Beauty entrepreneur and author Bobbi Brown recently stopped in Dallas as part of her national book tour for Still Bobbi, appearing at Half Price Books to share her story of authenticity, perseverance, and purpose.
Known for redefining modern makeup with her emphasis on natural beauty, Brown sat down for an interview with DX guest contributor Nellie Sciutto to discuss her journey as a founder, her love for Dallas, and how resilience has shaped her life.
Why do you love Dallas?
Dallas has always had a special place in my heart. When I launched my first brand, the first stores that carried Bobbi Brown Cosmetics were Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus. I made many trips to Dallas to meet the Neiman’s team and do personal appearances and book signings, and I fell in love with the people in Dallas. Fast forward to now, I couldn’t wait to open our Jones Road Beauty store on Knox Street.
You started your career as a makeup artist. How did you come to start your own line, and what lessons have you learned as an entrepreneur?
My makeup line started with one vision — to create a collection of lipsticks that looked like real lips and in colors that complemented the skin. At the time, makeup was heavy and unnatural. I wanted something simple, but that didn’t exist. I created ten lipsticks and launched them out of my house in New Jersey with no big plan or business model. It grew because women connected with the idea. On entrepreneurship, I’ve learned you don’t need to know it all.
You’re a powerful, successful woman, and your new book, Still Bobbi, talks about how your mother and your aunt were a strong influence on you. How did they help empower you?
My mom was effortlessly glamorous. My Aunt Alice was totally different. She was, and still is, grounded and unapologetically herself. They taught me that true beauty comes from inside, and being kind and embracing your true self is empowering.
My son attends Emerson College, your alma mater, where you funded the beautiful basketball court. You’re all about giving back. What are some of the charities you participate in?
I loved my time at Emerson and what it allowed me to become, so being able to give back there has been really meaningful. Over the years, I’ve supported multiple organizations that are close to my heart — like Reaching Out Montclair, which supports families in my community, and Dress for Success, which gives women the tools, education, and self-confidence they need to reenter the workforce.
Your newest line of makeup, Jones Road, focuses on bringing out the natural beauty in women. What led you to start this new line?
With the launch of JONES ROAD in 2020, I made a full circle return to my roots as a makeup artist. I went back to school and became a health coach, launched a wellness brand, and opened a boutique hotel with my husband in my hometown of Montclair, NJ. JONES ROAD has brought me back to what I love most, which is being a makeup artist and teaching women how to look like themselves — only better.
Your focus on emphasizing natural beauty seems to be based on your philosophy that “real is better than fake.” What does that phrase mean to you?
The phrase “real is better than fake” is all about embracing who you are instead of trying to change it. Makeup is meant to enhance your features, not mask them or alter them.
To me, the greatest gift one can have is resilience. You discuss this in your book. How has resilience helped you get through life’s struggles?
Resilience, for me, has always been about learning how to pivot when things don’t go as planned. Resilience isn’t about being tough all the time; it’s about saying, “So what, now what?” and figuring it out.
Still Bobbi is available now wherever books are sold. Dallas readers can explore Bobbi Brown’s latest collection at Jones Road Beauty on Knox Street, where the brand’s message of simplicity and authenticity continues to inspire women to feel confident in their own skin.
Interview conducted by Nellie Sciutto, guest contributor for The Dallas Express.
