB creams often require more of a "slapping" motion as you put them on, rather than a "stroking" motion, so that they blend into the skin correctly and don't just sit on top in a cakey layer. This is no exception. After primer, "slap" this on, and then add concealer and powder if necessary.

--Appearance--
A very thick, luxurious cream, which on the skin provides a perfect match for my skin tone (Bobbi Brown's PR team sent me a free tube of Extra Light) and boosts radiance. It also really covers blemishes well: once I'd put it on, I'd often find myself reaching straight for the face powder rather than bothering with extra concealer.

--Scent--
Nothing discernible; no need to worry about chalky, chemical or overly-perfumed smells.

--Texture and consistency--
As mentioned, this is thick and luxurious and yet blends easily.

--Effects on the skin--
Sadly, I didn't notice much healing going on throughout my use of this cream, which is supposed to be part of the effects of BB creams.

--Longevity--
Lasts quite well, but tends to come off more easily around the chin area (which is possibly the area of my face that I touch the most, so it's probably more likely my fault than Bobbi Brown's).

--Value for money--
At £28, this is expensive, but a high-quality product in terms of the finish provided and the high SPF is a great advantage. However, I'd perhaps expect its short-term healing powers to be greater, in line with more traditional BB creams (although this product does have other traditional BB cream qualities). In the same price bracket, this compares favourably to Clinique's BB cream, and I'd also be interested to try versions by Dr Brandt and Smashbox to see how they match up.

perfect partner
Long Wear Gel Eyeliner, £17 

Bobbi Brown Desert Twilight Eye Palette

RRP: £48

--What does the promo say?--

"The essence of late summer in eight sultry shades (for that tawny skin-glow that happens just before dusk). Featuring a mix-and-play palette of neutral shadows to transition you effortlessly from summer to fall: a light base shade, six medium lid shades and a dark liner shade. Includes a dual-ended Eye Shadow and Eye Liner brush-all in a sleek mirrored compact-so you can apply everything like a pro."

--Packaging--

The silver and black flip-top palette seems durable and robust while giving an edgy and dramatic look. Inside is a generously-sized mirror, a good amount of each of the 8 colours, a protective sleeve to cover them, and a double-ended brush (one end is a shadow brush and one end is a contour brush). The brush is my only quibble with the entire ensemble: while the contour end is excellent for precise and intense colour application, you seem to need to work the shadow brush much more to build up colour. Even though it's clearly made with high-quality materials, I can't help feeling that a sponge brush would be better for short-term results.

--Application--

As mentioned above, the only problem with application is inherent in half of the brush provided, and you can easily substitute this for your own brush if need be. Some application instructions (for example, ideas on looks you can create) would perhaps also be beneficial. However, generally application is straightforward.

--Appearance--

This palette has been lauded by several users for its ability to take the wearer from day (with its nude shades) to night (with its sparklier hues) and I don't disagree: the range of possible looks is fantastic and the range of colours concerned (taupes and pinks) means that everyone should be able to extract several looks from the palette to suit them. Another reviewer also mentioned the possibility of using the darker shades to contour eyebrows, which is an extremely plausible idea that I had not yet considered. It's therefore multi-use as well as being very pretty, and you can either keep it subtle or vamp up the glitter according to your own individual style.

--Texture and consistency--

The glittery shades are not gritty in the least, and the other shades seem to go on smoothly too, although I believe you'd get more from the matte shades with a different brush, rather than having to constantly go back to the palette. With the brush provided it seems very difficult to pick up a good amount of shadow for speedy application.

--Longevity--

Occasionally these shadows have a tendency to crease or fade, but it depends on the day (e.g. how hot or humid it is outside) and whether or not you have used primer prior to applying the shadows. Generally, though, they last well, with a little going a long way.

--Value for money--

£48 is expensive, and even though in my experience the Bobbi Brown palettes last forever, plenty of palettes from less pricey brands do too. Equally, although the colours are pretty and last well, this again is something that isn't impossible to achieve elsewhere. For me, the main draws are the multi-use functions and the fact that this is part of a limited edition range. However, if you wanted to be part of this product range without breaking the bank, there are plenty of ways to do this through the many more affordable products (see below), all of which are listed in full here. The glosses, eyeliner, and cheek/lip colour in particular provide similar insight into the beautiful dusky evening shades offered by this palette. By all means consider this palette as a stunning gift option - but don't feel you have to miss out if you're on a tighter budget, as the entirety of this limited edition range is worth exploring.

perfect partners

Desert Twilight Limited Edition Bronzer and Blush Duo, £27

Desert Twilight Limited Edition Nail Polish, £11

Desert Twilight Limited Edition Creamy Colour for Lips and Cheeks, £12.50

Desert Twilight Limited Edition High Shimmer Lip Gloss, £17

Desert Twilight Limited Edition Mini Brush Set, £55

Desert Twilight Limited Edition Long Wear Gel Eyeliner, £17

Desert Twilight Limited Edition Long Wear Cream Shadow, £18

Bobbi Brown Long Wear Gel Eyeliner

RRP: £13.50/3g
# of shades available: 15

--What does the promo say?--
"AWARD WINNER! "Best Beauty Buy", In Style Magazine (March 2007 issue). This innovative eyeliner offers the precision of liquid liner and the ease of a gel-based formula. Long-wearing, water-resistant colour can be used to create subtle to dramatic looks."

--Packaging--
The pot is teeny tiny. Unless you have ridiculously huge hands, you'll probably get an idea of the size if you curl the tips of your index finger and thumb of your hand round to meet one another in a circle. The screw-top lid is black and the glass pot itself is opaque, with the name of the product printed on it in elegant black capitals. It's a very nice-looking, professional-looking products that doesn't take up too much space.

--Application--
Now, this can be applied several ways, but first and foremost, no matter how you're planning on applying it, you undoubtedly need a proper liner brush. Any other kind of eye brush simply isn't going to cut it (believe me, I tried). Once you have said brush, you can apply it above the top lashes only, above the top lashes + the top lash waterline, bottom lash waterline, or top lashes + bottom lash waterline. It really is incredibly versatile - a lot of liners are unsuitable for top lashes and the waterlines (liquid liner HURTS if you try and apply it to your waterline, not to mention that it just slides off; pencil is OK for both but slides off the waterline after a time and it can be difficult to get an even line on the top lashes as the pencil can drag across the skin). The only thing this product would benefit from would be an instructional leaflet, like the Yria eyeshadow has, as gel eyeliner is not something that's particularly well-known.

--Appearance--
You can make this eyeliner say whatever you want - if you want an everyday look, something seductive or something for a party, this eyeliner can do it. You can get an excellent line on the top lashes and on the waterline too. The range of colours also surpasses the majority of eyeliners, ranging from browns and blacks to blues, greens and purples.

--Texture--
It has the smoothness of a liquid liner without the runniness. Ingenious! It's also very easily blendable if you want a sort of fuzzy line.

--Sensation--
Very good for sensitive eyes and for contact-lens wearers - there's no tingling, stinging or any otherwise discomfort.

--Longevity--
It lasts as long as you want it to - sometimes too long. After applying it to my top waterline, I found it difficult to remove without hurting my eyes and I still found traces of it the next day.

--Value for money--
Fabulous - it's clearly a very high-quality product that requires little to be used per application. Does it do what it says it does? Longwear - check. Precision - check. Ease - you betcha. This product gives me such a positive impression of the brand as a whole that I'll definitely be revisiting my local Bobbi Brown counter. (To read about the rest of my Bobbi Brown experience, please click here. Note that my LJ doesn't accept anon comments :) )

perfect partners
Bobbi Brown Ultra Fine Eyeliner Brush, £17.00
Bobbi Brown Long Wear Cream Shadow, £16.00/3.5g

Bobbi Brown Surf and Sand Eyeshadow Palette

RRP: £35.00
# of shades in the palette: 10

Packaging: a small black shiny plastic container, with the Bobbi Brown logo in silver on the lid and with all of the eyeshadows running into one another. The box is far smaller than it appears online (I bought mine on ebay): in actual fact its size is approximately 10cm x 4cm x 1cm (I say 'approximately' because I'm not currently in possession of a ruler, measuring tape, or any other measuring hooha). The size, while excellent for travelling, does give you a feeling of "but...but...it's so runty!! £35 for something this small?" However, there was also a pleasant surprise: on all the pictures you see, it looks like the eyeshadows are set flat into the box and all run into one another. While it's true that there aren't any gaps between the colours, each colour is slightly raised from the box in a sort of arch (kind of like a mini speed bump) so that you can easily just use the colour you want without blurring into other colours.

What does the promo say?: "A limited edition eye palette features eye shadow shades with pearlized pigments. The ten exclusive shades are sheer and shimmering visions of aqua, soft pink and beige."

Application: Same as any other eyeshadow: apply to the eyelid using a brush or your finger (wet or dry according to the effect you want).

Texture: Silky smooth and very fine. Doesn't irritate the eye in any way.

Appearance: In the box, perhaps because the box is black, the colours appear very bright. However, on the eyelid they become much more sheer and shimmery - if you want a more intense look, just wet the brush or your finger that you're going to apply the shadow with. Plus, they're just beautiful to look at. I knew I wanted it the second I saw it.

Longevity: Doesn't crease and you don't have to keep reapplying throughout the day.

Removal: Easy to remove (not that you'd want to!).

Value for money: I have to admit, this doesn't appear to be the most value-ful product. However, when you break it down, there are 10 colours in the palette, and so if you pay full whack, you're still only paying £3.50 a shade...now tell me, can you buy a regular Bobbi Brown mono eyeshadow for that? Methinks not. If you buy on ebay, you increase your value for money even further.

Other comments: This is just such a beautiful palette and I would recommend it to any makeup-lover, even if you wouldn't normally spend that much on eyeshadow (I balked at the price, believe me...I got it for £25 on ebay in the end but knowing it as I do now I would now happily pay full price for it, it is that amazing). There is the possibility that you're just buying into the brand name with this, but having looked at other eyeshadow palettes, I haven't found one more beautiful (the No7 @ Boots summer eyeshadow palette is an extremely poor comparison!). It's such a shame it's limited edition. I may have to buy another.