BOBBI BROWN BEAUTY TRUNK (NEIMAN MARCUS EXCLUSIVE) - NEW

Makeup dreams do come true. The ultimate, luxe gift this season—

This elegant Beauty Trunk is filled with hand-picked selections of Bobbi Brown's best-selling products. Whether you're starting a new makeup collection, adding essentials to your current kit, or building the perfect travel case, this set has everything you could want for face, eyes and lips. Think classic lip colors and glosses, a range of rich shadows, Bobbi's iconic eye liners and so much more. We've also included six of our most-loved brushes, so you're ready to create almost any look. And, with two tiers and lots of compartments, the Beauty Trunk is the perfect way to keep it all organized.

Includes:

Blush, Slopes.
Pot Rouge, Rose.
Bronzing Powder, Medium.
Shimmer Brick, Bronze.
Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner, Black Ink.
Long-Wear Eye Pencil, Jet.
Eye Shadow, Bone.
Eye Shadow, Shell.
Shimmer Wash Eye Shadow, Champagne.
Sparkle Eye Shadow, Silver Moon.
Metallic Eye Shadow, Velvet Plum.
Long-Wear Cream Shadow , Cement.
Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick, Golden Bronze.
Smokey Eye Mascara.
Lip Color, Brown.
Art Stick, Rose Brown.
High Shimmer Lip Gloss, Bellini.
Face Blender Brush.
Ultra Fine Eye Liner Brush.
Smokey Eye Liner Brush.
Eye Shadow Brush.
Eye Sweep Brush.
Cream Shadow Brush.

Retails: $962.00 USD

Availability: Neiman Marcus

BERRY BOBBI BROWN CHEEK PALETTE - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

The new Bobbi Brown Hot collection features three unique cheek palettes: Pink, Berry and Calypso which are so gorgeous! Each cheek palette currently retails for $45.00 USD, contains .16 oz of product and is available for purchase online at Sephora and Nordstrom. The cheek palette houses two blush colors and a middle highlight color. Right away I knew I wanted the Pink Cheek palette but after taking a closer look I realized I already had both of the blush colors featured in the palette, UGH! So I settled for the Berry Cheek palette instead. The two blushes housed in this palette are Plum and French Pink with a Berry highlight shade. The Plum shade is a reddish pink color, while French Pink is a bright pink and the Berry highlight shade is a coppery pink with rose gold undertones. Plum felt really matte to the touch, French Pink was really powdery and even though Berry had a metallic sheen the finish was more of a satin. All three were extremely pigmented, gave good color payoff and blended quite well. It is important to note that none of the blushes housed in the cheek palette are removable. Previous blush palettes I've purchased all had removable blushes so you could interchange / customize them but that is missing with these which is a shame.

Mini rant here:
I love Bobbi Brown products because the quality is almost always on point. The only gripe I have with the brand is their constant need to keep re-promoting the same colors. I have several of their products, mainly their eyeshadow palettes, and over half of the colors are exactly the same. Which is fine if you are new to the brand but it would be nice to feature some newer / different colors for a change.

Availability: Sephora, Nordstrom
Price: $45.00 USD

NORDSTROM BUY 2 GET 1 FREE MASCARA MADNESS - NOV 8TH 2014 / PRE-ORDER NOW!

Nordstrom is already taking pre-orders for their HUGE Mascara Madness event. 

Nordstrom already hosted the event in May and now they are offering it again this coming Saturday, November 8th. This one day only event will be held all day and most Nordstrom stores will accept pre-orders up until Friday, Nov 7th.

For those who are unfamiliar with this event - Nordstrom allows shoppers to purchase (in store and online) two mascaras and then receive a third mascara for free. Last May there were no limits on the number of mascaras pre-ordered (I pre-ordered 9 of the Guerlain Maxi Lash mascaras) and you were able to purchase from across multiple brands. Just remember the lowest priced mascara will be the freebie so keep that in mind while shopping.

When you pre-order for the promotion you are guaranteed your mascaras and you will not be billed for them until a day or two before the event. If you decide to wait and make a purchase on the day of the event then quantities will be limited and your favorite brand might already be sold out. The same applies for making a purchase online as well. Additionally, online purchases will only apply to select brands while in-store and pre-orders will apply to all cosmetic brands.

So don’t miss out on this exclusive Nordstrom opportunity! Hurry in and get your pre-order before your favorite brand is sold out!

There are some exclusions - the B2G1 free promotion does not apply to lash primer or enhancing products (i.e. lash plumping serum). **Please note** All information listed in this post (including the exclusions) are subject to change. I will be sure to update this post immediately should that occur.

Last May, several readers had questions about the event so I'm posting those here:

a reader asked how do they pre-order - 

To pre-order one can visit their local Nordstrom department store and pre-order from any cosmetic counter. If you don't have a Nordstrom store nearby you can call the closest one and they will let you pre-order over the phone. Then they will mail out the mascaras to you. Or if either option is not feasible then you can order online from the Nordstrom website the day of the event. Keep in mind though the more popular mascaras will sell out quickly the day of the event so don't wait!!!

a reader asked for mascara recommendations - 

It all really depends on what kind of eyelashes that you have and personal preference. When choosing a mascara it all depends on several things - how wiry (hard) or thin (soft) your lashes are, do you want volume (making them look longer) or fullness (making them look thicker) and the last thing to consider is how far apart are your lashes spaced. Are they clumped together with little to no space between them or are they kind of sparse and spaced far apart. Lancôme HYPNÔSE DRAMA is a good mascara that doesn't flake, smudge or smear but it applies wet and over time dries out rather quickly. Chanel Le Volume (one of my favs) is another great mascara but it takes several swipes to get a good application onto the lashes. Guerlain Maxi Lash is great as well and I pre-ordered three of those. I do not like Benefit They're Real - it smudges, it flakes and I hate the wand. However others have had a great experience with it. Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill mascara is another good one too. My last pick would be Laura Mercier Full Blown Volume Lash Building Mascara which is another fav that I am currently using. I've tried Bobbi Brown's mascara but it makes my eyes itch so its a no go for me. Most of my favs are based on the fact that my lashes are super soft, medium length and spaced close together with no gaps. So I can recommend what works for me but I would suggest start collecting samples. Most high end department stores carry samples of their top mascara and that way you can try it before you spend a bunch of money on something that may not work for you.

a reader asked about picking up pre-orders - 

If a paid pre-order is not picked up the day of the event then the store holds the items for you. As a courtesy please call the store to let them know you will stop by later. Or upon request they will mail them to you if necessary. If pre-orders are not paid in advance then the store may not hold your items after the event ends UNLESS you call to make prior arrangements. Communication is a must!!

NEW! BOBBI BROWN SCOTCH ON THE ROCKS 2014 HOLIDAY COLLECTION

Warm, glowing skin. Rich, sultry eyes. Statement lips. Bobbi's Scotch on the Rocks Collection is a gorgeous combination of sexy, strong and confident. Featuring a luxurious eye palette, a range of party-ready lip colors and glosses, and other Limited Edition products to get you through the holiday season in high style.

This gorgeous collection has a little something for everyone no matter your income. Pieces from this collection will range from $75 for the eyeshadow palette to $15 for a nail polish. The entire collection is available on Macys.com and they offer free shipping for orders $50 and over. Also don't forget to use Ebates to earn an additional 3% back from your purchase as well.

ROSE BOBBI BROWN SHIMMER BRICK - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

When applying the Bobbi Brown Shimmer bricks I like to use the Marc Jacobs Face I makeup brush for an all over application. For a more concentrated look or flush of color for specific areas of the face then I like to use the Sephora #45 Mineral Powder brush. The Bobbi Brown Shimmer bricks are currently priced at $42.00 USD for .4 oz of product.

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Rose gives the skin a nice flush of pale pink with loads of sparkle. When swatched separately the colors are a beautiful collection of soft pinks and pale rose that can be worn over top of blush. However, when blended together, the rose-y pink flush is lost and the whole application process is somewhat messy. Honestly, there really wasn't any shimmer - it was just so much sparkle. I found I had better results using each of the colors separately. Normally I am a fan of the Shimmer Bricks (I own several such as Wild Rose, Rose Gold and Pink Quartz just to name a few) but with the Rose Shimmer Brick I would definitely not recommend purchasing it unless you can get past the extreme fall out and sparkle.

ROSE BROWN BOBBI BROWN ART STICK - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

Art Sticks are the newest lip product launched by Bobbi Brown. It is a combo of a lipstick and lip liner housed in a chunky pencil form. It applies smooth and creamy and has a matte finish. There are a total of eight shades to choose from and the color range is quite diverse. Each Art Stick currently retails for $26.00 USD and contains .2 oz of product and an enclosed sharpener is provided as well.

When applying the Art Stick as a lip liner one should use the point to gently line the outer edges of the lips. Then to apply as a lipstick one will need to hold the pencil at an angle against the lips to fill in the entire lip with color. Now the whole concept of a chunky / chubby lip pencil is not entirely new. Clinique and Max Factor had their chubby sticks way back in the late eighties and they are still as popular today as they were back then. For the longest time chubby sticks were my go-to lip product. So while the concept isn't entirely new the formulation has definitely been improved upon to the point where these will now last all day.

I purchased Rose Brown which, as the name suggests, is a warm rosy brown. Unfortunately it was a good bit darker than what I expected. So keep that in mind when purchasing them from the website. I would recommend exfoliating before applying these because they tend to enhance any lip imperfections such as dry or chapped lips. It didn't seem moisturizing but neither did it dry out my lips. Rose Brown wore for about eight hours with some slight fading after about five hours.

BOBBI BROWN and KATIE HOLMES MINI BRUSH SET - Limited Edition

What makes chocolate even more irresistible? A shot of Bobbi's favorite - bright pink. Designed to complement this season's chocolatey hues and the Bobbi and Katie Collection, this double-sided bag fits tools on one side and your favorite makeup on the other. Featuring full-sized brush heads atop shortened cocoa-colored handles (for seamless makeup application even on the go). This Mini Brush Set includes four brushes: Face Blender, Eye Shadow, Eye Sweep, and Smokey Eye Liner - all in a zippered pouch done up with a hot pink ribbon pull.

For quite some time I have been on the hunt for good quality travel makeup brushes. Every year MAC releases sets of their makeup brushes but I haven't really been impressed with the quality of them and the bristles are just way too scratchy! Several other makeup brands have travel brushes as well, but with a starting price of $100 I can't see myself spending that kind of money. Although at $65 for this set, that is still quite expensive.

The dual zippered vinyl makeup bag is big and roomy. It can definitely hold a fair amount of cosmetics comfortably and the various mini compartments are nice as well. I can see myself using those compartments to hold smaller items that typically get forgotten or lost at the bottom of my purse.

When I first saw the brush set my initial reaction / first thought was "OMG, they are so small!". I know that travel brushes are typically a smaller version of the full size brushes but these seemed significantly smaller. Now keep in mind the brushes do have full-size brush heads but it is the handles that are significantly smaller than your typical travel brush set. Hopefully the quality of the brushes will make up for the small brush size.

The quality of the brushes was actually quite superb. The bristles were extremely soft and there was minimal shedding. It did take some time getting use to the short brush handles but the brush application was on par with their full size counterparts. Overall this is a nice set but I don't think I would repurchase it in the future. I just can't get past the really small brush handles. Additionally, it would have been nice to see a lip brush included with this set.

RICH CHOCOLATE BOBBI BROWN LIMITED EDITION EYE PALETTE - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

For those that love neutral palettes then this is one to add to your collection.

Even if you are new to the Bobbi Brown line of cosmetics or if you know of someone who is new to makeup then this eye palette will make an excellent starter set for them to try. This gorgeous eye palette contains some of Bobbi's most popular and most coveted eyeshadow shades. For those already familiar with Bobbi Brown products you might find this palette to be a bit redundant. However, before you write it off, you might want to consider this the "Must Have" palette to take with you on vacations or on holiday. It has everything you need to create a natural daytime look or amp it up for a sultry smokey eye in the evening. With this palette you will find it to be very versatile and the compact size makes it perfect to take on the go.

Each of the eyeshadows, whether applied dry or wet, had excellent pigmentation with a lasting power / wear time of a solid eight hours. This eye palette really surpassed my expectations and was well worth the money considering a single eyeshadow costs $22 for the regular and the shimmer wash shades and $32 for the sparkle shades.

Better than a box of truffles - the latest palette for eyes features a rich array of chocolate-inspired shades for a seasonal take on Bobbi's classic neutrals. Includes a mix of textures including shimmery and sparkly hues, plus Bobbi's pick-of-the-palette, Rich Chocolate Eye Shadow - a deliciously dark color that doubles as an eyeliner too. Exclusively packaged in a mirrored compact with a glossy chocolate finish, plus a dual-ended brush for expert application.

RICH CHOCOLATE EYE PALETTE (limited edition) - $52.00 USD

I haven't seen it at any department store counters yet but I do know it is available on Sephora.com, BobbiBrownCosmetics.com, and Nordstrom.com.

(swatched top - bottom)
Bone - off white (matte)
Stone - medium ash brown (matte)
Frappe - medium ash beige (matte)
Caramel - silvery brown (sparkle)
Champagne Truffle - warm beige pink (shimmer wash)
Cocoa - warm ashy brown (matte)
Rich Chocolate - a dark brown (matte)

PINK BOBBI BROWN BRIGHTENING BRICK - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

More subtle than the Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick but with the same overall brightening effect of the finishing powder, this formula creates a lit-from-within glow plus a hint of pretty pink. Use it just on the cheeks for a soft blush or all over the face for veil-like luminosity. The best part: this pink pairs perfectly with the season's nude and navy shades.

Note: If you want to softly illuminate skin without adding color, choose a Brightening Finishing Powder.

About Bobbi Brown:
Based on the philosophy that beauty should be real, approachable, and simple, Bobbi Brown launched her eponymous collection in 1991. Bobbi Brown herself became a household name and in high demand as a celebrity make-up artist, and the Bobbi Brown line today includes not only cosmetics and brushes but also fragrances and skincare treatments that are loved worldwide.

I love Bobbi Brown shimmer bricks but sometimes I prefer a more subtle look so I thought I would try the new Bobbi Brown Brightening Brick in Pink. It contains lots of glitter flecks which at first can be overwhelming. Once blended with the varying pink shades it adds a soft highlight to the face. It is important to note that after a few uses the intensity of the glitter flecks does lessen somewhat which makes this powder more wearable.

The staying power of the brightening powder isn't as great as I had expected. I thought it would wear at least 4-6 hours but by the three hour mark there was excessive fading. This is definitely one of those powders that requires a few touch ups throughout the day. Overall though, I really love how this powder gives my face a really nice healthy glow.

I purchased the brightening brick from the Bobbi Brown website but it is also available at Nordstrom as well. It currently retails at $45.00 for .23 oz.

With Flash

Without Flash

NUDES BOBBI BROWN BRIGHTENING FINISHING POWDER - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

Brightening Finishing Powder - Nudes

This all-over powder instantly illuminates and gives skin a healthy-looking glow. It's infused with a skin brightening blend of Mulberry, Grape and Scutellaria Extracts, as well as Sodium Hyaluronate to help keep skin fresh and smooth looking. Palette includes a mirror for perfect application. Featured on Elle.com as a "full-face-pick-me-up." (May 2013)

Bobbi Brown has some of the best makeup products; especially if you love a natural makeup look. Normally, my every day go-to look is similar to that - a natural look with just a hint of color on my face. That is how I want my makeup to look - effortless but yet noticeable. So you can always count on Bobbi Brown products to enhance a woman's natural beauty (or mine for that matter) with just a touch of color.

During the summer months, I have been reaching for tinted moisturizers because we spend a good portion of our weekends with our boys at Carowinds. Carowinds is a huge amusement park similar to Kings Island and Six Flags. So basically what that translates into is an all-day adventure outside in the hot sun and trying to wear a full face of makeup is pretty pointless - hence the tinted moisturizer.

One of the drawbacks of wearing tinted moisturizers is sometimes they make the face appear oily or greasy so I like to apply a light dusting of face powder. The Bobbi Brown Brightening Nudes finishing powder is perfect for lessening the shine while adding a nice healthy glow at the same time. This powder is currently priced at $50.00 for .23 oz. and can be purchased from the Bobbi Brown website, Sephora  or at Nordstrom.

ROSE GOLD BOBBI BROWN SHIMMER WASH EYESHADOW - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

A sheer, silky powder shadow that goes on smoothly for a soft wash of shimmering, translucent color.

This eye shadow is subtle enough for daytime wear, but versatile enough for dramatic evening looks. It's a sheer, lightly pearlized shadow that can also be used as a highlighter shade under the brow bone.

BOBBI BROWN ROSE GOLD SHIMMER WASH EYESHADOW is described as a golden pink color according to the Sephora and Bobbi Brown websites. Bobbi Brown creates some of the best eyeshadows of any high end cosmetic brand. They are long lasting, do not crease, and have amazing pigmentation. 

The cost for this eyeshadow was $21.00 USD for .08 oz. It does contain a fair amount of shimmer but no actual chunks of glitter or sparkle. This is the perfect eyeshadow shade to enhance green or blue eyes because it brings out and intensifies their color.  

BOBBI BROWN 2013 FRIENDS & FAMILY 20% Savings Starts APR 15th - APR 18th

Start saving those DOLLARS! This is the time of the year when most beauty companies and higher end department stores start having their annual Friends and Family Savings events or something similar. Sephora just hosted their Chic Week event (read more here), which ends Apr 22nd. Belk is gearing up for their week of beauty event which is in May, and today marks the start of the Bobbi Brown Friends and Family 20% Savings event.

Keep reading below for the rules and regulations regarding this event:

*20% discount and Free Standard Shipping with any $65+ order automatically applied at checkout. Offer available to U.S. residents only. Valid only at BobbiBrown.com through April 18, 2013 at 11:59PM ET. Offer may not be used in combination with any other offer or discounts. Offer applies to merchandise purchases only. Offer is not applicable to the purchase of eGift Certificates, pending purchases or purchases made prior to April 15, 2013 or after April 18, 2013. All purchases are subject to bank authorization prior to processing. Only authorized purchases will be processed and shipped. We reserve the right to cancel any order due to unauthorized, altered or ineligible use of offer and to modify or cancel any promotion due to system error or unforeseen problems. Ongoing offers are subject to change without notice. Other restrictions may apply.

NORDSTROM HAUL / SHOP SPREE

This is a recent haul of some items that I ordered from Nordstrom.com. The first item in my basket was the Guerlain Meteorites in Perles Du Dragon which is part of the Guerlain Holiday collection. I've never tried any of the Guerlain products before so I'm not quite sure what to expect quality wise from this brand. Although I didn't let that stop me from getting the meteorites which look absolutely gorgeous in their tin container. Anyway, when making a Guerlain purchase you receive a sample size of the Guerlain Meteorites Perles Light Diffusing Perfecting Primer. Since I am fairly new to this brand I'm super excited to try this product as well. The last item I was looking for was the Bobbi Brown Bronzer Blush Duo powder. The Duo powder was part of the Desert Twilight collection which was released in the Summer but is part of their Fall 2012 collection. I had been scouring department stores and online for the duo but I hadn't had much success but I eventually found it on the Nordstrom website. The blush part of the duo powder is Bahama Brown and the bronzer side is Pink Peony. The two together are supposed to create a gorgeous glow that enhances your all-over appearance while the blush is said to give a nice pop of color to the cheeks. However, I'm so fair skinned that I plan on doing the exact opposite and will be using the Bahama Brown as my bronzer and the Pink Peony as my blush.

Check below for swatches and prices for each of the items.

Guerlain Meteorites in Perles Du Dragon $58.00 USD

My initial reaction or my first thought was "Is this all that there is" and then I asked "Why wasn't this sealed". It looked like what few meteorites there were barely filled the tin container. It seemed as though more could have been added seeing as how much room was still remaining. Also, it would have been nice to have a sealed cover for the product because there was a light dusting of powder that coated the inside of the lid and it also coated the sponge cover that sits on top of the meteorites. Overall this is a nice product but I'm not sure that I would repurchase it again.

Guerlain Meteorites Perles Light Diffusing Perfecting Primer

I must say that I am totally weird-ed out by this next product. If you look closely you see a liquid solution that the primer meteorites float around in. I just don't understand the whole concept behind this product. Do the primer meteorites dissolve or melt in the liquid solution? How does this work, does it need to be shaken, or how much should be used per each application? I need some answers!!!    

Bobbi Brown Bronzer Blush Duo powder $36.00 USD

I'm going to be totally honest with you about this last product. When I first saw the duo I truly believed the bronzer was the Bahama Brown and the blush was Pink Peony. I mean seriously! Who would ever think something as pink as Pink Peony would ever, EVER pass as a bronzer - definitely not me! Don't get me wrong, I still like the duo but I think I will be more inclined to use it as I had originally planned.

Another benefit to shopping online is using Ebates. You can earn cash back on all your purchases when you shop at qualifying websites / stores. Here's a little more info for you about the program:

How Ebates Works

Ebates is the pioneer and leader of online cash back shopping. Ebates pays members cash back every time they shop online as well as provide them with the best coupons and deals online. Founded in 1998, Ebates has paid over $85,000,000 in cash to its members. That's why over 12 million people have joined Ebates, and we're excited you are ready to start earning cash back, too.

Here is my personal referral link so that you can start earning cash back too: EBATES REFERRAL LINK