Whether you're a makeup aficionado or take a more pared-back approach to beauty, I think it's a fairly safe bet to assume that you've heard of Bobbi Brown. The renowned makeup artist launched her eponymous makeup brand back in the early '90s, starting with a line of wearable lipsticks before releasing the now-cult Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick. Tired of the excessive, editorial-style makeup of the late '80s and early '90s, Brown's motivation was clear from the outset: simple, wearable products that slot effortlessly into your makeup bag and don't require makeup artistry levels of skill to look good. Since Brown parted ways with her namesake brand a few years back, the industry has been waiting with bated breath to see what she does next, and the time has finally arrived. Enter Jones Road.
Brown compares the products to a "Swiss army knife: easy, cool, multipurpose products that could be used to nail any look." And this approach is evident in the brand offering: a curated edit of makeup and skincare that doesn't overwhelm. Catering to all ages, skin tones and skin types, the modern formulations are free from things like sulphates, phthalates and petrolatum at a time when "clean beauty" is beginning to dominate the beauty landscape. So far, so intriguing.
But while it all looks good on paper, how do the products really perform? To find out, we asked six willing editors to take Jones Road for a test run and share their thoughts. Keep scrolling for our honest reviews.
Hannah Almassi, Editor in Chief
The only other makeup I'm wearing here aside from Jones Road is Glossier Boy Brow (as I like my brows brushed upwards) and Glossier Lash Slick (the best no-mascara-mascara effect) because just a few key products from this new brand really work very hard.
First things first, The Face Pencil is a game changer. (FYI: I'm in shade 9.) As someone who doesn't like to wear foundation and has next to no application skills whatsoever, this easy-peasy pencil does a lot with very little effort: It helped various marks from a recent spot outbreak fade into the background, softened some of the redness around my nose and chin, and was a lightweight under-eye concelear, which is perfect for someone who has naturally dark circles and looks strange when they're completely removed.
The chalky-finish Brow Pencil fills in gaps with ease and doesn't look OTT as a final result.
The Miracle Balms are a lovely texture. On my yellow-tone skin, the Dusty Rose was incredibly subtle (perhaps too subtle to bother with), but Sunkissed provided some understated contouring under my cheekbones, and it doubled up nicely as a sweep of colour over my eyes and lips.
Vanese Maddix, Freelance Beauty & Lifestyle Journalist and Who What Wear Contributor
With so much hype surrounding the launch of Jones Road Beauty, I was excited to put the products to the test to see if they were truly worth the hype. Thankfully, most of the products passed with flying colours!
I particularly loved The Face Pencil in shade 20, as it has such a creamy formula and applies smoothly. It looks great on its own, and because of this, I often wear it on days when I don’t want to wear any foundation and concealer. However, on days when I incorporate it into a full face of makeup, it blends like a dream.
Another product I’ve really enjoyed using is the Sparkle Wash in Cool Pink. It’s so pigmented, and the glitter really pops for the perfect day-to-night look! It works wonders on its own and when applied over the top of a matte or cream eye shadow.
The only product I wasn’t particularly keen on was the Cool Gloss in shade Pink Gold Shimmer. It wasn’t as glossy as I’d hoped and dried down pretty quickly, leaving just small specks of glitter behind.
Elinor Block, Assistant Editor
I love trying out new makeup products, and when a brand comes as hyped as Bobbi Brown’s Jones Road, it’s extra special. For full disclosure for this try-on, I do have on some tinted moisturiser and eyeliner (not from the brand), but I wanted to show you exactly how I would wear the makeup.
The first product I want to shout about is The Face Pencil. Considering I have a toddler and dark circles are quite a regular occurrence, I was pleasantly surprised with it. I also used it around my nose where I tend to get a bit of redness, and I liked how the colour, shade 4 (with yellow undertones), was a subtle match to my skin. I will say this, however: This is best applied immediately after your moisturiser, or it can drag across your under-eye, but this will be great for those with oilier skin.
The other products I tried included The Brow Pencil, which I was very surprised to like. I usually need something a little more precise to fill in my scrappy brows, but this was perfectly matched with my hair colour in a brilliantly muted brown/black. However, a small brow brush wouldn’t go amiss when styling them.
Finally, I can’t talk about Jones Road without mentioning the hero product, the Miracle Balm. I’m always a little sceptical about these types of multipurpose products. I think this is a brilliant lip balm, however, and does leave the subtlest of pinky glows. I also added a tiny bit to my brow and cheekbones, which was ideal for giving a dewy look and something I will be using again, for sure. I think some of the darker hues might be worth a shot if you’re looking for something more pigmented, but if that’s not your thing, then I would avoid it, as it can seem a little sticky. Overall, however, the brand doesn’t disappoint, and it definitely sticks to Brown’s trademark of giving you a pared-back, natural glow.
Shannon Lawlor, Freelance Beauty Editor and Who What Wear Contributor
I have genuinely never had such mixed feelings about a beauty collection. When I first heard about Jones Road launching, I was all over it. Makeup that champions real skin and a natural-looking finish? Sign me up!
However, my skin is really oily, and I kind of wish I’d read the description of the Miracle Cream before I tried it, as it does explicitly state it's for very dry skin. I can see how on drier skin types, it would provide the ultimate hydrating base, but it just sat on my super-oily skin like a layer of grease.
Having said that, I went straight in with The Face Pencil in shade 6 (which melted into my face beautifully) and was stunned at how easily it disguised discolouration and blemishes while still keeping a real skin finish.
I then used the (also very oily, FYI) Miracle Balm in Au Naturel on my cheeks and Sunkissed across my forehead and down my nose to mimic an impressively natural-looking sun kiss. Once I was done, I mostly just felt slicked. But I clearly felt greasier than I looked because the overall finish was seamless and arguably one of the most beautiful everyday makeup looks I’ve ever created on my own face.
The Brow Pencil was also one of the creamiest and easiest I’ve ever used. However, I just can’t ignore the fact that my oily face was tacky and greasy all day. My long hair kept sticking to my cheeks, much like it would to a lip gloss. Overall, I'm conflicted. I can see the beauty in every single product I tried, but maybe it needs a more expert hand to apply them. The Face Pencil, though? *Chef's kiss.* It's got a permanent spot in my makeup bag.
Keeks Reid, Beauty Journalist and Who What Wear Contributor
Bobbi Brown is one of the brands that was a backbone in my makeup routine growing up. My mum is a huge fan, so I ended up "borrowing” a lot of her products. So when I saw that Bobbi was launching a new range after stepping away from her eponymous brand, I was thrilled. The selection of products has a grown-up Glossier vibe: easy to apply and very tactile.
I'm not normally a fan of applying makeup with my fingers, which a lot of this line lends itself too. However, I am obsessed with The Face Pencil. The shade 21 is a perfect match for me—I used it to conceal hyperpigmentation, and it was honestly like using an eraser.
I'm still finding my footing with the Miracle Balm, which seems to be the hero product in the range. I've tried the shades Tawny (which I'm wearing above) and Bronze, and while it does give a healthy dew and feels comfortable on the lips, it’s not a staple for me.
Mica Ricketts, Beauty Editor
Since Jones Road launched in the U.S. late last year, I feel like I've been eagerly awaiting its arrival on UK soil. Bobbi Brown's ethos has always been about wearable makeup that looks good in real life, and her new brand is a real evolution of that mindset: versatile products with modern formulations. Oh, and let's not forget that incredibly chic packaging. Thankfully, the full collection is now available in the UK, and there are some real gems in the lineup.
First up, The Face Pencil (I'm in shade 4). Described as an "everything stick," this concealer left me pleasantly surprised at how much pigment it had. I've been dealing with a particularly hideous chin breakout this week, and it covered it with ease. However, I personally found the formula a little dry for under my eyes, where I tend to use sheer, creamy formulations like Glossier Stretch Concealer. For my combination skin, it worked brilliantly on my face to cover pigmentation and blemishes, but I'm not sure how you'd fare if your skin is dry.
An unexpected hit for me came in the form of the Cool Gloss in Pastel Pink—a non-sticky, modern gloss in a poppy pink that instantly elevated an ultra-natural makeup look.
I also adored the Just a Sec eye shadow in Linen—a shimmering, cream-powder shadow that somehow managed to make my tired eyes look so much brighter.
The Mascara is also worth a mention. As someone who isn't that fussed about mascaras in general, I appreciated how this one delivered the fundamentals without any wild claims: It's jet-black, lifts and separates lashes and doesn't smudge. Honestly, what else could you want?
Finally, the Jones Road product with the most hype—the Miracle Balm. I'm wearing the shade Dusty Rose above, pressed onto my cheekbones and down my nose with my fingertips, and I really love how it looks. However, this is an oil-based product, and it is seriously shiny. This photo was taken after I applied a light dusting of Laura Mercier Loose Powder to my T-zone and the apples of my cheeks, and there is still a major amount of radiance. Personally, I live for the dew, but if you're really oily or don't like too much glow, then this might not be the product for you. Overall though, Jones Road, I'm a big fan.
Up next, the classic makeup products that over-50 French women swear by.
