Bobbi Brown on selling her brand to Estée Lauder
Makeup artist Bobbi Brown discussed the 1995 sale of her namesake brand to Estée Lauder Companies on a podcast, describing it as emotional and stating she
Bobbi Brown has spoken about her decision to sell Bobbi Brown Cosmetics to Estée Lauder Companies in 1995. The makeup artist and founder described the sale as a "very emotional" event during an appearance on The Bossticks Podcast.
Brown told hosts Lauryn and Michael Bosstick that she no longer follows the brand's social media activities. "I do not follow their Instagram or anything, but people send me stuff," she said. When asked why she avoids it, Brown stated, "Just because I do not care, and it is just important for me to move on."
Detaching from the brand
Seeing the brand make decisions she would not have made has helped her detach. Brown explained that observing choices different from her own makes the separation easier. "I think if you see something and you are like, 'all right, I would not do that'," she said. She added that it would have been more difficult if the brand had become exactly what she envisioned without her involvement.
"That would have been worse. That would have been torture," Brown noted. Instead, she finds the situation somewhat comical at times and is clear that it is no longer her brand. Writing her memoir, Still Bobbi, which covered her career journey, was described as a cathartic experience.
A layered career journey
This podcast interview is not the first time Brown has discussed her complex history with the brand. Earlier this year, she claimed on the Aspire with Emma Grede podcast that her final two years at Bobbi Brown Cosmetics left her feeling "miserable." At the time of the 1995 sale, Brown signed a 25-year non-compete agreement, expecting to work under Estée Lauder until retirement.
After her departure from Estée Lauder Companies, Brown launched Evolution 18, a line of beauty and wellness supplements aligned with her health coach certification. She returned to the color cosmetics market in October 2020 with the launch of Jones Road Beauty.
The Jones Road Beauty evolution
The initial Jones Road Beauty lineup focused on clean, high-grade formulations designed for a 'no make-up make-up' look. The brand has since expanded into new categories. It entered the fragrance market in October 2023 with its first scent, The Shower Fragrance. A second scent, named BKLYN and described as "unconventional," launched in September 2025.
More recently, Jones Road Beauty introduced a completely nameless product in January. Cosmetics Business reported the story and noted it had reached out to Estée Lauder Companies for comment.
