Hello lovelies!
Some months ago, I wrote an article featuring a complete makeup tutorial for beginners. Well, I must say that it was entirely inspired by a book that I’m reviewing today.
Indeed, the Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual is a classic for every person interested in makeup. And this applies to people who want to make a trade from it, or are just passionate about it. But is it worth it?
Personally, I’ve been introduced to this book by reading a blog about elegance. Unfortunately, the website doesn’t exist anymore. The blogger relied on this book to craft elegant make-up for herself. And I decided to take it for myself, though I’m black and the blogger was Asian. And I was positively surprised!
But without further ado, here is my Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual review!
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Who is Bobbi Brown?
Bobbi Brown is an American professional make-up artist who founded Bobbi Brown Cosmetics in 1991. Also, she was a major innovator in the beauty industry when she created ten natural shades of lipsticks. Therefore, every woman could have her nude shade of lipstick, whatever her skin color.
Later, she sold Bobbi Brown Cosmetics to Estee Lauder Companies Inc in 1995. However, she retained the creative control of the company. She retired from her position in her company in 2016.
Since then, she became a certified health coach. She also launched other wellness-inspired beauty products. Moreover, she became a widely acclaimed author in the world of beauty and wellness. Indeed, she authored at least nine books, and among them we have the book I’m reviewing today.
On a more personal note, she is married and is the mother of three children. You can tell she’s been very busy!
What will you find in Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual?
The Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual is divided into two main parts: the makeup basics and the professional makeup. Indeed, Bobbi Brown wanted to address two different types of audience. So, the issues she tackles are really different according to that, but it’s still very interesting!
Part 1: The makeup basics
This first part is the longest, and includes 8 chapters.
Chapter 1: Foreword
In this chapter, Bobbi Brown explains why she wrote this book, and which audience she’s targeting.
Chapter 2: Tools
Bobbi Brown introduces the tools you’ll need to apply your make-up properly. For instance, she explains how you can create your own make-up kits. Also, she tells where you can buy your make-up tools, and how you can maintain and keep them.
Chapter 3: Skin
Proper make-up starts with radiant skin! In this chapter, Bobbi Brown goes deeper in your skincare. For example, she gives some healthy living advice, as they are beneficial to have a beautiful skin. Moreover, she gives indications about the best skincare products according to your skin type.
Chapter 4: Face
Do you want to know how you can have flawless skin while applying make-up? Then, you’ll be served in this chapter! Indeed, Bobbi Brown explains how to prepare your skin properly. Also, she also address how to apply the following products on your face:
- concealer
- foundation
- powder
- blush
- bronzers
Moreover, in a diverse perspective, Bobbi Brown explains how to address many make-up issues according to your skin tone. According to our ethnic background, we all have different issues to work on our complexion. Consequently, Bobbi Brown tells you how to get a dewy complexion, despite having irregularities and blemishes.
Chapter 5: Lips
In this chapter, Bobbi Brown introduces the different lipstick colors adapted to each natural lip color. Also, she teaches how to apply lipstick and gloss properly.
Chapter 6: Eyes
In this very interesting chapter, Bobbi Brown addresses several issues related to eye make-up, such as the definition of eyebrows. Also, she shows how to apply eyeshadows, eye-liners, and mascara.
Chapter 7: Apply a perfect make-up in 10 steps
In this chapter, Bobbi Brown shows a set-by-step tutorial to apply your make-up. If you’re a fan of natural make-up applied with good taste, this chapter is for you!
Chapter 8: Special make-up
Bobbi Brown shows some make-up specificities, such as:
- diverse beauty (how to apply make-up depending on your skin tone: Black, Red-haired, white, Asian, Middle-Eastern, Latina)
- bridal make-up
- special occasions (e.g. special events, galas…)
- teenage make-up (spoiler: only natural make-up is allowed)
- make-up advice for mature women
- pregnant women can also wear make-up!
- how to apply make-up to cope with bad days (e.g. not enough sleep, visible pimples…)
Part 2: Professional make-up
After presenting the make-up basics, Bobbi Brown tackles the professional world. Indeed, this part is dedicated to those who want to explore their creative side. Therefore, if you want to become professional make-up artists, you’ll receive tons of advice here. However, this part is shorter than the first part and only includes 4 chapters.
Chapter 9: Professional make-up
Bobbi Brown gives you all the tips you need to become a professional make-up artist. In particular, she present the trade and how to start in this business. Moreover, she provides useful advice to succeed, to promote your work, and to have long-lasting clients.
Chapter 10: Essential toolkit for professional make-up artists
In this chapter, Bobbi Brown gives advice on the ideal toolkit for professional make-up artists. Spoiler: your toolkit is a little bit extended…but it’s normal, you’re a professional!
Chapter 11: Advanced make-up techniques
Bobbi Brown introduces different types of make-up, according to the work you’ll do. Indeed, she presents how to apply make-up on your clients if they work for:
- photography (models)
- magazines (models)
- TV and cinema (actors, TV anchors)
- runway (models)
- celebrities (special occasions like the Academy Awards, for instance)
Chapter 12: History of make-up and its legends
In this final chapter, Bobbi Brown tells the whole history of make-up from the Ancient Times to the current times. Moreover, she introduces some make-up legends who contributed to the advancement of make-up techniques we know today.
For instance, she talks about Max Factor, Mary Kay Ash, or Laura Mercier. However, there are so many make-up legends that I won’t name them all. You’ll have to buy the book!
Pros and cons of the Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual
Pros
- Insists on skincare and healthy living
- Promotes natural and tasteful make-up for all women, whatever their age
- Extensive step-by-step tutorials for day and night make-up
- Adapted to women of diverse ethnic backgrounds: Caucasian, Black, Latinas, Middle Eastern women…
- Special make-up advice you can just “copy and paste” on your own face
- Excellent mentoring for future professional make-up artists
- Great deal of pictures as examples of professional make-up, with comments on potential mistakes
- Extensive history of make-up and the biographies of different make-up legends
Cons
It’s not a real con, but I need to address it. Indeed, while I was reading this book, I had the feeling that I was reading two books in one. For instance, there’s one book for make-up newbies who want to know how to apply make-up. On the other hand, there’s a book dedicated to future and current make-up artists.
Therefore, it can create a dichotomy between those who aren’t interested in professional make-up. And you’ll have those who already know how to apply make-up and who’ll find the first part completely uninteresting.
But I guess that it’s the result of the fact that she wanted to address to a rather large audience in her book. It’s both a quality and shortcoming to me. In my opinion, the book’s efforts are commendable but she should have written two books. But that’s just my opinion…
My personal Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual Review: 10/10
Personally, I’ve always admired Bobbi Brown’s body of work. Indeed, I like the fact that she has always advocated natural make-up for every woman. These days, women are wearing tons of make-up and I find it absolutely awful.
This book highlights the fact that make-up is here to enhance a woman’s beauty and natural features. Also, it shows you how to succeed as a professional make-up artist and how to make money with your passion.
In a few words, my Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual review is an entirely positive one. Indeed, I believe that every woman must have this book and practice the advice she provides.
Remember, you won’t be skilled in applying make-up in one night. Indeed, practice makes perfect! And Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual is a useful tool that you must use, or pass around to your sisters, your daughters, your nieces, or your cousins.
We should make elegant and tasteful make-up great again!
Where can you buy the Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual?
You can buy this wonderful book in every bookstore, but it’s also available on Amazon:
Well, that’s it for today! What do you think of my Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual review? Have you read the book? Feel free to share your point of view in the comments below!
Take care!
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The admin’s review of Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual commends its comprehensive content and inclusivity for both trade-oriented individuals and makeup enthusiasts. It highlights Bobbi Brown’s impact on the beauty industry, particularly in creating diverse lipstick shades. The review provides a detailed overview of the book’s chapters, praising its informative and must-have nature for makeup aficionados.
Thanks for your comment!
I have always enjoyed using the Bobbi Brown makeup range, but I was surprised to read that Bobbi Brown is actually a woman. I always thought the makeup brand was named after a man. I particularly love the natural shades of lipsticks the range has.
This book looks awesome for anyone wanting to learn to apply makeup properly and get ideas, but you say it is mainly for people who want to do makeup professionally? Great review covering all the aspects of what the book contains, and it makes me want to read it more even though its just for fun and information. Do they discuss makeup for all ages?
Hello, yes it Diskusses Make-up for all ages ! It’s definitely a book you need in your bookshelf !
This is a comprehensive review of the Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual. It provides a clear overview of the book’s contents, which include makeup basics and professional makeup techniques.
Question:
What did you find most valuable in the book, and did you feel it catered to both makeup beginners and aspiring professional makeup artists effectively, or did it lean more towards one audience?
Hello thanks for your question? What I found more valuable were the tutorials. And the book caters to both audiences
Thank you for this very thorough, engaging review. Being very must into natural healthcare myself, I found it refreshing that Bobbi Brown works from this stance as well. I generally do not use much make up as I like to keep it simple, but based on your review I think this manual would be a great addition to my literature. I had no idea she had developed that many neutral shades of lipstick! Can you let me know if she has a varied price range for her tool suggestions? I need to revamp mine, I am hoping to start with the basics though. Overall, I love your site and its content. The fact that you start from a place of overall wellbeing, not just external beauty will bring me coming back to your site often.
Thanks for your comment and I’ll be very happy to welcome you back on my website ! Yes you have several tools at different prices in the resources section at the end of the book
Skincare is vital for men and women.
Skin is the largest organ of the body.
The current word runs by how you look, and the volume of money spent in the skin care industry is eye-catching.
The book is well worth the knowledge you need to build up from a well-known and caring high-up professional, Bobbie Brown.
I haven’t used her brand of makeup. However,. It is well worth the price; my daughter has used a few. Per her, they are high quality and pricey. It is well worth the price for her brand.
You ensure you are not getting into skin disease or any skin disorder using them. The eyes, eyelashes, and lips are intimate with the skin. The makeup can easily penetrate.
Thanks for your comment !
Your review of the Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual is fantastic! I appreciate your detailed breakdown of its contents and the practical tips you highlighted. It’s great to hear that it caters to a wide range of expertise levels. Have you noticed any specific techniques or advice from the book that have significantly improved your own makeup application?
I couldn’t agree more with your assessment of the importance of skincare in makeup application. Bobbi Brown’s emphasis on a natural look and enhancing one’s features is refreshing. It’s a philosophy I resonate with as well. How have you incorporated this approach into your own makeup routine? Your insights are sure to be enlightening for fellow makeup enthusiasts. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this manual!
Yes, I really love Bobbi Brown’s makeup philosophy! And I introduced some of her techniques, especially her everyday makeup!
Very well done for the ladies! Lots of glitter and gold. Keep up the good work!
Thanks!
I enjoyed looking at all the glitter and gold on your site. It must be a winner for the ladies!
The site is well-styled and a joy to behold!
While I am an 85-year-old gentleman, I am not up to snuff on the modern ways of doing things!
What more can I say?
Thanks!
I totally agree with you that women are wearing far too much makeup today! It seems that everyone’s goal is to look like the same plastic copy of each other and it’s sad. I think Bobbi Brown has the right idea. She sounds like a great role model!
Makeup can be fun and there’s nothing wrong with even going over the top sometimes! But I think it’s much classier to just enhance your own natural beauty rather than caking it on and trying to become the carbon copy of Kim Kardashian.
Dear Nicole, thanks for your comment ! We’re on the same page…
Hey thank you for this review!
I really appreciate you for taking your time to devise such a cool review! I like how you also included some background information about the makeup artist, it gives it a much more personal view and allows the buyer to feel connected when selecting a product.
Bobbi Brown is a really great as not to mention a popular brand of beauty products!
Thank you for your honesty and have a great day!
You’re welcome Sara! Have a great day too!
Thank you for this review. I have used Bobbi Brown makeup and have a few of her makeup brushes. I like the fact that the book has advice for mature women and for teens because both my daughter and I could use this. My daughter has her prom next year so I think this book will be very helpful. I think I’ll start my christmas shopping early!
Thanks Elaine !
Fantastic review. I’ve been contemplating picking up this book for a while, and after reading your thorough breakdown, I’m sold! It’s good to know that it caters to various skill levels, although I can see how this might create a split in interest. Do you have any favourite section or chapter that stood out the most to you?
Yes! My favorite Chapters Are the tutorial and the history of makeup
Hello! Since I love make-up and experimenting with different techniques and looks, I really enjoyed discovering this Bobby Brown makeup manual review. It seems to be an excellent manual both for beginners and professional make-up artists. I am in between… so that would really be a great book to treat myself with! I also really appreciate the fact that it is adapted to women of diverse ethnic backgrounds and that it insists on skincare and healthy living as well.
Thanks for sharing !
Hi! I just read your post and I think you did well putting the content together – it shows your passion about the subject and knowledge of the book. For flow, I would recommend the ‘pros & cons’ to be near the start of the review instead of the bottom, perhaps right below your introduction – to entice your reader into reading further. Other than that, I thought the ad placement was a bit aggressive (both left and right side bars, the bottom bar as well as the inter-content banners). Is that something that you can control or did the provider force all that placement? I was able to hide the bars which was helpful but the first impression was a feeling of redundancy, since they were all exactly the same ad.
All in all, I learned that there’s more than one person whose name sounds like Bobby Brown the musician, and she offers great advice for novices and experts alike. It’s clear that you have chosen a niche that aligns with your interests – Congratulations on your site!
JakeZachary
Hello, thanks for your review! Unfortunately, I don’t choose the ad placement so sorry if you found it a bit aggressive…