If you’re like me, putting on any sort of makeup and a clean shirt at the start of a day is a rare, successful moment. I am not one for beauty gurus or the latest fashion trends, although I truly admire any girl who knows what primer is and how to use it.
When my all time favorite Internet comedian, Grace Helbig, released a beauty book, I was a little meh about the idea. I have been watching her since I was 15 years old, and over the course of five years, I have come to love her awkward, nonsensical personality. (She once made a five-minute video about how badly she needed to use the restroom at Target–I have never felt more understood.) The idea of a beauty/ fashion book didn’t seem to fit her character or the audience she has worked so hard to build.
However, I bought the book to give it a try, and intended to be as unbiased as possible. I can say with full confidence that I am so glad I did. Huge content warning right in the introduction, Grace writes about her experiences within the beauty world, and intertwines them with her past eating disorder. It is only a couple pages long, and certainly is not what the whole book is about. Still, she makes it clear that feeling beautiful has become difficult thanks to Hollywood’s impossible standards.
With that opener, Grace is able to do what she does best. She allows herself to make absolute fun of the clothes, makeup, and pressures we put on ourselves as females. The book shines particularly in parts where she shares personal anecdotes, from Limited Too adventures as a child to her present day Red Carpet anxieties. She also gives sincere and realistic makeup and hair advice. She knows you haven’t slept in four days and the bags under your eyes are bigger than the actual bag you carry. For times like these, she says that Maybelline’s Instant Age Rewind Eraser works wonders!
There are sillier parts, such as her taking the position of an actual pair of sweatpants and creating a story about their day. That made me laugh, but it didn’t shine as brightly as some of the more honest parts of her book. Witty parts about the dangers of online shopping will certainly ring a little too true for many.
A refreshing, funny take on the much analyzed beauty world is what separates this book from the millions of other tips, tricks, and styles we are told every day. Overall, Grace successfully provides a comedic take on the beauty industry. Most importantly, she teaches her predominantly college-aged, female audience not to take themselves too seriously and that “sexy” is not mandatory, but can have many different looks.
Watch a few of her videos, see if you like her humor, and definitely consider picking up this book.