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B O B B I B R O W N Beyond the Brand B Y V I C T O R I A K E E N A N W hether you consider yourself a makeup artist or not, chances are you've heard of Bobbi Brown. Known for being the creator of the 'no-makeup, makeup' look, Brown taught women that they are all beautiful, and makeup should be used to enhance their features, rather than cover them up. Aside from being a makeup guru, Brown is also an accomplished author, editor, podcast and radio host, and philanthropist. But after stepping down from her brand this past December, the Chicago-born, Jersey-bred makeup expert has moved forward with her career, starting new ventures including her ninth book, and designing her husband, Steven Plofker's, upcoming hotel in Montclair, NJ. We recently got a chance to sit down with Brown to talk about her latest achievements, and how she's always ready to start and learn something new. After 25 years, you've stepped away from Bobbi Brown Cosmetics. What has the transition been like? How has it prepared you for what you're doing next? It was not an overnight decision. It was awhile in coming, and so when it finally happened, it was first a big sense of relief because all of a sudden, the things you're always worried about just kind of go away. Then, there was the excitement of anything is possible, what's next? And then, you have to deal with everything from missing your team to a little bit of the sadness. But coming out the other end has been a really positive experience because there are so many interesting things on the horizon that I wouldn't have been able to get to if I had the day-to-day responsibilities of my brand. V U E N J . C O M 35 VUE ON LIFESTYLE

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