My Dear Friend, Brooke

A Woman You Should Know

I've known Brooke Shields since she was 12 years old. The first time I worked with her was for a magazine story about her and her friends when she was in middle school. I was a young, up-and-coming makeup artist, thrilled to have the opportunity to work with this beautiful girl—someone who had already been in Calvin Klein ads and a few other big campaigns. I don't remember whether her movies came before or after that, but I definitely knew who Brooke Shields was.

When I arrived at the job, I met a very different Brooke Shields than I had imagined. She was just a kid—giggling with her friends, whispering, and being completely normal. She wasn’t "Brooke Shields, the movie star." She was simply Brooke Shields, the kid. It was refreshing, wonderful, and honestly, such a joy to be around her. I remember her telling her friends how beautiful they looked after having their hair and makeup done—and she meant it.

Fast-forward to another shoot I did with Brooke, this time with photographer Antoine Verglas. It was a major fashion shoot, though I don’t remember exactly what the story was. What I do remember is that even though I hadn’t seen Brooke in a while, it felt like no time had passed. She was as kind and warm as ever. And honestly, the photographer, the hairstylist, the stylist, and I were all in awe of how stunning she looked—the way the clothes, the lighting, and my natural makeup all came together was just magical.

But what really sticks out from that shoot? When we broke for lunch, I remember sitting around a table in the studio’s kitchen, just talking and catching up. When we were done, the first person to stand up and start clearing plates was Brooke. I had never seen a model—let alone a celebrity—do that.

Over the years, I’ve watched Brooke evolve through so many phases of her life—modeling, acting, having kids, being in magazines, on TV, in movies, on Broadway. And through it all, she has never changed—she has always remained herself.

A few years ago, I ran into Brooke at the U.S. Open. Again, it was as if no time had passed. We exchanged cell numbers and kept in touch. She told me how much her daughters loved Jones Road, so I asked if they’d want to model for us. And they did. In fact, they were our models when we launched an eyebrow product—how perfect is that? It was such a full-circle moment, talking about Brooke’s iconic eyebrows while her daughters, who had inherited them, were right there on set. Not surprisingly, both girls were gorgeous, smart, and incredibly down-to-earth—something you don’t always see with celebrity children. That speaks volumes.

Fast-forward again to me sitting on my couch with my kids, watching the Brooke Shields documentary. It was so well done, and I was in awe, watching Brooke just be Brooke. That’s the only way I can explain it—Brooke is just Brooke.

Recently, I asked Brooke to be in my YouTube series, I Am Me, to talk about realness, confidence, money, beauty—all of it. I also asked her to bring products from her hair care company, Commence, which are truly incredible. They smell amazing, make your hair feel clean and nourished, and are beautifully luxurious. One thing I especially love? The packaging. When I’m in the shower and can’t see much without my glasses, I can easily tell which bottle is the conditioner and which is the shampoo. I love when someone thinks about the little things like that.

Watch Brooke’s Episode of I Am Me HERE.

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Commence Must Try’s

1. 2-in-1 Instant Shampoo

   1. The dry shampoo that actually makes my hair feel clean. I usually can’t go more than a day without a hair refresh, but this stuff is like magic in a bottle.

2. Detoxifying Shampoo

   1. I love this shampoo because it gives your hair a deep clean without making it feel dry or stripped. It removes all the gunk and keeps your hair feeling light.

3. Probiotic Smoothing Conditioner

   1. Super hydrating but not heavy. It’s hard to find a conditioner that can make your hair soft without making it a total grease ball. It’s like a reset button for my hair when it’s feeling a little blah.

4. Root Serum

   1. This will be a total game changer. It helps thicken your hair and keep it healthy. A little goes a long way, so it will last a while as well. You can’t go wrong.