Monday, March 10, 2014

NEW IN // Bobbi Brown Art Sticks

Finally! A chubby pencil to fill the void. Not only does Bobbi Brown's newest lip offering provide a bold answer to the hoards of chubby sticks cropping up on the market, but also a tip of the hat to gals who love lipstick. Count me in!

Bobbi Brown's Art Sticks are masterful multitaskers, not unlike the makeup artist who created them. They're waxy enough to act as useful lipliners, unlike some others I've tried, while still being moisturizing enough to wear comfortably all over the lips. Make no mistake--these guys don't budge. Transfer a bit, maybe, but your lips will be embraced in a semi-matte, satiny finish in your choice of eight shades until you decide to call it a night. I liken the look to Chanel's Rouge Allure Velvets or to Givenchy's Le Rouge Sensuously Mattes (my review on the latter here).

As I mentioned, Bobbi launched this lovely new product in eight shades, all of which I swatched in-store so you don't have to.
And with flash, so you get a sense of how they photograph:
Of course, such beautiful, wearable and on-trend shades are always ready for their close=up!
I immediately gravitated towards Dusty Pink, an unsurprising move considering that pinky nudes are a go-to for my everyday lip look. It is a fabulous, understated everyday pink that would make a lovely MLBB for some people. For my über-pale complexion, Dusty Pink's somewhere between an MLBB and a work-appropriate pink. A bit more dramatic than a true neutral, but not "electric" like its sister shade, Electric Pink. As you might be able to tell from the close-up, the pigmentation is stellar across the board, with one unfortunate exception: Cherrywood. The swatch you see above is after three or four determined passes, as opposed to the breezy swatch-and-go nature of the other shades. I was disappointed, as, I could see Cherrywood having great potential for darker skin tones or porcelain-skinned gals going for a Lorde-y look. Maybe it was just one bad egg...with the track record of the other shades, I'm willing to give it the benefit of the doubt!
Here's the best part: even though the pencil's not retractable like Tarte's and Revlon's offerings, a handy, sturdy sharpener designed especially for the Art Sticks comes with each pencil. No obnoxious "sharpener sold separately" gimmick. Thank goodness!

I have to say, as someone who lines her lips for almost every lipstick application, I am incredibly impressed with this recent release. So impressed, in fact, that I had to run out and buy Electric Pink the day after I purchased Dusty Pink! I've still got my eye on a few others, and I can see these becoming a pretty big hit, so grab 'em while they're hot (and in stock!) I purchased both of mine from Bloomingdale's, but you can also find the Art Sticks online and in stores at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Bobbi Brown (of course) and now--just in time for Chic Week--Sephora, too!

Katy xx

9 comments :

  1. OMG Every time you find a good lip product you dazzle me and make me want it NOW! LOL I have struggling with a colortchoice. I have light skin that leans cool, blue eyes, dark hair. Which one do I choose? ACK! Dusty Pink? I am concerned that Electric Pink. might be too coral (warm) for me. Bright Raspberry? Get them ALL??? ;)

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    1. Marianna, that is wonderful to hear! :) I have quite light, cool skin (as you can see), with blue eyes and very dark brown hair. My eternal worry is that a lipstick will pull too warm on me, as the pinks in the Givenchy Le Rouge collection did. Electric Pink was actually quite lovely! Try it, it might surprise you. If you are stumped, then purchasing a few more is always the right answer! Haha.

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    2. Hi Katy, I got the Electric Pink and it's a very pretty shade. Corally Pink-not orange-and it feels so good on my lips. It wears nicely and is not dry but no glossy either. This is such a perfect spring color. I love the chubby pencil and the sharpener that comes with it. Great call!! :)

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    3. I'm so happy to hear that you like it!! It is certainly bright on pale skin, but I still love the color, and I am so sensitive to shades that are too warm for my complexion. You're right--it really peps you up for Spring :)

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    4. OK, just revisiting this topic. I now own 3 of these really wonderful lip colors. After the Electric Pink I went for the Dusty Pink and the Bright Raspberry. Even though there is some strong color in two of them they still look right. Thanks you Katy and Brava Bobbi Brown!! :)

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    5. Marianna, that's exactly how I feel. Dusty Pink is perfect for everyday, but the other two shades are certainly wearable for daytime if you feel up to a bold lip. Bobbi does versatile, handy basics really well! I am so glad to have introduced you to these.

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  2. Your comments about Cherrywood's pigmentation are interesting, because of course that's the color I was first drawn to, as a redhead who shies away from brighter pinks and reds. I'm thinking Rose Brown might be calling my name. Or Cassis? Hm. Thanks for enabling me. :)

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    1. It's certainly a gorgeous shade, I just felt it was important to note that it swatched much more sheerly on my hand than the others. Again, could just be the one I tried, but you never know! Rose brown is definitely a good bet for a rosy-haired girl! :)

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  3. Hi, rose brown seems to be amazing. It s hard to find it in France :(
    Those lipsticks/lip pencils seem to be gorgeous.

    Have a nice day.

    Virginie, unefilleablush.blogspot.com

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