My Miami (Makeup) Vice, Starring Bobbi Brown Cosmetics

Tue, 14 August 2012 8:52AM

I have had more new colour cosmetic ranges across my desk than I have had hot dinners. (Well, I have no hot dinners across my desk unless it’s a cranking deadline and I don’t have to get home for Modern Family.)

But I digress.

Let’s just say due to the sheer volume of makeup I see, it takes a hell of a lot of uniqueness, individuality, usability and affordability for me to really truly fall for a colour story. But Primpettes, consider me on my knees with a grazed elbow whimpering for some mercurochrome. For I have fallen.

The Miami Collection from Bobbi Brown comes with no runt in the litter. I mean, every collection these days seems to have one green and orange houndstooth print eyeshadow you wouldn’t put on your cat, or a nasty barbwire effect eyebrow you’d pay someone to take out of your bathroom. But the Miami Collection seems to get everything bang on.

Come. Wander with me through the sun speckled boulevards of Miami. Let’s turn our golden complexions to the sun, breathe in the fresh salty air and jaywalk to the beat of Miami native Flo Rida…

(Or alternatively yours truly could opt for a slightly weaker green tea on a Tuesday morning and simply ask you to read on…)

Long Wear Cream Shadow, $50
I find dark, smoky colours and heavy liners can really close up the eye, so I much prefer these nude, creamy colours to make eyes fresh and open. Delish! These can be applied with the fingertips and maintain their crease-free composure for longer than I can. Available in Copper, Bronze, Nude Beach or Candlelight, each shade gives the eye a super-youthful, natural openness, allowing lashes and lips to do the talking.

“The trick is to highlight just one feature at a time,” says Bobbi. “For example, the perfect counterparts to bright lipsticks are shadows that are close in colour to your natural skin tone. If you want to put the focus on your eyes instead stick to nude and beige colors on your lips.”

Treatment Lip Shine, $46
A chicer take on tube gloss, yet still laidback and easy to apply enough for a day on the hop or a night on the go. I’m a true believer in making lips shine like the top of the Chrysler Building (and a big fan of Annie the Musical. Obviously) and this does all of the above whilst offering sublime subtle tones of peach and pink.

Did I mention it’s also packed with jojoba, shea butter and avocado oils? Oh I did? Great. Let’s move on…

New Limited Edition Shimmer Cheek Glow, $85
The one I expected to fall short, simply because I am a powder snob. Don’t love it, so rarely give it the time of my precious day.

But in the name of research, I applied this expecting my face to flake off, but I could confidently put away the dustpan and brush, as there was no complexion collateral. Skin remained dewy and light and the Miami Gold shade imparted a J.Lo glimmer and Alba-esque glow.

“Smile and apply blush to the apples of the cheeks, blending up towards the hairline then downwards to soften the color,” notes Bobbi.

Bobbi Brown Beach Fragrance, $115
Captures the essences of summer sun, sand and surf, shakes it up within a cocktail of intoxicating jasmine and mandarin, while sea spray pulses and pops a mini umbrella in the quintessential scent of summer – just for good measure. But don’t let the pesky hurdle that is spring stop you, this baby is subtle and not-too-sweet, making it the perfect transeasonal treat.

Shimmering Fragrance Oil, $70
The best three words since ‘hot jam donut’ if you ask me (and perhaps Fat Albert).

I think this product was the one that really made my heart race; not only could I look like I’d just flown in from the home of such screen gems as the Golden Girls, Police Academy 5 and There’s Something About Mary, but I could smell like it too!

This shimmering fragrance oil contains only the highest echelon of summery skin softeners: vitamin E and C, olive, sesame, avocado and jojoba within the scent of the aforementioned Beach Fragrance.

So get your roller-skates on Primpettes. Miami Collection hit stores… yesterday!

What do you think? Fancy a moment in the Miami sun?

ecb x

Posted by: ecb

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Tags: bobbi brown, fragrance, lipstick, makeup collection, miami, miami collection, product reviews, shimmer