I Tried A Full Face Of Jones Road Beauty — & These Are My Favorites

There are almost too many beauty brands these days. At best, it can feel hard to keep track; at worst? Setting foot into a Sephora now feels like sensory overload. The sentiment is felt by makeup artist, entrepreneur, and industry legend Bobbi Brown, whose second act beauty brand, Jones Road, was founded on the belief that the world needs fewer, better beauty products — not just more items to fill shelves. 

Enter, a tightly-edited range of chic, uncomplicated products that don't require you to be a makeup master like Brown herself. The mogul first made waves in the early ’90s with her eponymous cosmetics line, which “revolutionized the beauty industry by glamorizing natural tones in makeup,” according to the entrepreneur. After stepping away from that brand in 2016, she launched Jones Road with the same less-is-more ethos, updated for the 2020s. Another core tenet of Jones Road is its extensive no-no list of ingredients that it doesn't formulate with. These include, but are not limited to: phthalates, sulfates, petrolatum, PEGs, cyclic silicones, EDTA, or BPA. 

As a lifelong beauty lover, I was intrigued by the prospect of low-key but high-quality makeup. I embarked on a journey to test several of Jones Road's most popular products to see if they were worth the hype. Keep reading for my honest take on nine bestsellers ranging from the Miracle Balm to its shimmery Just A Sec cream eyeshadow.

The Jones Road product I was unquestionably most excited to try was the Miracle Balm. I'm a big fan of multipurpose lip and cheek cream tints since they give the prettiest, natural-looking flush. I've been using this non-stop, and it earned full MVP status during a recent ski trip in Sun Valley. When I'm in the mountains, my normally oily skin becomes insanely dry and flaky. The balm’s emollient and gentle texture is perfect for adding much-needed moisture to my cheeks, which get the driest. It's also great for adding a barely-there tint to chapped lips and prepping them for lipstick while I do the rest of my makeup. The balm needs to be warmed up before applying, which is perfect for people like me who love applying makeup with (clean!) fingers. I now own several shades including Tawny (a warm, bronze terracotta — my everyday go-to) to Pinky Bronze, a previously limited-edition shade that was added to the permanent lineup last year. All shades have sheer pigmentation that can be built up if desired. 

Jones Road’s first (and for now, only) fragrance is the equivalent of the perfect white T-shirt. It’s light, airy and features citrusy notes of neroli and orange blossom, with a hint of fresh sea spray. I don’t normally care for aquatic scents, but this one is balanced with subtle floral undertones, too. The result is a clean, just-showered skin scent that’s never overpowering, just delightfully crisp. The price point is smart, too; $46 for a full-size bottle (or $18 for a rollerball) makes it an affordable everyday luxury.

This product went viral a couple of years ago, partially thanks to influencer Meredith Duxbury’s TikTok, where she applied a concerning amount to her face (shudders). However, when applied properly, it’s actually really nice, providing a dewy, luminous finish that looks like real skin. While I generally liked it, I think there are better options for my skin type (I’m 31 with very few lines and wrinkles). Although WRF isn’t heavy by any means, it was creamier than what I typically prefer. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, though — I could see it being amazing for dry or mature skin due to its hydrating properties. For me, it won’t replace my everyday foundation. Also worth noting: The generously sized jar would easily last for months. 

I’m picky about mascara. My ideal formula lengthens and defines my lashes without being too thick and clumpy. My personal go-to's are Kosas’ Soulgazer, Merit’s Clean Lash, Victoria Beckham’s Future Lash, and Maybelline’s Sky High, so competition was stiff when I set out to try Jones Road’s The Mascara. However, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked it; I could tell just by looking at the wand that it’s more volumizing than what I typically wear, but one coat was still subtle enough for everyday. Like other conditioning mascaras I swear by, this one felt comfortable and nourishing on my lashes thanks to antioxidant-rich vitamin E. But for me, ease of removal is almost as important as how it wears and performs — this melted right off my lashes with oil cleanser and warm water. For now, it’s only available in an inky, almost-wet black — which I personally love — but I’d be interested in trying a dark brown version of this for a more natural lash look. 

This is a genius product, but only if you know how to use it. At first, Jones Road's The Face Pencil reminded me of other complexion crayons like Merit’s The Minimalist, but it’s actually quite different. While I love using the former in place of foundation, The Face Pencil is best for spot-concealing acne or dark spots — think retouching on Photoshop. I could also see this being great for precise highlighting or contouring if you went lighter or darker than your perfect shade. I like to apply this first in my makeup routine to address any blemishes and then apply foundation or a skin tint after — I end up using less overall product that way.  

I can’t think of a shimmery liquid eyeshadow I haven’t tried — Danessa Myricks, Stila, Half Magic, Urban Decay...I literally can keep going on and on. As a connoisseur in this niche category, I have to say that I was a little underwhelmed by Sparkle Wash. It’s much less pigmented than the other brands I mentioned, and I think that was intentional — and not necessarily a bad thing if you want a more subtle look! However, I do quite like this as a base for other eyeshadow looks — Euphoria sparkle, smoky eyes, and everything in between — and plan to use it to the last drop. 

This reminds me a lot of Laura Mercier’s Tinted Moisturizer — a category leader in its own right: Very hydrating with moderate coverage. I love that this formula is non-comedogenic (a non-negotiable as someone with acne-prone skin), and has a radiant finish that isn’t too dewy — a pet peeve of mine with some tinted moisturizers that are simply too glowy for me. This has become a favorite of mine to use in the winter months since it’s formulated with sodium hyaluronate, a salt derivative of hyaluronic acid with a smaller molecular weight. (This allows it to easily absorb into skin for long-lasting hydration.) 

My go-to gel liner for years was Bobbi Brown’s, but she’s officially dethroned, well, herself with Jones Road’s version. It’s creamy, insanely pigmented, and lasts all day. Gel liner can seem intimidating, but this product makes it easy with the matching brush, whose small, precise bristles get close to the lash line while still allowing easy blending. I have it in both black and violet, and it’s also available in brown and navy. In the world of gel liners, this is the new one to beat. 

I don't wear eye cream every day, but Jones Road's just might become my new go-to. Often, eye creams can be too buttery and rich, but this one is light with a whipped, gel-like texture. It works well even without under-eye concealer, instantly hydrating and brightening my eye area without slipping under makeup.

This eyeshadow is capital P pretty and quickly became one of my favorites. I tried the shade Golden Peach _ a shimmery, warm, light gold. The texture is cushiony and soft, making it really easy to apply and blend. Although it comes in a tiny pot, you don't need much to achieve an impressive payoff. I even used it to add a subtle highlight to my cheekbones. I like to think Bobbi would be proud of the artistry.

My first thought: This stuff is seriously pigmented. I tried the matte shade Dark Brown, an espresso hue. (There are also plenty of neutral mattes and shimmer shades available.) For a more natural effect, you can use it alone to define the lash line or layer it over eyeliner for extra impact. For a recent dinner date, I created a smoky eye with Bobbi Brown's Ultra Fine Eye Liner Brush (which is amazing for detail), starting at the lash line and carefully blending upward to avoid a muddy result. You can add lighter shadows on the lid and inner corner for extra dimension, but I loved how the Jones Road shadow delivered an effortless, one-and-done feel all on its own. Though the product is minimal, its pigmentation ensures you won’t run out anytime soon — a good problem to have!

Eyeliner is one of my favorite products to use, whether I'm doing a cat-eye, tight-lining my upper waterline for a smudged, smoky effect, or adding a pop of color with a bright blue or bright white. A black pencil is a staple, so I wanted to see how Jones Road's stacked up. It’s challenging — borderline impossible — to achieve an intense, inky black with a “clean” product due to the absence of carbon pigments typically found in conventional black eyeliners. Thus, I wasn't surprised that Jones Road's pencil came out as soft black. Using small strokes, I lined the outer corner of my eyes and blended it out to create the littlest wing. (I almost never line my entire lash line since it can make my eyes look smaller.) For subtle definition, this pencil gets the job done, and I appreciate that it's a clean formula safe for the delicate eye area. However, if you’re after a dramatic, long-wear, or waterproof formula, this might not be the best choice.

After using Jones Road products for a few years now, I'm still as impressed as when I first discovered the brand. The products are easy to use and deliver an effortless level of glam. While there isn't a bad product in the bunch, the brand, in general, is a bit expensive. I was kindly gifted products to review, but I can confidently say that I'd gladly spend money on my top faves — namely, the  Miracle Balm and the gel liner. I may have missed out on Bobbi Brown the first time around, but I'm definitely a Jones Road girl through and through.