Photo Credit: images.blastro.com
How many times have we all flipped through magazines and lusted after that seemingly unattainable glow-y look that radiates on faces like Jennifer Lopez and Gisele Bundchen? Don’t worry, cosmetics companies have you covered. With Summer drawing near, shimmer powders that made their debut in the winter will be disappearing off shelves, and we’ll be flooded with new lotions and liquid highlighters promising to help our face gleam, shine, all of the above. However, don’t put away your winter shimmer powders just yet, Spring is the best time to use them – they add a little glow to your face that’s safe for the crossover of the seasons and are not overwhelming to those around you. Even though it’s April, it’s still cold outside. Arriving to work, a party or class with your face dripping with “dew” like it’s the middle of July is just not okay (trust me I’ve been there). It’s best to keep it low key and stick to the winter products for just a little bit longer.
So what exactly is the deal with the Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick? We’ve all had our eye on it, but we just can’t decide whether or not to go ahead and buy it. There are just too many conflicting reviews and at almost $40 a pop, we don’t want to invest in something that won’t work, or that we just won’t know how to apply. Here’s the honest truth: Some people are lucky and don’t have to do much with it to look good. However, if you’re in the other 95% of people who try it on and aren’t too impressed, you’ll have to experiment a lot until it looks amazing. Trust me though, once you get your own routine down, it really will be worth the $40.
There are 5 permanent colors in the range plus two limited editions that are currently available. Here’s a quick breakdown:
Photo Credit: designmom.com
Beige: Looks pretty in the pan, but has two brown-ish strips that I thought made my complexion seem slightly muddy. The overall effect was somewhat a streak of pasty shimmer on my face. Definitely not the subtle glow I wanted. Better for lighter skin tones.
Pink: The shimmer base is silver, which does not look good on brown skin – gold complements our skin tone and brings out the warmth, while silver just makes the skin look dull. Unless you are very fair or have cool skin tones, I would suggest staying away from this one.
Apricot: Gives medium skin tones a great glow. Definitely look “candlelit” with this one. The peach tones in this will warm your skin if you have a sallow skin tone.
Rose: Is pigmented enough to use without a blush underneath. Looks great on all skin tones, but is more of a shimmery blush than a highlighter.
Bronze: (pictured above) Recommended for our skin tone. I personally feel it is too dark copper for my skin. However, it looks breathtaking on a friend of mine. In the same category as the Apricot – can give the perfect glimmer, just match to your skin tone.
Finally the two limited editions: my personal favorite is the Copper Diamond, which I have used in the picture to the right. It’s not actually copper but a true golden glow. It’s still available in some stores and online so go check it out. The new Platinum Pink Shimmer Brick is a big waste of money and time – no gleam, no color, just slight sparkles.
Things to remember when picking out your Shimmer Brick or any other shimmer powder:
- Most of the bricks have to be used on top of a blush or they won’t show up. On areas of your face that you don’t apply blush, the shimmer will gleam when the light hits your face at that spot. However, the brick will last longer and look better on your cheeks if they have a base to adhere to and be held in contrast to.
- Despite what magazines say, shimmer powders don’t hide by reflecting, but actually tend to accentuate flaws! If you have dry skin, you MUST moisturize or your skin will look flakey. Also, try not to apply any where near wrinkles.
- The flecks in the Shimmer brick like most other highlighters settle into pores. So if you have large or very visible pores, only apply to the tops of the cheekbones, stay away from the rest of your cheeks.
- If you are going to be photographed under bright lights, the rule of thumb is to try not to use highlighters – when the camera hits your face, the light will reflect off your highlighter and you will look GREASY, not glow-y.
- The strips in the Shimmer Brick can also be used as eye shadows.
How and where to apply:
- Every cosmetics brand will tell you to use a different brush – powder, skunk, or blender. Just use something similar to the one below and you should be good to go. At almost $40, you don’t need to be spending money on an additional brush. Yes, the brush does matter in application and I prefer to use a light fluffy brush, but at the end of the day, $$$ are more important. You can buy a nicer brush later.
Photo Credit: Neiman Marcus
- Apply blush first. Then swirl your brush in the Shimmer Brick pan, and apply on your cheekbones starting near your hairline and slanting down towards the apples of your cheeks.
- Dust some on the center of your forehead, down the center of your nose (don’t do this if your nose is oily!), and on the temples of your forehead. Basically, form a sideways V (<- ->) from your cheekbones out to your hairline and up towards your temples. Apply the highlighter wherever the light hits your face naturally. You can even apply some on your chin if you wish, but I prefer not to.
- You might feel the inclination to over apply because the color is so sheer. Trust me, we can see it even if you can’t – don’t make yourself look like a disco ball, less is more!
- Lastly, blend blend blend. Highlighters are supposed to be natural; we shouldn’t see the line between the highlighter and your cheek/blush.
My personal favorite user of the Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick is pictured here (full face covered for privacy, of course). She uses the Bronze Shimmer Brick on top of Orgasm blush (reviewed here). The results are phenomenal and look stunning in person, too. However, she has a very creamy complexion so she can get away with the double shimmer. If you have a similar skin type, then try it out. If not, stick to a more neutral blush under your bronze brick.
If you’ve debated this one for a while like I did, go for it. Just make sure that you find the color that suits you and remember you must pair it up with a blush that complements the one you choose. If you don’t have the right blush underneath, applying the Shimmer Brick is pointless. Also, the Brick lasts forever; even after using it daily for the last 6 months I haven’t even made a dent in it. I’m just praying Bobbi makes the Copper Diamond a part of the permanent collection, or I’ll be spending the next few years of my life making desperate bids on EBay.
[...] Lipstick Masala placed an observative post today on Highlighters: The Shimmer Brick DilemmaHere’s a quick excerptPhoto Credit: images.blastro.comHow many times have we all flipped through magazines and lusted after that seemingly unattainable glow-y look that radiates on faces like Jennifer Lopez and Gisele Bundchen? Don’t worry, cosmetics companies have you covered. With Summer drawing near, shimmer powders that made their debut in the winter will be disappearing off shelves, and we’ll be flooded with new lotions and liquid highlighters promising to help our face gleam, shine, all of the above. However, d [...]
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[...] Lipstick Masala placed an interesting blog post on Highlighters: The Shimmer Brick DilemmaHere’s a brief overviewPhoto Credit: images.blastro.comHow many times have we all flipped through magazines and lusted after that seemingly unattainable glow-y look that radiates on faces like Jennifer Lopez and Gisele Bundchen? Don’t worry, cosmetics companies have you covered. With Summer drawing near, shimmer powders that made their debut in the winter will be disappearing off shelves, and we’ll be flooded with new lotions and liquid highlighters promising to help our face gleam, shine, all of the above. However, d [...]
i am DYING to get one.
xxx
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thanks for writing about this- i know one place i can find the diamond ltd edition brick- in case i want to buy it and it is discontinued.
i am not a fan of bobbi brown so i bought a laura mercier shimmer brick- called mosaic. not so great i would say. i shouldve bought the bobbi brown brick.
as for LIQUID shimmer highlighters, smashbox illuminating lights is really beautiful. for some odd reason, they have discontinued it. a genius gave it to me as a pressie…wonder who??
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I’ve used the Bobbi Brown brick for two years now, and I love it! It’s perfect when I’m going out for that shimmer.
And who is that last cheek?! LOVE her shimmer!
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I’ve been using Estee Lauder’s Shimmer stick since 2002, its very creamy and easy to blend into your blush. Although i must caution, ive had instances where Ive gone shimmer happy and pictures make it seem there is a golden cross lighting up my face (yikes)
its particularly useful in the winter because it absorbs into your skin for a very natural look
id use VERY conservatively in the warmer months…
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Try using a brush like the one in the link below. It works great and and for people who have normal/combination skin it gives an airbrush looking finish.
Also if you wear bronzer try Lancome’s Miel Glace blush as a highlighter….works fabulously for medium skin tone girls!
http://www.lancome-usa.com/makeup/accessories/highlighting-brush-3.htm
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This blog’s great!! Thanks
.
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Have you all tried benfits THAT GAL primer. Its techinally meant to be applied under your makeup but its got such a dewlike consistency and the color is just the right shade for our skin. Its got a chai pink undertone but when applied it goes on colorless but gives the face such a natural glow and flush . I use it as a highlighter on its own and a bit of lipgloss and im done with my day makeup . Its really really great product .
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as taniya is saying …that gal is awesome! i have read some bad reviews of it, so sometimes i’m reluctant to recommend it to everyone. However, i’m thinking it doesn’t do much on fair skin but on our skin tone it just give you this glow…looks like an inner glow and also evens out your skintone…taniya, my sister, and I can attest to this. i use it as a primer under my foundation. as a highlight i use the sephora bronzer brick. there’s one rose tone that works nicely as a pinky highlight and a copper tone that is more of a bronze glow. both are nice. i haven’t tried the bobbi brown one but maybe i’ll give it a try. the sephora one is only $15 and gives a good result as well! but requires layering on top on blush as lipstick masala has stated about the bobbi brown shimmer brick. So, maybe try these two products out in sephora and see if they work for you
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I’ve never tried it, thanks for the tip I’ll definitely go check it out! Is the consistency like other primers i.e. silicon based?
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Will definitely go check these out this weekend, I wanted a rose shade for the spring but was dreading spending the $40 on bobbi brown. Thanks!
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the great thing about the copper diamond bobbi brown brick, is it can be also used for eyeshadow! when i am traveling, that’s all i take, and it servers both purposes. it looks amazing on our skin, specially if you use the lightest shade right under your eyebrows.
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http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P95216&categoryId=C17351&shouldPaginate=true
it’s this one $16 sorry hehe…i think it’s comparable to BB.
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You guys have to try out products by Benefit. Most things suit all skin tones, even ours. Best shimmer cream called Moonbeam. Gives a candlelit glow and can be used all year round. Another one called Highbeam gives a pink dewy glow.
I have shimmer brick too, but I think Benefit products give a more natural look.
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Oh and That Gal is also amazing…….again by Benefit
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Everyone seems to be raving about “That Gal” – I must try it and do a review on it!!!
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I use highbeam as well and quite like it. Once the summer highlighting lotions come out I’ll review it along with the newer ones.
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Hey…LOVED the blog..with summer coming up (actually its already summer here)…these are great products to be used!
BTW..i got the orgasm blush and i am absolutely in love!
I also got the John Freida 100 % shine for hair …not sure if its actually working on my hair…i recently highlighted my hair and its super dry now..maybe its not for SUCH dry hair!
Also…i love your eyeliner (blue)..in the picture. I recently got 2 blue shirts and a dress. Mind sharing what eye liner and what color it is?
Thanks as always!
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Lipstick Masala Reply:
April 8th, 2009 at 10:32 pm
Thanks Sarah!
Do you live in a humid climate? I find that the glossing mist isn’t enough for the humid DC summer, so I use it in conjunction with the Paul Mitchell Skinny line of products (I use the super skinny serum before blow drying). I haven’t tried his glossing drops but they are supposed to be pretty good.
The eyeliner is actually not a liner but an eye shadow by Mac called Deep Truth – it’s one of my favorites and looks good on all the desi girls i know! I wet my brush a little and then apply – the color goes on really smoothly.
Hope that helps!
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Exactly! When I went to Pakistan this winter I left most of my eye shadows at home because I had the handy little copper diamond with me – best investment ever!
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I bought the bronze shimmer brick a few months back and love love love it. I use it over my Nars blush and it gives a great gleam to the face. I am so in love with it that I bought the Copper Diamond one as well this weekend. Not sure if I will use it as a highlighter or just use the individual colors as eyeshadow, but am excited about the prospects!
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Bobbi Brown had come out with a new, Nude version. I can’t wait to go try it on!!! (not that i need another shimmer brick, but you never know
)
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So earlier today I got the Copper Diamond shimmer brick for free (through a random series of coincidences) so naturally I was ecstatic…but I wanted to know – what blush do you recommend using under it? Just wondering
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Lipstick Masala Reply:
December 21st, 2009 at 3:49 am
Hi Amrita! The great thing about copper diamond is that it is a very warm gold so it looks good with all shades. I prefer pink blushes on myself so I always pair it up with NARS outlaw – unfortunately that has been discontinued so I’m on the hunt for a new perfect pink. Once I find one, I’ll be sure to update this comment! If you’re in a hurry, my sister is a big fan of DAME by Mac, I’m not sure what your skintone is but it seems to suit a wide-range of tones. If you’re into peachy colors, check out Taos by NARS, it’s a little pricey but lasts forever and the color is absolutely beautiful with copper diamond.
I’m glad you were able to get a hand on the Copper Diamond – it isn’t available on the website anymore which I’m absolutely devastated about
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Amrita Reply:
December 21st, 2009 at 7:04 pm
Thanks for your quick reply! I have pretty fair skin by Indian standards but I like to sit in the sun to add a little warmth (shhh don’t tell my grandmother..hahaha) I will look into DAME and maybe Taos. I have orgasm but for me personally I don’t like the amount of shimmer that both orgasm and the shimmer brick together would give me. But yeah please let me know when you get a chance
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Lipstick Masala Reply:
December 23rd, 2009 at 3:20 pm
No problem!
I know what you mean – I hate too much shimmer! You definitely won’t like “Taos” then, it’s a nice color on it’s own but with the copper diamond it might be too discoball 
I’ve heard rave reviews about Illamasqua’s “chased” blush – it’s available in some Sephora stores if you’re in the US and at Selfridges I believe in London. It’s highly pigmented but if you put on a light layer it’s gorgeous and glowy. Also, the MA at Bobbi Brown used her “pale pink” on me – looks scary in the pan but oh so pretty on the cheeks!
If you don’t want something so pinky pinksters, try mac tenderling – it’s quite a nice neutral, and of course “blushbaby” is my absolute fave!