Of all the Edward Bess products I’ve seen reviewed, I think his bronzer intrigues me the most. (Read this review from The Non-Blonde or this one from Beauty Look Book and just try not to order it.) “Slight golden glow,” “satiny soft,” “works as a blush” — it sounds sensationally perfect.  Both Gaia and Lina are slightly darker than I am (in the NC30-35ish range), which is the only thing that gives me pause.

His bronzer ($48) comes in two shades, peachier Daydream and deeper (cooler?), more brown Desert Sun. I wanted to do my light/dark swatches to show you both the true color of the bronzer and what it might look like in more natural application… but the beauty floor of Bergdorf Goodman (which is in the basement) is literally so dark I couldn’t tell how heavy my “light” swatches were. Not wanting to accidentally go overboard, I think I swatched them too lightly to actually be useful.

At this time, Bess’s sole lipstick formula is called Ultra Slick lipstick. I’m not entirely sure why it’s named that — the colors seem creamy and offer medium-to-full coverage, but the words “Ultra Slick” didn’t spring to mind as I swatched them.  There are 14 shades. If I were taller I could have fit them all on one arm.


The lipsticks are $32 each, and are supposed to be fig-scented. The lipsticks did not have a very strong fragrance (but I suspect this might be a result of tester de-scenting, because the lipglosses are VERY strongly fragranced). The fig scent is also different from Estee Lauder’s fig scent.

Sundown is a yellow-brown that reminded me of MAC Siss (and Thai iced tea). Nude Lotus is a nude peach beige. Pure Impulse is a slightly mauvey pink. Natural Attraction is a warm caramel-rose brown, Natural Seduction is a warm yellow brown. Secret Desire is a natural, somewhat muted, peachy peach-pink. Forbidden Flower is lighter and peachier than Secret Desire. Night Orchid is a strong pink coral. Tender Love is mauve (and I have a very hard time telling it apart from Forever Yours).  Maybe Forever Yours is just slightly more berry, and Tender Love just a bit more red/rose. Deep Lust is autumn leaf red-brown. Night Romance is deeper and more clearly berry than Tender Love and Forever Yours. Midnight Bloom and Eternal Passion are both blue-reds, but Midnight Bloom is deeper; Eternal Passion is brighter.

New York is unfairly well endowed when it comes to brand availability — nowhere else will you find Paul & Joe, Edward Bess, or Ellis Faas.  Bergdorf Goodman itself is also a New-York-only brand: the women’s store and the men’s store are across the street from one another (though anyone can shop online).

And Bergdorf Goodman itself is an experience. It just feels like an older building: the footprint is small for the square footage of the department store.  The spaces are all quite narrow, like too much makeup, jewelry, handbags — too many counters — have been installed in an older building.  On the first floor (very posh jewelry and ultra designer handbags), I asked a sales clerk if they carried Rebecca Minkoff (which I’ve been wanting to see in person).  “What is that?” he asked kindly.  “Handbags,” I said.  “Price point?”  Uhhhhh.  “$300-$500?”  “Fifth floor, if we have it,” he said.

Clearly I was not in Kansas anymore. (For the record, BG does not carry Rebecca Minkoff.)

Beauty is on the -1 floor, and I can’t think of a brand I didn’t see there. Their Chanel counter is GORGEOUS, but I was too shy to take a picture — that won’t happen again. Their fragrance offering is also amazing. But my first mission was to find Edward Bess.

Edward Bess is a newish, smallish, eponymously named, boutique makeup brand. I didn’t have the good fortune to meet Mr. Bess, but I hear he’s usually at the counter in the evenings.

His line has been getting a lot of love from those who have tried it, and as a fan of neutral eyeshadow, I was definitely intrigued. The brand currently offers six shades of eyeshadow ($30 each), and two shades of waterproof, mechanical eyeliner ($29 each).

Nude is a lovely light beige. Intimate is a wood brown, similar to Dusk (though Dusk is slightly darker and cooler).  Escape is fox-brown.  Mystery is a warm reddish wood — teak?  Night is a sheer black with no shimmer (the other shades all have a tiny, tiny, subtle bit of shimmer to them).

Edward Bess: Nude, Intimate, Escape, Mystery, Dusk, Night, Deep Black, Deep Brown

This settles it! I’ll have one of everything. These photos are republished with her permission (read her original post):
Edward Bess: Nude, Intimate, Escape, Mystery, Dusk, Night, Daydream, Desert Sun, Sunlight, Afterglow, Ivory Nude, Soft Beige, Natural Tan, Warm Amber, Tender Love, Forever Yours, Night Romance, Nude Lotus, Sundown, Forbidden Flower, Secret Desire, Pure Impulse, Natural Attraction, Natural Seduction, Deep Lust, Night Orchid, Eternal Passion, Midnight Bloom, Desert Glow, Soft Whisper, Dark Blossom, Bare Rose, Warm Flame, Nude Satin, Love Always, Sweet Dream