Bobbi Brown’s new Cabana Coral collection might just be the highlight of Spring for Carla and I. On the one hand you have shades of coral that will suit any skin tone and on the other you have a new Pot Rouge, Shimmer Brick and Eye and Lip Palette being released with the collection. Suffice it to say, we are jazzed over here at Product Girl HQ!  Ready to salivate along with us?

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Just when I think I can’t love Bobbi Brown anymore, she offers us all a second chance at the beloved Chocolates palette from the 2006 Fall Collection. Can I get a hallelujah?  I missed out on this one and it’s because I missed out on this palette that I vowed to never do it again. Yeah, I said it. I’m addicted to Bobbi Brown’s face and eye palettes.

Not only is this gorgeous palette available exclusively at QVC right now, Bobbi packaged it as part of a seven piece collection called the Best of Bobbi The Chocolates. And it is stacked! Here’s what is included:

• Chocolate eye palette, inlcudes: Bone, Caramel Toffee,  Frappe, Champagne Truffle, Cacao, Stone,  Chocolate)
• Lip palette, includes: Sandwash Tulle, Brown, Berry, Raisin Berry, Disco, Ball, Velvet Rope
• Full size gel liner in dark chocolate brown
• Pot rouge in brown pink (0.1 oz)
• Cystal clear lip gloss (0.24 fl oz.)
• Black Everything mascara (0.1 oz)
• Mini ultrafine liner brush

It’s up on QVC for an introductory price of $92.67 + s/h and can be broken out into three easy pay payments. Thanks Bobbi for bringing Chocolates back!

Bobbi Brown’s onto something with her Makeup Face Lift Collection, which touts products that help you look well-rested in 5 minutes flat. I’m on board with that concept, how about you guys? This is a small release but the timing is perfect and I’m particularly excited to see the return of my beloved Tinted Eye Brightener in a click-pen format!

Here’s the collection deets:

EXTRA Eye Repair Cream ($65)
Packed with peptides, natural plant oils and humectants that target fine lines, wrinkles, dark circles, puffiness and dryness, this rich, concentrated cream visibly revives eyes.

Tinted Eye Brightener ($38)
Now in a portable pen, this lightweight concealer (8 shades available) counteracts under-eye circles by brightening up the area. I’ve been using the potted version for years and live by this stuff. Haven’t yet tried the newly packaged version, but I’m eager to. I will say though, the price did jump quite a bit.

Brow Pencil ($20)
Instantly give your eyes a “lift” with defined eyebrows with this new creamy, blendable pencil, available in five shades. It gives the natural look of eyebrow powder with the precision of a pencil and is equipped with its own sharpener.

Brightening Lip Gloss ($20)
Two new shades, Popsicle and Nectar, are included in this release. This formula rocks! It’s sheer, reflective and literally wakes up your face by creating the illusion of fuller lips. Ohmygoodness, Nectar is gor-geous!

Bobbi also recommends pairing these items with a flushed cheek – suggesting Pot Rouge in Pale Pink or Pink Truffle. This collection inspired the items I reached for this morning. I’m actually sporting some vintage Bobbi, the Pink Raspberry palette from two springs ago. The bright pop of blush is so perfect! And really, it’s zero degrees out. I’m just focused on keeping my skin looking bright and healthy.

The Makeup Face Lift Collection is available now at counters and at www.BobbiBrownCosmetics.com.

Our favorite beauty products of the year continues with our must-haves for our faces and top-picks for palettes! We saw a lot of new foundations released this past year, with the trend no longer being just coverage but good-for-you ingredients. See what stood our for us below!

Kat Von D Tattoo Concealer was a favorite of Carla’s this year. If this multi-tasking concealer is good enough to cover up Miss Von D’s tattoos, imagine what it can hide on your complexion?

We were wowed by Benefit Hello Flawless and Benefit Erase Paste. Together, the two create a flawless (uh, pun intended!) canvas. Plus, Benefit’s packaging and marketing is top-notch, don’t you think? We always look forward to seeing what they’re bringing next.

We fell hard for Dior Nude Skin Foundation and NARS Sheer Glow Foundation, both giving excellent, buildable coverage without looking like we’re wearing foundation or irritating our sensitive skin.

The standout of MAC’s Colour Ready collection, Prep & Prime Transparent Finishing Powder Powder, is our pick for best powder of 2009. This stuff is the perfect finisher to foundation and helps set our faces without mattifying us completely. And it’s part of the permanent line, thank you MAC… a few swipes of this with a brush and our pores are instantly minimized.

TheBalm Sexy Mama helped keep Carla’s skin shine free the year before so she re-upped and kept with it in 2009.  The adorable pinup girl may reel you in but this translucent powder is bringing sexy matte without caking.

We have a major thing for highlighters here at Product Girl HQ. Major. We could probably change the name of this blog to Highlighter Girl and get along just fine. But even we have our favorites. Bobbi Brown’s Nude Shimmer Brick may just be the best Shimmer Brick of all time. This gives that “lit from within” glow and is so easy to wear. It’s love. One of our most recent favorites, Le Tissage de Lames Chanel imparts a brightening gold sheen and is our pick for most luxurious.

Benefit’s One Hot Minute has been a revelation to us this year. Take your pick, use it as a bronzer or use it as a highligher, the gorgeous rose gold shimmer can work as either on a variety of skin tones. And how cute is the tin? Loving it…

MAC’s Rose Romance collection made a dent in our wallets and included an amazing cheek stain - Just a Pinch Gel Blush. It’s a sheer rosy red that gives a natural flush to cheeks. We would so looove to see more of these released! What do you say, MAC? Will we see more?

Another MAC blush that captured hearts in ‘09 was The Perfect Cheek, released with MAC’s Fall launch, Make Up Art Cosmetics. It’s a tricky line a fair-skinned girl walks when wearing nude blushes (mud alert), but this has the right amount of pink in it to make it well, perfect. (Full of puns today, loud and proud!)

Ok, this is the last time we’ll mention the Trish McEvoy Voyager Beauty Emergency Card or Trish McEvoy… this year. We can’t help it, we really, really love it. Pictures really don’t do this little set justice, if your local counter still has it, you need to snap this up… for cuteness sake.

We made some big claims about Dior’s Smoky Crystal quint earlier this month, and we stand by them! These shadows are incredibly smooth and every color in this palette is stunning.

Bobbi Brown has had some great releases this year but one of our favorites is the Bobbi Brown Brights Eye Palette. We love seeing Bobbi show us bolder color and this palette definitely had plenty of that.

Now it’s your turn. What lit up your face in 2009? Any palettes that you can’t get enough of?  Share in the comments!

It’s like the second wave of Cyber Monday for beauty lovers. If you missed out on some of the awesome value sets this holiday season, chances are now you can get it on sale.

Sephora.com is offering an extra 20% off all sale items through December 31 with the code EXTRA at checkout. There are a lot of great deals to be had, like the Urban Decay Get Baked palette, Benefit Bright Lights Big City! set and Korres eyeshadows for $7 (pre-sale price!) And if you’re like me, you’ll keep checking the sale section see if anything new gets added. I can’t help myself:)

Sephora is also offering some “sweet steals” for under $10, which are a must to check out! If you shop at Sephora in-store, you’ve probably noticed these items at the register periodically. They’re usually only there for a quick period of time but they’re amazing – and now they are all online! I’m all over the Stila Couple a Crushes – deluxe sizes of the Pomengranate and Mango lip/cheek stains!

And Nordstrom slashed prices by 20-50% on a ton of beauty products, including the MAC holiday palettes and sets, Bobbi Brown holiday gifts, fragrance value sets and more! Here’s a few deals that I deem steal-worthy!

The Laura Mercier Colour Wadrobe (Carla asked Santa for this!) is now 25% off!

Bobbi Brown’s lip gloss trio is now 20% off.

Any great deals catching your eye? Or are you shopped out? I’m feeling a little under the weather but the beauty addict and sale-monger in me is always there:)

Winter is here. There’s just no getting around it anymore. Chicago is getting hit with its first real storm of the season. Temperatures will sink to single digits and I think during my morning commute it’s going to feel like -20 degrees. This is the cold that makes you feel like your face is going to fall off. And I take the bus into work, so I spend about 15 minutes of morning commute (and the same in the evening) walking to/from the bus. Days like this require a special beauty routine.

Here’s how I attempt to keep my skin protected and my face pretty.

Moisturizer: Days like these are just not the time to be skimping on the face moisturizer. Give your skin a healthy layer of lotion and really let it sink into your skin before doing your makeup. I also use a face primer after I apply my moisturizer because I like to give my skin a little extra protection. I take the words “wind” and “advisory” very seriously when I hear them used together. I’ve really been liking NARS Primer with SPF for winter days. Which brings me to my next point…

Sunscreen: It’s a myth that you need visible, yellow sun to get sun damage. I got one of the worst sunburns on my nose ever from snow! In fact, a combo of sunny sun and bright white snow is horrible. I don’t skimp on this either.

Pick Your Battles: You can’t have it all on these days. What looks great when you leave your house will soon be demolished by the torrential wind. My eyes water a lot and the wind just gets the tears flowing. So I do eyeliner only on the upper lid (if I do it at all) – and I choose wisely. A MAC fluidline or Bobbi Brown gel liner does the trick for me. And waterproof mascara. I don’t use this often because it’s so hard to get off, but it’s a must. I’ve been LOVING the NARS Larger than Life Volumizing mascara lately.

Rosy Cheeks: Duh, your going to have them anyway. May as well play up your natural beauty. Cream blushes are my winter savior. I like them all year long, but they are doubly amazing this time of year. I like Stila’s Convertible Color and I LOVE Bobbi Brown Pot Rouges - Velvet Plum is my favorite for a rosy flush.

Lips – I stash Rosebud Salve, Kiehl’s #1 Lip Balm, Carmex Moisture Plus – basically all of these and more into every purse, coat pocket and office drawer so that I’m never without.

So that is what works for me. What works for you? And isn’t so difficult to adjust to winter at first? I’ll be good in 2-3 weeks, but right now I’m not ready!

DISCLOSURE: All of the products mentioned in this article were purchased by me recently or during previous winters of my life.

Kicking off Cyber Monday is Bobbi Brown’s Friends and Family sale! From November 30 through December 2, you’ll receive 20% off any purchase at BobbiBrownCosmetics.com (no code necessary). The question you should be asking is to Chrome…or not to Chrome, and the answer should be yes!

I’ll be doing some gift shopping this time around. I always get my mother-in-law something from Bobbi Brown holiday for Christmas each year – and I’m thinking the Earth Metal Lip & Eye Palette. Happy shopping!

In just a few short days, I’ll be transported from a likely rainy, cold Chicago to the warm, sunny beaches of Hawaii. I’m trying to downplay the excitement around my coworkers and friends, because well, it’s going to be rainy and cold the entire time I’m gone. Trying to be a gracious vacationer!

I need to get to packing, and like any beauty junkie, I’m thinking of what makeup I’m going to bring! There’s usually a three-step process that happens when I go to pack makeup for a vacation:

1) Sort through makeup bag and lay my vacation makeup on the counter – thinking the whole time I’m being practical with my selections.
2) Step back and see that I’ve selected 20 eyeshadows, 8 blushes and 10 lipglossees and realize that I haven’t been selective enough.
3) Start again, this time paring down to a reasonable amount of makeup that gets to come with on vacation.

Are you guilty of doing this too?

All that said, I still like to feel like I have options. For this I go to my palettes and multi-tasking products. Here’s what will defintely be making the trip with me to Hawaii.

The NARS Multiple Duo in Maui/Palm Beach. This gives me a pinky blush and a bronzer, plus it travels really well because it’s a sleek, rubber compact.

This Glitter Lip Gloss Palette from Bobbi Brown’s holiday collection is perfect for travel. I happen to love these glosses for one, and I have four options to choose from!

This is a must – need I remind you how long it has been since I’ve seen the sun? I do live in Chicago, we have the highest rate of Vitamin D deficiency in the country! Plus, this sunscreen doubles as my primer and never irritates my sensitive skin.

I like eyeshadow options and this Tarte Femme Fatale palette will serve me well. I have soft colors, deep neutrals, bold shimmers – yeah, I’m set with this one.

What are your travel beauty musts? Share any tips you have – after all my travels, I still don’t have this down to a science!

I don’t know about all of you, but Holiday collections have gotten us very excited this season.  And Bobbi Brown’s Chrome Collection is right up there at the top! We showed you Bobbi’s first installment of Holiday last month, and now we must talk about the Chrome Collection.

If you buy (or gift!) only one beauty item this season, the Chrome palette would be my recommendation.  I can see hundreds of ways to use this palette – and I for one, am going to give it a try. I can’t get enough of this palette! It truly does give you more bang for your buck, and includes 10 shadows, four lip glosses and mini eye and lip brushes.

Here’s the palette breakdown:

Eyes:

• White Eye Shadow
• Polar Ice Shimmer Wash Eye Shadow
• Storm Cloud Sparkle Eye Shadow
• Iron Eye Shadow
• Thunder Metallic Eye Shadow
• Moonlight Sparkle Eye Shadow
• Cyber Grey Shimmer Wash Eye Shadow
• Foil Metallic Eye Shadow
• Chrome Metallic Eye Shadow
• Charcoal Haze Eye Shadow

Lips

• Pink Mist Shimmer Lip Gloss
• Winter Bronze Glitter Lip Gloss
• Berry Glitter Lip Gloss
• Chrome Pink Shimmer Lip Gloss

The collection also includes three new limited edition shades of Metallic lipstick, available in Port, Chrome and Plum Pearl. Don’t be put off by the icy silver Chrome color – it’s very flattering and not at all “night of the living dead.” It gives a light, shimmering effect. Further proof of this is the gorgeous model in the promo shot above.

Last but not least, we have a Chrome Mini Brush Set which includes the Mini Face Blender (looove this brush!), Mini Angle Eye Shadow Brush, and Mini Eye Liner in chrome zip-around case.

Being the beauty addicts we are at Product Girl, it’s always fun to show you what products really rock our world. In that vein, I wanted to share with you what has dominated my makeup bag this past month. October really flew by, and these products were with me every step of the way.

MAC Volcanic Ash Thermal Face Mask – This was released with MAC’s Style Black collection and my face loves this mask. I use this about twice a week (trying to ration it!) after I exfoliate and the combo leaves my skin so soft and I swear it helps keep blemishes at bay. And since it is a thermal mask, it heats up a bit when you wash it off. Not too much heat, but a nice refreshing sensation.

NARS Eyeshadow Duo in Silk Road – For me, this was a sleeper hit of the NARS Fall collection. It’s a very unassuming color combo – an icy pink and a warm rose gold with gold glitter. I immediately liked it but didn’t realize how much I would love it. The icy pink is so pretty as a lid or highlighter shade and the rose gold is beautiful on the lid, the crease –just about anywhere.

Bobbi Brown Metallic Long Wear Cream Shadow in Black Pearl – Carla convinced me this was a must-have and she wasn’t kidding. I typically layer over my cream shadows, but not this. I pat it on my lid and it stands alone. Not only is it stunning…but it’s easy.

Cover Girl Lash Blast Length mascara – I’ve been on board the Lash Blast train for awhile – since the original orange tube launched. I love these mascaras – they work well for me. I see LBL as a very reliable mascara – it may not do much for thickening and volumizing, but it does lengthen my lashes, keep my curl and it never clumps or flakes.

Stila Kitten Smudgepot – Brilliance in a pot. This product has earned a permanent home in my makeup bag. I can use this on its own when in a hurry, but I love to use this as a base or on the inner corners of my eyes. It never creases and it isn’t as frosty as its powder sister. Basically, everyone needs this.

NARS Sheer Glow Foundation – I owe you guys a proper review on the new NARS foundations (Sheer Glow and Sheer Matte) because I love them both. But I’ll just say that if you have oily skin, uneven skin tone and/or are breakout prone, this foundation could become your new BFF. Yeah, it’s good. That good.

MAC Dazzleglass Creme in My Favorite Pink – I practically camped out at the MAC counter in anticipation of the Dazzleglass Cremes. And while I didn’t go as ga-ga over them as I thought I would, I did develop quite the affection for the shade My Favorite Pink. It’s bright pink, glittery and slightly creamy. Pretty much a sure thing in my book.

What about you? Any loves for the month of October? Do tell!

Bobbi Brown is also getting in the Pink spirit this month with her Pink Ribbon Collection. This year’s limited edition lip set has an all-new exclusive shade of the line’s Creamy Lip Color in Blush Pink and a limited-edition Pink Crystal Glitter Lip Balm with a pink ribbon logo on the Glitter Lip Balm compact. Bobbi Brown will be donating  $35,000 in connection with the North American sales of Pink Ribbon Collection to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

More holiday beauty products coming your way. This time the genius that is Bobbi Brown tempts us with her holiday offerings. This Black Plum Deluxe Beauty Trunk is just one of the holiday products from Bobbi Brown debuting this month on counters. Keep reading to check out the rest of Bobbi Brown’s holiday release.

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Bobbi Brown has released a new lip gloss called Rich Color Gloss, it is a full color lip gloss that gives your lips rich opaque coverage and moisturizes lips like a thick, rich lip balm. What’s not to love? Rich Color Gloss is available in:

• Naked
• Ruby Red
• Pink Raspberry
• Merlot
• Dusty Rose
• Melon
• Tutu
• Pink Buff

I was a little surprised that Bobbi Brown did away with the brush applicator (which I love her dearly for) on this one and brought back the doe foot applicator but with this Rich Color Gloss, it works. This gloss is pigmented enough that it gives lips enough color without a lipstick on underneath. All you need is a little lip liner and you’re good to go…

A few weeks ago I was getting ready to do some cleaning, and as I do every time I get ready to do housework, I got distracted by some beauty product on my night stand. This usually means I put on way too much makeup and just play around… that’s my SSB. The last time I did this, I grabbed Bobbi Brown’s Pot Rouge and suddenly, it was like I was reunited with a long lost love.

Bobbi Brown’s Pot Rouge for Lips and Cheeks is a beauty multi-tasker that everyone should have a least one of in their makeup bag. I’ve been switching it up with Chocolate Cherry and Blushed Rose on my lips and cheeks lately. Chocolate Cherry seems a little intense for everyday wear but don’t let it scare you. Everyone can wear this shade, it all depends on how you apply it. With a light hand, this goes on beautifully. Cheeks have a light rosy flush to them and lips have that just bitten look to them with a hint of a brown. I’ve picked up a few more shades since we’ve been reunited and the beauty addict in me is debating collecting them all.

My other current love is Stila’s Convertible Color. Just like Bobbi’s Pot Rouge, this is another great beauty multi-tasker. I like to use this one on my cheeks more than my lips because the formula with this one is sheerer in comparison to the Pot Rouge. It also has a semi-matte finish where the Pot Rouge has some shine to it. This gives my cheeks that nice dewy look I’m in love with. Also, Stila’s shade range is a little different from Bobbi Brown’s so you’re not duplicating a shade you already have. Stila has some peachy shades that Bobbi Brown lacks like Gladiola and Gerbera. Plus you can’t go wrong with the mirror in the compact. Maybe one day Pot Rouges will come with a little mirror in the cap.

I would be in heaven if Bobbi Brown or Stila made one of these with a hint of shimmer… maybe they are listening. Do you own one of these? Which ones? I want to hear all about it in the comments.

For now, make sure you enter my Cover FX and Stila giveaway going on right now… you can get a Stila Convertible Color compact of your very own!

Here’s another product I’m adding to my wish list, the Bobbi Brown Honey Glaze Long Wear Eye Palette. I know how the Long Wear Cream Eye Shadows and Gel Eyeliners perform so this palette is a safe bet. With the mini Perfectly Defined Mascara, this would make a perfect travel palette.

The shades in the palette are Honey Glaze and Dove Grey Long Wear Cream Eye Shadows and Mahogany Ink and Black Topaz Gel Eyeliners. There’s also a mini double-ended brush for you to apply the products with. I have to admit that I love Bobbi’s mini double-ended brushes. I have one from a concealer palette and it’s the most adorable thing, it needs a sibbling.

The Bobbi Brown Honey Glaze Long Wear palette is an online exclusive so if you’re like me, you’re going to have to break your anti-online shopping rule to get it.