To say beauty shelves are crowded with products promising to hydrate skin and prep it for makeup would be one of the understatements of the century. But one product has long defined the category for me: Bobbi Brown’s best-selling Vitamin Enriched Face Base. It’s now been upgraded to Vitamin Enriched Face Base+ Moisturizer & Primer ($70), and after testing it for the past month and scraping the tub clean, I’m pleased to report that the brand didn’t mess with what made it so good.
I use the word “upgrade” very intentionally because longtime fans like me know there wasn’t anything about the original that truly needed fixing. There have been stretches throughout my decade-long career as a beauty editor when I’ve used it every single morning—and I’m far from alone. According to the brand, one sells every 10 seconds worldwide. I genuinely looked forward to applying it, thanks to its fresh citrus-floral scent and silky texture, which somehow manages to feel creamy, lightweight and refreshing all at once.
So when a nondescript little lab-sample tub of the new formula landed on my doorstep about a month ago, I was initially hesitant. I worried the brand might have messed with the texture, changed the scent or otherwise taken away one of the qualities that made the original so special. Thankfully, I was very wrong. Vitamin Enriched Face Base+ still feels and smells like the product I know and love, but my skin stays noticeably more hydrated throughout the day and my makeup looks smoother for longer, especially in the areas where foundation tends to cling or settle.
More than five years in the making, the reformulation was developed with the chemist behind the original, according to the brand. Its more hardworking ingredient lineup pairs glycerin and hyaluronic acid for longer-lasting moisture with acetyl glucosamine to help smooth skin texture, plus vitamin C and niacinamide to brighten, even tone and support the skin barrier over time. The brand also claims 24-hour priming power, which I admittedly haven’t tested for a full day and night, but I can confirm that my makeup still looks fresh and even by the end of a long workday. The result is skin that looks plumper and smoother and makeup that stays in place longer.
I also recently put it through what felt like the ultimate stress test: wearing it in Mexico’s heat and humidity. I’m happy to report that it passed, though I’m convinced the OG formula would have held its own, too, which speaks to how high the bar already was. So whether you’re still making your way through a stash of the original or are due for a repurchase, rest assured that your skin—and your makeup—are in good hands either way.
And because not everyone goes through Face Base at the same pace, the new formula comes in three sizes: a 0.5-ounce mini for travel or trying it out, the standard 1.7-ounce jar and a 3.4-ounce deluxe size for the truly committed. According to the brand, based on using a pea-size amount once daily, each should last approximately one, three and six months, respectively. I’m definitely guilty of smearing on much more than a pea-size amount, though. I can’t resist.
