Bobbi Brown has a new limited-edition eye set called the Mixed Metals Collection ($130). It’s currently exclusive to Neiman Marcus, Harrods and Bobbi Brown online. This is a five-piece set which includes:
- Small black cosmetic zip case with rose-gold colored detailing
- Mixed Metals Shimmer Brick Eye Palette, .14 oz/ 14g
- Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner in Black Ink, 0.1 oz/ 3g
- Smokey Eye Mascara, .17 fl oz/ 5 ml
- A Mini Dual Ended Eye Shadow/Ultra Fine Eyeliner Brush with cap
I’m not typically drawn to such cool-toned eyeshadows but the colors in this palette are really striking. The Shimmer Brick Eye Palette has 10 different colors, all with high shimmer. It is an extremely tiny palette and if you want to apply individual shades you will need an extra small detail brush to pick up individual colors. (See sizing info on the previously released Sequins and Raw Sugar versions.)
I bought mine at Neiman Marcus a few weeks ago in store. I purchased it without asking about the price expecting it to be in the $80ish range (not sure why, but it’s what I anticipated). Bobbi Brown’s website says this set is a $150 value, but if you break down the price of the full-sized items, to total is $100. The gel liner is $24, mascara is $28, palettes have been released around $48ish. I’m not sure that I would value the small brush and bag at $50 to get to the $150 value.
Onto the review. The Mixed Metals palette itself has really striking colors I find beautiful for just about any occasion. It is on the shimmery side but not too frosty (at least for me). They blend very nicely together and layer together for a number of different looks. I rarely use more than 5 shades of shadow all at once. The same applies for this palette, but I like that there are different variations of shades to create different looks depending on your mood.
I really like any of the deeper shades layered over the Black Ink Gel liner (which is a classic goof-proof eyeliner I think everyone needs in their beauty kit, or the brown one if you don’t like black eyeliners).
I’ve never really been a fan of Bobbi Brown’s mascaras but the Smokey Eye Mascara is a really nice clump-free defining and lengthening one. The first use proved to do absolutely nothing but after reading reviews, I gave the wand a few pumps and product finally adhered to the brush wand. It’s a super rich black color that doesn’t smudge, flake or fade on me. Since I have thin straight lashes, I typically need something that adds a lot more volume. But on low-key days, the Smokey Eye Mascara has proved to be very good. I like that it’s a really lush black color.
Swatches below, all the shades are really pigmented:
I really like this set but can’t help but feel it is overpriced for $130. (Although it is completely my own fault for not checking on the price at the store before buying it.) The brush is usable and decent quality so it’s something I will definitely use even if it is tiny. The pouch is small and compact but sleek looking so I know it is something I know I will get regular use out of too. I wish Bobbi Brown released the palette individually and also that the palettes would start coming in larger sizes. Ideally I would love this to be the same size as the Urban Decay Naked Palettes or Naked Basics simply because it would be easier to dip a brush into and pick up individual colors. You can definitely take a brush and swirl together multiple colors like you can for her face Shimmer Bricks, but I find the colors so beautiful on their own I wish I didn’t have to be so careful in trying to pick up one specific shade.
Neiman Marcus does have their Beauty Event going on right now through the 21st (or while gifts last) and Bobbi Brown does have an individual gift with purchase for their line. So if you’re looking to splurge, now might be a good time to get extra samples with your purchase.
The Bobbi Brown Mixed Metals Collection is limited-edition.
Available at Neiman Marcus, Harrods and Bobbi Brown online.
Available at Neiman Marcus, Harrods and Bobbi Brown online.
There is also a Gilt City deal for $30 off $80 for Bobbi Brown.
I agree with you…the palette is really stunning, and it would be nice if it was released in a larger size. I'm a cool-toned gal, and I feel I would get a lot of use out of those colours. The pouch is cute, too.:)
Hi Sabrina,
That is quite a tiny palette! I probably couldn't pull off that much shimmer, but the colors are quite lovely 🙂
The palette looks gorgeous but it's kind of disappointing that it seems to be over priced 🙁 Those colour sure do look great though.
I adore Bobbi Brown. I want the black ink!! Do you know if it has henna in its components? Because I'm allergic to it…
Lots of love, xx
http://www.marysreturn.com/
http://www.marysreturn.com/
Hi Maria, I'm not sure, but you can find the ingredient listing in some shades here:
http://answers.sephora.com/answers/8723/product/P270539/questions.htm?sort=answers&dir=asc
Unfortunately I threw out the box this came with or else I would check.
I am not a fan of Bobbi Brown but I like the look of the palette. Like you said, the set seems to be overpriced, and I would rater get a full size palette only if it becomes avail.
The color look lovely on you! 🙂
Thank you Lena!
I just repurchased Black Ink because mine finished after many years, and I have and use Smokey Eye Mascara. Thanks you for this very honest review then; it's a stunning palette but tiny and overpriced certainly if you don't need the other stuff.
Dear Sabrina,
I love the pouch (Bobbi Brown always makes cute ones) and your swatches of the eye palette look amazing. Thank you for that. But you are absolutely right – and that is the reason why I don't buy the shimmer bricks for the eyes – they are too small. I would always be afraid to have the neighbour colors on my brush. I love and prefer the normal shimmer bricks for the face (I actually just bought "sandstone") and use all the colors together.
Love the gel eyeliner and can't live without them.
Thank you for another fantastic review.
Many greetings from Germany
xxx Stephanie
Thanks for your input! I have been looking at Sandstone for a while and it looks stunning. I have the original one she released years ago but I'm not sure if the new one is the same.
I saw this go up on NM a few weeks ago and immediately fell in love. This past summer's Raw Sugar palette was so freakin' awesome, I wanted to grab this as my fall/winter version. But yep, the high price tag totally stopped me! I thought I might cave eventually, and now after your great review, I KNOW I will!! But this set does seem overpriced, even to a high-end dummy like me!!
Thanks for the wonderful review, as always.
🙂 Glad you liked the review, yes I think the Raw Sugar was so pretty and I couldn't pass up on this one, but if I had known the set price, I probably would have passed.
Pretty eyeshadow and bag but $130 for this set? Wow. Is it me, or are many cosmetics reaching awfully high asking prices? Nail polish for $50? Blush for $43? Lipstick for $34? Armani is asking $88 for an eyeshadow duo. Creme de la Mer is now $1900 for the big tub. Although I can afford these items, I am beginning to feel a bit uncomfortable and wondering if we are being taken advantage of as women. Do they think we'll pay any price at all? Do they think that if they raise things to ridiculous prices that we'll covet the items even more? What's going on here? I plan to slow down and check out the price of things before I purchase, and purchase fewer items.
Hi Maris, yes prices are increasing and seem incredibly high and I have often wondered what I will do once Chanel nail polishes reach higher prices. I remember when they used to be $18 and considered very expensive.
Maris- I'm right there with you! I saw the Armani fall eye palette and kept waiting to see that there was actually a hidden second level under the shadow. LOL Things seem a bit out of control lately. I don't mind paying extra for truly special items, but when lines that were once "merely" high-end start asking higher and higher prices for core items, it feels a bit wrong. Bobbi Brown isn't a luxury line, but the price of this set certainly is. I still haven't pulled the trigger on this or the Armani duo. I'm not sure I will.
I bought the Armani palette and don't think it's worth it. The champagne shade is gorgeous but the silvery one is very cool-toned and slightly blueish on my skin. I thought I would love it hoping it would be taupe-ish but it's more silvery. I've been debating whether or not to review it, I have a growing list of "need to publish" items and articles that I need to complete.