Bobbi Brown finds renewal after moving on from the brand she built

WCVB | By Diana Pinzón | WATCH THE INTERVIEW

Beauty has always been more of a calling than a career for Bobbi Brown. “Work for me is not what I have to do,” she said. “It’s what I choose to do.”

The makeup artist, entrepreneur and author rose to prominence in the 1990s with her signature “no-makeup makeup” look and her eponymous cosmetics line. Brown’s creative instincts took root early at Emerson College in Boston, where she designed her own major in theatrical makeup and learned how to hustle, collaborate and think like an entrepreneur.

After moving to New York City, Brown struggled to find products that matched her vision. She began making her own, developing a style focused on enhancing natural features. That approach made her brand a success and eventually led to its acquisition by Estée Lauder.

Brown spent two decades with the company before she says she was blindsided just before her 60th birthday. She said she effectively lost creative control of the brand that bore her name. “It was really hard,” Brown said, describing feelings of anger and loss. “I didn’t know what to do.”

The setback didn’t last long. Brown went back to school to study nutrition and began rethinking the ingredients she used in her daily life. In 2020, when her noncompete agreement expired, she launched a new beauty line, Jones Road Beauty, focused on clean, multitasking products designed for everyday use.

In 2025, Brown released her 10th book and first memoir, “Still Bobbi,” reflecting on failure, resilience and reinvention. Fans lined up for a recent book signing at the Jones Road store at The Street Chestnut Hill, drawn to a message that resonates beyond makeup.

“You gotta go through it to get to the other side,” Brown said. For many supporters, her story is proof that it’s never too late to start again.