Bobbi Brown Is Proof That Authenticity Never Goes Out of Style

More than 30 years after a tightly curated collection of lipsticks sparked a beauty revolution when it launched at Bergdorf Goodman, Bobbi Brown’s minimalist philosophy has never felt more relevant. The makeup mogul leaned into natural-looking beauty at a time when bold colours ruled the runway. She packaged her first orders from her home in New Jersey and eventually sold her namesake line—which became an industry—defining cosmetics brand—to Estée Lauder in 1995.

Bobbi remained at the helm until 2016 and, as part of the sale, agreed to a non-compete clause that expired in 2020. On that very day, she launched Jones Road—a clean-beauty brand that’s since developed a cult following. The Chicago-born entrepreneur, 68, has spent decades shaping how women think about beauty,  redefining “no-makeup makeup” before it was a trend.

She’s also become a certified health coach and authored nine practical guides on everything from artistry to confidence building—all rooted in her philosophy of authenticity. Her latest release, Still Bobbi, takes that ethos further. “I didn’t really think of it as a memoir,” she says. “But it became something much deeper. It’s about knowing where I come from.”

Here, Bobbi opens up about creating beauty from the inside out, why she’s never chased trends, and what she’s learned over the course of her remarkable career.

This memoir marks a real departure from your previous books. What compelled you to step into this more vulnerable kind of storytelling?

I never set out to write a memoir until my (now) agent walked into my office in New Jersey. She told me I had lived a life full of stories worth sharing. It wasn’t an immediate yes. But eventually, she convinced me to give it a try. I’ve written nine books before and I assumed this one would be similar—about building a business, being a mother, wife, and friend, and the lessons from creating a life. [This book is about] discovering who I really am.

Diving into your personal story often means revisiting both highs and lows. Was there a part of the process that surprised you emotionally?

Writing this memoir meant reliving my whole life—the good, the bad and the ugly. Most mornings, I would take my daily walk while talking with my writer, who asked questions about moments I had not thought about in years. But it really hit me during the audiobook recording. When I read about my [late] mother-in-law, I was literally tearing up.

You became a health coach after stepping away from Bobbi Brown. What sparked that shift?

I grew up in a time when every diet imaginable was popular, and I tried them all. But I realized that dieting wasn’t the key to staying healthy–it’s everything else. Since I had the extra time, I went back to school and earned a degree from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, although I never officially practiced. I’m always sharing advice with family and friends, and I really try to focus on intuitive eating.

How has becoming a health coach shaped the way you think about beauty?

Beauty isn’t just about what you put on your skin or body–it’s also about what you put in it. You look and feel so much better when you take care of yourself, eat well, hydrate and get the vitamins and nutrients your body needs. The connection is incredible and it’s made such a difference.

In an industry that thrives on trends, how do you stay rooted in timeless beauty?

To me, enhancing what’s there and not following the trends. My focus is on making people feel good in their own skin, with just a little extra glow. Trends come and go, but confidence will always last.

How do you choose what new projects or passions to pursue?

I stick to what excites me and still feels authentic. The key is staying curious and listening to your instincts. I’m always open to trying something new, and whether it’s in beauty, wellness or just everyday life, my curiosity is what guides me.

When people read Still Bobbi, what do you hope they walk away with?

That anything is possible. I was just a girl with passion and a dream, and I ended up accomplishing more than I ever imagined. I didn’t have a traditional education, but I figured it out. I built a career, learned to be a working mom and showed up as the best version of me. It wasn’t always easy and it definitely wasn’t perfect, but I did it. I believe those stories—where things are a little messy, but you still show up–are what inspire people most. I want people to know that, no matter what you’re going through, there’s always a way to figure it out and get to where you’re meant to be.