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Bobbi Brown Cosmetics: Bobbi Brown Bobbi Brown started out as a makeup artist in New York City, but hated the gaudy color palette of the 1980s. She eventually shook up the industry by introducing "nude makeup" with neutral colors and a natural tone. In 1995, Estée Lauder acquired Bobbi Brown Cosmetics and Bobbi remained there for 22 years, until she realized the brand was no longer the one she had built. PLUS, for our postscript "How You Built That," how Emma Cohen and Miles Pepper saw a problem with plastics and developed a collapsible, reusable drinking straw.
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How I Built This

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Bobbi Brown Cosmetics: Bobbi Brown

How You Built That: Final Straw

Listen · 4:37
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Bobbi Brown created Bobbi Brown Cosmetics because she felt there was a market for neutral color palette.
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Marcus Marritt for NPR
Bobbi Brown created Bobbi Brown Cosmetics because she felt there was a market for neutral color palette.
Marcus Marritt for NPR
How I Built This with Guy Raz

How I Built This with Guy Raz

Bobbi Brown started out as a makeup artist in New York City, but hated the gaudy color palette of the 1980s.

She eventually shook up the industry by introducing "nude makeup" with neutral colors and a natural tone.

In 1995, Estée Lauder acquired Bobbi Brown Cosmetics and Bobbi remained there for 22 years, until she realized the brand was no longer the one she had built.

How You Built That

How Emma Cohen and Miles Pepper saw a problem with plastics and developed a collapsible, reusable drinking straw.

How You Built That: Final Straw

Listen · 4:37
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/647919518/647934563" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Special Series

How I Built This

For all new episodes, go to the How I Built This page on Wondery.com Listen early and ad-free on Wondery+ Listen on Amazon Music