When Bobbi Brown's 10 lipsticks were launched at Bergdorf Goodman in 1991, little did we know that they would change the way women think about and interact with makeup forever. Since then, the makeup artist has been a leading pioneer of simple, natural beauty. She has numerous global bestsellers under her belt and has seen her company go through a noteworthy acquisition by beauty giant Estée Lauder in 1995.
And now, 25 years after the brand’s launch, Brown has announced it's time for her to begin a new chapter and that she will be stepping away from the company before the end of the year.
Little is known about her next move and she is yet to give a full interview about the announcement. But she has issued a statement stating that this year's 25th anniversary of the brand was a milestone "that made me realise it was time to start a new chapter and move on to new ventures." According to WWD, she is expected to reveal her plans in 2017 but given the non-compete clause in her Estée Lauder contract, it's thought she will stay in the business world.
Her statement also spoke to the growth of the business and the opportunities that Lauder had offered her since the acquisition: "I am thankful for the extraordinary people that I’ve had the privilege to work with over the years and proud of the creative endeavours and innovative products we’ve created together,” she stated, singling out the beauty group “and the Lauder family for the many opportunities they gave me.”
Any changes regarding the brand are yet to be announced but reports suggest that global brand president Peter Lichtenthal will continue to oversee the business.