How I Built This with Guy Raz Bobbi Brown Cosmetics: Bobbi Brown (2018)
Jul 19, 2021
Bobbi Brown, founder of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, transformed the beauty industry with her emphasis on natural makeup. She discusses her early days as a makeup artist battling the flashy 1980s aesthetic, leading to the creation of her revolutionary nude makeup line. Bobbi shares insights on her journey from startup to the acquisition by Estée Lauder, revealing the challenges of maintaining her brand identity within a corporate structure. She also reflects on the emotional complexities of leaving a brand she built, exploring themes of personal fulfillment and creative control.
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Early Influences
- Bobbi Brown was fascinated by her glamorous mother's makeup routine but felt intimidated by it.
- Ali MacGraw's natural look in "Love Story" inspired her, showing her a different kind of beauty.
Finding Her Path
- Bobbi Brown found college boring and dropped out of the University of Arizona after a year.
- She then enrolled at Emerson College, where she created her own major in makeup.
Breaking into the Industry
- After graduating, Bobbi Brown moved to New York, aiming for a career in TV makeup.
- She started freelancing, assisting established makeup artists and taking small jobs to pay rent.