Bobbi Brown BB Cream SPF 35

everythingbobbi.com

I'm still on a mission to find the perfect BB Cream for myself. I've never really owned (a full coverage) foundation. The first and last time I had foundation on my face was for my matric dance when I had my makeup done. I don't like it. Or I don't like the idea of the "masking" effect, rather. Yes, I know we've come a long way and there are super stuff on the market that "melts" into your face and becomes a "second skin". Maybe I'm just hesitant because I have a post-acne reactive skin. Either way, I prefer tinted moisturizers, and now BB creams. Plus, I'm a sucker for multi-purpose products.

Bobbi Brown BB Cream SPF 35 is said to cover imperfections and, therefore, even skin tone; moisturize and control oil; brighten skin instantly and over time; help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and help protect against UVA/UVB radiation.

I haven't worn this on it's own (without sunscreen underneath) during the day so I can't really comment on the protection element, but it definitely provides some cover, moisturizes and brightens. I'm not entirely convinced on the oil control factor, as my forehead can get oily over time, and I've noticed this while wearing this BB cream. However, I don't think it's anything a little powder can't fix, and I'm hardly ever without blotting sheets. I'm not big on powder.

It comes in 5 shades: Extra Light, Light, Fair, Medium, and Medium to Dark. At first glance, I assumed I'd be the Fair, but after testing it (and the Medium) on my skin, with much appreciated help from one of the assistants at Bobbi Brown, I'm the "Medium to Dark" shade. There wasn't anything darker, but it works for me.

I swatched it next to a little blemish, see?

Made sure I spread it over the blemish.

Completely blended. A bit pink on my hand, I know. But, blemish covered.

It has a light-to-medium texture, with no obvious scent, and would probably be best applied with warm fingers. I often use a foundation brush to apply this, but I find I look a bit like a pastry that has just been brushed with melted butter or egg yolk: a bit wet and slightly yellow. So, I always end up using my fingers to blend it into my hairline and all along the "perimeter" of my face, right down to my jawline. I also do this above my brows and on the sides of my nose. It just looks better once I've gone over it gently with my fingers and once I do it, it really looks like it just "melts" into my skin.

On first application, before blending completely, it looks like it has yellow undertones (hence the butter/egg yolk brushing), which is great, because I have yellow undertones, so matchy-matchy, right?. But on my hand it looks pinkish. The pink is not obvious on my face, though, and I suppose it contributes to brightening up my face. Also, the yellow undertones help cover any under-eye blueness, and some slightly green veins showing through the delicate skin around the eyes. Mine are quite obvious, and I didn't need to use concealer with this Bobbi Brown BB cream. I just dabbed a little more (a second layer, as such) BB cream over the visible veins, and they were gone. Gone gone. Looked completely covered, but still natural, like I never had it to begin with.

It provides a smooth, medium coverage. My face looks matte but not dry, and usually by the time I've applied the rest of my makeup, it looks more natural and glowy, but not shiny. If you want a more matte look, you could apply powder, but as mentioned above, I don't love powder. I know it sets your makeup, etc, but I'm a minimalist, and I don't like looking too matte. I like the radiant, glowy, I-just-moisturized look.

Overall, I like it, and it looks natural on photos, with minimal flashback, despite the high SPF. Unfortunately, I can't use this everyday. I've been using it for almost 4 months and noticed that I start breaking out when I use this on consecutive days for longer than 2-3 days. It may be a little too rich for my combination skin, so I save it for "special occasions." Having said that, I think this would be great for someone with a normal-to-dry skin.

Have you tried this one? How does it work for you? What are your favourite BB Creams?

Miss B

BB Creams

For those who are still in search of great, affordable BB creams, Revlon and Rimmel's versions are now available in SA.

Revlon Photo Ready BB Cream Skin Perfector

Rimmel BB Cream 9-in-1 Skin Perfecting Super Makeup

You can read Leigh's review at Lipgloss Is My Life. Love her!!!

What BB creams do you use and love?

I can't wait for L'oreal and Maybelline's BB Creams to get here.

Miss B

In the nude...

I absolutely love nude eyeliners and I think that it is an essential for your cosmetic bag. It can be worn on the upper eye lid or the "Water line" of your lower lid (the part that many people get wrong by wearing their dark eyeliner there everyday. Liner applied to the lower lid, especially darker liners, should be applied at the lower lash line i.e. between/on/over the hairs, NOT(!) on your waterline.) Nude liners can make your eyes look bigger and/or brighter, especially when the rest of your eye makeup is dark as in the very popular (and proving to be timeless) smokey-eye. White eyeliners are also often used for this but white liners have lost me...YEARS AGO...when it was still cool to wear it on the upper eyelid and then go to a disco/party/rave/dark room and stand under a UV light and think you're cool. (No, I've never been in a dark room, so if there are no UV lights present, I'm sorry. And no, I didn't do such crap and think I was cool. *rolls eyes*) 

You can see the nude liner on the waterline clearly,. It looks natural compared to the white shadow on her upper lids. This could look good with a white liner instead of a nude, but mostly for such photos, I think. Not for everyday.

The thing about wearing white eyeliner on your water line is that it's obvious, and I hate seeing it. It looks tacky and untidy (even cheap)...most of the time. It can look great and serve a purpose, but you have to find the right white liner that isn't too soft, pasty, and heavy...unless of course that's what you're going for. I realize that some people wear white eyeliner for reasons other than brightening or making one's eyes "pop". 

White Liner (barf)

I maintain that a nude eyeliner can do all of above...but better than a white liner. It's less harsh and more natural. And very few people have snow white eyeballs where this can actually look natural.

It can be used everyday with ANY makeup look, just remember to remove it before bed as you would usually do with makeup. Dip a cue-tip in eye makeup remover, and gently rub the cue-tip over your waterline. Remember, your eye-makeup remover shouldn't burn or sting your eyes, if this happens, use a cue-tip dampened in luke-warm water instead. Repeat, until cue-tip doesn't show any makeup residue after wiping.

It's great with dark/heavy upper lids, and it's often better than not using anything on the lower lid at all.

Also great for a completely nude eye...with a bright lip colour or baby pink. If you go with baby pink, make sure you wear a great blush, so you don't look washed out with all the nude and muted colours.

My favourite nude liner is Essence Kajal Pencil no.19 All I Want. It is very soft, so use with a light hand, which you should be doing anyway, as your eye area is very delicate, and you should never use a lot of pressure when applying eye makeup (or removing it).

If you'd like something more glam for night-time or an event, you could also try an iridescent nude or a gold, but keep it to a light gold, such as a champagne-gold or yellow golds as opposed to your more orangey-golds. For this, I love MAC's Eye Kohl in Powersurge.

One of my favourite liners ever.

How gorgeous?!

Be daring...go nude! :-)

Miss B

The 7 Most Flattering makeup colours for Autumn...

The 7 most flattering makeup colours for Autumn according to allure.com:


1. Violet eyeliner: Line upper and lower lids. For a smokey effect, just smudge it outwards. "Violet makes brown eyes richer, greens greener, and blues more intense," says makeup genius, Tom Pecheux. This is something you just have to do, at least once. I'd also recommend trying a shade or two darker and/or lighter if you're not crazy about violet. I love a fuchsia-lilac purple.

Bourjois Khol Pencil

Navy and gold eye shadows: Great for brown-eyed girls. "Brush it (navy) across lids, into the crease, and past the outer corners. Finish by spreading gold beneath the lower lashes." Ok, so it's not blatantly obvious on Katy Perry. You can use more eye shadow than her makeup artist did for that picture. You can also add gold shadow to the inner corners of your eye and blend it into the navy, as you would for a smokey-eye.

Magenta lipstick: Suits everyone. Keep the rest of your makeup, simple. Just add mascara. Wear this like you would a red lipstick. Same rules apply.

Blackened green eye shadow: "It's striking for evening with pale or burgundy lips." I really like this colour. If you have brown eyes, this can accentuate them. 

Russet red blush: Apply light-handedly. It's very easy to overdo red. "...dust the blush onto the apples of cheeks with a circular motion and sweep up along cheekbones." I honestly don't get red blush. I don't like it. If you like it and can pull it off, well done. If you're two-minded, don't bother. I'm sure a natural colour blush for your complexion will do just fine.

Sea-foam green eye shadow: "Either draw a very thin line along your upper lashes or spread the color all over the lids," advises Pecheux. If you're a little more daring, you may extend this to the lower lid, but keep the line very neat, as fine as possible and as close to your lower lashes as you can get it without poking your eye out.

Baby pink gloss: It is super feminine and compliments most makeup styles.

How gross are those nails?!

Remember: Do not do all these trends at once. You can, however, do the baby pink gloss with anything.

Miss B