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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Maryland chapter.

ARTICLE BY Ava lystad

One of my favorite time killers, while I was living at home, was watching my mom put on makeup. Once she was done I would go into her bathroom and try all the products she used. I spent hours applying and reapplying concealer and eyeliner until I had it perfect. 

This obsession with my mother’s beauty routine never ceased when I got older and ached for a similar outlet once I moved out. Then I discovered the next best thing to feed my craze: Vogue Beauty Secrets. 

Starting in 2018, the tutorials produced by Vogue illustrate the everyday beauty routine of artists, actors, models and influencers. The raw videos allow viewers like me to learn not only hacks to make skincare and makeup routines more efficient but also about the celebrities who influence today’s society.

Rather than being filmed in a big studio with a camera crew, the videos are filmed in the bathroom of the subject’s home or hotel room to accommodate their busy schedules. This Facetime-like aspect has me mesmerized by what they are doing, just like how 8-year-old me was in my mom’s bathroom. The glitz and glamor of their lives disappear in a good way, and I’m reminded by how human these celebrities are. 

Stars like Jennifer Lopez, Ricky Martin, Olivia Rodrigo and mother-daughter duo Kate and Lila Moss have participated in this personal aspect of the tutorial, allowing viewers to see what a typical morning looks like and how they use their alone time to devote to their inner and outer selves. By hearing them talk about practicing gratitude, meditation and other forms of self-care, they illuminate to viewers that no matter the fame or wealth one can achieve, your relationship with yourself is the most important and vital way to achieve happiness.

After I binged “The White Lotus,” I watched actress Haley Lu Richardson talk about the time her ballet teacher reminded her of the importance of complimenting yourself in the mirror when you start to spiral into comparison. As an ex-dancer myself, Haley’s advice hit close to home. We all are still learning ways to fight that urge to compare ourselves to the next person, and when Richardson opened up about fighting that battle as well, she reminded us that she is still human and thus has the same tendencies as we do.

Learning to love my insecurities has not been the simplest task, and coming to college didn’t make that any easier. I remember watching Bridgerton actress Charithra Chandran explain her journey of learning to love her under-eye circles after a photo shoot she did without a single drop of makeup. Following that, I listened to singer Maggie Rogers discuss her freckles, and how she went from being frustrated with them to learning how to enhance them through her makeup looks. I often forget that I can change the narrative when it comes to how I view myself, and seeing two women do just that inspires me, and I wish I could thank them for that. 

All of the stars who have filmed Beauty Secrets videos acknowledge the fact that despite what accolades they have or labels they’ve been given, they still have to confront the different struggles that come with adolescence, aging and being in the spotlight.

When I binge these 10-15 minute videos, I find my mood boosted. Regardless of the person behind the tutorial, I relate to something in each one. I never thought I would relate to someone like Hailey Bieber or Kerry Washington, but here I am, understanding the journey of self-discovery they have been and still are going through. 

I feel seen by these tutorials, not because I have the same products or routine, but because I also have a fascination with learning to enhance my outer and inner beauty. The secrets they share are special, and if I have to spend hours watching something to destress (or because I’m procrastinating), I am glad it is this.