Bobbi Brown's skincare and makeup products put to the test: Here's our honest review
From multitasking face base to primer to foundation, loose powder and cleansing oil, we give you the lowdown if these products are worth getting.
Good-quality makeup should be accompanied by an equally good cleansing routine. If you want to level up your makeup and cleansing routine, look no further than Bobbi Brown’s bestselling makeup icons that beauty gurus will approve of. We have rounded up five of the brand's latest and iconic products and tried and tested them to determine if they are worth the purchase. So does Bobbi Brown's latest range of products live up to its marketing hype? Read on to find out!
Consider this your step-by-step beauty guide and review. Start with the Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base, then Bobbi Brown Intensive Skin Serum Radiance Primer SPF25PA++, followed by the Bobbi Brown Intensive Serum Foundation SPF40PA++++. Complete the look with Bobbi Brown Luxe Radiance Loose Powder. Finally, be sure to remove all traces of makeup with the Bobbi Brown Soothing Cleansing Oil at the end of the day.
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The canvas
Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base
Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base
Marketing claims
Create the perfect base for makeup with this multivitamin-infused, skin-plumping primer. The multitasking Vitamin Enriched Face Base creates a healthy-looking, makeup-ready base in one effortless step. Touted as Bobbi Brown Artists’ backstage essential, and a fan favourite, one of this product is sold every 15 seconds globally.
Delving into the science
The Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base does not stinge on its ingredients. The formula is made up of a complex of Hyaluronic Acid, Squalane and Shea Butter. If you have not heard of how much I adore squalane, read this article on how this fantastic ingredient saved my face from a nasty bout of eczema. What’s more, applying the buttery soft cream was such a luxurious experience. I was wary of how the face base may be too rich for my oil-prone skin type, but my concerns were unduly as it melted right into my skin.
My take
I have been looking for multitasking products, especially for travels, and Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base, which is both moisturiser and primer, fits the bill. Imagine using a non-greasy face base with a potent concoction of vitamins B, C and E. Effortless! What I also like about this product is its uplifting combination of grapefruit and geranium scents, which makes it a great way to kickstart the day. The alluring scent seemed to induce my euphoria hormones, and I was tempted to apply more of it just because it was so refreshing.
Bobbi Brown Intensive Skin Serum Radiance Primer SPF25PA++
Bobbi Brown Intensive Skin Serum Radiance Primer SPF25PA++
Marketing claims
Achieve an instantly bright, smooth base that supports the radiant finish of Intensive Serum Foundation. This primer is infused with 85% skin-caring ingredients. Its light-reflecting powders help blur imperfections and tone up the skin, creating a more flawless canvas for makeup.
My take
The primer felt smooth when I tried it on the counters though I have yet to try it on my face. Primers, in my beauty book, should accompany any foundation. In a nutshell, it gives you incredible mileage with any foundation you use.
Make Me Up
Bobbi Brown Intensive Serum Foundation SPF40PA++++
Bobbi Brown Intensive Serum Foundation SPF40PA++++
Marketing claims
This serum-powered foundation contains 75% skin-caring ingredients, including Cordyceps and Ginseng. It moisturises, plumps and smooths for a glowy appearance. Tone-perfecting and buildable, the coverage lasts up to 12 hours.
My take
Judging from its potent concoction, which includes cordyceps and ginseng, this is a rich liquid foundation and should be used sparingly, especially for those with oilier skin. When I first tried it, I found that the foundation felt thick, and my face produced oil quickly. However, it did give me a glowy sheen upon application. Of course, my makeup could not last 12 hours as promised. As they say, this foundation is “buildable”. Over time, I have learned that a little goes a long way when it comes to this product!
After some trials and errors, I learned to blend the Bobbi Brown Intensive Serum Foundation SPF40PA++++ with oil-control primers such as Bobbi Brown’s Vitamin Enriched Face Base or sunscreen that doubles up as a makeup base. D Program’s Allerdefense essence works well for me.
[New] Bobbi Brown Luxe Radiance Loose Powder
Bobbi Brown Luxe Radiance Loose Powder
Marketing claims
Cordyceps-infused loose powder sets makeup for 24 hours and controls oil for 8 hours. This loose powder delivers a veil of ultra-fine, light-reflecting powders that smooth and blur the look of fine lines and pores all day. It even comes with Hydrophobic powders to absorb oil and control shine for eight hours.
My take
I love how soft and delicate the loose powder feels on my skin. The powder puff felt thick enough and soft and added to the pampering experience. The light-reflecting powders also help to 'blur' some of my fine lines and enlarged pores (my number one nemesis!), giving it a smooth powdery-like finish to the ‘glowy sheen’ after applying the foundation. I like how the mirror takes up the entire circumference of the portable round compact, making it easy for touch-ups. The compact also fits nicely in one hand. The mesh netting helps keeps the powder in place, reducing mess – a great invention. If there’s one thing this product can be improved upon, I wish it comes with the same refreshing grapefruit-geranium scent I can’t get enough of in the Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base. This product is available in three shades.
Using the above combination, I tested these three Bobbi Brown products for an entire day at work and an evening out. It withstood six hours (or more) of a hotpot gathering with minimal oil secretion. My makeup also remained relatively intact and did not require frequent touch-ups.
Thorough Cleanse
Bobbi Brown Soothing Cleansing Oil
Bobbi Brown Soothing Cleansing Oil
I can't emphasise this enough: Any leftover residue from our makeup will just come back to haunt us in the form of clogged pores, acne, dull skin and even permanent scars over time! That's why investing in an effective makeup remover makes perfect sense. After all, we only have one face.
At first glance
The Soothing Cleansing Oil comes in a clear plastic bottle, making it easy to see how much of the precious cleansing oil that's left. Its winning features include its twist and lock nozzle (yay, no cumbersome, detachable clip that is tedious to detach and reattach). The nozzle also pumps just the right amount of product with no wastage. What I particularly like is how travel-friendly it is. It’s a pack-and-go product.
What it does
As someone who has tried various types of makeup removers, I was a little apprehensive with its marketing speak as an “oil-rich, water-light cleanser” that is “as powerful as it is gentle”. Pfiff, I thought, how can something be "oil-rich" yet "water-light"? However, this one became a firm favourite with just one use. I found some of the highly-touted oil cleansers to be too oily for my skin type and disliked the feeling of a thick layer of oil covering my face and blurring my eyesight (tell me if you haven't experienced this?!) when removing my makeup. I often have to use a facial cleanser to wash away the makeup remover two to three times to feel that my skin has no more residue from the oil cleanser. So for every recommendation or bestseller in the market, please proceed cautiously, including my recommendations. This is because everyone's skin type and texture, and scent preferences differ.
At the first pump, I was impressed with its light, pleasant scent and, subsequently, its efficacious nature. The cleanser felt light, yet had just the right amount of oil to remove the gunk and even waterproof makeup – precisely as they promised! I used it for my entire face, including the eyes, lips and neck. A definite keeper for me!
The best is to get a sample or a smaller bottle to try out before taking the plunge to purchase the full size. Or better still, make your way to any Sephora store to try out each product now that testers are back on the shelves!
Delving into the science
Made of nourishing Botanical Oil Complex of Olive, Jojoba, Kukut Nut, and Sunflower Seed Oils containing Omega fatty acids, the Soothing Cleansing Oil performs precisely as it claims – it "melts away pollution, impurities - even long-wearing makeup - while maintaining skin’s moisture.”
