UPFRONT
More than just makeup tutorials
What
Vogue’s Beauty Secrets videos
Who
Various beautiful people
Why watch
For beauty and makeup lovers of varying expertise levels: from total buff to ‘remind me why I need so many brushes for my face?’
Where to find it
Vogue’s YouTube channel
Troye Sivan went from the dorky little kid in the Spud films to one of the internet’s favourite cool young queer musicians in what feels like the blink of an eye (his fans insist that he is an “icon”, he thinks otherwise). Since launching his music career, Sivan has been — as the cool folk would say — serving looks, his bleached hair perfectly coiffed, his makeup impeccable.
So it makes sense that Sivan is the first man to appear in US Vogue’s popular Beauty Secrets videos. His seven-minute guide to his “no makeup-makeup” routine is fun to watch, although his makeup skills are rudimentary at best.
But that’s what makes Vogue’s Beauty Secrets series so interesting: the makeup is only one part of it — what really carries it are the personalities of the celebrities and models featured. Often, the most
fascinating parts will be the comments made in between the makeup or grooming tips.
The videos can be anything from a minute-and-a-half to 11 minutes, and they cover everything from simple or complex makeup routines, to bedtime prep.
The variety in titles and personalities ensures that the videos never feel repetitive. Some vids include: Emily Ratajkowski’s 5Minute Date-Night Look; Rosie Huntington-Whiteley's Guide to Perfect Baby Skin; Kylie Jenner's Guide to Lips, Brows, Confidence; Jorja Smith Gets Ready For Bed; and Chaka Khan’s Diva Makeup Ritual.
The best appearance in the series thus far comes from, drum roll, Rihanna. The singer-turned-beauty mogul has loads of charm and sex appeal. Her epic 11-minute video features her Fenty Beauty products (of course).
It’s also believably selfdeprecating, with Rih making casual references to her “huge” forehead and alleged double chin. While she’s teaching us how to contour (which is basically Photoshop but using makeup), she says: “I learned how to contour when I gained weight, believe it or not. That’s when it comes in real handy. [On] them fat days when your cheeks are looking like baby cheeks, you just gotta like [sucks in cheeks].”
When applying concealer under her eyes: “Everybody knows concealer is made for hiding bags and dark circles and hangovers and... bad decisions.”
While “behind-the-scenes” celeb videos are nothing new, the Beauty Secrets playlist is great because it reminds us normal people that even when celebs look like they just rolled out of bed looking amazing, they actually didn’t. It takes a lot of work to look good, and even more work to look effortless.