Review: Bobbi Brown Shimmer Lip Gloss

I realise belatedly that eyeshadow and blush in neutral brown-tones, oranges and plums don't really do me any favours. I look very washed out, tired and sallow. (Ugh, I have a couple of brown eyeshadow palettes!) However, I still like brownish/nude lip colours, so this Bobbi Brown Shimmer Lip Gloss in Rose Sugar is a favourite colour of mine. This is how it looks on my lips. Now the colour is about the only thing I like about this lip gloss. I'm basically a gloss person because I don't like the feel of lipstick, and this lip gloss is so dry and sticky that it feels almost lipstick-like. While this gives it more lasting power, it also tends to dry out my lips and there were occasions when the gloss made my lips peel. I also don't like the brush applicator that comes in this gloss. I generally prefer brush applicators to sponge ones, but the Bobbi Brown brush applicator is badly designed. The brush splayed open right from the start, from a brand new bottle, and I had to cut off the bits sticking out so that it could go back into the tube neatly. I noticed some of the brushes at the Bobbi Brown counter were also in this condition. The gloss also comes in a very small tube, only 4.2ml. There's a slight fragrance but it's quite bearable. However, I doubt I will buy another tube of this gloss. I prefer gloss that is more liquid and moisturising, and I also don't mind if the gloss doesn't last long, since I remove then reapply after eating or drinking anyway. © Copyright. All rights reserved.

Bobbi Brown Make Up Session #1

I went for my first Bobbi Brown makeup session today at Isetan Scotts Bobbi Brown counter. Basically I wanted to get the Makeup Artist to help me find the right concealor-corrector-brightener combination. I tell you, she's fantastic! I keep forgetting to ask her name though. It's just lucky that every time I go to the counter, she's there. She's a very small and cute young lady with short hair. Very friendly and helpful, with an unassuming air. The first session includes Skin Care, Foundation-Powder, Concealor and Blush. Well anyway, she put on a corrector for me and then a concealor on one eye. And I tried it for myself on the other eye. And I learnt that I am really using too little. She told me I need to use more and not be afraid to use more. I realise it's not just the colour or the product but the skill in application as well. So I really need to practise. The combination she used on me really works but still a little darkness shows through and she said, "You can conceal but if it's really dark, it can't really all go away." Still, it's better than anything I've done myself. I am still undecided if I should spend money on a corrector ... hahaa ... I've overspent during Christmas. I will try practising with what I have first then think abit more about whether to buy the corrector. I might end up getting it in a few days because I have a $10 voucher from Isetan I could use to off-set the price. When she put on the blush for me, I also realised I've been just using too little blush! And pink really suits me more ... Furthermore, today, I realised brown eyeshadow makes my eyes look worse! I always thought natural is better for me, but I now realise brighter colours like lilac, purple and blue freshen up my look and neutralise my dark, heavy lidded eyes. It's good, I learnt so much! Sigh... I just bought a couple of Bobbi Brown neutral-brown palettes. What do I do now? Grrr. © Copyright. All rights reserved.

Bobbi Brown: How to Apply Eye Brightener and Concealor

When I purchased my Bobbi Brown eye brightener, the SA showed me how to use it with concealer. Here, I'll try to recap what she taught me with as good a description as possible, I'm not putting up any photos, because I normally only apply makeup just before I leave the house and I don't have time to do a set of step-by-step photos. Also, my abilities are limited. Even though I try to replicate what the SA taught me, I'm not always successful. Just yesterday, I thought I did quite a good job with the eye brightener and concealor, but today, I seem to have botched it. I think I just need more practice. Ok, on to the step-by-step description:

1. The SA applied moisturiser to soften and hydrate my undereye.
2. Then, she used a Bobbi Brown concealor brush to dip and pick up a little eye brightener. She told me I could use any small eyeshadow brush with a compact brush head approximately the same size as the Bobbi Brown concealor brush.
3. She dotted the eye brightener below my eyes, then blended lightly and also blended downwards toward the cheek area.
4. After blending, she used her finger to pat and even out the eye brightener a little more.
5. Not all my dark shadows are covered after this, so she picked up concealor with the concealor brush and dabbed it on only the darkest areas. Again blending carefully and lightly, then pat to even out.
6. Use only a little (she told me not too much) powder to set. She used a small powder brush to pick up the powder and brush it on lightly.

This method has helped to create a brighter eye area for me and also conceal my dark circles rather more effectively than when I was only using concealor (Thank you Fuzkittie for the recommendation!). Now it's just up to me to practise so I can do it quickly and achieve a consistent good result.

By the way, I don't use the Bobbi Brown cream concealor. I am using the Mac Select Moisture Cover which I bought previously and my Mac Studio Perfect Powder Foundation or Benefit Georgia (the orange-peach-pink combination seems to work best for my dark circles).

Cream concealors tend to settle thickly and cake up on my dry skin, so I avoid them like a plague. Fortunately the Bobbi Brown eye brightener is more liquid and is moisturising enough for me to use with comfort. © Copyright. All rights reserved.

Bobbi Brown Counters

I want to take this opportunity to talk about my experiences at Bobbi Brown counters, before I continue with my report on Kose to complete my review on Japanese brand counters. Bobbi Brown, Robinsons I was shopping on Sunday at Robinsons and went to the Bobbi Brown counter to look for the brightener that Fuzkittie recommended. There was one male SA there, and no other SA there, so I approached him but he seemed to be thinking about something. He was distant and gestured to me the general vicinty where the concealors were located, together with all the foundation and powders. So, I didn't know better, picked up a concealor and asked him, "Oh, so this the eye brightener?" He shook his head and gestured in another direction to indicate the brightener is somewhere else. I tried to be friendly and say I needed some explanation on how to use it, but he didn't show me! Strange. He also didn't try to help me choose the appropriate colour either. I was really surprised at how unfriendly and unprofessional he was. So I walked away after a while, looking really disgusted at him and he ignored me! LOL. When I returned to Robinson's today, I was in my office wear, obviously dressed better than I was on Saturday and he did a double take to look at me with recognition when I was at the counter, but right after that he purposefully looked away! I stood there for a while, but though there were other SAs there today, they were busy. Though that male SA wasn't busy like the other SAs there, he didn't bother to come up ask if I needed help. So, after a while, I didn't want to spend anymore time at the counter and I walked away. Sometimes, it just takes ONE bad SA to turn a customer off. :( Bobbi Brown, Takashimaya I was at this counter a few weeks ago, same time I was looking at the items at the Kose and Kanebo counters. At that time, I was looking for a concealor. The SA, a female, showed me the recommended concealor colour and left it at that. I didn't quite understand her sales method ... HAahaaha because I stood there, and then had to ask her if I could try it ... I guess Bobbi Brown is such a famous brand that the SA is surprised anyone would need explanations or testing? LOL. Anyway, this SA wasn't such a big put off. At least she was quite helpful. When I asked her about the Shimmering Nudes eye palette and it wasn't available at that counter, she took the initiative to call the Isetan counter to do a check. I ended up buying a Mac concealor that day when I walked by Tangs on the way over to Isetan! It shows what sort of shopper I am ... and how stores can lose a sale based on such inane reasons. Bobbi Brown, Isetan Scotts I bought today's Bobbi Brown haul from the Isetan Scotts counter, in a span of 15-20 minutes, even though I don't have a rebate/discount at Isetan like I do at Robinsons (I do plan to correct this, I'm applying for an Isetan rebate card! LOL.) I intended to buy something all those times (described above) I went to Bobbi Brown counters but I eventually bought something today because the SA took time to help me. First of all, when I asked her about the brightener, she not only pointed it out to me but also showed me the recommended colour, and demonstrated how to put the brightener on. She tried the brightener and concealor on my undereye circles to show how it will work. When I told her about cakey concealor, she showed me how to apply it a different way and explain how to do it so it will be less cakey. It made alot of difference, I was ofcourse convinced by the facts that looked back at me from the mirrow and decided I will buy the brightener. When I asked her about the Bobbi Brown Shimmering Nudes eye palette, she told me there are a few pieces of it left and showed me how it could be applied. Then she compared it with the new Lip and Eye palette, explaining it's more fun and though shimmery, it's sheer so can be used for day time also. I was sold on the newer palette, bought it. I also wanted a lip gloss and she spent time recommending different colours, so I bought one too when I found one I liked. That was how I ended up spending enough to get a Bobbi Brown Club membership. I think I'm not much different from most customers, am I? I just need some prompting to help me decide on my purchases. © Copyright. All rights reserved.

Bobbi Brown Haul

After work today, I returned That Darned Bling Bling Bag and got a refund. Then I walked to another department store and bought these from Bobbi Brown. Ohoh I seriously don't know how to save money, do I? So, now I'm a Bobbi Brown Club member and I have 6 free makeup lessons to attend! I never knew this, but if you spend SG$150 you can become a club member and receive these makeup lessons: (1) Beautiful skin, (2) Perfect brow, (3) Everything about eyes, (4) Natural blush, (5) Perfect lip, (6) Conceal and cover up and finally a complimentary Makeover or Brow Grooming. Nice huh? On top of this, if you gather 500 points ($1 per point), you get a lifetime membership and can redeem stuff from your points. Cool. The SA showed me a better way to apply the brightener and concealor (I have a separate report on this that will be coming up in the next post). And, I totally love the palette and lip gloss! They are so me, so terribly colourless and monotonous, aren't they? Left on my own, I'm sure I'll use them in such a way that no one knows I'm using any makeup at all. Ugh, the bane of my life! I hope I have the time to go for these classes and learn some updated makeup styles. A little personal history: When I was 18, just after Junior College (our equivalent of American High Schools), my parents sent me for a grooming class, so I can walk, talk, eat and dress properly (ie. know how to be a nice in society). LOL!! Though I graduated well enough from that, I think my personality is too strong and I never did get into the highly-groomed woman role, preferring a more natural style. It's only recently that I find myself revisiting the idea of looking more polished. Finally, I have some news to share. I was at the Kose counter at Takashimaya and found out something. This might be old news to Kose fans in Singapore, but the SA told me Esprique will be coming to Singapore sometime next year! Yeah! © Copyright. All rights reserved.