Bobbi’s Brown

Allure, 2021

In the ’80s, the only things more audacious than the shoulder pads were the makeup looks—lipstick (so red!), eye shadow (so blue!), foundation (so thick!). Then makeup artist Bobbi Brown came along, launching her first products in 1991. They were 10 understated lipsticks, each a mini revolution of subdued red or pink or brown. Our collective eye shifted: Makeup could enhance, not mask. The lineup was anchored by the radically simple shade, Brown (above). It is still one of the greatest, most universally flattering lip colors in history. The “natural look” is defined a little differently today, and Brown (the woman, not the lipstick) is on to her next act: Jones Road, a makeup line that includes shimmering liquid shadows and multi-use balms. (Brown left her namesake brand in 2016.) So, with sheer jojoba-oil balms and creamy Brown bullets in hand, we look to the future and celebrate the past—when both a young makeup artist and Allure set out to look at beauty from new angles. From one birthday twin to another, Happy 30th, Bobbi “Brown”!
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 Photographer: Corey Olsen