Continuing our quest to bring you the very best makeup and skincare finds, I once again braved the department store makeup counters (this time at Bloomingdale's) to find out what's going on at Bobbi Brown.

At right is the "After" picture; that's me all made-up by adorable Bobbi Brown Beauty Advisor Houston Puryear. She's from Austin.

Read on for the hideous "Before" picture, and for information on how to get the look.






Okay, here's the "Before" picture:
It's really a "during" picture, because this is when she had removed all my makeup. I don't tend to go out of the house without a swipe of concealer and mascara.

How did Houston from Austin transform me?

1. Bobbi Brown's Creamy Concealer in two tones; the first neutralized my undereye circles and the second made them human-color. The concealer kits come with a corresponding powder which finishes the look. Don't use the Creamy Concealers on spots! It's bad for them! She covered my blemishes by using a brush with a foundation stick. Clever!

2. She brushed on a foundation, then a dusting of powder (when I informed her of my oiliness...um...situation). Then the usuals, like blush (a new color called Pink Sugar), bronzer, brow filler, mascara, and lips in Soiree Pink from the Party Collection. I particularly liked the eyeshadow shade Wheat.

3. The eyeliner, the eyeliner, the eyeliner. Houston used Bobbi Brown's Long Wear Gel Eyeliner, which functions texturally like when you use water or an elixir of some kind with a shadow to make your liner. I'm buying that eyeliner.

The pick of the litter, though, was the Soothing Face Tonic, which is scented with lavender and cucumber. That's holiday-gift worthy, just for the smell alone!

In short: Love the eyeliner, love the concealers, love the face tonic. See the items below, and thanks Houston and Bobbi Brown!