Last week a stranger, who was obviously one of the politest men in California and/or vision impaired, called me “a young girl” (I’m in my 30s, yo!), and I’m not gonna lie — it was awesome.
I remember being 14 and totally obsessed with makeup… My, how things change! 🙂 If I’d seen something like the Bobbi Brown Beauty Rules Palette ($45) back then, I would’ve been all over it in a hot 
second, assuming, of course, that I would’ve been able to talk my mom into buying it for me.
I mean, it’s sure not cheap, but talk about pretty starter palettes! The colors strike me as great ones for girls just getting into makeup (and for parents who don’t want to worry about their teenager looking like jail bait).
The palette itself looks like it was built for bookworms. Literally. It comes with 10 products for eyes, lips and cheeks, all wrapped up in a slim, trim ensemble that looks kinda like a book, and it was released to coincide with Bobbi’s new makeup book for teens, Beauty Rules, which I can’t wait to read.
Bobbi’s general approach to beauty is to subtly enhance one’s features (ala “the no makeup makeup look”), and the limited edition Beauty Rules palette fits her philosophy to a tee.
Still learning the ropes when it comes to blending? Try one of the four sheer, yet buildable powder shadows, or one of the two cream blushes; kiss your lips with one of the three included lippies, none of which go overboard on pigment.
I am a little surprised that Bobbi went with a black eyeliner here just based on the other products she selected. I love ’em, but I think they can make teens/tweens look a little older than their age… A brownish black, a gray or maybe even a dark plum might have been more appropriate, but maybe that’s just me acting like an overprotective crazy cat lady.
Beauty Rules Palette swatches on NC35 skin: 1. Ivory Eye Shadow, 2. Lightning Sparkle Eye Shadow, 3. Orchid Sparkle Eye Shadow, 4. Eclipse Eye Shadow, 5. Jet Creamy Eye Pencil, 6. Baby Pink Pot Rouge, 7. Homecoming Pink Pot Rouge, 8. Air Kiss Lip Gloss, 9. Rum Lipgloss, 10. Crystal Gold Glitter Lip Balm
I like the whole idea of Beauty Rules, but I wish Bobbi had released a kit of starter brushes to accompany everything. I think it would have been a welcome added touch.
If you do decide to gift this to someone, you might want to think about throwing in an eyeshadow brush or two; the cream blush and lip products could be applied well with fingers, but I think the eyeshadows could really benefit from a brush, like one from Sonia Kashuk, because they’re inexpensive and great for the price.
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: It’s not the most affordable palette on the market, but this Beauty Rules and would make a lovely gift for a young girl looking to explore the world of makeup. Available now at Bobbi Brown counters and bobbibrowncosmetics.com. Grade: B+
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Nina says
October 4th, 2010 at 4:53 pmin one of my many trips to Target, i picked up the Sonia Kashuk large crease (or blending) brush and id have to say it doesnt disappoint.
what seems like it wont disappoint either is that palette up thar – it looks so lovely, so wearable and so practical! 🙂
Karen says
October 4th, 2010 at 9:00 pmSonia Kashuk brushes rock my socks. Does your brush have a black or white handle? I like both, but I find the black ones work better for me.
Nina says
October 5th, 2010 at 5:55 amsurprisingly i like the white handled ones better. i had a contour brush w/ the black handle and i found it to be a bit too dense.
i like the white handled crease brush, bent eyeliner brush and stippling brush.
he black handle blush brush is pretty much awesomesauce though! 🙂
jen says
October 4th, 2010 at 4:59 pmWhat a great palette! I hadn’t heard of this one yet. Could have used it this weekend on the two teens who came up for makeovers for Homecoming. 🙂
xoxo
*jen
Karen says
October 4th, 2010 at 8:57 pmHi Jen!
Ahh, I love me a good makeover. What makeup did you end up doing for the girls?
House of Accessories says
October 4th, 2010 at 5:04 pmVery Pretty Palette !
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Karen says
October 4th, 2010 at 8:56 pmYes it is! 🙂
Megan says
October 4th, 2010 at 5:15 pmThat is the cutest packaging I’ve ever seen!
Karen says
October 4th, 2010 at 8:55 pmI dig it too. Taking the eye pencil in and out is a pain, but otherwise it’s perfect.
Emma says
October 4th, 2010 at 5:19 pmI have to say, as a TOMU (teen obsessed by makeup 🙂 ), that I love her beauty rules palette and her philosophy on teen makeup. I am so excited to try this palette! I did all of my friends makeup for homecoming by the way and used Bobbi Brown’s black sparkle eyeshadow (look at my avatar!) I love bobbi brown!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Emma says
October 4th, 2010 at 5:20 pmjust kidding the avatar didnt work!
Emma says
October 4th, 2010 at 8:30 pmjust kidding again I guess it did!
Karen says
October 4th, 2010 at 8:54 pmHi Emma,
That’s so awesome that you did homecoming makeup for all your friends. They’re so lucky to have you. 🙂
Ya know, it kinda amazes me that teens read MBB. It really does show how makeup brings women of all ages together.
Jessica says
October 4th, 2010 at 5:21 pmI already bought the book but I’m quite tempted to get the palette too!! One of the nicer BB palettes that I’ve seen- I would definitely use all the products in it!
Great review Karen 🙂
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Karen says
October 4th, 2010 at 8:51 pmHi Jessica!
What do you think of the book? I haven’t had the chance to check it out, but I’m really curious.
Hope your week is off to a great start!
makeup morsels says
October 4th, 2010 at 5:36 pmmm I agree, some nice starter colors in here. I think a dark brown would have made a great replacement for black as well, you could use it as a subtle liner or in the outer corner. The packaging is supercute!
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Karen says
October 4th, 2010 at 8:50 pmTotally… a really dark, cool chocolaty brown would’ve been perfect.
Hope you had a nice Monday! 🙂
Tracy says
October 4th, 2010 at 5:56 pmThis really looks like a great palette for someone starting out. Those blushes look fantastic!
Do you have the book Karen? Is it any good?
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Karen says
October 4th, 2010 at 8:49 pmHeya Tracy,
No, I haven’t had the chance to check it out yet. I really want to though!
Jenn says
October 4th, 2010 at 5:58 pmI love BB’s makeup philosophy, though I haven’t tried many of her products before. 😛
Karen says
October 4th, 2010 at 8:47 pmSome of the stuff is just okay, but some of it’s great! I really like her cream eyeshadows… they last all day long and are totes easy to blend.
Hope you had a nice Monday! Did anything exciting happen?
Erica says
October 4th, 2010 at 6:02 pmI checked this palette out a few days ago at the counter, the makeup artist told me that all the products in it are designed to be used even with fingers. Well of course I doubt that, ha! But the eyeshadows seem way too sparkly for everyday use, anyway.
Karen says
October 4th, 2010 at 8:46 pmThe blush and the lip stuff, totally, but the eyeshadows — no way! Maybe if you wanted to do a simple wash of a single color but anything beyond that would look a hot mess.
mumla2010 says
October 4th, 2010 at 6:29 pmCuuuuute! Makes me wish I had a younger sister so that I could get it for her 🙂
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Karen says
October 4th, 2010 at 8:44 pmYeah, me too! 🙂
How was your Monday? Good, I hope!
Rachael says
October 4th, 2010 at 6:45 pmI want to drag all the girls who are younger than me, and wear more makeup than me to the closest Bobbi Brown counter and school them on how to look. I see 14 year olds who look like their my age!
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Rachael says
October 4th, 2010 at 6:45 pmcrap, wrong they’re
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Karen says
October 4th, 2010 at 8:43 pmYeah… I remember being 14 and wanting to go crazy with le war paint. I think a lot of it was because it was new, ya know? I just wanted to try everything.
Blovetbeauty says
October 4th, 2010 at 8:14 pmThe blushes look cute
Karen says
October 4th, 2010 at 8:37 pmThey’re super cute and really easy to blend.
Tiffany H. says
October 4th, 2010 at 8:47 pmThis would be great for the little sis 🙂
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Karen says
October 4th, 2010 at 9:01 pmOh, I bet she’ll love it! You’ll score some major older sis points with this palette. 🙂
Amee says
October 4th, 2010 at 10:02 pmAwww…very beautiful palette!!! best to gift it to frnds… thanks Karen..
kali says
October 4th, 2010 at 10:16 pmWhat do the pot rouges feel like? Drying? Moisturizing?
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Aparnaa says
October 4th, 2010 at 10:43 pmSee I could see hanging on to this for emergency kits or surprise travel, if you get my drift. This looks so simple and pretty that I could just toss it on and head to work. Price point isn’t quite emergency kit worthy, but neither is it really teen-affordable either, so… hell. I’m not the springiest of chickens, but I might indulge anyhow!
Vonvon says
October 5th, 2010 at 4:47 amNo wonder the lilac looked so familiar. It’s Orchid eyeshadow which I already had from one of the Color Strips released in Spring!
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saku says
October 5th, 2010 at 5:42 amThe blushes I love and lipgloss. But the eyeshadows looks too sparkly and frosty, and I thought the purple would be more darker. I was going to get this, but may wait till I see it in person. I can’t wait to see BB holiday ones.
Kim says
October 5th, 2010 at 6:08 amOh, Karen, I haven’t heard the term “jail bait” in ages and it made me giggle. On a side note, a gal this weekend thought I was 23 (I’m 39). She didn’t get offended when I asked incredulously, “How much have you had to drink??!!”. So, clearly, it was a lot. Which totally explained things. I agree that it’s still nice to hear, though. Even if the compliment-giver is impaired. 🙂
Michelle says
October 5th, 2010 at 6:13 amMy daughter is just 11 and already talking about makeup! I saw a clip of Bobbi Brown and how she applied makeup to girls of different ages. She only put lipgloss and an extremely sheer wash of eyeshadow on the lid of an 11 year old — I love that she wasn’t trying to make them all look 25! lol She did a great job with the older teens makeup. I definitely want to get that book for my daughter. I hope Bobbi does another palette for young girls — maybe with neutral browns for the eyes and powder rather than cream blushes. My daughter would be all over it 🙂
knownever says
October 5th, 2010 at 7:29 amWow, it is a different world now. $45 palette for pre-teens? What, Wet and Wild isn’t good enough for the teens anymore?
Rachel says
October 5th, 2010 at 10:11 amI love Bobbi Brown! I really want to go in and build a custom pallette with them. I have some gift certficiates to Nordy’s too…hmmm…
I also want a new pair of jeans though…what’s a girl to do?
Diana says
June 12th, 2014 at 6:15 pmSo my daughter just turned TWELVE and is BEGGING ME to let her start wearing makeup? What are your thoughts/recommendations?