20 Bobbi Brown Products Editors Can’t Live Without
Vitamin-Enriched Face Base and Longwear Eyeshadow Sticks are team favorites.
Before there was TikTok's "Clean Girl Aesthetic" and the influencer-loved "no-foundation" makeup look, Bobbi Brown led the skin-first charge. The New York-based brand, spearheaded by Brown herself and later purchased by Estee Lauder, is all about taking a natural, easygoing approach to beauty—and it shows in the best Bobbi Brown products. From its creamy foundation formulas to its silky smooth eye makeup and subtly tinted lip balm, at least one product from the brand's range is a constant in our team's makeup bags.
The brand's natural approach to makeup dates back to its launch in 1990, when technicolor glam was at its height and '90s makeup trends were starting to take shape. Brown launched 10 natural-toned lipsticks and despite breaking the mold of the time, the company smashed its goal of 100 sales, by selling 100 lipsticks a day. Brown later launched a line of yellow-toned foundations (when most were pink-toned), cementing the brand's status as a cultivator of natural beauty.
For several decades, the brand has become a go-to for easy application. Here, we unpack the best Bobbi Brown products our team can't get enough of. Once you try them, we're sure you'll love our favorites, too.
The Best Bobbi Brown Products
- The Best Bobbi Brown Moisturizer: Vitamin Enriched Face Base Moisturizer
- The Best Bobbi Brown Eyeshadow: Long-Wear Cream Eyeshadow Stick
- The Best Bobbi Brown Foundation: Skin Long-Wear Weightless Foundation Spf 15
- The Best Bobbi Brown Under Eye Corrector: Brightening Undereye Corrector
- The Best Bobbi Brown Eyeliner: Long-Wear Cream Eyeliner Stick
Ever meticulously applied foundation only for it to look like a cakey mess? This best-selling moisturizer changes all of that. "This little gem is a game-changer for a good base," says MC's Associate Social Media Editor Ashlyn Delaney. "It's lightweight but intensely moisturizing, leaving my skin ready to take on everything." Even on the days she goes makeup-free, Delaney likes to use this moisturizer for an added boost of vitamin C and glow.
Multi-dimensional eyeshadow looks aren't exactly my forte, so instead I rely heavily on these eyeshadow sticks, which I consider to be the best of the best. Aside from the massive shade range (there's over 30 shades in a variety of finishes to choose from), what's got me hooked on these sticks is just how easy they are to use. They have the creamiest texture, they're blendable, highly pigmented, and last all day long.
Only high-coverage matte foundations will do for oily skin. If your skin type falls into that boat, you can't go wrong with this foundation. It's top-rated for its medium to high coverage that doesn't budge all day. What's more, reviewers especially love it for its lightweight texture. One Saks reviewer writes, "My skin looks like skin when I wear it," while another says it "feels like a second skin." A tough feat to accomplish in foundations.
Dark circles are the bane of my existence. Even the most full-coverage concealers don't help. Then along came this corrector. A little pat of this with a flat-edge brush and my dark circles magically disappear. The "magic" can be credited to the undertones. For example, the pink undertones in the Light Bisque shade neutralize my bluish-dark circles, but there are also shades that address grey or brown discoloration.
MC's Beauty Editor Samantha Holender always thought she didn't possess the artistic skills needed to execute eyeliner or a smokey eye. That changed when she was introduced to these multi-use eyeliner sticks. "The formulas are creamy and blendable, making for foolproof application," she says. "I tightline my eyes, and then messily draw a line on my upper and lower lash line. I smudge it all out with my finger (it's seriously that easy) and call it a day." MC's Beauty Director Deena Campbell also counts herself a fan, adding, "The fine-tip design makes defining my lash line so simple. I apply short strokes across my lash line and I’m done. Easy!"
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The best nude eyeshadow palettes are a staple in anyone's makeup bag and this is one of MC's favorite luxury options out there. Despite having just five shades, you can create a range of looks for day and night because there are matte, shimmer, and metallic finishes at your disposal. Each one is highly pigmented and applies so smoothly, even if you just use your finger. These neutral blush shades also work for any skin tone or eye color.
I've tried my fair share of mascaras—I typically don't leave the house without at least one coat. Out of all of them, this one is the best volumizing mascara. In just one coat, my lashes get enough oomph to stand out, without looking clumpy. Even better is that this mascara adds a nice amount of length, unlike other volumizing mascaras that leave my lashes looking short and stumpy. The waterproof formula lasts all day, too, without any pesky smudging, flaking, or running.
I've never been a fan of foundations—they often feel too heavy and break me out, so instead I turn to tinted moisturizers like this that are more forgiving on my sensitive skin. Bobbi Brown's skin tint has a similar effect as the Face Base Moisturizer in that it leaves skin feeling plump and hydrated. The difference: This offers lightweight, buildable coverage. Skin still looks like skin, only better. The SPF 15 is an added bonus.
An oldie but a goodie, this gel pot eyeliner is a staple in many expert and editor's makeup bags, including MC's Fashion Features Editor Emma Childs'. In her experience, plenty of eyeliners that tout a "long-wear" end up running within hours, but not this pick. "This product lives up to its promise of longevity," she says. So once you draw your preferred eyeliner shape and let it set, you can rest easy knowing it won't budge. Don't be deterred by it's pot-and-brush formula either. It's easier to apply than you may think, and within a few applications, you'll be executing winged eyeliner like a pro.
Bobbi Brown is frankly genius for creating this eyeshadow stick and MC's Fashion Commerce Editor Julia Marzovilla is inclined to agree. "Over the years, I’ve learned to keep a few double-duty makeup products in my bag at all times, just in case I need to update my office makeup for a happy hour or dinner meeting. This double-sided eyeshadow stick is one of my hero products," she says. "It’s creamy, long-wearing, and seamless to blend even if I apply it at my desk or in the back of a car. I have the rusted pink shade, which is a perfect color to make my green eyes pop."
I've been burned by one too many highlighters that have left me looking like a disco ball, and not in a good way. This highlighter, though, gives a pretty shimmery look without being overdone. One quick swipe is all I need to make my cheekbones look as high as can be. It's also easy to build up the shimmer if you want a more dramatic effect. This highlighter is so pigmented and easy to use, I find it's best to apply it with just your finger.
Marzovilla still remembers trying on her mom's Bobbi Brown lip glosses as a kid. She says her mom exclusively wore them because of their shiny finish and against-all-odds staying power, and now they're a staple in her own bag. "They’re surprisingly pigmented for a gloss and still give me that put-together feeling I had when I would wear them then," she says. "The shades are wearable and the application is seamless—they’re not so pigmented that you need a mirror."
I wear waterproof mascara every day so I need a makeup remover that can take it all off without ripping my eyelashes out. This remover does just that and then some. I like to use a little bit of this on a cotton pad to get the most stubborn layers of mascara off first before double cleansing. It doesn't leave my eyes stinging or irritated, either, and never leaves behind an oily residue.
If there's one woman I trust for lipstick recommendations, it's MC's Beauty Writer Gabrielle Ulubay. I don't think I've ever seen her in the office without a stunning shade of lipstick on, so believe her when she says this is the best. "If you love matte lipsticks but hate how dry they make your lips feel, consider this luxurious option instead. It has a smooth, creamy formula that makes for comfortable all-day wear, and it's so lightweight that I often forget I have it on," she says. "It's also one of the few pink lipsticks pigmented enough to show up on my lips, making it my go-to when I want a flirty, feminine makeup look."
You don't need me to tell you just how essential SPF is in any skincare routine. But in case the thought of layering moisturizer, SPF, and primer sounds too much, this will be your hero product. It combines sunscreen (with SPF 50, no less) with a pore-smoothing primer to reduce the chance of pilling. It applies invisibly underneath makeup, so no one can tell you're wearing it.
Bobbi Brown's tools are just as good as their makeup and skincare. In fact, it's the first-ever investment brush Marzovilla purchased—and she still has it in her kit. "It’s holding up in my collection despite years of use and constant cleaning (let this be your reminder to clean your brushes!)—it’s just as soft and works just as well," she says. "I also love how long the handle is, which is a small detail but it really makes a difference. Holding the brush higher up on the shaft gives me more control while holding it further back is perfect for a lighter look."
At this point, tinted lip balms are a dime a dozen, but I'd be remiss to say this one doesn't deserve a copious amount of attention. You know that just-bitten, barely there lip color that looks natural, but you know isn't (picture Kiera Knightley's lips in any one of her period pieces, and you'll know what I'm referring to). This lip balm achieves just that with barely any effort involved. It gives just a hit of color, perfect for those "no makeup" makeup days, while the buttery formula full of hydrating oils leaves lips feeling incredibly soft. I'm personally obsessed with the shade "Bare Raspberry" for a your-lips-but-better look, but I'd want all of them in my collection.
If there's any kind of beauty product we love, it's a multi-use beauty product. This is another one of Marzovilla's makeup bag must-haves thanks to its ability to give an all-in glow. "I love a product that works for multiple parts of my face, and this one is super handy to have on-hand in my makeup bag because I can use the individual bars to give myself a shimmering eye look in a pinch," Marzovilla says.
The best cream blushes blend easily, leave a natural flush of color, and can be applied in a pinch. This cult-favorite blush ticks all of those boxes. This travel-friendly compact comes with a mirror for on-the-go applications and can be applied with just your finger for a just-pinched look. The color payoff is huge here, so this blush will last you forever. It can also be used on your lips for a subtle stain of color. This multi-tasker is a no-brainer if you're one for quick and easy makeup looks.
Every shade of Bobbi Brown lip liner is meant to look like a real-life lip tone to give a more naturally-defined look. For MC's E-Commerce Analytics Manager Kate Schofield, the shade Rum Raisin is her everyday go-to for lip color. "I was looking for a deeper neutral rose shade and this fit the bill perfectly," she says. "It’s a really smooth formula and super easy to apply." Another bonus is that it's easy to sharpen, so you can get a sharp point for precise applications every time.
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Brooke Knappenberger is the Associate Commerce Editor at Marie Claire, where she specializes in crafting shopping stories—from sales content to buying guides that span every vertical on the site. She also oversees holiday coverage with an emphasis on gifting guides as well as Power Pick, our monthly column on the items that power the lives of MC’s editors. She also tackled shopping content as Marie Claire's Editorial Fellow prior to her role as Associate Commerce Editor.
She has over three years of experience writing on fashion, beauty, and entertainment and her work has appeared on Looper, NickiSwift, The Sun US, and Vox Magazine of Columbia, Missouri. Brooke obtained her Bachelor's Degree in Journalism from the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism with an emphasis on Magazine Editing and has a minor in Textile and Apparel Management.
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