Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup

A beauty blog blooming with fresh makeup reviews, swatches and beauty tips from your friendly neighborhood beauty addict

20 Lip Swatches with the Bobbi Brown 1991 Lip Palette and 20 Things I’ve Done Since 1991

by 93 Comments

bobbi brown 1991 lip palette

My tummy’s rumbling like crazy right now, and I should probably eat…but I can’t stop yet. No breaks until I finish swatching all 20 lipsticks in the new Bobbi Brown 1991 Lip Palette ($60).

You know how it is. Makeup comes first. 🙂

Bobbi Brown 1991 Lip Palette

  • Released to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics
  • The limited edition palette is available now at Bobbi Brown counters and also online
  • Features 10 of the brown-based lipstick colors from Bobbi’s original launch way back in 1991, along with 10 bright new shades

bobbi brown 1991 lip palette

bobbi brown 1991 lip palette

Bobbi Brown 1991 Lip Palette: Swatches

bobbi brown 1991 candied red
Candied Red

bobbi brown 1991 pink martini
Pink Martini

bobbi brown 1991 cosmic lily
Cosmic Lily

bobbi brown 1991 party pink
Party Pink

bobbi brown 1991 atomic pink
Atomic Pink

bobbi brown 1991 watermelon
Watermelon

bobbi brown 1991 hot berry
Hot Berry

bobbi brown 1991 berry punch
Berry Punch

bobbi brown 1991 lady ruba
Lady Ruba

bobbi brown 1991 coral gables
Coral Gables

bobbi brown 1991 red
Red

bobbi brown 1991 burt red
Burnt Red

bobbi brown 1991 blackberry
Blackberry

bobbi brown 1991 orange
Orange

bobbi brown 1991 pink
Pink

bobbi brown 1991 beige
Beige

bobbi brown 1991 salmon
Salmon

bobbi brown 1991 raisin
Raisin

bobbi brown 1991 brown
Brown

bobbi brown 1991 rose
Rose

What do ya think? Don’t those brighter colors look fun?

WOW! I can’t believe 1991 was 20 years ago. It doesn’t seem that long ago.

Well, now that I think about it, I guess a lot has happened since then…

I feel a list coming on! 🙂

20 Things I’ve done since 1991 (in no particular order)

  1. Graduated from high school
  2. Finished college with degrees in biology and English
  3. Jumped out of an airplane
  4. Started waxing my stash (thank gawd, because that mustache I had in my senior pics was not cute)
  5. Worked for a public utility
  6. Lived in San Francisco
  7. Ran a half-marathon (never again!)
  8. Got my heart broken
  9. Fell in love
  10. Took hip-hop, jazz and ballet lessons
  11. Battled depression
  12. Started a blog
  13. Traveled to some interesting places like Hawaii, New York City, Florida, the Philippines, Canada, Mexico, France, England, Italy, Germany, Spain and Portugal
  14. Lived with two wonderful dogs
  15. Picked up photography as a hobby
  16. Married my soul mate
  17. Wrote A LOT
  18. Was adopted by a husky tabby
  19. Learned how to surf
  20. Learned to love myself

How about you? What are some things that have happened to you in the years since 1991?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Fabulous post, the colors in the palette look great on you! But most importantly the 20 things you’ve done was an excellent idea to post. I am 18 and I’m just getting started with life reading the good and bad things that you have gone on through in your life gives me so much hope and believe me when I tell you are one of the most influential people I have gotten to “know” 🙂

    Reply

    • You are so sweet Naomi. I’m glad to know you, too. It’s weird… it seems like it was just yesterday when I was 18. I can remember so many things about that year clearly: finishing high school, moving away to college and fumbling my way through it all. It can be a fun (and scary) time. I hope that you get to enjoy every second of it. 🙂

      Reply

  3. Aw Karen, I loved all the lip swatches and your list. I know I’ve told you this before, but your blog ALWAYS brings me up when I’m feeling down. You just make me feel good about myself and life in general. That doesn’t seem weird does it?

    I was 5 in 1991 so I’ve lived pretty much all of my life since then, but a l share things with your list (Battled depression) and am still working on others (Finishing college).

    And I’m not even big on wearing pigmented lip colors but this palette looks AMAZING. I want it and the Party to Go palette you posted about earlier. Maybe they can convince me to change my opinion of Bobbi Brown!
    Jessi recently posted … Doggie Pictures and a Neighbor Rant

    Reply

    • Hi Jessi,

      I’m really happy to hear that. I’ve always liked to think of the site as a ray of sunshine… it makes me smile to know that it brings a little bit of joy to your life.

      Hope you are having a good day and that things work out with your neighbor.

      Reply

  4. I’m blown away by your commitment to makeup that you actually swatched all 20 lip colors before answering the call of a rumbling tumtum! I doubt I could do the same. 😉

    Those swatches are awesome! Those are all so very wearable. Bright but nothing too outlandish. I can see myself getting a lot of use out of it. The Christmas wish list keeps getting longer and longer. Thank goodness I share #16 with you on your list of 20 so I’m sure the hubby won’t mind. At least not very much. 🙂
    Carmela recently posted … Indulge without the Splurge: 6 October 2011

    Reply

  6. Omg! I can’t believe that Bobbi Brown is as old as me! And even I don’t feel like 1991 was 20 years ago.

    I like lip palettes. But it’s so inconvenient to bring out for re-application.

    Reply

  9. The colours are all so lovely and beautiful, I’d probably use about 80% of the shades there so that’s a good deal. As for 1991, geez it really doesn’t seem that long ago does it but since then I moved to a whole new country as a geeky 12 year old, went to school, graduated from school, worked, got married, bought a house, became a makeup addict, a lot has happened! LOL
    Lilit recently posted … 5 Tips to increase the lifespan of your luxury candles

    Reply

  16. Your swatches made me fall in love! I want this so bad and I don’t even wear lip products. Maybe I’ll buy this as a birthday present to myself. x

    Reply

  17. Proper brownie points for doing all those swatches! My favourites were Candied Red and Rose…I’d love the palette but I do feel lipstick should be more portable!

    Reply

  18. Wow, these are actually pretty nice! 🙂

    A lot has happened to me since 1991 too. Finished high school, graduated from college, worked for 3 years, met my husband, moved to England, got married, had 3 children, acquired 2 kittens, met my idols (the band Europe), went to America for the first time, put on weight, lost it, put more on, lost it, put more on, lost some of it and put more on. 🙂 Currently working on losing some. Oh and first time in my life I can run 3 miles without stopping. Something I couldn’t do in 1991 even thought I was only 15. 😉
    Anitacska recently posted … The Great 30 Day Lipstick Challenge – Week 3

    Reply

    • Thanks, Laceyk. 🙂 Oh, and I’m pretty sure cool pale purplish beiges look awful on me… I’ve tried it before and it’s a hot mess!

      What do you think of this palette? Do you like it?

      Reply

  20. No way! Be quiet! Jumped out of an airplane?? I’m so jealous. I’ve always wanted to, but I think that ship has sailed. It’s funny how your perspective shifts after having kids. I’ve become much more cautious. 🙁

    Since 1991, graduated from college (English), got my current job, met and married the most perfect guy in the world for me, bought a house that I love, had 2 great boys, adopted 3 gray cats, tore my ACL and had a zombie tendon put in, started playing hockey, starting coaching my kids’ soccer team. And probably a million other things that are not coming to mind right now. 🙂 Dang, I’m still thinking about that airplane! HAHA!

    Reply

    • It was fun! I was 24 at the time and fearless. I can still remember hanging out of the door of the plane, looking down at the ground below and watching my feet whip in the wind. I would do it again in a heartbeat but feel like I shouldn’t because of the boys in my life (El Hub and Tabs!).

      Wait, I didn’t know you actually played hockey! That’s all sorts of awesome.

      Reply

      • Oh, I’m so with you! I’m turning into such an old lady. We were at Six Flags and they have a Skycoaster (you wear a harness and drop from like 165 feet). The boys were like “would you do that, Mommy?!” and I was like “Heck YEA! Oh, well, no… but maybe 10 years ago”. The idea of them possibly seeing mommy go Splat kind of put a damper on things. 🙂

        Yes, I play but it’s just a fun thing with a bunch of hockey parents and there’s no (intentional) contact. Some are really good, some are OK and some are just learning to skate. I used to love it when I started because all the guys would set me up and I’d have like 6 goals per night (I’m usually the only girl). Now they have no mercy – just one of the boys! HAHA!

        Reply

  21. gorgeous swatches! 🙂

    since 1991, ive settled down, changed careers, learned to appreciate downtime and fell in love with furkids. 🙂

    Reply

      • finally friday, indeed!

        chances are, i cant do an unplugged weekend since im pretty sure ill be working part of the time. weather in the european waters has made my work insane these days.

        Reply

          • i have some crew travelling supposedly today, but there’s a storm and the vessel they are on cannot make it to port.

            one of them needs to fly off to another project so its a bit of a stretch atm to get him where he needs to be on time.

            im trying to be sure there are provisions for them when they get off the vessel and get them onwards to their next stops.

            i have a feeling all the stuff ive planned this week will change tomorrow. 😀

  22. Awesome looking palette! Your first post piqued my interest, but afterwards I was wondering whether all the shades would be wearable. I’m impressed to see from your lip swatches that they every single one of them is flattering on you…which one would expect would be rare from any palette with that many colours!
    Your list of things that have happened in your life since 1991 was a great idea – It’s a great way to put things into perspective, and add another dimension to makeup and beauty. Which is the reason I enjoy reading your blog as much as I do!
    Since 1991? Graduated from high school, graduated from architecture school, met my now husband, lived and worked in india, italy, uk and canada, travelled a lot, moved 33 times, bought a house, adopted two kittens…

    Reply

    • Hi Aradhana,

      Glad you enjoyed this post! And thank you for sharing your list. That’s really cool how you’ve lived and worked in all those countries. I’m curious — which part of Italy did you work in? I visited last year and fell in love with the country. I really hope to go back someday soon.

      Reply

      • in rome! i love italy too! i have not been to the southern part of italy yet, but all the areas i have visited, i have loved so much!

        Reply

  24. Love the post, esp. your list of what you’ve done – only a few items, I’m sure – since 1991. The lip swatches are fab, too. I also love reading what all the other ladies have done since 1991. Seems like such a short time has passed, but 20 years…whew!

    Since 1991 I have earned two BAs (English and PR), gotten an MFA in Film, had four jobs, had six serious relationships, been on 200+ first dates, married the love of my life, lost my dad, three uncles, four aunts, and all my grandparents, had eight roommates (two turned into BFFs), attended 19 weddings and helped six friends through divorces, become an Auntie to 22 wonderful kiddos, finally visited England and Ireland (I’m an anglo-iro-phile), met my rock idols (U2) twice, adopted two sweet kitties, wrote/produced/directed/shot/edited two short films…the list goes on because, like everyone here, I’m still living life to the fullest!

    Reply

    • Thank you for sharing your list, Kelly. I really enjoyed reading it.

      Super cool, btw, that you got an MFA in film. I’m not a serious cinema-phile or anything, but I sure do enjoy watching movies. Do you currently work in the film industry?

      Happy Friday!

      Reply

  25. Ooh, this palette could live in my pro kit!

    That “20 things I’ve done” list is amazing. A lot of those things are on my list: graduated high school, became a cat owner (or do they own me?), fell in love, got my heart broken, started a blog, battled depression, wrote a lot. We have a lot in common!

    I also became a makeup artist, worked in a museum, and got accepted by Columbia and NYU.

    Reply

  27. Your list is impressive! I’ve always wanted to jump out of a plane. I have also battled depression…no fun! Your blog and your humor helps a lot with that!

    Reply

    • Hi Marian,

      Jumping out of a plane fun, but I don’t know if I’d do it again (okay, I would! LOL).

      Battling depression isn’t fun. Learning coping skills, exercising (endorphins, yay!) and having supportive people around me has helped me a lot. Talking about it and getting it out in the open with friends and family has seemed to help too.

      Sending you good vibes on this lovely Friday. 🙂

      Reply

  28. I have been hoping someone would do these swatches! I have this palette and I love it. So far, all the colors I’ve tried look good on me… even colors that sound like they wouldn’t, such as beige and brown. Bobbi was really on to something with those first 10 lipsticks. And some of them are a lot less brown than you’d think. They look very different on me than on you… I have a very light skintone. One thing that’s kind of awkward about the palette is the size of the pans and also the size of the brush. I have to swipe a fair number of times to get enough product to paint on. Nevertheless, I’m super happy with it because of the great selection of colors. And also, the mirror helps. If you think you want this, I’d buy it now… my Nordstrom’s only got 6 and sold them out in one day.

    Reply

  31. Love the swatches and love your list more so..yes past 2 decades went by so fast,i was a lil kid in ’91. Am yet to jump off a plane or have pets but other than that many common threads in our lives..

    Reply

  32. Ahh, Karen! I’ve loved your blog forever and can’t believe a gal as amazing as you had to learn to love herself. If you ever forget again, just come see me. I’ll make you some pie and tell you all the reasons you’re great, and that I only started wearing makeup with your guidance! 🙂

    Reply

  33. Great post! Just yesterday I was watching some E! while cleaning the house and a Demi Lovato special was on and it said she was born in 92 or something close, and I kept thinking OMG how can someone born in the 90’s be 18 years old? I forget how fast time flies.

    Since 1991 I have graduated elementary school, jr. high, high school and college, worked, gone from thinking boys have cooties to getting married, moved across the country, and started a makeup collection that will last me for waaaay more than the next 20 years. =)

    Reply

  34. Karen I must say that I really do love you and what you are doing! Your blog is doing SO well and I can only hope that one day my blog will be just like yours! YOU GO GIRL!

    My 20 Things:

    1. Graduated from HS
    2. Graduated from college
    3. Had my heart broken (I mean REALLY broken) but it has made me SO much stronger (I don’t think I would take it back either)!
    4. Discovered that who I am is who I am & learned to embrace it
    5. Made my mom my best friend (it’s great)!
    6. Watched the movie Sister Act 2 (I know…RANDOM) over 100 times! REALLY I HAVE =)
    7. Worked 10+ jobs (haha)
    8. Had a boyfriend for 3 1/2 years & it went NO-WHERE! I am thankful for that now
    9. Went to Jamaica & the Bahamas
    10. Went on a cruise
    11. Learned I had a baby sister out here in this world after she was a year old (she’s a big college girl now…18)!
    12. Found a church that I love
    13. Learned to at least LIKE my dad (and forgave him)… O_o
    14. Lost a friendship with someone & re-connected with them after 7years
    15. Was campus royalty at my college! Just call me Queen Britt Britt =)
    16. Was put on disciplinary & academic prbabtion my entire 2nd year of college…not mt proudest moment
    17. Discovered that I want to be a makeup artist
    18. Found two “Some-A (Some A this Some A that)” dogs sthat I love to death! LADY & BELLA!
    19. Witnessed the birth of my amazing Goddaughter…Jorie =)
    20. Accquired a BEST FRIEND who is like the older sister I never had! We are like the two ladies from the movie A Family That Preys!

    Reply

  35. This really brightened my morning, Karen! I’ve got an exam heavy day today, and it made me smile to see all those colors.

    I have never considered Bobbi Brown as a brand that I would like since it focuses so heavily on “no makeup” looks, but I’ve read a lot about the newer lipstick colors. I might finally be convinced to try BB out!

    Have a great long weekend!

    Reply

  36. Those colors look awesome! This brown girl is loving ’em!
    In ’91 I became a big sister @ 5 years old. Since then I’ve graduated from college and graduate school and sadly, become a certified make up junky. 🙂

    Reply

  37. They look pretty good for a lip palette – but then again, it’s Bobbi Brown, so I kind of expect good quality. I just can see toting the palette around all day for re-app. Just my preference.

    As for the 20 things (thanks for sharing Karen) I think I will list some because it’s fun to look back sometimes. So…1) became a bartender 2) went to my first professional baseball game 3) learned to golf 4) went to Woodstock 99 5) worked in a hospital 6) got on TRL with Carson Daly 7) bought my first brand new car on my own 8) joined the Navy 9) traveled overseas 10) drove the ship 11) got married in Vegas by fake Elvis 12) had a baby 13) went scuba diving for the first time in Aruba 14) went to the Playboy club in Vegas 15) became a cake decorator 16) started college at age 31 17) fell in love with makeup 18) graduated college with honors 19) won the Oscar pool two years in a row (because hey, I’m a movie nerd) 20) found Makeup and Beauty Blog (I was just roaming around the internet and I found it!) 🙂 Happy Friday all! It’s my birthday on Tuesday. Just sayin’

    Reply

  38. Aww Karen! I love your 20 Things. You’re such an honest and interesting person, and that’s part of why I love your blog!

    Reply

  39. OMG, I was 2 in 1991, so a LOT of things have happened since then, as you might have guessed. Seen my dad go and come back from war (3 yrs old), hip surgery (4), spent my birthday in the hospital (5), had a chicken pox birthday party (6?), spent many a Halloween being scared out of my mind because the military (especially the Army, which is my dad’s branch) takes Halloween seriously (the entire main base, including the hospital, transformed into Halloweentown. It was so much fun!), saw my dad go and come from Panmunjom, DMZ, SK, graduated middle school and high school, seen many a pet pass away, experienced 9/11, moved what seems like a million times! A lot of things have happened in ten years; so much, it seems sort of unreal.

    Halloween is coming up and I’m homesick for the military bases again. Halloween and Christmas are the two holidays where the main parts of base go all out in decorating, especially when I was a kid. Base literally turned into Halloweentown and Christmastown! Halloween was especially fun as trick-or-treating would take place after sundown on Halloween night for three hours. On base, you didn’t have to worry about murder, kidnapping or anything like that because of the strict criminal policies and it’s gated in (you can’t have a criminal record upon entering the military, juvenile or otherwise. If you are charged with criminal behavior while in the military, the punishment is very severe and you can even be discharged for bad conduct which means no benefits and even jail.) Most kids around eight or ten went around with a friend or two, so it was really fun. You would totally be scared out of your mind because everyone decked out their houses and yards with Halloween stuff. The hospital even did trick-or-treating!

    Here, in the suburbs, nobody really gets in the spirit of Halloween. For three years here, we did the traditional military decking out for Halloween and doing costumes and everything, but nobody came to our door and no one else decked out their yards or houses. What was even more depressing was that trick-or-treating was in early afternoon the weekend OF Halloween. It just sort of killed Halloween and so we slowly stopped decorating for the holiday. It’s sad because I love that holiday! We had this screaming doormat (it literally screamed when you stepped on it) that scared every kid on base out of their minds, but it broke from not being used. I loved that mat and I would stomp on it every day twice just to hear it!

    Ahhhhhhhhh, I miss the old base Halloweens. Those were the good times.

    Reply

  41. KAREN! Seeing how many places you have visited in the last 20 years have inspired me to travel. I’ve been to China and Vietnam when I was young, but I’ll make it a personal goal of mine to get a job and travel the world during my vacay days ;). Even traveling the states would be an experience. New Orleans famous Cinco De Mayo, Hawaii’s famous beaches are all awesome places I want to go to! The BB palette might be too out there for me, I wished it included more natural colors. So I’ll skip it since my wallet is lemming for the tarte starlet palette :).

    Reply

  42. I loved this post! I just gotta say, out of all the beuty bloggers I read, you have the COOLEST life. As in the one I wanna live when I am your age 🙂

    Reply

  43. I also love this post! The lip colours look great on you!

    And it’s great to list out all the things you’ve done since 1991, I have to say I’m impressed!

    In 1991 I was two years old, so I guess I’ve done a heck of a lot of growing up. I turned from a toddler into a medical student in my fifth out of six years. I have visited four continents, and found a loving boyfriend that I live with. I have become more independent and learnt to do most things for myself.

    Reply

  44. I love your blog. The palette seems beautiful. I don’t think there’s a lipstick color that you can’t wear. Every single color looks great on you.

    Reply

  45. So want that lip palette! Here are my 20 most meaningful things since 1991, no particular order;

    1. Got my degree
    2. Was able to take some really fun trips – most significant Hawaii , Italy & Spain
    3. Got to ride in a helicopter which was really cool
    4. Went to my very first concert at the age of 27 I think? How sad is that, LOL!
    5. Got my first car and then a second car later on that I loved
    6. Got a really good job where I was able to grow in the company – able to learn from the CEO of the company who really inspired me. Would love to be ½ as successful as she was!
    7. Jet ski!!
    8. Got married in a really beautiful place!
    9. Adopted a beautiful sweet dog!
    10. Unfortunately got divorced too 🙁
    11. Made a significant move & experienced another huge loss – but am thankful that I was there to support this person in the end.
    12. Learned & really grew up from my painful experiences. Also have really grown in my faith, which I am thankful for.
    13. Able to afford my own place which I love!
    14. Took a belly dancing class & it’s not as easy as it looks!
    15. Got to go to New York! Would love to go again
    16. Went snorkeling in Hawaii! That was pretty awesome.
    17. Got to see the pope up close & got to go into the Vatican for mass which was pretty cool when I was in college
    18. Bought my own car, learned to take care of myself & not be dependant on others
    19. Got to go to professional baseball, football & hockey games… way cool!
    20. Become a better person, It is NOT all about me – I’ve helped others & that feels pretty good! 🙂

    Have a great weekend!

    Reply

  46. 20 Things I’ve Done Since 1991

    1. Graduated Highshool
    2. Became a big sister in 1992
    3. Earned Degrees in Economics & International Business
    4. Traveled to Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Mexico, Jamaica, Cayman Islands, San Fransico, Los Angeles…the list goes on
    5. Buried my father
    6. Left a long-term relationship
    7. Married the love of my life
    8. Became a aunt to a wonderful little boy (courtesy of my brother in law)
    9. Completely changed careers
    10. Bought a home
    11. Went back to school for my second career
    12. Met my BFF’s
    13. Been in 3 weddings
    14. Served as my mother’s maid of honor for her wedding to my step dad
    15. Started a blog
    16. Started a YouTube channel
    17. Lost 40 lbs
    18. Visted Las Vegas
    19. Went swimming with Beyonce
    20. Finally found myself
    Tiffany H recently posted … A Message To My Readers…

    Reply

  47. These colors are pretty, but just not for me. I don’t wear a lot of color on my mouth, I prefer a sheer lip gloss, so these are a pass. But in 1991, I would have jumped on this sooooo fast! LOL!

    I love the 20 things you’ve done in 20 years! Gosh, was 1991 20 years ago??? How the heck did that happen? I was 16??? Seems like yesterday… The most important thing I’ve done in the last 20 years was become a parent to my two amazing daughters! Marrying their Dad was pretty good too, but the girls are the best!

    Reply

  49. I love this palette and that you can blend the colors so you get you favorite color.

    Great list you made, love that you bring up, positive and negative things. You have to go thouth bad to know good.

    Reply

  50. Hi Karen,

    What a great post and such helpful lip swatches. Burnt Red looks really good on you. Did you wear a lip liner with that? If not, which lip liner would you recommend to go with Burnt Red?

    Reply

    • Hi Domestic Goblin,

      This was from a while back, but from what I recall I did all of these without a liner — just freehand and with a lip brush at the edges. You could do something like MAC Half Redd (swatches here in the Alluring Aquatic post; scroll down). MAC Redd would work too.

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badge

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Copyright © 2021 Makeup and Beauty Blog. Get in touch.