Bobbi Brown Marrakesh Chic Collection: New Lip Shades

There's a lot to love in Bobbi Brown's new Marrakesh Chic Collection for Fall 2011. I discovered three new lip shades, in three different lipstick formulas, that I like for fall even more than my first purchase, Violet Glaze Metallic Lip Color.

There were two new Metallic Lip Colors. I fell in love with Jewel Red ($23). For red phobes, let me say up front that it's not exactly red on the lips. Jewel Red (#26) is a glorious rose with gold shimmer. It may be the prettiest of the beautiful bunch. Metallic Lip Color combines high-shine emollients and light-reflective pearls for multidimensional shimmer that has a soft and creamy feel as it provides medium coverage.

Bobbi Brown's newest lipstick formula is Rich Lip Color SPF 12 ($23). I purchased Desert Rose (#25). The "heather rose" is extremely pretty on my lips. Rich Lip Color combines lip color pigments with a clear base to deliver pure, crisp color with just one swipe. It's a creamy long-lasting formula that provides medium-to-full coverage.

There are two "very new" shades in my "old favorite" Creamy Lip Color ($23): Pale Plum and Pink Blossom. I purchased Pale Plum (#63). Creamy Lip Color delivers rich color with comfortable, long-lasting wear, a soft, creamy shine, and medium coverage. With emollient shea butter and plant-derived skin conditioners, this fabulous lipstick provides softness and moisture as advertised.

I think all three of my newest Bobbi Brown lip colors are stunning. I took my swatch photos in full sun to show you the shades. Granted, the sun adds some shimmer to the colors, but they all shine without help.

I swatched in numeric order, so Desert Rose is shown at the top of my arm, Jewel Red in the middle, and Pale Plum at the bottom. I applied each shade heavily. Color-wise, my photo at right may be just a tad too warm.

Desert Rose is a stunning mauve-rose shade that complements all the new eye colors extremely well. Jewel Red may look red on my arm, but on my lips it's a rich, red-toned rose. It's semi-sheer, which makes it beautifully wearable for me. Pale Plum isn't all that pale - or all that plum. I'd describe it as a medium rose that should work for everyone, working its creamy magic when you wear it.

These new shades are a fabulous addition to Bobbi Brown's already-expansive collection of lip colors. With lipsticks available in multiple formulas, there's bound to be at least one that excites you. They are available at Bobbi Brown counters now, and you can also see them at the Bobbi Brown Web site. There's a nice Bobbi Brown gift with purchase during Beauty Week at Neiman Marcus.

I purchased a few of the new Rich Color Eye Shadows. I'll show them to you soon.

Photo at top courtesy of Bobbi Brown; other photos by Best things in Beauty

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Bobbi Brown Violet Glaze Metallic Lip Color from Marrakesh Chic Fall 2011 Collection

Shimmer like you've never seen or felt before. Bobbi Brown's Metallic Lip Color ($23) features a flattering combination of high-shine emollients and light-reflective pearls. This creamy lipstick feels soft and comfortable on the lips and offers medium coverage.



Violet Glaze is featured in Bobbi Brown's Marrakesh Chic fall collection. Bobbi Brown created this collection with inspiration from the days of her week-long bicycle tour in Morocco. There are new, limited-edition Rich Color Eye Shadows and lipsticks in multiple Bobbi Brown formulas. Since I'm drawn to the metallics, Violet Glaze was a must-try.



I purchased Violet Glaze from Neiman Marcus sight unseen and, fortunately, I like it. It's a little bit brighter than the shades I live in, but I'll adapt. Would I have bought it if I had swatched first? Maybe not, but I know I'm too conservative.



Anyone who can wear blue-toned, cool pinks should check it out. As our seasons become boundless in terms of color choices, Violet Glaze offers a way to brighten your face when wearing a plum smoky eye - just the type featured in Bobbi's promotional photos for the Marrakesh Chic Collection.



My swatch photos were taken in full sun. In the photo above right, my arm was turned slightly away from the sun. Otherwise, the sparkles from the sun's reflection would have blinded you. In my swatch at the left, the sun hit my arm more directly, hence the higher shimmer level. On my lips, I would describe the shade as a shimmering violet pink. It's not a shade I'd call "metallic."



There is something for everyone in Bobbi Brown's new collection for fall. I know it's available at Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom, so it's probably available at your favorite Bobbi Brown counter.



Photo at top courtesy of Nordstrom; swatch photos by Best Things in Beauty

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Bobbi Brown Tailored Collection - Neiman Marcus Exclusive

Like a perfectly tailored pinstripe suit, Bobbi Brown's Tailored Collection ($100), a Neiman Marcus exclusive, telegraphs "polished, office-appropriate chic." In addition to a sleek palette filled with Bobbi's flattering and versatile shades for your eyes and lips, it features Illuminating Bronzer Powder, Blush, and Lash Glamour Extreme Lengthening Mascara to complete a chic look.



The collection also includes three mini-sized makeup brushes: a dual-ended Eye Shadow/Eye Liner Brush, a mini Lip Brush, and mini Face Blender Brush (one of my faves - one can never have too many of these). These brushes come with short handles making them perfect for travel and on-the-go makeup application.



Everything comes perfectly packed in a pinstriped makeup case with a divider to keep them separate.



The pinstriped Tailored Face Palette includes the following colors.

• Navajo Eye Shadow (creamy pinkish white)
• Petal Shimmer Wash Eye Shadow (light pink)
• Gray Pearl Shimmer Wash Eye Shadow (medium gray)
• Caviar Eye Shadow (blackest brown)
• Antigua Illuminating Bronzing Powder (light pink bronze)
• Peony Blush (bright pink)
• Soiree Pink Glitter Lip Gloss (pale pink)
• Nude Pink Lip Gloss (neutral pink)
• Pink Bouquet Glitter Lip Gloss (rosy pink)

Most of the colors are soft and subtle, as you will see from my swatch photos below. I took my photos in full sun, I applied all the shades heavily for these photos. The eye shades and cheek shades were applied with a sponge-tipped applicator. The lip shades were applied with the handy mini Lip Brush that comes in the set. I did not swatch the mascara, which is black.



You won't be able to see Navajo eye shadow at the top of my arm. I could barely see it, no matter how much I applied. It matches my skin perfectly, masking imperfections and redness, but without adding color. It's a perfect base shade. The shimmering pink Petal Shimmer Wash is a baby pink shadow - very pretty, although it may not be my best shade. The two greys in the group, Gray Pearl Shimmer Wash and Caviar, will give you options for accenting or lining your eyes. My personal favorite is Gray Pearl.



The three lip glosses are very light. Soiree Pink Glitter is shown at the top of my arm, Nude Pink in the middle, and Pink Bouquet Glitter at the bottom. Pink Bouquet Glitter is the only one of the three I could wear without lipstick underneath. I really like that lip brush, though!



The cheek shades are both very nice. My favorite is Antigua, which is a gorgeous warm pink bronze shade. It's perfect as a blush on me. I bought it the second Bobbi Brown introduced it. Peony Blush is a bit bright. I have to apply it with a very light hand.



I purchased this collection when it was still in pre-sale at Neiman Marcus at Mazza Galleria. I'm glad to have it. It's one of those handy palettes with brushes that you might want to keep in your desk drawer at the office (you never know when you'll have to freshen your makeup). It will come in handy. It's one of those classics you can always use.



There are instructions for application, should you need them, at neimanmarcus.com. You can purchase the Tailored Collection there or at your favorite Neiman Marcus store.



Photo at top courtesy of Neiman Marcus; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

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New Shades: Bobbi Brown Creamy Lip Color

There are five new shades available in my all-time favorite Bobbi Brown lipstick! While I've always loved Bobbi Brown's lipsticks (and glosses), the Creamy Lip Colors ($23) feel so good on my lips, I reach for them often.

Creamy Lip Color combines rich color with a creamy shine formula. It offers comfortable, relatively long-lasting wear. With emollient shea butter and plant-derived skin conditioners, the lovely formula provides the prefect balance between color and treatment.

The five new shades are listed below. I purchased three shades, all described and shown to me as new by the product specialist. Unfortunately, only one of those rung for me was new, Washed Seashell (#52). Not sure how that happened, but I like one of the two others, Twilight, very much. I just can't show you as many new shades as I had hoped. You can see little swatches on the top row of the selections at Bobbi Brown's Web site.

• Burnt Sugar, bronze nude
• Hibiscus, bright candy pink
• Pale Petal, medium blue-toned pink
• Washed Seashell, shimmering, medium nude-toned pink
• Tiger Lily, shimmering medium coral

It's so hot out, I was afraid to roll the shades out too far for the photo. Lipsticks soften very quickly in our glaring sunshine and heat. Retro Pink is shown at left, Twilight in the center, and Washed Seashell at right.

The three shades are shown on my arm, with Washed Seashell (#52) at the top, Twilight (#45) in the center, and Retro Pink (#33) at the bottom. You can see that Washed Seashell is a warm pink, perfect for summer. Twilight represents one of my favorite brown lipstick shades. It adds a nice natural tone to my pink lips. Retro Pink is definitely light - lighter than my usual suspects - and I don't think it's the shade I selected.

The rep had told me that the new shades had the highest ID numbers, and #33 is not high. I think I had asked for Pale Petal. I'm going to have to start consulting my iPhone when shopping. I'm not "big" on returning "used" makeup, so I'm still considering whether to keep Retro Pink or not. I have too many shades like it.

For someone who doesn't write a blog, whether the shades are new or pre-existing shouldn't matter. I went to Neiman Marcus to see the new ones; hence my dismay. If you've never tried Creamy Lip Color, check out all the shades. If you are looking for new shades, make sure to take the list above with you on your shopping trip.

Photo at top courtesy of Bobbi Brown; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

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New Bobbi Brown High Shimmer Lip Gloss

New from Bobbi Brown, High Shimmer Lip Gloss ($23) "combines gorgeous, light-catching shimmer with lasting, non-sticky shine. Made with fine pearls and clear pigments, High Shimmer Lip Gloss gives lips beautiful, brilliant dimension, and it’s enriched with emollients and vitamins C and E to moisturize, condition, and protect lips, so they feel as good as they look."

"Gorgeous and super-sparkly, this gloss is full fun." - Bobbi Brown

Indeed, High Shimmer Lip Gloss offers a melange of shimmering hues in each tube, with multidimensional sparkles that contribute to each gorgeous shade. See if you can select just one.

Whether you wear Bobbi Brown's new gloss on its own or on top of your favorite lipstick, the new tapered applicator will allow you to apply it easily. No more struggling to put those little brushes back into the tube without irrevocably splaying them!

I saw the new display yesterday at Neiman Marcus. I could have brought home one of each shade - they were that pretty! Instead, I decided to select no more than three, so I stood and tested and agonized for awhile before selecting three shades, all for different reasons.

Canary (#5) is pure gold with golden sparkles. It's a fabulous topper. I'm sure it will come in handy. Naked Plum (#7) is a mauve-leaning pink (not plum really) that's a drop-dead perfect shade for me. Plum Gold (#9), burgundy-plum with a bronze sparkle, will be my dark shade - the one I can toss on without any lipstick and have magnificent color. In fact, I can't imagine needing lip color under Plum Gold; it's extremely pigmented. There are a few more shades that are still calling my name today, so I suspect I'll go back for more someday.

I took my swatch photos in direct morning sunshine, hoping that you would be able to see the sparkling loveliness of the shades, with the sun's rays bouncing off the colors. Canary is at the top; Naked Plum is in the middle; and Plum Gold is shown at the bottom of my arm. In the first photo, I turned my arm away from the sun so that the left side of each swatch shows the reflection, but the right is less direct. In my second photo below right, my arm directly faced the sun.

Look at the beautiful shimmer! These are must-have lip glosses. They have what I will call a heavy texture - not sticky, but you can feel them on your lips. As with most long-lasting glosses these days, if you can feel them, you're likely to have some color left a half-hour after you apply them. Many of the light-as-air glosses are gone in minutes. I'm sure that challenges cosmetics companies.

Bobbi Brown sent out an e-mail about the new High Shimmer Lip Glosses this morning, and you can see them online at the Bobbi Brown Web site. They arrived at Neiman Marcus Tysons Galleria yesterday. That's where I bought mine. If they are not at other Bobbi Brown counters, they will be very soon. Call before you go.

Photo at top courtesy of Bobbi Brown; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

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Bobbi Brown Tortoise Shell Collection for Fall 2011 - Beach High Shimmer Lip Gloss

Even though Bobbi Brown's new Tortoise Shell Collection focuses on the eyes, what better way to draw in others' eyes than with a pretty lip? Bobbi has just the thing for you! From two new limited-edition shades of Rich Lip Color SPF 12 to three shades of High Shimmer Lip Gloss, you'll have a tough choice to make if you're in a frugal mood. Not only that, there is a snazzy set of mini brushes to tempt you. What's a gal to do? Cave!


I was tempted to purchase this Tortoise Shell Mini Brush Set ($55) even though I have enough Bobbi Brown brushes to last for life. It's so pretty! The tortoise shell case and brown handles lend a special touch to Bobbi's fabulous brushes.

When Rich Lip Color SPF 12 ($22) was introduced earlier this year, I bought a lot of shades. Last weekend, I had to tell myself, "You don't need more of them!" Oh, how I wanted at least one. I think I will purchase one of the two (Soft Nude or Twig) in early July. I wasn't as strong when it came to the High Shimmer Lip Glosses ($22). Bare Sparkle, Beach, and Citrus beckoned. Citrus is a pre-existing shade. Bare Sparkle and Beach are new.

Bobbi’s new lip gloss combines gorgeous, light-catching shimmer with lasting, non-sticky shine. Made with fine pearls and clear pigments, High Shimmer Lip Gloss stays color-true and gives lips beautiful, brilliant dimension. Plus it’s enriched with emollients and vitamins C and E to moisturize, condition, and protect lips - so they feel as good as they look. Whether you wear it on its own or on top of your favorite lipstick, the new tapered sponge applicator lets you apply it like a pro. I am quite pleased with Bobbi's new applicators. I found the old brushes difficult. They always got splayed after a few uses. It was too much trouble, sometimes impossible, to precisely aim the wand into the tube to ensure that the brush would stay in pristine shape. This is a marvelous change!

I selected Beach (#16), a beautiful, shimmering brown shade with a hint of mauve on the skin. It's got personality. It was also the darkest of the two new shades, and I like a little color in my gloss.

Look at these swatch photos and tell me Beach doesn't have a personality. It adapts to light and its surroundings, pulling first one tint, then another, to draw attention to your lips. The finish is a glossy shimmer, reflecting light with a liquid gleam. To see it is to want it. The hydrangeas are lovely too. They will be making frequent appearances here.

I applied Beach straight from its wand and tried to paint an even square on my arm. The photos were taken in sunlight, although I tried to vary the sun's angle in the photos. The shade and the shine are exquisite, whether in full-on or indirect sunlight. I may need to buy a second tube of this gloss. I want one for my bathroom, but I'm sure I'll feel compelled to keep one in my makeup bag.

Yesterday, I promised to show you a press photo of the Sand Tortoise Shell Eye Palette - the one I didn't buy. Like its sister in Bronze, which I swatched yesterday for you (gleefully), Sand is filled with neutrals, four of which are new and exclusive to the palette. Anyone who is drawn to matte neutrals (there are two metallic shades in Sand), will be thrilled with this wardrobe of neutrals for the eyes.
The Tortoise Shell Collection is available at Nordstrom Tysons Corner Center and Pentagon City. It's probably available at other Nordstrom stores now. It will have its grand opening on July 1 at Bobbi Brown online and Bobbi Brown counters. You'll be able to armchair shop or visit your favorite counter to purchase. Many of the pieces in the collection are limited editions.

Press photos courtesy of Bobbi Brown; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

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Bobbi Brown Tortoise Shell Collection for Fall 2011 - Bronze Tortoise Shell Eye Palette

I had a lovely surprise over the weekend - a Bobbi Brown collection I wasn't expecting yet arrived at Nordstrom. Among the new and featured items was this fabulous Bronze Tortoise Shell Eye Palette ($60). I gasped when I saw the display. Apparently, Nordstrom was lucky to get it early. It will be available at Bobbi Brown's Web site and Bobbi counters on July 1. I'm feeling lucky!

Like a great pair of eye glasses (and who doesn't love classic tortoise shell glasses?), Bobbi Brown's stunning collection is all about eyes. Inspired by her own tortoise shell frames, Bobbi designed the collection to complement, rather than compete with, your glasses. Stunning shadows in shades ranging from bronze to gold to espresso are housed in tortoise shell compacts with gold detailing. It was enough to make me pull out my gold tortoise frames and wear them.

There are two palettes, one fairly matte, and one with plenty of shimmer. You can guess I chose the shimmery Bronze Tortoise Shell Eye Palette. It took a nanosecond to pick my favorite of the two. Here are the shades in the palette - some new and exclusive to the palette, and some available in prior introductions.

• Banana Eye Shadow
• Gold Nugget Sparkle Eye Shadow (new)
  
• Bronze Metallic Eye Shadow (new)
  
• Olive Sparkle Eye Shadow (new)
  
• Tiger's Eye Metallic Eye Shadow (new)
  
• Espresso Eye Shadow
• Amber Shimmer Wash Eye Shadow (new)
  
• Copper Cocoa Shimmer Wash Eye Shadow

Steady my heart, there are only two shades that don't "excite" me - the two matte ones. Why am I not attracted to the age-appropriate shades as much as the more glamorous ones? Of course, Banana is a perfect base shade, and Espresso is a perfect liner, so they are essential shades. I am just familiar with them. That probably explains my blasé attitude. You need the basics, though, and Bobbi was wise to include them.

My photo of the two-level palette, taken in full sun, is just above right. The bottom "drawer" slides out from below the top level, making the palette compact. I swatched the shades for you, starting on the top level at top left, and moving clockwise - then moving on to the bottom drawer, starting again at the top left and swatching clockwise. My photos were taken in full sun.

I swatched in the order in which I listed the shadows above, and applied all shades with a sponge-tipped applicator. I can barely see Banana on my skin at the top, but the gorgeous Gold Nugget below it on my arm should be visible. The two shades on the top level that are utterly gorgeous are Bronze Metallic Eye Shadow and Olive Sparkle Eye Shadow. On the lower level, I am thrilled with Copper Cocoa Shimmer Wash Eye Shadow and Amber Shimmer Wash Eye Shadow.

I had to get at least one close-up photo of the shades. The shade at the top is the stunning Olive, and below it, top to bottom, are Tiger's Eye, Espresso, Amber, and Copper Cocoa. How pretty does it get?

This Bronze Tortoise Shell Eye Palette should be on your must-see list for shopping over the Fourth of July weekend! You'll be able to armchair shop at Bobbi Brown online or visit your favorite Bobbi Brown counter. If you can't wait, see if your own Nordstrom has the new collection. I suspect each department store, as is their habit these days, ordered a limited number of units, so your best bet, if you can't find it locally, will be to order from Bobbi Brown's Web site when the collection is posted.

There is another palette. I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the Sand Tortoise Shell Eye Palette. There's also a beautiful Tortoise Shell Mini Brush Set, new Rich Lip Colors with SPF 12, and new High Shimmer Lip Glosses. I purchased one of the glosses and will show it to you tomorrow morning, along with press photos of the rest of the collection. This is exciting!

Photos at top courtesy of Bobbi Brown; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

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Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick for Body Giveaway Contest

Bobbi Brown's Shimmer Brick for Body ($75) is a luxurious, radiant "bronzing/illuminating" powder that can be used to create head-to-toe glamour. The lightweight, silky powder can be used on arms, legs, décolleté, or anywhere you want to glow - including your face! The deluxe oversized compact features three shimmering bars of color. It's easy to select only one of the shades if you want because the compact is large.

I love mine (one of my all-time favorite shimmer bricks) and was able to find one for a giveaway contest. Actually, I purchased two when I found it - one for my "stock" and one for one of you. This Shimmer Brick for Body sold out at some of the stores and remains hard to find, although it's available at Bobbi Brown's Web site and Neiman Marcus (Bloomingdale's too, I think). There might be an outcry if the company discontinues it without a replacement!

How can you enter to win this contest? Easy! Just leave a comment here once. After you comment, feel free to send me an e-mail at bestthingsinbeautycontests@gmail.com and identify your comment. You can never be too careful about sharing an e-mail address you care about on a blog, so feel free to follow this step (an alternative is to code your e-mail, e.g., myname at gmail dot com, in your comment).

You can "earn" a second entry by tweeting this contest. Just make sure to include "@BTiBeauty" (without the quotes) in your tweet. I will tweet the contest later today, and you can simply retweet it to earn that second entry. You can earn a third entry by following the blog - either here or on Twitter (any entrant who is already a follower will automatically earn the follower point, but you can save me time by telling me you're a follower in your comment). I can't track followers through a third-party service, so you need to be on Google's list for me to verify the entry.

The deadline for entries will be Saturday, June 18, at midnight. The next morning, I will use a random number generator (random.org) to select the winner. I will e-mail the winner at that time. The winner will have 48 hours to reply to my message and provide a shipping address. After 48 hours, the prize will be forfeited, and another winner will be selected. Make sure to check your e-mail - and look in your spam folder - when the contest ends.

This contest will be open to anyone anywhere in the world. I will ship the prize uninsured (the insurance costs way too much). I will also provide proof of shipping, if necessary. I will take a chance that both mail systems - the winner's and mine - will deliver the box without loss, theft, or destruction!

My contests are a way to give back to you for all the friendship you bring me. Thank you - and good luck!

Photo courtesy of Neiman Marcus

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Bobbi Brown Bare to Bold Eye Palette Giveaway Contest

The Bare to Bold Eye Palette ($45) has six eye shadows and a dual-ended eye shadow brush/eyeliner brush. The palette was designed by Bobbi to give you a subtle, neutral look for day and a bold, sparkling look for evening. Anyone who wants one palette to dabble, or amplify her classic daytime look with hints of browns and sparkling greens for a bolder look, is going to love this palette. I have one I adore. I featured the palette in October.

Here are some instructions from Bobbi Brown. Finish these eye looks with mascara.

For a bare look...
Sweep Navajo eye shadow as a base color from the lash line to the brow bone using the eye shadow brush. Then, dust Cement eye shadow as a medium color on the lower lid up to the crease. For a pop of color, sweep Champagne Quartz into the inner corner to reflect light.

For a bold look...
Sweep Navajo eye shadow as a base color from the lash line to the brown bone using the eye shadow brush. Dampen the brush and apply Champagne Quartz into inner corner of the eye. Then, take Evergreen Sparkle eye shadow into the middle of the eye and blend well. Next, create an outer V to smoke out the eye with Quarry Shimmer Wash eye shadow. Pick up Caviar eye shadow onto the eyeliner side of the brush and line the upper and lower lash lines.

The compact includes these shades, along with the brush.

• Navajo, a creamy pink
• Cement, a gray beige
• Champagne Quartz Metallic, a golden peach pink
• Quarry Shimmer Wash, a shimmery taupe
• Evergreen Sparkle, a teal gray
• Caviar, a black brown

How can you enter to win this contest? Easy! Just leave a comment here once. After you comment, feel free to send me an e-mail at bestthingsinbeautycontests@gmail.com and identify your comment. You can never be too careful about sharing an e-mail address you care about on a blog, so feel free to follow this step (an alternative is to code your e-mail, e.g., myname at gmail dot com, in your comment).

You can "earn" a second entry by tweeting this contest. Just make sure to include "@BTiBeauty" (without the quotes) in your tweet. I will tweet the contest later today, and you can simply retweet it to earn that second entry. You can earn a third entry by following the blog - either here or on Twitter (any entrant who is already a follower will automatically earn the follower point, but you can save me time by telling me you're a follower in your comment). I can't track followers through a third-party service, so you need to be on Google's list for me to verify the entry.

The deadline for entries will be Saturday, June 4, at midnight. The next morning, I will use a random number generator (random.org)to select the winner. I will e-mail the winner at that time. The winner will have 48 hours to reply to my message and provide a shipping address. After 48 hours, the prize will be forfeited, and another winner will be selected. Make sure to check your e-mail - and look in your spam folder after the contest ends.

The contest is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada. Good luck!

Photo courtesy of QVC

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Bobbi Brown Pretty Natural SPF 15 Tinted Moisturizers

Bobbi Brown is featuring Pretty Natural SPF 15 Tinted Moisturizers ($40), one of which is now available in an oil-free formula. The perfect foundation alternative for summer, tinted moisturizers even skin tone and provide a dewy, healthy finish while moisturizing and hydrating the skin. Bobbi's SPF 15 provides broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection with colors that stay true and blend evenly.

The regular tinted moisturizer is designed for normal to dry skin, and the new oil-free version was created for women with oily skin who want sheer, lightweight coverage and sun protection in one. The refreshing, lightweight gel texture of the oil-free formula hydrates and soothes the skin, while a hint of coverage evens skin tone for a natural finish.

The formulas are packed with good-for-your-skin ingredients.

Here's how the regular formula stacks up.

• Sodium hyaluronate, a moisture magnet, instantly hydrates the skin.
• Petrolatum strengthens the skin's natural moisture barrier, improving its ability to lock in moisture.
• Jojoba oil conditions the skin and leaves it feeling soft and supple.
• Antioxidant vitamin E helps protect against free radical damage.
• The emollient texture applies evenly and blends well.

The oil-free formula offers these benefits.

• Sodium hyaluronate, a moisture magnet, instantly hydrates the skin.
• Emollients and humectants soften the skin and strengthen its natural moisture balance, improving its ability to lock in moisture.
• Collagen-boosting peptides help strengthen and firm the skin.
• Antioxidant vitamins C and E help protect the skin against free radical damage.
• Aloe, sucrose, and caffeine help calm, de-puff, and soothe the skin.

Even though I have dry skin, I want to try the oil-free formula. It sounds fabulous for summer.

Both formulas are available in nine shades, meaning there's a formula and shade for everyone. The tinted moisturizers are available at Bobbi Brown's Web site and will be at counters very soon - just in time for summer.

Photo courtesy of Bobbi Brown

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Bobbi Brown High Shimmer Lip Gloss

Oh happy day - the new Bobbi Brown High Shimmer Lip Glosses ($22) arrived at Neiman Marcus. These gorgeous glosses, in three pink and peachy colors, are perfect for summer's sun-kissed faces.

Bobbi's new lip gloss offers gorgeous shimmer and high shine that glistens in sunlight and adds dimension to the lips - with or without lipstick. Pearls and clear pigments provide a pretty glow. Emollients add moisture, while the vitamin-enriched formula, with vitamins C and E, conditions the lips and offers antioxidant protection.

The new size upgrade gives us larger glosses - and the new doe-foot applicator will please many of us who didn't love the old, stubby brushes. I had a conversation with a beauty professional who preferred the brushes, so my love of the doe-foots may not be universal.

The lightweight formula is not sticky or tacky, and it's long-lasting. While Bobbi Brown says the shine can last up to six hours, nothing lasts that long on me. Even so, I find the glosses long-lasting - for glosses. They feel great on the lips. To me, they seem lighter than the older glosses, one of which I wore yesterday, so the comparison is fresh.

The three new shades are Pink Tulle, Citrus, and Bellini. These shades are shown above and on my arm, top to bottom. My photo at right was taken in strong mid-day sun, and the one below was taken in indirect light. All three sparkly shades are pastel and pretty. Pink Tulle appears to be a cool pink in the tube. Citrus appears to be peach. Bellini appears to be a pink-nude. On the lips, all are light and sparkling, with enough difference in color that I had to have them all.

When I was at Neiman Marcus, everyone was raving over Citrus - the color of the season. One gal put on citrus over a lipstick that was orange. It looked gorgeous. I wouldn't be surprised if the initial shipment of these beauties sells out immediately, particularly since they are limited editions. Everyone was raving over them.

The new glosses are available at Bobbi Brown online and at Neiman Marcus. If they haven't arrived at other Bobbi Brown counters, they will soon. They were scheduled for an April launch.

Photos by BTiB

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Bobbi Brown Lash Glamour Extreme Lengthening Mascara

Lash Glamour Extreme Lengthening Mascara ($24), the newest mascara from Bobbi Brown, is fab-u-lous. No wonder 94% of Bobbi Brown's online customers would recommend it to a friend. It makes your lashes an eye-batting feature.

People Style Watch named it one of the best new mascaras last month. Bobbi’s new gold standard for ultra-long, perfectly separated lashes does everything it promises. The secret? An upgraded good-for-your lashes formula that works in synergy with a unique brush. The brush is like the new Bess-Lash one from Edward Bess. It has widely spaced brush combs, meaning there's a thin row of combs, then a blank space, then another thin row, and more blank space as you rotate the wand.

In just one sweep you'll get noticeably longer, prominent lashes and perfect separation - no clumpy lashes. That reminds me...did anyone see Katie Couric on The Today Show the other day? Her eyelashes were so clumped together and spiky, her eyes looked like the crown on the Statue of Liberty. She could have used this fabulous new mascara.

Because it’s enriched with olive-derived emollients, Vitamin B, and humectants, this long-wearing mascara conditions lashes while staying smudge- and flake-free. I got the first one in February from a company representative who gave me the Plum shade, acknowledging that it's not the best shade for me. I bought Black, which is a nice jet black. It makes my already long lashes pop with base-to-tip color. It adds a bit of volume, but not so much that my lashes look artificial. Lash Glamour Extreme Lengthening Mascara has been added to my "Best of the Best Mascaras List." Since I am extremely picky about mascaras, that's high praise.

You can find Bobbi Brown's Lash Glamour Extreme Lengthening Mascara at the Bobbi Brown Web site and any Bobbi Brown counter. If you missed Friends & Family last week, you could check it out at Neiman Marcus, where there is an extremely nice gift with purchase.

Photo courtesy of Bobbi Brown

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Bobbi Brown Makeover at Neiman Marcus

With a little camera shake, Miss Brahms took this photo of Brooks Spencer, me, and Sarah Lavache (left to right) at Neiman Marcus at Tysons Galleria this afternoon. So, it's a little fuzzy! You never have wrinkles when the photo is out of focus (she says with a big smile). I see that my nose caught the sun from the skylight. Hmm...not in love with my nose - wish it weren't spotlighted. You have to look great standing next to Bobbi's beauties.

What fun I had! I don't really have time to give you the full run-down on the makeup Brooks and Sarah selected and applied. I will this weekend when I update you on my purchases. I have worked with Sarah before, and I adore her. She is so good at color choices, that I will always defer to her selections.

I'm pretty sure I've crossed paths with Brooks, but she had never selected colors for me. It was a lot of fun to get a fresh perspective. One thing Brooks did that really impressed me - she used Navy Eye Shadow as my liner because I have blue eyes. Her application technique was flawless. She made my eyes pop - green! There are certain colors that can make my eyes "turn" to green. Brooks did it.

Sarah chose some very pretty colors, and she experimented to help me decide that I needed the new Creamy Concealer Kit in Ivory, not Porcelain, which I had selected earlier. She also chose Pretty Pink Metallic Lip color, which I loved.

More about the afternoon later. Remember that InCircle at Neiman Marcus has started. There are many exceptionally nice gifts with purchase. Don't miss out.

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Bobbi Brown Tawny Shimmer Brick Giveaway Contest Winner

Congratulations to Jenny (notified by e-mail)! She won the Bobbi Brown Tawny Shimmer Brick giveaway contest. I think she's going to be a happy gal when she sees it. She said in her comment that she had never tried a Shimmer Brick. Oh my, I think I am about to corrupt her.

Jenny lives in Canada. That's all I know about her. I hope she has a store that carries Bobbi Brown nearby. Once she wears Tawny, I think she will want a second set of stripes.

It's pretty obvious to me that you gals like makeup, so I will try to stock up next time I go the the Company Store. I think I can get there sometime in the next month.

We will be starting another giveaway contest later today. Come back. In the meantime, thanks very much for reading Best Things in Beauty! I love to read your comments.

Photo courtesy of QVC

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Bobbi Brown Tawny Shimmer Brick Giveaway Contest

I've told you I'm obsessed with Bobbi Brown's Shimmer Brick Compacts, right? I consider myself a "collector." I buy every one of them! Not too long ago, I found a little supply of Tawny Shimmer Brick (shown at left) at the Estée Lauder Company Store in Leesburg, Virginia. Snapped one up in a heartbeat. Then I found I had quite a supply of Tawny Shimmer Bricks (it would be too embarrassing to admit how many). As a result, one of you will hit the jackpot with this gorgeous shade, no longer available at Bobbi Brown's Web site or at Bobbi counters.

Handmade in Italy, Shimmer Bricks are lightly shimmering, brush-on powders that reflect radiance and light on skin to create a soft glow. Tawny is for anyone who wants to give her skin subtle highlights with a warm, pinky glow. The beautiful shades in the compact can be used individually on the eyes or swirled together to create a flattering highlighter or blush for the face.

How do you use it? Sweep a brush through all five shades and dust lightly on the cheekbones after applying blush - or in place of blush. Focus on applying shimmer on the top of the cheekbones, where light naturally hits the face. To add a highlight to eyes, use a small eye shadow brush to apply the lightest shade in the compact just under the brow bone. If you can wear brown-pink tones on your eyes, you can wear these shades as shadows. They impart a flattering, subtle glimmer.

How can you enter to win? Here's the "fine print." Just leave a comment here once. After you comment, feel free to send me an e-mail at bestthingsinbeautycontests@gmail.com and identify your comment. You can never be too careful about sharing an e-mail address you care about on a blog, so feel free to follow this step (an alternative is to code your e-mail, e.g., myname at gmail dot com, in your comment).

You can "earn" a second entry by tweeting this contest. Just make sure to include "@BTiBeauty" (without the quotes) in your tweet. I will tweet the contest this evening, and you can simply retweet it to earn that second entry. You can earn a third entry by following the blog - either here or on Twitter (any entrant who is already a follower will automatically earn the follower point, but you can save me time by telling me you're a follower in your comment). I can't track followers through a third-party service, so you need to be on Google's list for me to verify the entry.

The deadline for entries will be Saturday, April 2, at midnight. The next morning, I will use a random number generator (random.org) to select the winner. I will e-mail the winner at that time. The winner will have 48 hours to reply to my message and provide a shipping address. After 48 hours, the prize will be forfeited, and another winner will be selected. Make sure to check your e-mail - and look in your spam folder - when the contest ends.

This contest will be open to anyone anywhere in the world. I will ship the gloss uninsured (the insurance costs as much as the compact - or more - and I can't insure a small Priority box - rules, annoying USPS rules). I will also provide proof of shipping, if necessary. I am going to take a chance that both mail systems will deliver the box - yours and mine - without loss, theft, or destruction! Let's see how it works if we have an "international winner." So far, my luck with international shipping hasn't been very good. I want to keep trying because there are so many of you out there reading my blog (and I'm grateful).

Good luck!

Photo courtesy of QVC

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Bobbi Brown Sweet Nectar Rich Lip Color SPF 12

In February, I told you about Bobbi Brown's new super-hit lipstick, Rich Lip Color SPF 12 ($22). I've bought five of them since then. I love this lipstick. It's vying for my favorite full-color lipstick for spring.

When we went to the blogger party at Neiman Marcus Mazza Gallerie, my lovely Bobbi Brown friends gave me a color that was about to debut, Sweet Nectar. She also gave one to Elvira at Pink Sith, where you may have seen Sweet Nectar featured.

Now, you can buy Sweet Nectar, and if you want to build a coral spring - the color of the moment - you should seek it out. The color in the tube is close to the shade shown above left, taken from Bobbi Brown's Web site. To my eye, the tube portrays a shade that is a bit darker and more coral - and intriguing.

Rich Lip Color SPF 12 is lightweight, but intense. Hard to believe that those two contrasting adjectives apply, but they do. Bobbi's latest formula combines pigments with a clear base to deliver pure, crisp color with just one swipe. Plus, it's creamy and moisturizing, so lips feel as good as they look. Rich Lip Color is available in 13 beautiful shades.

Here's a swatch of Sweet Nectar at right, taken in outdoor sunlight. Normally, coral lipsticks aren't my best shades. Maybe they are too warm for me; maybe I just can't get used to them; maybe they remind me of the orange shag carpet I had in my apartment when I was in graduate school. I shudder when I remember that shade of the 70's.

Sweet Nectar looks good on me! Combined with the pink of my lips - and with just a hint of pink that doesn't show in my swatch photo - it warms me up without overwhelming me. I'm really glad to have it - another option for this color lover.

I love Bobbi Brown's new Rich Lip Color, and I'll bet you will too. While Lilac continues to be my favorite among the gorgeous colors, I wanted to introduce you to Sweet Nectar. I can't always show you pink and peach lipsticks!

You can purchase Rich Lip Color SPF 12 at Bobbi Brown's Web site, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom - any Bobbi Brown counter. If you haven't played with the new Rich Lip Colors, you should. They are a treat.

Photo at top courtesy of Bobbi Brown

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Bobbi Brown for Dress for Success

“The more you give in life, the more you get back”- Bobbi Brown

Since 2001, Bobbi Brown Cosmetics has supported Dress for Success, an incredible non-profit organization that helps disadvantaged women re-enter the workforce and achieve economic independence. Bobbi knows that a woman's appearance and her feelings of self-worth are inextricably linked.

I have donated business suits and winter coats to Dress for Success many times over the years. I think it's a fabulous organization. That's one reason I'm pumped over this makeup set.

“Dress for Success is an amazing organization because it gives women the tools and knowledge they need to look like and eventually become the person they hope to be,” said Bobbi.

For over 10 years, Bobbi Brown Cosmetics has donated over $1 million in makeup and monetary funds to this effective organization. Bobbi has personally gone above and beyond by hiring women who have completed the Dress for Success program in an effort to empower them and give them a second chance at making a life for themselves. She also participates in makeup lessons with the women, teaching them how to create work-appropriate makeup looks, and has one of her Beauty Team members working with the affiliates on a monthly basis to teach women how to apply makeup for interviews.

This spring, Bobbi is taking her partnership a step further and has created a Dress for Success Makeup Collection. All proceeds from every sale will go directly to the organization. That's generous!

The collection is designed to make it quick and easy for any woman to look her best. It includes the following pretties.

• A new limited-edition Eye Palette featuring Bone Eye Shadow, Beige Shimmer Wash Eye Shadow; Taupe Eye Shadow, Espresso Eye Shadow, and Navy Eye Shadow
• Brownie Lip Color
• Petal Lip Gloss
• Extreme Party Mascara
• Crystal Lip Gloss

I have all of these items, but to support Bobbi Brown and Dress for Success, I will buy this set. Maybe I'll do a giveaway contest, so that one of you can enjoy the pleasures of using Bobbi Brown's makeup. Or maybe I'll get greedy and keep it for myself. You really need to consider buying one!

The collection will be available for $60 exclusively at Macy’s counters in March 2011. That means I need to call Macy's, and if it's in stock, go over this weekend. I can do that!

Photo courtesy of Bobbi Brown

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Sneak Peek: Bobbi Brown EXTRA Repair Foundation SPF 25

I was dying to get my hands on Bobbi Brown's new EXTRA Repair Foundation SPF 25 ($55), and I did! Not only that, I love it. I wore it to work today, and I'm thrilled. I'm a Bobbi Brown EXTRA groupie anyhow, but you never know how you'll like a foundation until you try it.

This new foundation in a pot is a creamy, buildable foundation that leaves the skin smooth, even-toned, and lifted. Designed for dry skin, it contains EXTRA treatment benefits to nourish and hydrate the skin. An application adds instant moisture.

EXTRA Repair Foundation SPF 25 has these properties.

• Helps rebuild the skin's protective moisture barrier
• Contains peptides to help stimulate natural collagen production, which in turn helps firm and visibly lift the skin
• Reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
• Leaves the skin looking and feeling revitalized, dewy, and healthy
• Offers broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection from the sun's damaging rays (SPF 25)

I am a Warm Ivory in other Bobbi Brown foundations, and Warm Ivory in this foundation works perfectly for me. You can see it in its pot in the photo at right. The consistency is a creamy solid. It's not too light, and it's not too heavy. I applied it this morning with my fingertips (can you see my paw marks?), but I think it would be ideal to use a foundation brush. It spread and blended on my skin with ease, even with my fingers.

It evened my skin tone and minimized my sun spots on the first application. I built the coverage over my sun spots to blur them. That worked nicely. When I was finished applying the foundation, I was very happy with the results. My skin was even-toned, the right color, and dewy without looking oily. Even more exciting, I didn't need to touch it up during the day! It stayed put and provided coverage on my nose and chin all day. That's pretty remarkable.

When I applied it, I smelled the distinctive scent of the EXTRA products, which include rosemary and other botanicals. The scent disappeared in a heartbeat. By the time I was in my car on the way to work, I could no longer smell the foundation. It does have retinyl palmitate in it, which makes me a little anxious. The retinyl palmitate is pretty far down on the ingredient list, so I am hoping my skin doesn't have a reaction over time. I want to keep using this foundation!

I'll give you a progress report at some point after I've had more time with it. You'll be able to find it at your Bobbi Brown counter soon.

Update April 2: This product is now available in stores. I saw it at Neiman Marcus.

Photos by BTiB

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