I was invited to Bobbi Brown‘s office in NYC to interview the Beauty Guru last month and was beyond excited. After all, Bobbi inspired Beautysnob.com– but I’ll get to that later. I arrived bright and early at 9:15am, got my make up done by Kimberly Soane, East Coast Artistry Manager for Bobbi Brown cosmetics, and ushered to Bobbi’s office by our appointed time. As I looked around, a cute and petite woman in Prada platforms walked past me and said “How’re you doing?” She took off her glasses and it was none other than Bobbi herself– who at 51 years old does not look a day over 35! We immediately bonded over our birkins (who knew the Queen of Make Up is also a Bag Snob!?!?!) and discovered we had many similarities which led us to determine that we were actually twins separated at birth (so it was years apart and on different continents but stranger things have happened!). Our scheduled one hour interview turned into 90 minutes of fun in Bobbi’s world– a place where every one is treated like her best friend and no one leaves without multiple hugs, bag load of make up and invitation to dinner at Chez Bobbi’s. (Jump for more!)
Beauty Snob: I love that you’re carrying a birkin, I didn’t know you’re a beauty and a bag snob!
Bobbi Brown: You know, I’m a jeans and clog person, having a birkin pulls it all together. Plus I like simply constructed bags.
Beauty Snob: You are an icon in the beauty business, who are your beauty icons?
Bobbi Brown: Ali McGraw– when I was growing up it was all about Cheryl Tiegs so I felt unattractive. But then Love Story came out and she was this beautiful brunette! I really looked up to her. I’ve told this story on many interviews so when I turned 50, Ali McGraw called me to wish me happy birthday! Imagine sitting on your bed, talking on the phone to Ali McGraw!
Beauty Snob: Wow! That’s really cool, you actually look like her! Our readers have a few questions for you… first from Diane: What is the best Bobbi Brown product for crepey eyelids?
Bobbi Brown: Extra eye balm. Make sure you don’t put it on top of the lids during the day– your shadow will smear. And avoid cream shadow- use powder shadows.
Beauty Snob: Okay, next reader Lottie– By afternoon, my make up is sliding off and shiny. How can I seal my make up? Also I find it so hard finding the perfect foundation that looks very natural but yet gives you great coverage? Is there anything you should consider or do when choosing your foundation?
Bobbi Brown: If your skin is oily, use oil free products including oil free foundation. Skip moisturizers in the summer time, sunscreen is all you need in hot weather. It’s all about understanding your skin and its needs. Try the foundation stick, it’s very natural yet gives great coverage. When choosing a foundation, always choose a shade that matches your skin tone. You can go one shade lighter for your concealer.
Beauty Snob: What about on the plane– what can I use to combat dryness in flight?
Bobbi Brown: I always carry my Extra Face oil with me to keep from drying out. Drinking a lot of water helps. We have a home in Telluride where we take the kids every year, after one day in the mountains you feel 100 years old which is why I developed my Extra line of products.
Beauty Snob: How many kids do you have?
Bobbi Brown: I have three sons, they are all obsessed with golf. They play everyday with my husband. My eldest is at Stanford University. Do you have kids?
Beauty Snob: Yes, I have a four year old son. (Pulling out a photo).
Bobbi Brown: He’s so cute! I loved it when my kids were that age, I used to kiss them in their armpits.
Beauty Snob: How funny! Do they offer you inspiration when you create a new collection?
Bobbi Brown: You know, it actually comes to me when least expected– usually hiking or on a treadmill. I just opened a gym called 360 in Montclair New Jersey. I am really into health and fitness… if you’re in a bad mood, an hour of exercise will do the trick!
Beauty Snob: Do you do yoga?
Bobbi Brown: No, but I need to. I was laying in bed late the other night and couldn’t sleep and thought to myself, “I need to do yoga”. I’m always thinking of new projects, new business to build. Like the work I do for Dress for Success.
Beauty Snob: Tell me more about that, I’ve always wanted to work with them.
Bobbi Brown: You should! I will get you in touch with them. I am on the board… and I am not on many boards. I just think this is such a worthy causes! For my birthday last year, I asked friends to bring bags in lieu of gifts to my party and I donated all of them to Dress for Success. Evelyn Lauder donated a birkin! There is a
picture of me laying amongst all the bags the next morning.
Beauty Snob: Speaking of morning, what is your morning routine?
Bobbi Brown: I start with a cup of Nespresso espresso! But I’m on a cleanse right now, so I’m doing green tea and rice milk that I foam up. I go outside in my pajamas to pick up the NY post on my driveway, and I go straight to Page 6. After that I wake up a kid or two, give them breakfast. Then I’ll exercise, either spinning or with a trainer. I shower and leave my house with wet hair. I do my make up in the car on my way to the office. I never put on make up at home.
Beauty Snob: If you can do anyone’s make up– who would it be? Either past or present.
Bobbi Brown: The past is easier, Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn
Beauty Snob: I read you did make up for the Obama family?
Bobbi Brown: No, I did the Bidens’ make up, I went to the convention for three days and had my own security, it was so fun!
Beauty Snob: So what is the make up trend for Spring 2009?
Bobbi Brown: Glitter and sparkle as seen at the J. Mendel show.
Beauty Snob: What is the one product you can’t live without?
Bobbi Brown: There are so many, but I’d say concealer.
Beauty Snob: Favorite holiday destinations?
Bobbi Brown: Bahamas
Beauty Snob: What’s on your nightstand?
Bobbi Brown: 3 pictures of my kids when they were babies; my husband had it framed for me and looking at them is a sweet way to end the day. Big bottle of water. 6 or 7 books, I read biographies and memoirs. Right now I am reading a book by Leonard Nimoy’s son.
Beauty Snob: Your favorite books?
Bobbi Brown: Audrey Hepburn’s biography and Obama’s memoir.
Beauty Snob: Best beauty tip you ever received?
Bobbi Brown: When I was starting out in the business, an older make up artist told me to make sure the upper eyeliner and bottom eyeliner meet at the corners. If you stop too short, it makes your eyes smaller. But that’s if you line both top and bottom of your eyes.
Beauty Snob: Childhood dreams?
Bobbi Brown: I always wanted to be a mom and a teacher. I never thought I’d be a business woman or have any of this.
Beauty Snob: You’ve achieved all your dreams plus much more! So what’s in your birkin– may I look in there?
Bobbi Brown: Yeah, sure. Let’s see, I have Stanford University mints, iPhone, Louis Vuitton wallet, a set of my mini brushes, powder, samples, make up bag, invitations to events, there is a lot going on in there!
Beauty Snob: Heels or flats?
Bobbi Brown: Wedges and platforms or clogs– they’re just so comfortable!
Beauty Snob: Wine or champagne?
Bobbi Brown: Vodka, I drink the Yogi Berra– vodka on the rocks, a lot of rocks, with 3 olives.
Beauty Snob: Describe a day of indulgence.
Bobbi Brown: At canyon ranch where I get daily massages, I never get out of my robe! I wear my robe and sweats and I work out all day. I eat dinner at 6pm and asleep by 8pm. Going to bed by 8pm is pure indulgence!
Beauty Snob: I attended your American Express Marketing seminar two years ago with my partner. You inspired us to expand our blogs and we started Beauty Snob after that event! Do you have any further advice for aspiring entrepreneurs?
Bobbi Brown: Make your job a part of who you are. Never worry about how you’re going to make money. Figure out how to be the best at what you do and the money will come.
Stay tuned for Part Two of this interview when Bobbi’s new book launches in December!
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Bobbi would like to treat Beauty Snob readers by giving away three sets of the following products!!!
Copper Diamond Cosmetic Bag with set of mini brushes ($65), Shimmer Brick ($40), Dual Ended Mascara($28) and the new Glitter Lip Balm shades ($19 each)!
To win: Tell us your favorite Bobbi Brown product and why you can’t live without it! Bobbi will pick her top 3 favorite entries on Friday, Nov. 14!
Please leave a valid email with your comment so we can contact you!
What a great interview..such fun questions and she seems so sweet and love the photo of you two!
I love Bobbi Brown!
My favorite Bobbi product is the creamy concealer. A swipe of that and I don’t need another other make up. I use it every day and have several pots of it for car, make up bag, gym bag, etc.
Thank you Tina for this fantastic interview! Bobbi, you look just like Ali Mcgraw!
my favorite bobbi product is the gel eye liner. i would never skip that step in the morning. i love it because it’s easy to apply with the bobbie liner brush and it stays all day!! sometimes i could even skip mascara if i was really rush for time…
also, i LOVE my mauve face pallet!!! it’s beautiful to look at and on my face…
Bobbi Brown’s long wear gel eyeliner!! I love that its stay-proof and virtually fool-proof, plus there’s so many colors to choose from!
I am a student and do not have the biggest makeup budget, even though i feel that most of my limited budget goes towards makeup. Bobbi products are special and high quality so i always have room for one or two splurge items when i can. My favorite of my recent Bobbi splurges is the Shimmering Nudes eye palette. I am great at doing dramatic eyes on myself but i have a really hard time perfecting the nude/naked shimmering eye look. This is one of the only palettes that have the perfect colors to do so and has given me the confidence to go for the more natural look. Thanks Bobbi!
This was a great interview. My favorite product has to be two the shimmer brick in gold a few seasons back and the gel eyeliner I have it in purple and green they last forever and stay on all day!
Bobbi’s line is the only makeup line where I really feel like every product is wearable for me, everything is great quality, and helps me emphasize my own individual beauty… If I had to choose, I’d say my undisputed favorite is definitely the gel eyeliner.
A few years ago at an airport duty-free I bought an eyeliner kit (black, brown and an eyeliner brush), and I haven’t been without this product since. It’s so easy, so fun, and lasts so, so long. It truly is one of my worry-free products, so much so that I am constantly recommending it without hesitation to all my girlfriends. I’ve tried other brands of gel eyeliners but I keep coming back to BB.
I love it because of it’s flexibility for creating a myriad of looks — from professional, controlled thin lines to fun, thick cats-eyes when I’m going out with friends. I even used the black eyeliner as part of a panda face makeup I did for a Halloween fundraiser (big black eyes and a black nose).
As my life has transitioned from high-level corporate work to the harried pace of grad school, my gel eyeliner has stayed with me! I would be so honored if I was chosen for as a giveaway winner, thank you for holding this!
My favorite Bobbi Brown product is hands down her Deluxe Short Brush Set. Bobbi Brown has a reputation for having the best quality brushes around, which I can definitely attest to! I considered this purchase a smart investment because as a student, I am always on a budget, however, buying the brushes in a set makes them so affordable! I truly believe these brushes can turn a make-up lover into an artist because the quality allows you to be so much more creative and detailed in your make-up application. I love using these brushes around Halloween time because I can let my imagination run wild and let the brushes turn fantasy into reality. With good care, these brushes truly last so I am expecting to hand them down to my kids one day! These brushes are truly a must in every make-up lover’s arsenal and the one item that brings back so many memories each time I use it.
Nice bags, ladies!
1. Shimmer wash eyeshadow in “chocolate” applied with the “eye smudge brush” – Shimmery neutral brown that is perfect for my dark eyes everyday. And applying it with the smudge brush makes it so easy to do in the morning when I’m half awake!
2. “Beach body lotion” – This sits on my desk at work and I use it as a hand lotion. I have to stop and smell my hands about fifty times a day because it smells so good…
3. Long Wear Gel liner – Do I really need to explain this? It is the best. Period.
Thanks Beauty Snob and thanks Bobbi. Love your new collection!
I am so jealous. My dream is to meet Bobbi Brown. I find her incredibly interesting. My favorite can’t live without BB product is her creamy concealer. I keep one in my dressing room, one in my bathroom, one at the office and one in my bag. Absolutely love it.
Thanks for the great interview. So excited for part 2.
Okay, I totally thought we were supposed to pick three favorites instead of one. Oops. Well I couldn’t pick just one anyway.
I can’t live without the oil free even finish foundation compact. I have yet to find anything that matches my skin tone so perfectly. I keep two on hand at all times–one at home and one in my purse because it’s so easy to touch up on the go . I originally tried it because I was waitressing ten hours a day and wanted a foundation that would last through lunch and dinner shift in a crazy busy restaurant. I later found out that I had an underactive thryoid which among other things made my skin insanely dry. The Bobbi Brown foundation is absolutely the only thing that will keep my face looking fresh and moisturized. Thank you for making such a great product!
My favorite Bobbi Brown product is the eye corrector. I am a complete night owl. I love staying up late because that’s the only time of day when my house is peaceful! Unfortunately, I have dark undereye circles as a result. Well, you’d never know it thanks to Bobbi’s corrector. It’s quite an ingenious product and I really haven’t come across anything else that matches it.
It’s one thing for a brand to say that a certain product will give you certain results. It’s another when the product actually delivers on the brand’s claim.
Thank you Bobbi, for keeping my late nights undercover!
I’ll probably be the odd one out, but I own no Bobbi Brown make-up.
I have followed her career via talk shows like Oprah and have seen her on news segments, and she gives great advice on make-up and life.
Since I own no products, I’ll list some of our similarities. Like Bobbi, I also have three sons and my oldest is going to college next year. My youngest is four and my middle son is eight. I’m a brunette, have long hair, and believe in exercise – lots of it, especially to relieve stress. Like Bobbi, I’m also young looking. People often mistake me for my 30s or even 20s – I’m in my 40s.
Make-up I must always have…lip gloss, mascara, eyeshadow especially in the brown family, and of course a good sunscreen.
Thanks for hosting a great contest and I really enjoyed reading this interview.
Just read that Bobbi is reading and picking the winner. The brown nosing in my answer was completely unintentional and I am very embarrassed. Oops!
The limited edition eye shadow palettes.
It my treat to myself each season.
I LOVE ALL OF BOBBI’S PRODUCTS BUT IF I COULD ONLY CHOOSE ONE THEN I LOVE THE FOUNDATION STICK!! I USE IT AS A CONCEALOR WHEN MY SKIN JUST NEEDS TOUCH-UPS OR AS A FULL FOUNDATION WHEN I NEED THAT EXTRA COVERAGE!!! SIMPLY THE BEST-PLUS AS AN ADDED BONUS IT BLENDS SO WELL W/MY SKIN TONE PEOPLE DON’T THINK I HAVE ANY MAKEUP ON AND COMPLENT ME ON HOW GREAT MY SKIN (NOT MAKEUP) LOOKS!! sHE’S THE BEST!!!!
~DIANA V.
It’s easy: Luminous Moisturizing Foundation. Everything in Bobbi Brown collection is about very natural beauty, and when you have no time to draw yourself a bright contrast face, you can at least make it perfect just using some light-reflecting foundation.
What a cute interview – love it!
I am in LOVE with Bobbi Brown palettes!!
I like to add new ones to my collection every season because they contain a WHOLE FACE in one compact container! I am currently a student at UCD and I stay up many nights to cram. This leaves me no other choice than to survive on 3 hours of sleep! I love how all the colors I need for cheeks, eyes, and lips are in one convenient palette. I can run out of my place within 5 minutes and look utterly polished and FAB! If not for Bobbi’s wide array of palettes, I would surely look like death zipping out the door..haha =)
Thank you for being such an inspiration to all the working ladies out there!
LOVE the creamy concealer!!
Great interview!
Cannot live without gel long wear eye-liner. Luckily, I was wearing it the day I gave birth to my daughter, it lasted all day while I was at work and though my labor. Not a smudge..When I went into labor with my son (2 years later) I was really tempted to put it on at 4 am, alas the contractions were too strong…But it did get me through the river of tears at his bris.
xoxo
Oh Tina! I forgot to ask you what makeup products the artistry manager used on you. You look stunning as usual!
Bonnie
My HG item is Bobbi Brown’s Sand Pink blush: it is my secret weapon against fatigue! I use it first thing in the morning to look healthier and awake (or when my workout has been less than stellar), and then in the afternoon as a pick-me-up when what I really want is to eat chocolate. Sometimes I even use a touch of it mixed with Chapstick on my lips. It has made me look better at 41 than I did at 31.
I LOVE BB eyeshadows… particularly mocha, taupe, bone and espresso. I am Asian and am always having a hard time finding eyeshadows that are natural yet still make me feel like I’m wearing make up. BB gives me that perfect balance. When i’m at work, i wear the eyeshadows alone, and then for night, i just add on the gel eye liner and mascara and I’m good to go! perfection!
I know everyone else will probably post this product, but my favorite is also the long wear gel liner. I used to wear bold colored eyeshadows without no eyeliner, and now that I look back at those pictures I cringe and can’t believe it was only 2 years ago. I went to a Bobbi counter and the SA did my makeup with the Chocolate Shimmer Ink and Champagne Shimmerwash eyeshadow, and my life has not been the same. Now my mother approves of my makeup looks!
the gel eye liner, in cocoa mauve.
It looks so natural on my eyes that I cannot think of using any other color.
Where to begin with Bobbi Brown products! I have to say my favorite product is the creamy concealer. I started using it about eight years ago right before my wedding. I went to a Bobbi Brown counter about a week before my big day and had a makeover and consultation. I walked away with all I needed for my wedding day makeup. I still use many of the products, but the creamy concealer goes on each day no matter how late I am running. My biggest fear was that my dark circles would be plastered across all of my wedding pictures, but the creamy concealer helped put my mind at ease and allow me to feel like a princess on my (our) big day! Even eight years later, the consistency, texture and color work great for me, and I always recommend it to friends. I have never gone wrong with anything from Bobbi Brown. Thanks!
I’m going to go ahead and say it: I actually have not (yet) used Bobbi Brown products. BUT – my very good friend Kristen recently started using your products, and the transformation that she’s undergone since is nothing short of amazing.
We are both community organizers, and two weeks before the Democratic National Convention here in Denver, we took a break from our exhausting schedules to swing by our local Norstrom’s makeup counters. It’s a treat we like to give ourselves – a bit of luxury and self-indulgence. Kristen was starting to notice a little crepiness around her eyes, and wanted some advice. Not only was the MUA totally friendly and helpful, but she also scheduled a full consultation for the following week.
After Kristen had her makeup done with full Bobbi Brown products, she literally looked years younger. She started using the Hydrating Eye Cream, the Creamy Concealer kit and a navy gel eyeliner (don’t really remember the right name). But, the three products together make her look fabulous, re-energized, and happy on a daily basis.
And, while it’s not a ‘product,’ per se, as far as I’m concerned, CONFIDENCE is the best part of Bobbi Brown – I see it in my friend, and she makes me want to try your products out, as well.
If this entry is selected, I would give all the products to Kristen, as she’s the one who really has opened my eyes to the coolness of Bobbi Brown.
I’m going to go ahead and say it: I actually have not (yet) used Bobbi Brown products. BUT – my very good friend Kristen recently started using your products, and the transformation that she’s undergone since is nothing short of amazing.
We are both community organizers, and two weeks before the Democratic National Convention here in Denver, we took a break from our exhausting schedules to swing by our local Norstrom’s makeup counters. It’s a treat we like to give ourselves – a bit of luxury and self-indulgence. Kristen was starting to notice a little crepiness around her eyes, and wanted some advice. Not only was the MUA totally friendly and helpful, but she also scheduled a full consultation for the following week.
After Kristen had her makeup done with full Bobbi Brown products, she literally looked years younger. She started using the Hydrating Eye Cream, the Creamy Concealer kit and a navy gel eyeliner (don’t really remember the right name). But, the three products together make her look fabulous, re-energized, and happy on a daily basis.
And, while it’s not a ‘product,’ per se, as far as I’m concerned, CONFIDENCE is the best part of Bobbi Brown – I see it in my friend, and she makes me want to try your products out, as well.
If this entry is selected, I would give all the products to Kristen, as she’s the one who really has opened my eyes to the coolness of Bobbi Brown.
I just love the BB Shimmer Brick! I am Indian with tan skin, dark hair, and green eyes.. the brick always gives me the perfect amount of sparkle without going overboard. All of the Bobbi Brown products I’ve tried are great, but the Shimmer Brick is the best!
I can’t live without Bobbi Brown’s basic eye palette. I love it — when I use the Cement and the Mahogany eyeliner, I keep imagining it makes me look like Audrey Hepburn…which is a tall order for a pale redhead. But it’s such a flattering palette, and so nice and compact, with its little brush, that I can take it on quick work trips. I know that I can be ready to go anywhere with it — I’ll look good during the day, and I can look intense for night. It’s fantastic. I can’t live without it!
My go-to eyeshadow when I’m in a hurry is the metallic palette in Velvet Plum from Fall ’07. The palette totally takes the guesswork out of doing a beautiful eye for any season. The shadow are perfectly coordinated and gorgeous to wear. The texture is incredible – soft and smooth and almost creamy. The shades are exceptionally well-pigmented and the ultra-fine particles of shimmer are the trademark of all of Bobbi’s metallic shadows (and the reason I love them so much!) The palette is fun, beautiful and still work-appropriate!
I love Bobbi’s products. I am African American and she has one of the few makeup lines that cater to women of color as well. Its nice to know someone realizes that darker skinned people love to wear makeup too! My favorites of hers is her tinted moisturizer. It works so well in the summer time when you don’t want to put on heavy makeup. It goes on so smooth for a very sheer cover up. I also love her bronzers. Some bronzers leave sparkles on your face, this one gives you a perfect sun kissed look which I love!Keep making that wonderful makeup Bobbi! Your the best!
I adore her gel eyeliner. It’s the only one I’ve tried that lasts through 10+ hour work days without smudging or fading.
Picking just one is hard – but I would have to say my favorite is the gel eyeliner with the fabulous brush. It is the only eyeliner that stays put all day and that I find easy to apply in a narrow line. Yes – I always make sure it meets in the corners when I line both the upper and lower lids.
My favorite Bobbi Brown product/routine is the lip crayon in naked pink, followed by SPF 15 lip shine in naked pink. I never used to wear lip liner because the pencil was too thin and I could never blend it in with the lip color very well and it looked awkward. But not using it caused my lipstick to wear off very quickly. The lip crayon is the perfect size and texture and makes me actually want to use lip liner. The naked pink shade is also so perfect for daily wear. The perfect lip color has really given me confidence in feeling empowered, but feminine at the same time. Those are the things that I think of when I see and use Bobbi Brown products. It gives women the chance to take care of themselves and present their best side to the public, but doesn’t take away the confidence, the power, and the “anything is possible” aura.
I love her tinted moisturizer, the oil free moisturizer and her eye cream are the best!!!
My Stonewashed Nudes Palette has such a special place in my heart. It was actually the first “high-end” makeup that I ever bought. I was always a drugstore girl, but then I went away to Air Force basic training/Tech School and got completely out of the habit of *anything*. So when I came back to the real world, it took me a long time to get back in the habit of using any makeup. I can’t remember exactly where I saw it, but I was captivated. So, I saved up ($50 was such a luxury for me) and I have never regretted it a day. Everything in it, from the brush, to every single color, has been just great. I was able to learn to mix and match colors with these, without looking overdone. I simply can’t rave about it near enough. And, while other palettes and singles have come along, I still keep this one.
I think it is like your first kiss/love – you will never forget it, and others may be great, but they just don’t live up to your first.
(Thanks for hosting this giveaway and for indulging my rambling!)
What a great interview! I just love Bobbi Brown products, and she sounds like a fascinating and down to earth person!
My favorite Bobbi Brown product…it’s a toss up between the Blemish Cover Stick, the Extra SPF25 Tinted Moisturizing Balm, and Pot Rouge in calypso coral. I wear all 3 daily. And that’s about all I wear makeup-wise
But, getting down to basics, my favorite is the Blemish Cover Stick (in warm sand). I wouldn’t be caught dead without it. I am a busy (and tired) law student, and this stuff is as *very neccesary* to my looks, and sanity. A few quick dabs (yes, I even use it under my eyes, it’s my favorite under eye concealer) and I feel human, and pretty again. The colors and consistency are second to none. I love it, I am so thankful for Bobbi Brown products!
Bobbi Brown! I always see her makeup at the department store, but it’s so pricey…
I’ve actually tried the Desert Rose blush at the counter and it gives me this glow
I’m hoping to try more of her products in the future~
Hands down, my favorite Bobbi Brown product is her foundation stick. It really comes down to – that if your foundation doesn’t work for you – all the other makeup you put on can’t shine.
Her stick foundation formula is amazing. It blends so easily into my skin and it’s so convenient! I have one in my purse and one in my makeup drawer. I can do a quick, full face, or use it as a touch up concealer during the day. I can NOT live with out it. I have very fair skin with ruddy cheeks (Porcelain 0 is my perfect match) and I have tried over 50 lines of foundation over the years. Bobbi Brown is the only one that disappears into my skin. Everything else it too pink, brown, or orange. Her foundations and concealers are the only ones that make me look like a better version of myself. I’m 29 and had been looking for the perfect foundation for over 15 years… I only wish I had been introduced to her line sooner. Everything else in her line is just gravy… it all starts with her foundation!!
I absolutely adore Bobbi Brown makeup. By the way Ms. Bobbi Brown I own all your books and have been using your makeup since I was 15. My mother, after watching me pick out multiple foundations that were either too dark or too light for my skin took me to the Raleigh, NC Bobbi Brown counter and told me that makeup should only enhance your beauty not hide it. Why hide what you have when you can enhance what you were born with? That day I left with lipgloss, blush and concealer/corrector(I didn’t need foundation at that age and by using your hydrating face, eye cream and overnight cream, as well as your cleaner, I hardly wear any now at 19).
I do love everything you have created but I absolutely adore your concealer and correctors. I have rather large eyes and although I embrace them, I do not like the huge under-eye bags that accompany them. Most makeup lines do not offer a corrector that works so well with a concealer. Usually they only offer a concealer that they promise will provide coverage for those pesky bags but for me, they never have. Four years ago I walked away with your concealer/ corrector kit a very happy and beautified customer. (I believe it is no longer offered;it consisted of a small portion of concealer, corrector and powder in coordinating shades) You really helped me embrace what I was born with and the then self-conscious fifteen year old has matured into a confident woman, with no under eye bags of course.
I love the creamy concealer, because it’s the one thing that keeps me from look worn out even on the worst day. Between my six year old and running my own business looking worn out is a daily event.
Hey Louisa,
Bobbi Brown still offers that product! You can search the site for her “Creamy Concealer Kit”. =)
It’s really hard to pick just ONE must-have favorite Bobbi Brown product, I’m a second generation Bobbi Brown girl, I grew up watching my mother apply all her products for a gorgeous, glowing, but natural look – so I even have favorite products based on what she can’t walk out the door without! But as far as my one favorite, I might just have to say the Shimmer Brick Compact — I have very pale skin and it’s pretty hard to give me a natural glow (bronzers look one of two things on me – brown or orange, and neither is a good thing!), so this magic “brick” helps me to glow, gives me just that bit of color and makes sure i never need to go out in the sunshine to get it. In this day and age, thanks to Bobbi, we ladies can sparkle in a natural looking way and still be healthy and sun-free! thanks bobbi!!
Hi Bonnie
Kimberly did both mine and Bobbi’s make up–
She used creamy concealer on me in Warm Ivory, the foundation stick, cement eye shadow, lots of black eyeliner (my must), blue rasberry lipstick, warm rose lip gloss, sand pink blush, pale pink blush to “pop” my cheeks, and mascara.
Bobbi Brown calls it the “Bobbi” look…
This is easy, my favorite Bobbi Brown product would have to be the SPF 15 Tinted Moisturizer. I’m in grad school – that awkward phase somewhere in between college kid and adult – and while I feel like I need a more polished look I don’t want to wear a heavy foundation. This provides me with just the right amount of coverage. It’s also perfect for my skin because it’s dry and other products can leave me cakey. It’s definitely made my make up routine much easier and I still feel pretty and put together. So thank you, Bobbi.
I envy you Tina! Great interview.
I love the shimmerbrick in peony. It helps me a lot to create dewy look without putting too much efforts
At first I thought it’s a bit pricey for such a small package, but it lasts long!
Cool interview I love BB I will not leave the house without my corrector/concealer and tinted moisturizer as a african american it is hard to find makeup that matches my lighter skintone.
Bobbi Brown Beach- I love the beach and her products allow me to have a taste of it in my bathroom.
I am endlessly fussy about fragrance, so the fact that ‘Beach’ was love at first sniff says a lot! I sometimes grab it as I walk past my dresser just to take a long, satisfying whiff. I’m amazed it manages to be simultaneously sophisticated AND nostalgic–I’m transported to either a party in the Hamptons or running through the sprinkler with a popsicle in hand–and it’s just so quintessentially Summer. Let’s face it…as an adult who longs for the time when two months of vacation was a given, it will always brighten a mid-July workday to smell ‘Beach’ on my wrist and feel some imaginary sand between my toes!
I was once asked if I was Bobbi Brown….that was a nice compliment. I was a the Montgomery Mall in Maryland, just outside a Nordstrom. I was with my niece, and a very nice lady (she had been staring at me for quite a while at California Pizza Kitchen) came up to me and asked….are you Bobbi Brown. I had been told by a few people I resemble you (I had worked at Neimans in Chevy Chase for Jo Malone) My favorite product is your creamy concealer!! What girl can’t use a little help with dark circles, or red around the nose. (allergies are the pits) I haven’t worked in retail for quite a while…..so these freebies would be awesome!!! Thanks for making makeup so simple!!! You are awesome.
Lisa
My first big splurge on make-up was a set of Bobbi Brown brushes in a leather case during a trip to New Jersey to visit my relatives. That was nearly eight years ago and the brushes are still good as new. I can not imagine applying make-up without these tools and want to add to my collection.
Also, I can’t live without the concealer and the corrector, and I bought her book and love that too. But by far, my best investment ever was her set of brushes.
My favorite Bobbi Brown product will definitely be her book titled “Bobbi Brown Teenage Beauty” that was published in 2001, the year I turned 15.
Why I can’t live without it: The whole idea of the book is to emphasize the importance of understanding and being comfortable about yourself, your skin, your individuality. Even though I am far from 15 right now, I would always reflect on Bobbi’s advices in the book when I encounter a moment of self doubt about my body or my face. As a growing teenager then and a growing adult now, I can’t live without her concept about makeup as means of enhancing ourselves into a more confident person in addition to loving yourself.
For the past 4 years I have been exclusively using Bobbi Brown makeup after being introduced to the line through an aunt who bought me a pink shimmer brick and a neutral eye palatte for Christmas. These two items were the only makeup (other than mascara and moisturizer) that I brought for a 5 month study abroad program, and by the time I made it back to America, not only was I a convert, but I had talked my mother into having her makeup revamped with the Bobbi Brown line as well. What drew both of us to Bobbi’s line was the overall philosophy of natural beauty focused on enhancing your features, while still keeping things simple and easy to apply.
This past spring, my mother and I were lucky enough to have our makeup done by a member of Bobbi’s makeup team followed by a brief consultation with Bobbi herself at the Bloomingdales on 57th Street in New York City. Of course we were overwhelmingly excited about being able to meet our makeup-guru in person and speak to her about our makeup routines, and it was great to have Bobbi actually talk to us about what we felt were our best features in addition to different ways to change our looks. As Bobbi said to me, the goal was to look young, natural and a more polished version of myself, something that I do think Bobbi’s products help me to do.
My favorite single product would have to be the tinted moisturizer with SPF 15, because not only does it provide moisture and an even sheer coverage that is perfect for my fair skin, it provides sun protection – and all in one step. which is perfect for a busy graduate student like myself. I can easily put some on, add a swipe of mascara and a little bit of lip gloss and be good to go for the day, or layer it with some concealer and stick foundation for more coverage for a night out. Hardly a day goes by that I do not use this product and I would surely be lost without it!
I love the gel eyeliner. I’ve got very oily skin and nothing holds up like this eyeliner. I’ve got it in just about every color!
I love bobbi, i remember the first time i was drawn to her line was when i was 15 or 16 and on a “teen prom” magazine she taught some makeup tricks for young girls. i’ve been hooked ever since.
i think my favorite BB products are the pot rouges. they’re versatile and easy to take along in my MU bag, no spills, no breakage, no mess and an easy way to tough up your look during the day.
This is a difficult question! Before I answer – thanks for posting the interview – it was great reading Bobbi’s answers. She seems so down to earth and family oriented! So refreshing.
I am newly married, and on a rather tight makeup budget – but I put a little away each month to splurge on Bobbi Brown – her products are worth the money, in my opinion. I love the Mauve palette and her shimmer eyeshadows (shimmery, but still classy), and the pot rogue and long wearing gel liner are in a league of their own. However, I must say that the beige shimmer brick has changed the way I view my cheekbones. I never thought I had any until I bought that shimmerbrick – I dusted it on with a small fan brush, and was shocked and the improvement the highlight made! So – thanks to Bobbi for making me love my cheekbones with her beige shimmerbrick!
I would have to say that my favorite product – like so many other ladies here – is the creamy concealer. This stuff is truly luxorious and gentle. It’s long lasting and doesn’t excentuate fine lines like a lot of other concealers tend to do. When I moved from Oklahoma to Chicago it was one of the hardest things I’d ever done. Being away from my family, I was heart broken and getting little sleep at nights resulting in dark under eye circles during the day. The creamy concealer was great and helped me feel more confidant at my job and I was able to go to work looking good, and in turn it helped to make me feel good too. Thanks, Bobbi!
Being asian, I am cursed with dark under eye circles and my HG product is Bobbi’s corrector in dark peach.It is truly the only product that suits my olive and tan skin and cancel out the dark circles. Lon-wear Gel Eyliner is the only one that gives me kohl-lined look without having the liner run all over the place after a few hours of wear. Her shimmer bricks always have a place on my wish lists and makes gift-giving easy for my family.
Have been using the spf 25 tinted moisturizing balm since my first baby was born in August, and it is my favorite makeup item. At 41, I appreciate super-moisturizing products that don’t drag, ashen, and crepe into my skin. Somehow, the tinted balm has improved my skin, and I love that it smells similar to the extra oil–which is my winter mosturizer here in Michigan.
i am a recent college grad in NYC with little time or money, but with a busy job (and social schedule!) that requires me to look perfectly pulled together at all times..and i have to say that bronze shimmer brick compact is my favorite “secret” weapon! Coupled with my BB concealor, all i need is 2 minutes between tumbling out of bed, locking my apt door and grabbing my coffee in the morning to look fresh faced & sophisticated!! I use the colors to highlight & contour my cheeks, and add a swipe to my lids. a little goes a long way, and I’ve been more than happy to share my secrets with all my girlfriends. I’ve been a fan of bobbi since recieving her book on teenage beauty years ago, and i’ll always be!!! i love her fresh and simple take on looking your best, all the time no matter what the occasion!!!
My favorite product is her new compacts. I love being able to put together my favorites to take with me to work or travel with. I used to use primarily Bare Escentuals but got tired of the mess when I traveled. I read about the new bb compact in a magazine and found a counter on my next trip and never turned back. In fact I find myself using it even at home because it is just so easy to grab in the morning when I am running late. I owe Bobbi a big Thank You! for bringing these out!
My favorite Bobbi Brown products are: Gel Eyeliner… And to apply this eyeliner, I am the fine eyeliner brush is a must. these two are my absolute necessary 365 days. Blush in Rose and Face blender brush to apply it….While going out… Shimmer brick compact in Bronze. I can’t survive without these products. I don’t feel complete if I don’t have these products on.
Pot Rouge! I have it in three colors and use them depending on my mood. They’re so versatile…. and FUN!
My favorite product is really a combination of two different BB products — chocolate shimmer ink long-wear gel eyeliner + the ultra fine eye liner brush. They are like a set of salt and pepper shakers; you can’t have one without the other! I have tried other brushes with the BB gel eyeliner and can’t get the same results and vice versa with the BB brush and a non-BB gel liner. When used together, this winning duo opens up my brown eyes and stays in place all day even during sad movies, weddings or an occasional PMS moment. Thank you Bobbi!
I became a recent fan of Bobbi’s cosmetics after I had my makeup done for my wedding (I’m an older bride) and was so pleased with the results. I loved the smooth results of the moisturizing foundation, and am currently using her sheer finish face powder, concealer, and eye shadow in “Heather.” I daily use my lipcolor in Sandwash Pink – it’s such an easy color to wear – I’m hooked on it!
First, I must say that this is one of the best blogs. I check it daily, and am addicted. I love the snob!!
I have been a Bobbi fan for as long as I can remember. I recall the first palette of her favorite lipsticks, and how I had to search high and low to find it. Once it was in my hands, I had no regrets. Today, I can say the same is true of my latest obsession – the makeup artist lip palette. It is a biggie, but so worth every penny. And the shimmer bricks – each one is more beautiful than the last. And the gel eyeliner is the item other companies try to copy – but cannot. And the new interchangeable compacts – pure genius. And did I mention the new lip glosses (with covers, so they don’t get powder in them), which fit into the compacts. This is truly a line of exceptional quality, exceptional design and understated elegance.
If I had to pick a favorite product that I cannot live without, it would be the concealer/foundation/powder sets (containing the undereye concealer, concealer, and foundation, with a pressed powder). There is always one in my bag, and I cannot be without it. It s the perfect pairing of everything you need to be more beautiful. I hope that they make them again (so that I can hoard a few more), and perhaps make them fit into the new interchangeable compacts (hint, hint).
By the way – I had a the most delightful experience having my makeup done by one of Bobbi’s artists, Faith, at Neiman Marcus in Oak Brook. She is such a gorgeous woman, inside and out. She has changed my application process, and I feel like a new woman!! You rock, Faith!!
I absolutely love Bobbi’s natural approach and classic style when it comes to make up. I use the gel eyeliner in Cobalt all the time. It has changed my life and really makes my eyes pop. The other two must have items are the Shimmer Brick in Beige and the Creamy Concealer and the Corrector…I have the worst dark circles and they really help make a difference.
My favorite Bobbi product is definately the Moon Rock Eye Wear Palette. I never fail to receive a compliment when I wear it, and the color scheme works wonders for a night out! Sometimes, when I’m at home feeling less than 100% I’ll put it on (even if wearing pajamas!) and i’m motivated to go out instead of lounging around the house all day! I love it not because it makes my eyes look amazing (it does!) but because of the confidence it gives me! And a girl can always use a boost
I got married in Bobbi Brown. Loved the shimmering lipstick.
Longtime favs are gel eyeliner-have almost all the colors, eye make up remover, so gentle and one swipe is all you need. Holiday lip bricks as presents for my mom and aunt.
thanks!
my favorite products are definitely Bobbi’s eyeshadows in stone and ivory. i know, they’re boring, not exciting. but they are the most reliable things i own! when i cannot even stand for a minute what i will do about my makeup for the day beyond foundation, there stone is. it seems to make my eyes look sultry and earthy with just one swipe. additionally, its about hte only trustworthy color i can turn to when i do a berry lip (my absolute favorite). experimenting with other colors sometimes works, but often i end up with some sort of garish effect – never with my beloved stone! ivory, too, i can always turn to to complement my other eyeshadows… it works with everything, no questions asked. i’ve never had a problem with either of these shades, and they have made my life so much easier! i have run out of both twice!
I love pretty much everything from Bobbi’s line. Every single item is very functional and easy to use. But my two favotites are Creamy Consealer and Champagne Shimmer Wash Eye Shadow. Even if I have little time for makeup in the morning these two products make my face look fresh and awake. A touch of lipgloss and mascara and my face brightens up.
I am obsessed with Bobbi’s shimmer bricks, especially the Brownie brick. I use it year round; in the winter, it works as a great pick me up during the cold weather and during the summer, I use it to fake a tan. Plus, the bricks are so versatile. I use it on my cheeks, eyes, and as a body shimmer. Thanks Bobbi!
I adore Bobbi Brown and I am a complete beauty junkie, even at the ripe old age of 47! Although it is tough to choose, my favorite product has to be her color corrector. It matches my skin perfectly and doesn’t ever dry me out under my eyes. This is a wonderful line, with colors to complement all ages and skin tones. I even remember when it all started for Bobbi…those great lipsticks. What a great journey!
I realize it might sound really strange but I feel a Bobbi Brown lipstick was the catalyst that helped me get my life back on track. Slopes was the color of the magical lipstick and it’s still the Bobbi Brown product I wear most often. I don’t know if it’s something I can’t live without – but there’s no way I would ever want to! It sounds like a total cliché, but a couple of years ago, I had really let myself go. I felt middle-aged, fat, and invisible. One day, I stopped at a BB counter “just to look” and let a saleswoman put a little makeup on me. It made such an amazing difference in my looks – and I left the store feeling so much better about myself! Of course, I had to buy that lipstick – and immediately started wearing it. A couple of weeks later, I bought some more make up and the rest is history. Over time, I wound up getting a better haircut, bought some new clothes, started losing weight, and of course, bought more Bobbi Brown products. Basically, I got “myself” back and it all started with a lipstick.
I love the shimmer brick. Whenever I wear it, my little four year old son tells me I look “booful”
My favorite Bobbi Brown product is the gel eyeliner. I’ve never really bought any “designer” makeup because I’m not a makeup girl and I’ve always thought that everything was pretty much similar, so why waste money on a name? I dabbled a bit over the years, but nothing had really changed my views. After many, many tries, my friends finally convinced me to give the gel liner a try (this is after many failed attempts at finding a liner that wouldn’t smudge since I only put liner at the corner of my eyes and I laugh a lot). BOY! I am amazed at the consistency, ease, and stay power! It’s all I use and I get very uncomfortable when I have to use something else. So thank you Bobbi for giving me more time to worry about other stuff and not my makeup.
I must say that my favorite Bobbi Brown product is the Protective Face Lotion SPF 15. I have tried millions of moisturizers for my fussy skin and this is the first one that actually moisturizes without feeling oily. As a sidenote, I must say that everytime I go make-up shopping I always gravitate towards Bobbi Brown. I’m 16 and I don’t want overdone makeup, yet at the same time I want to look fresh faced. I know that Bobbi Brown is quality and definately takes up the majority of my christmas list!
i just bought the moisterizing foundation compact in #00..i love it..i have used all the “fancy” brands, and my skin was so dry. i just love this, and my wrinkles seem to dissapear!!!!
You just made my day…actually probably my whole week:)