After hitting counters with her new Intensive Skin Serum Foundation SPF 40 just this month, the forecast continues to call for sunshine and grand waves. Isn’t it obvious why we wanted the real beauty queen to grace the cover of our Summer Issue?
A grand wife and mother of three at the helm of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics for more than two decades, Bobbi Brown has no plans to stop anytime soon. The innovator discusses her personal passion and how she brought her bustling company to where it is now. She continues to grow in a smart way; Brown, a visionary brings a sharp eye to her crystal company and is burgeoning the adoption of schools in her hometown and New York City.
Now, do you want to read a long cover story featuring the famous name of Bobbi Brown or would you rather sip on your favorite calming drink as you read Bobbi Brown’s very-own unedited answers to our interview? We choose her unedited version: full of sincerity, humor, and a captivating spirit.
Q: Aside from wife, mother, businesswoman, author, spokesperson, and even worked with President Obama as part of the Trade Policy and Negotiation committee… what can you not do? I cannot type.
Q: What seems to be your most easy role to fill versus your toughest role to fill? It might not be the easiest role, but my most rewarding role is being a mother and a wife. What comes easily to me now after working in this industry for over 25 years is helping women be the best versions of themselves. I feel very lucky that I get to work with incredibly inspiring women each and every day.
Q: Why revamp your counters? The new counters are an expression of my philosophy and aesthetic, and the perfect way for consumers to discover our range of color cosmetics, brushes, fragrance, skincare, and expert services. When visiting our counters, consumers have the freedom to design their own shopping experience. They can gather with others at the artistry tables to exchange tips and ideas; watch a video of seasonal inspirations and how-to’s; or choose from a menu of specialized services. Our counters provide the ultimate immersion into our brand culture.
Q: What is your strategy regarding product launches and continuous branding? Over the years, I’ve learned that innovation is key, so I’m always looking for something new & exciting. It’s important for me to translate my inspirations—which I usually get from traveling and meeting women all over the world—into innovative and functional products. Lately, my team and I have been focusing on makeup and skincare hybrids. Once I have an idea, I work very closely with my incredible product development team, as well as my artistry team to develop products and collections. I’m very involved in the process.
Q: What legacy do you want to be known for? My hope is to help women everywhere understand that being who you are is the secret to lasting beauty—and that all of us can be both pretty and powerful. I would like to be remembered for my work in female empowerment, helping women to become their most confident selves. Life is too short to be unhappy, focus on what you love about yourself and celebrate your uniqueness.
Q: What one lesson would you like your sons to learn from you, but most of all, put into practice? To be who you are and love who you are. Staying true to oneself will give the confidence you need to succeed in life. And always be nice to people; you never know what someone is going through and when you might cross paths again.
Q: What vital lesson have you learned from your husband and sons, and perhaps you employ within your business? My husband and three sons are my secret to staying Zen. They’ve helped me find a balance between work and home, constantly teach me patience and love, and have helped me prioritize what’s important.
Q: How do you put into action a work/life balance while being an active mom and a very active businesswoman? I’m in our SoHo office at least twice a week and some days I’ll spend all day in meetings with my teams including Creative, Marketing, Public Relations, and Product Development. Other days, I’ll have early morning radio followed by morning TV followed by an in-store appearance at one of the local department store Bobbi Brown counters. Most of my days involve me doing something for PR. I do; however, try to keep most of my evenings free so that I can spend time with my family. Weekends are also dedicated to them. I unplug and focus on family time.
Q: What are your tips for new moms who own a business or are about to launch a new business? I try to keep everything in my life—whether it’s work or home—as simple as possible. At this stage in my career and life I’ve learned to find time to do it all—run a company, raise three kids, and lead a happy marriage. However, finding balance does not come without sacrifice; you almost always need to sacrifice something and I’ve learned over the years to make peace with that. If you know what’s most important to you, you will always make the right decisions. My family is the most important thing to me and I fit everything else around them.
Q: As women we love the culinary arts and enjoy the goodness found in flavor… what do you like to cook at home versus eat at restaurants? I love eating really clean, so a piece of grilled fish with lemon, steamed veggies, and a baked sweet potato is my go-to meal at-home. When I’m out at a restaurant, I always order everything with no salt, no oil and no butter, or I get those items on the side to control the portions. It’s important to me to eat foods that are fresh and organic; I feel my best when I eat this way. That is why I prefer to cook my own meals at home. I use my Vitamix a lot to make healthy smoothies or soups. What you put inside you really does show on the outside.
Q: Time to vacation: When planning your vacation, what do you look for? Adventure, relaxation, culture, romance? Favorite and most memorable vacation hot spots? I look for all of the above depending on the occasion and time of year. One of my most memorable trips was when my family and I (15 of us!) went on a safari last summer. We stopped in Cape Town, which is stunning and we met so many interesting people. Then we were off to our safari through South Africa and Botswana. The animals are literally right in front of you and they seem to be looking into your eyes—it’s unbelievable. Everything was amazing, not to mention, inspiring—the beaches, mountains, and rich colors—all of it.
Otherwise, I love spending time in Telluride, Colorado, Bay Head, New Jersey, and the Bahamas with my husband and three sons. It’s a time when the whole family can relax and be together. I’m happiest when I’m with my family, and I usually prefer a beach vacation where I can really decompress and reenergize.
Q: In regards to your philanthropy work, if you could only choose one to work with from this point forth, which would that be and why? To me teaching and learning is the key to life. I have personally always supported the teachers and schools in both my hometown and New York City. Bobbi Brown Cosmetics has adopted schools for the past ten years. As a corporation, we have made over a cosmetology classroom, trained the cosmetology teachers in our methods, we’ve given students internships and new computers, we’ve stocked an entire library with books and we even gave a much needed facelift to a school’s nursery by painting it and donating cribs, toys, diapers, and other supplies. Students inspired me so one thing is for certain, I will always work with schools or teachers in some shape or form.
Q: Have you reached your life’s purpose? I think there’s a certain amount of peace that comes with getting older. After so many years of aspiring to unattainable ideas, I have finally learned to let it go and relax. “Letting go” doesn’t mean that I’ve stopped caring about my face, my hair, or my body. I still care, but I’m more realistic about my expectations of myself. I’m finally comfortable in my skin—and it is such a relief. Plus, I am happy, I’m healthy and have a loving husband and family plus a rewarding job that I love… what else can I ask for? One of my plans for the future is to continue my work in female empowerment and inspiring women to be their most confident selves.
For more of the photo shoot with Bobbi Brown, order your copy of the Summer Issue here.
Cover Producer | Romina Nabhen
At Home Photography | Ben Ritter
Mavian Arocha-Rowe
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