Bobbi Brown MasterClass Review: Is it Worth it?

Bobbi Brown MasterClass review synopsis

What you’ll learn: Learn how to apply your makeup like a professional from world-renowned makeup artist Bobbi Brown.

How long does the Bobbi Brown MasterClass take?: The Bobbi Brown MasterClass will take 3 hours and 48 minutes to complete.

Similar courses: Tan France, Marc Jacobs, Anna Wintour, RuPaul, Kelly Wearstler, Annie Leibovitz

Do I recommend Bobbi Brown’s MasterClass? Yes, Bobbi Brown’s MasterClass is fantastic for anyone looking to improve their makeup skills, whether you want to make a career out of it or improve your personal style.

Learn all about professional makeup application with the Bobbi Brown MasterClass.

A review of the Bobbi Brown MasterClass

If you’ve seen a professional at work, you realize that makeup is an art form, and the face is the canvas. That’s why makeup artists are called artists.

Of course, we’re not all going to be professional makeup artists. But what if you want to do your makeup in the morning and have your face glow with natural beauty?

Is that possible? It is, but it takes a lot of know-how, practice, and the right cosmetics and equipment.

One person who has that know-how is Bobbi Brown, one of the most sought-after makeup artists in the world. She brings decades of experience to the Bobbi Brown MasterClass, teaching you how to do your makeup like a true professional.

Bobbi Brown applying makeup
Bobbi Brown applying makeup

But, while Brown is undoubtedly very talented, that doesn’t always mean that a person can teach effectively.

So, will the Bobbi Brown MasterClass teach you how to do your makeup like a pro?

That’s the question we’re going to answer in this Bobbi Brown MasterClass review.

Disclosure: In the interest of full transparency, Codeless uses affiliate links in our MasterClass reviews to cover our site’s costs.

Our Verdict

I wholeheartedly recommend this MasterClass to anyone interested in getting better at makeup. Bobbi Brown is a master at what she does, and she has been highly successful in her field.

Bobbi Brown MasterClass Become a Pro at Makeup

$15 /month
PROS
  • Learn her personal story
  • Helps regular people apply their own makeup, not just aspiring makeup artists
  • Doesn’t shame people or try to tell them they have to change their appearance
  • Breaks down what you’ll learn early on
  • Makes brand recommendations — honest recommendations, not just pushing her brand
  • Chapter for aspiring makeup artists
  • Bonus chapter on business
  • Shows you what you’ll need for each lesson
CONS
  • Lackluster workbook
  • 100% focused on female makeup: no hands-on advice or tips for non-women

A few frequently-asked questions…

Do I need a subscription to access this course?

Yes, you need to be subscribed to one of the three MasterClass plans to take the Bobbi Brown MasterClass. These subscriptions start as low as $15 per month and get you access to 180+ courses MasterClass offers in several categories, ranging from cooking, baking, photography, music, dancing, writing, poker, makeup, and even negotiation.

How long is the MasterClass?

Brown’s MasterClass includes 19 videos totaling 3 hours and 48 minutes in total.

Does MasterClass have a cancellation policy?

All MasterClass memberships have a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Is the Bobbi Brown MasterClass worth it?

Yes, the Bobbi Brown MasterClass is a worthwhile investment for anyone looking to improve their makeup skills. It’s helpful whether you want a career as a makeup artist or you’re just looking to get better at doing your makeup.

Get started on the Bobbi Brown MasterClass now.

About Bobbi Brown

Bobbi Brown is a highly successful makeup artist who started Bobbi Brown Cosmetics.

Bobbi Brown lecturing during her MasterClass
Bobbi Brown lecturing during her MasterClass

Entrepreneur gave her credit for revolutionizing the beauty industry in 1990 when she created ten natural shade lipsticks. She has served as a makeup artist on scores of professional photoshoots and fashion shows. Brown was also a regular beauty contributor to The Today Show on NBC.

She left her own company in 2016 and has since become a health coach. Brown has also authored nine books on beauty and wellness.  

How much does Bobbi Brown’s MasterClass cost?

Bobbi’s MasterClass is included with any of MasterClass’s three subscription tiers.

They are:

Pricing for MasterClass subscriptions

Standard

Cost: $15 per month billed annually

  • Watch classes on one device at a time
  • Device support includes computer, TV, phone, or tablet
  • Includes a workbook and bonus content
  • Access to MasterClass Hub

Plus

Cost: $20 per month billed annually

  • Includes everything from Standard
  • Access classes on two devices at the same time
  • Download videos on an iOS device

Premium

Cost: $23 per month billed annually

  • Includes everything from the Plus Plan
  • Watch classes on six simultaneous devices

Choose a MasterClass subscription and start learning today.

What is included in the Bobbi Brown MasterClass?

Runtime: 3 hours and 48 minutes

Course Value: 4/5

Lessons: 19

Supplementary materials: Workbook and MasterClass Hub

Supplementary workbook

Like all MasterClasses, Bobbi Brown’s beauty MasterClass comes with a workbook to go along with the lessons contained within the class.

Being a workbook set around a beauty and makeup MasterClass, I expected plenty of visuals to explain makeup fundamentals. Unfortunately, most pages are walls of text broken up with a few color palates and headshots of models.

A page from the workbook for the Bobbi Brown MasterClass
A page from the workbook for the Bobbi Brown MasterClass

It’s informative and serves as a worthy companion to the class, but it feels a little lackluster.

The MasterClass Hub

MasterClasses also come with access to community forums called MasterClass Hubs. All classes have them, so Brown’s is no different.

The Hub for Bobbi Brown's MasterClass
The Hub for Bobbi Brown’s MasterClass

Unfortunately, there’s not a lot of activity there. Most of the threads on the board have only one response, so it’s not providing too much value to the community.

A complete breakdown of the Bobbi Brown MasterClass curriculum

Bobbi Brown breaks her MasterClass up into 19 videos. It starts with her backstory and her own passionate personal theories surrounding natural beauty and makeup.

It then moves into practical lessons and hands-on demonstrations, where she applies makeup to models and shows you various techniques.

Finally, she comes back with some advice for aspiring makeup artists and even provides a bonus chapter on running a business.

Curriculum:

  • Bobbi’s Beauty Philosophy
  • The Changing Face of Beauty
  • Color and Makeup
  • Inside Bobbi’s Makeup Kit
  • Foundation
  • Using Tinted Moisturizer
  • Bronzer and Blush
  • Eyes and Brows
  • Creating a Statement Lip
  • Skincare Essentials
  • Workplace Makeup
  • Self-Application: Day to Night
  • The Perfect Smokey Eye
  • 1-Minute Makeup
  • Makeup Mistakes
  • For Aspiring Makeup Artists
  • Editorial Makeup
  • Conclusion
  • Bonus: Bobbi’s Business Philosophy

Course summary:

Bobbi Brown talks about makeup how Van Gogh spoke about painting, and Margaret Atwood talks about the written word.

She really puts the artist in makeup artist, and you can hear her passion in her voice as she speaks throughout her makeup MasterClass. In the opening video, she introduces her background — her origin story. Bobbi’s love of makeup came from her mother and their relationship, and she initially majored in theatrical makeup.

She also lets you know right up front exactly what you’re going to learn in this class.

Everything you'll learn in the Bobbi Brown MasterClass
What you’ll learn in the Bobbi Brown MasterClass

Brown transitions the class into what everyone came for, some hands-on practical walk-throughs of makeup application.

These longer videos in the middle are fantastic because she’s not just teaching you how to be a professional makeup artist. She’s teaching real people how they can do their makeup like a pro.

This fundamental difference is what makes it relevant to most potential course-takers. When I reviewed the Kelly Wearstler MasterClass on interior design, I was disappointed to learn only how to design the mansions of millionaires and billionaires instead of sprucing up the average home.

Bobbi Brown applying eye makeup on a model
Bobbi Brown applying eye makeup on a model

But the tips that Brown offers are spot on. I especially loved the video on “one-minute makeup,” where she shows you how to put your face on when you’re on the go, using just a few simple materials.  

The final chapters focus on tips for aspiring makeup artists. I was delighted to see this because it showed that Brown’s class offers something for everyone, even the more advanced. You get a whole chapter dedicated to editorial makeup, where you see Brown experimenting with different styles on one of her models.

Bobbi Brown applying makeup to a model
Bobbi Brown applying makeup to a model

In the last chapter, she wraps things up by talking about not just what you’ve learned in this course but what teaching this course has taught her. Ron Howard also did this in his MasterClass, which I appreciated.  

But the class didn’t end with the finale. There’s also a bonus chapter on running a business. I was glad to see that someone who built a cosmetics empire wasn’t just using this course as a means to sell Bobbi Brown products. She shares real, actionable insights you can use in your daily life or for your career.

What I learned

Though I took this MasterClass, I don’t wear much makeup in my everyday life. But I have a theater background, and I’m a professional wrestler, both areas where makeup is important, so I did get a lot out of this class.

Below, I’ll outline my top takeaways from Bobbi Brown’s MasterClass:

11 takeaways from this MasterClass

1. Beauty is subjective:

Attractiveness or beauty differs in the minds of every person. What one person might find gorgeous, another might find ugly.

2. Bobbi Brown’s philosophy:

Bobbi Brown says that beauty is what you like to look at — it’s what makes you feel good. She also says that she finds beauty in the face of someone who looks nice, happy, and authentic. Authenticity makes people look beautiful.

3. Makeup can help you be the best version of yourself:

The right makeup and technique can help people create a better version of themselves — something that they connect with and feel good about. That can give them the confidence needed to overcome their insecurities and reach for their goals.

4. Makeup shouldn’t be a mask:

Makeup shouldn’t change the way that you look. For example, you don’t wear foundation to change the color of your skin. Instead, makeup should enhance your authentic self.

5. Technique is what’s important:

Your hair color, eye color, and complexion are not what’s important. What matters is the technique you use when doing your makeup.

6. You can see how beauty evolves by looking at the “It Girl” of the time:

It Girls are trendsetters who people aspire to emulate in some way. They usually do everything from magazines to advertising and fashion shows. Reality shows, Kim Kardashian, and YouTube changed everything and made It Girls more tangible and accessible.

7. Color is everything in makeup:

Color can make a statement, bring out your eyes, and show off your personal style without compromising authenticity.

8. We all have natural undertones:

This statement is true for both women and men of different skin tones. Some undertones are yellow, pink, and even orange. We have to match makeup (specifically, foundation) with those personal undertones to create effective makeup.

9. The best time to determine what colors you need is when you have no makeup on:

Observe yourself in your natural state to see what your authentic coloring is. You can then match makeup to that coloring in order to blend more naturally.

10, Nude makeup is makeup that matches your natural skin:

Bobbi is known for nude makeup, but she points out that this isn’t necessarily beige, washed out, or monochromatic. Nude makeup is when the foundation matches the color of your skin, the blush is the color of your cheek, your lipstick is the color of your lips, your eye shadow is the color of your eyelids, etc. It’s makeup that doesn’t look like you’re wearing makeup.

11. Textures affect colors

For example, if you think that bright lipstick doesn’t look good on you, you should try a different texture. Switch to the same color, but sheer, gloss, red gloss, or plum gloss. Play around with the textures until you find something that works. Matte is the most unforgiving application.

See what you pick up in the Bobbi Brown MasterClass.

Memorable quotes from this MasterClass

“I think makeup is an individual way of making yourself feel better about how you look.”

– Bobbi’s Beauty Philosophy

“I always like choosing colors for women that really mimic the natural things I see in their skin.”

– Color and Makeup

“The no-makeup makeup is my favorite kind of makeup.”

 – Color and Makeup

“It’s important to know how to push yourself, how to try things, and know when to say, ‘OK, I’ve gone too far, let me take it off.’”

 – Editorial Makeup

“Know that anything is possible. You have to work hard, and you have to just keep at it. And just realize, you have to be nice to people.”

– Conclusion

Bobbi Brown MasterClass pros and cons

Before you decide if Bobbi Brown’s MasterClass is worth nearly four hours of your life, let’s examine some pros and cons of the course.

Pros

There are a lot of benefits to this very hands-on class. Below are my personal top eight pros of the Bobbi Brown MasterClass:

  • Learn her personal story
  • Helps regular people apply their own makeup, not just aspiring makeup artists
  • Doesn’t shame people or try to tell them they have to change their appearance
  • Breaks down what you’ll learn early on
  • Makes brand recommendations — honest recommendations, not just pushing her brand
  • Chapter for aspiring makeup artists
  • Bonus chapter on business
  • Shows you what you’ll need for each lesson

A list of what you'll need for a lesson in the Bobbi Brown MasterClass
What you’ll need for a lesson in the Bobbi Brown MasterClass

Cons

That’s not to say that everything was rosy goodness. There were a few parts of the course that I found lacking.

Here are some cons to consider about the Bobbi Brown MasterClass:

  • Lackluster workbook
  • 100% focused on female makeup: no hands-on advice or tips for non-women

Do I recommend this MasterClass?

I wholeheartedly recommend this MasterClass to anyone interested in getting better at makeup. Bobbi Brown is a master at what she does, and she has been highly successful in her field.

Who better to learn from than someone who has been to the top of the mountain and reshaped it forever?

Start your membership today to grab this unique chance and learn style, interior design, and makeup from the absolute stars of the industry.

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