Bobbi Brown Beach Club Collection for Summer 2010

About a week ago, I got my hands on the much-anticipated Bobbi Brown Beach Club Collection. Tipped off by a reader that it had arrived at Nordstrom, I wasted no time getting over there. Not only am I a Shimmer Brick addict, I adore Bobbi's cream eye shadows. The colors had looked so yummy in the advance photos, I know I would love them. And I do!

Beach Shimmer Brick ($38), a compact hand-made in Italy, features five bars of warm, pearlized, shimmering shades to create a beautiful seaside glow (think sunset). Run your Face Blender Brush across all five shades and lightly dust over your cheeks and forehead for extra oomph. Or wear just one or two shades on your eyes for subtle glamour. Shimmer Bricks are so versatile, I can't resist them. If you are thinking that these shades are too warm for a cool complexion, my face is living proof that they work beautifully for summer.

There are four new pastel shades of Bobbi's Metallic Long-Wear Cream Shadow ($22).

• Moonstone, a pale shimmering green that Diron used on Hayley last week (see this link)
• Opal, described as opalescent pink
• Pink Oyster, a shimmering pale pink
• Surf, a pale, shimmering blue

There is also a new shade in Long-Wear Cream Shadow ($22): Shore, a soft matte beige perfect for a look that’s just one notch up from natural and a perfect base for the metallic shades.

Bobbi's Metallic Long-Wear Cream Shadows are wearable metallics. The award-winning formula is infused with sparkle I can wear without looking like a glitter bomb exploded nearby. These shadows are very sheer. You can blend the shadows on your lids with your fingers or use Bobbi's wonderful Cream Shadow Brush for a wash of color. For a more dramatic look, add another layer, or wear one on top of your favorite matte cream shadow for soft shimmer. When Diron did Hayley's makeover at Nordstrom last week, he applied Moonstone over Sandy Gold.

These really are long-wearing shadows. They stay color-true, retain their sparkle, and don't migrate to the crease. I wear contacts and have very sensitive eyes. I have never experienced any flaking into my eyes with Bobbi's metallic cream shadows. Of course, wearing a primer helps.

I don't normally wear pinks and blues on my eyes, but these shades are so sheer, they work for me - even the pastel blue Surf. I tried a dab of it on the center lid near my lashes, and it made my eyes look bluer than they are - and very summery.
Even if you don't want to purchase the whole collection as I did, you should seriously consider the Shimmer Brick and at least one of the shadows for a sheer and pretty summer treat.

One more Bobbi Brown fact you should know - the Antigua Face Palette, which was exclusive to Bloomingdale's when introduced, is now available at Bobbi Brown's Web site. It's a great value.

You can find the Beach Club Collection at Bobbi's Web site and Bobbi Brown counters at your favorite department stores.

Photos courtesy of Bobbi Brown