For spring getting that glowing beauty look is still very much on trend and Bobbi Brown has an Extra Glow Collection that they call “light reflecting and treatment infused.” I think most of the collection is limited-edition, a few pieces have already sold out at stores near me – you may have to shop around online for all the colors. From what I remember the first time Bobbi Brown launched her Extra Lip Tint it sold out extremely fast as well.
Up first is the Extra Glow Skincare Palette which I think is perfect for carrying around with you and throwing in your purse for on-the-go. I normally don’t think of having skincare in palettes but this is really quite genius. It has her Extra Face Oil, Skin Salve and Extra Soothing Balm which are great for lips and cuticles.
It’s been a while since I’ve tried any of her skincare items and I was pleasantly surprised by these. The Extra Face Oil is super hydrating and meant for dry skin. For me I like to put these little travel sizes on my cuticles and the balms on my lips. The Skin Salve and Extra Soothing Balms make for nice lightweight lip treatments.
Also for the face are three Extra Illuminating Moisture Balms that are pearl-infused. They are similar to MAC Strobe Creams but the Bobbi Brown ones are slightly less iridescent in finish once you blend. I received Golden Glow and Bare Glow as press samples but purchased Pink Glow because I wanted to see how different all three were. On my olive/medium skin I find all of them work to give the skin a subtle luminous glow. They disappear into a very subtle glow on the skin. I’m probably on the lighter side now that I’ve lost most of my tan. They have a nice hydrating feel but the hydration is very lightweight so I’d recommend using a moisturizer underneath.
Bare Glow is a pearly color, Pink Glow is a soft pink, Golden Glow is a soft warm skin-toned gold. Above you can see once they’re blended there’s no shimmer or frost, just glow. It’s something that is definitely more visible in person rather than a photograph. You can use these alone as a lotion, as a primer or over makeup for a dewy glow. These have a lightly moisturizing feel. There’s no greasy feel and they don’t make you look oily. I felt these were best on me over moisturizer and under a medium-sheer foundation or mixed in with foundation. If you use a full coverage foundation on top it will pretty much cancel out the glow effect.
There’s a new Highlighting Powder called Opal Glow. It’s highly reflective with a really pretty opal pink iridescent finish. It’s very shimmery and sparkly but you can definitely apply with a light hand for a sheer wash. It’s not quite duo-chrome but almost has that kind of quality. I thought for sure it would be too sparkly but I actually love it. There are noticeably larger shimmer particles but it’s not quite glittery.
Swatch comparisons below to Bobbi Brown Afternoon Glow (cooler-toned and less iridescent with a smoother finish), Tawny Glow (deeper and more mauve), Tom Ford Lavender Lure (highlighter portion), Laura Mercier Face Illuminator in Devotion (cooler toned) and Dior Nude Air Luminizer in Holo Pink (a lot lighter).
For the lips there are new shades of her Extra Lip Tint. I have three of them in Bare Pink Sparkle, Bare Melon and Bare Popsicle. These have a little bit of color in them – I can’t tell for sure if these are ones that adjust to your natural lip color or simply have a nice tint. On my arms they look like they have a soft tint that seemed to adjust after a minute. On my lips they mimic what you see in the tube even though they’re sheer. Bare Pink Sparkle seems to have sold out many places (I only see it at Macy’s) and I’m not sure if it’s going to restock. Sometimes this turns a deeper pinkish color on my lips (as shown below), other times it’s just clear on my lips with a soft hint of shimmer. My favorite of the three is Bare Popsicle because it gives the lips a soft pink tint. There’s no detectable scent and they last like a regular lip balm. They are very moisturizing without feeling thick. I have a slight preference for the Dior Addict Lip Glows because I find them more moisturizing and the colors shift more on me.
I’m experimenting with finding different places to get good light in our new home! Quick look without flash, a light wash of the Opal Glow Highlighting Powder on the cheeks, Bare Melon on the lips, Estee Lauder Doublewear Foundation in 3W1 Tawny mixed with the Illuminating Moisture Balm in Golden Glow, Armani Luminous Silk Powder Foundation #4 to set, Diorshow Browstyler in Universal Brown, NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Ginger.
Overall a lovely collection for that soft glow. I’m really liking the Illuminating Moisture Balms for a very natural radiant finish that isn’t greasy and doesn’t get oily as the day progresses. If I had to pick just one it would be a tough call between Golden Glow or Pink Glow. The Extra Lip Tints are really nice as well – I love the slim white packaging because it has a tiny bit of pearl. Opal Glow is also stunning – it does have more of an iridescent sparkly flash than the beauty look shows because I applied with a super light hand for a wash of shimmer. If you can’t do super sparkly I’d recommend you try before you buy if you can because it’s extra glowy.
Available now at Bobbi Brown counters, also online at Bobbi Brown, Barneys New York, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Sephora, Macy’s and Saks Fifth Avenue. Most of the collection appears to be limited-edition.
Have you tried the Bobbi Brown Lip Tints before? Or anything else from the spring line? What did you think?
Extra Glow Collection provided courtesy of Bobbi Brown for review. Pink Glow purchased by me.
