BOBBI’S BIG IDEA
From the 80’s Bobbi Brown worked as a successful makeup artist in New York. She found it very difficult to find natural looking makeup colours and thought most products looked too artificial, making it impossible to create a simple and pretty no-makeup look.
She had been freelancing for 10 years when she met a chemist at a magazine photo shoot and that changed everything. “I had the idea to create a lipstick that didn’t smell, wasn’t dry or greasy, and looked like lips, only better and I told the chemist about it,” she says.
The chemist made the lipstick following Bobbi’s unprecedented specifications and the result was Brown Lip Color, a pinky-brown shade. Nine other brown-based lipstick shades followed soon after which completed Bobbi’s set of lipsticks.
In 1991, her 10 lipsticks debuted at the Bergdorf Goodman under the name of Bobbi Brown essentials. Bobbi was expecting to sell 100 in a month but she sold 100 on the first day.
This was the proof that women wanted makeup that was simple, flattering, and wearable.
The birth of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics
The word spread very fast, women loved Bobbi’s natural look makeup. Beauty editors of prominent magazines supported Bobbi and her small brand created a big time buzz !
Bobbi’s range expanded with foundations which were yellow-based shades which was quite a new concept as most foundations were pink based.
Soon Bobbi Brown’s Cosmetics caught the attention of the Estee Lauder Empire who bought it in 1995 just 5 years after its creation. Today Bobbi remains the creative force behind the brand and maintains the same ethos it started with – to create make-up for “women who want to look like themselves only prettier and more confident”.
The products are all about enhancing what you already have. Neutral colours for lips, eyes and cheeks rather than outlandish, more fashion-led shades. Bobbi Brown is the brand for that “I have barely got any makeup on” look that takes half an hour to perfect.
WHAT IS BESTSELLING ?
In over 20 years Bobbi has created numerous best-sellers including her famous foundation sticks, great quality brushes, and the hugely popular range of shimmer bricks (one of which is apparently sold somewhere in the world every minute) £ 32.00 at www.bobbibrown.co.uk
The creamy concealer (£18.50) is another can’t live without it product. It’s the perfect consistency and in 14 shades it’s highly likely there’ll be one that’s a good match. For me two other products really stand out. The first one is Pot of Rouge for lips and cheeks which deliver gorgeous blush colour and can be used on the lips too (£18.50 available in 10 colours). Secondly there is the creamy eye shadow which is a particular favourite of mine (£ 18.50 available in 18 colours). It is very quick and easy to apply with your finger and it really won’t shift or crease…
Bobbi Brown Cosmetics is now 23 years old and one of the world most loved makeup brand. Bobbi has written 5 best-selling beauty and lifestyle books and often appears on TV shows in the US. She is one of the world’s most celebrated makeup artist and still works on fashion shows and for fashion magazines. Her advice can be found in magazine articles and on the internet worldwide.
Bobbi Brown truly is the queen of dewy, healthy and beautiful make-up. AM x