When it comes to makeup, we trust every tip and product recommendation that comes out of Bobbi Brown‘s mouth. As a makeup artist for more than 40 years and the mastermind behind two best-selling brands, she knows her stuff. When she launched Jones Road four years ago, her Miracle Balm was an instant hit, and now there are more than 50 products in the line (and dozens of gorgeous shades). Here, Brown shares some of her favorite Jones Road products right now, and the personal stories behind them.
Pinky Bronze Miracle Balm
“Pinky Bronze was a color I first made when I left my old brand and needed something to give to the kids on Halloween. I found this little chemist at a show and he made me this color in a very teeny lip product. I called it Batch 18 because I couldn’t think of anything else. It didn’t take me 18 tries to get it; 18 is just our address. It was very popular and all the moms in town kept asking where to get it. So, it became the inspiration for Pinky Bronze. It’s kind of like a color onto itself. It just works on all skin tones, and it’s so easy. It was our second biggest launch of Miracle Balm shades in the history of the brand—only Blushed beat it.
It’s a corrector, it’s a highlighter, you can use it on your body. It’s just been one of those products that I made and fell in love with. And other people love it too. Now we have 13 shades of Miracle Balm, but I don’t like the number 13, so I have to think of a fourteenth. I actually kind of know what it’s going to be, but I haven’t talked about it with my team yet.”
The Lippie Stick in “Me”
“This is my favorite lip shade called ‘Me.’ I love this color because on some people it kind of goes away and looks super natural. On me it gives a little bit of a browny-bluey stain. It’s almost kind of blue-based or heathery-based, which I really love.”
The Mascara
“I always say that this is not only the best clean mascara, but I think it’s also the best mascara I’ve ever tried. I like to literally put three or four coats on when I go to a party and just really layer it up. What I love about the brush is that it’s curved, so it really helps curl the lashes. And, you can use the end of the wand to get the little lashes on the outside and inner corner, so it looks like you’ve done individual lashes. And here’s a tip: If you ever want to do mascara on your bottom lashes, don’t stick the wand back in. Just use whatever is left on the brush because you don’t want too much underneath.”
The Eye Cream
“To me, our Eye Cream is the best formula for any type of concealer or pencil under the eyes because it’s light and hydrating,” says Brown. “It absorbs really nicely and your makeup won’t smear.”
The Lip and Cheek Palette
This limited-edition palette contains a highlighter and two blush shades (the same formula as the Lip and Cheek Sticks). “They’re basically a creamy blush or ‘rouge,’ as my grandmother used to say, that you can put on your cheeks or lips,” Brown says. “It reminds me of when I was a little kid and nana used to put her lipstick on her cheeks, which I thought was so interesting.
But, we are also bringing out a new formula here: The Illuminator. This is a finely milled shimmer and a little iridescent highlight. It’s less balmy than the Miracle Balm and not as oily as the Shimmer Face Oil. The truth about this formula is that we’ve been developing it since the beginning of time at Jones Road. Every time we talk about whether we’re going to bring it into the line, we say, ‘I don’t know. Maybe it’s stepping on Miracle Balm; maybe it’s stepping on the other. Every time we think, ‘OK, let’s not do it,’ but I keep putting it on my face and saying, ‘Guys, we have to do it. We have to do it.’ This is really a way to bring it out and test it to see if customers think we need it. I think and I hope these are going to be well-loved.
It feels great and it comes in two colors. There’s Golden Pink, which is basically a warm champagne, and Golden Bronze, which a warm bronze color. On the days when I run into the office and I feel like I’ve been run over by a truck and I don’t want to wear makeup, I put this on my face before moisturizer or anything, and I think, ‘My god, I don’t look so bad.’ I don’t use it over things, but you can. It’s a pretty versatile formula. I love it on my skin.”
