Bobbi Brown Long Wear Cream Shadow Stick Review & Swatches
For Spring 2013, Bobbi Brown launched an eight shade selection of new Long-Wear Cream Shadow Sticks ($28). The Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick is kinda a new take on Bobbi’s long wearing shadow formula in a pencil format which applies easily onto eyes in a handy, travel friendly pencil.
I’ve been testing these for a few weeks so I thought it well past the time for a review.
Here are some thoughts!
I used to dislike cream shadows in a major way but they’ve grown on me to a point that I embrace and even love the formula more than shadows sometimes.
Bobbi’s Long-Wear Cream Shadow Sticks are sort of a new take on her already popular Long-Wear Cream Eyeshadows in the pot. Take that great formula, stick it in a swivel up pencil, and you basically have a brand new way to apply those shadows. Just like the Long-Wear Cream Shadow these have a thick, creamy formula. The texture is similiar but not as creamy as Laura Mercier’s Caviar Pencils. They are soft and creamy enough that they glide onto lids easily without tugging. They have a little bit of a tacky feel, if you’re familiar with the Long-Wear Cream Eyeshadows (pot) you’ll likely know what I mean. This tackiness isn’t uncomfortable at all but typically it prolongs the wear of the original format of these shadows however, in the pencil formula it didn’t seem to aid much but more on that in a bit.
Hover your mouse over the photos to display the shade name.
Shadow, Violet Plum, Golden Pink, Forest, Bark
Vanilla, Sand Dunes, Iced Blue
I did find these a tad challenging to work with. In two cases, I ended up losing the dome shaped tipped of the pencil. Not sure if I was too heavy handed or they are prone to breakage but they snapped right off as I was applying. Thankfully the other six shades didn’t have an issue. I find they sheer out quickly and prove a little difficult to build up. You have to have patience to apply..it’s a technique of swiping it on your eye two to three times, blending with your finger, and rebuilding the color because certain shades go a little patchy and reveal the skin of your lid as you blend. Pigmentation is excellent but the color needs building in order to get the best saturation on lids. In this case, application and blendability, Laura Mercier has the supreme formula as a single swipe yields color and as I blend I don’t experience issues with patchiness.
Wear time varies but on my dry lids I did experience creasing within a five hour period. Typically the original pot version of the shadows will last me eight or more hours sans any issues with creasing but the pencil formula wasn’t as long wearing.
On the upside some of these shades are essentials that I’d happily rebuy! Vanilla and Sand Dune are amazing shades for a natural look and make excellent bases for powder eyeshadows, strangely enough they pro-long powder wear and allow it to remain crease-free for hours, too bad they don’t do the same on their own.
If you dislike shimmer you’ll be very pleased that most all the shades are a cream, semi-matte finish sans sparkle or shimmer of any kind the exceptions being Golden Pink and Iced Blue.
Overall, I’d if you’re a fan of using cream shadows under powders these work a treat at prolonging the wear of powers, giving it more depth, and laying the grounds for excellent eye looks. On their own they do have a few issues with creasing and a difficult to blend and perfect formula. I find the price a little questionable as well, $28 for .05 oz is a tad high especially when the regular potted shadows are $24 and contain .12oz! I would recommend not missing Vanilla and Sand Dunes, even the higher price on these wouldn’t prevent me from a repurchase as both shades are very flattering. In some ways I feel like they are worth the effort of application but a little shave off of the price tag would really be nice!
I’m a huge Bobbi Brown fan but these missed the mark with me a little bit sadly.
They are available now on counter.
Tried ’em?
Do share!