

Beauty Secrets We Learned From Nam Vo

The makeup artist known for creating radiant skin is a collaborator with Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Marc Jacobs Beauty



Nam Vo's glow has become her best-known work. With reflective cheekbones and all-around radiant skin, the makeup artist's signature look has become a social media sensation. Vo's following of "dewy dumplings" can't get enough of her glow porn and glowjobs, in which she swipes incredibly luminous highlighter on herself or a model. According to Vo, "Being a dumpling means that you're dewy, plump, moist, and delicious just like a dumpling," and who doesn't want that? Celebrities like Chrissy Teigen and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, who collaborated with Vo for her beauty site Rose Inc., have proclaimed themselves dumplings, too.

Vo got her start as a makeup artist at a New York strip club, eventually making the transition to editorial work. Now, she's experiencing the shifts of social media and its effect on her career. "It's interesting because I used to do makeup on the talent and lately I've become the talent," Vo tells CR. "Now I book more front of camera work than I do doing makeup on other people. Who knew the industry would change that much?" Of course, her mesmerizing makeup and playful presence add to the appeal.

Here, Vo shares her thoughts on social media, favorite products, and how she gets her glow on.

How has you relationship with social media changed throughout your career?
"Two years ago, I didn't know how to use Instagram. Back in the day, it was just me and my boyfriend on vacation, us eating cupcakes–I just didn't understand it. But I remember a pivotal point in my career: Instagram was happening and I was up for a cosmetic advertising job. My agent called me and said, 'Honey, I looked at the mood board and everything is glowy and eight out of the 10 photos on this board is of your work.' So I thought I had the job, but then he called and said they chose someone else because they had over 100,000 Instagram followers. That's when I had a coming to Jesus moment and was like, 'Oh shit, talent is not enough. Now I have to have a following.'

It's been a really fruitful last couple of years, but I always tell people that the best thing you can do in social media is to have content. It's really interesting for me because I do a lot of campaign shoots, but that's not what people connect with. As soon as I'm swiping some makeup on myself or on a model behind the scenes and the background is dirty with people sitting around eating chips, people really connect. That's what I've really learned. You don't need Steven Meisel and 20 producers. Honestly, my highest performing work is on my iPhone unedited. I think that social media cuts both ways because it's not enough to just be a great makeup artist, you have to know how to showcase yourself and how to speak to your audience and connect, because a bunch of pretty pictures isn't going to be enough. Social media is a wonderful place. I say inappropriate things like 'glowjobs,' 'glow-gasms,' this and that, and you know what, no one's ever dropped me. Also, it's beauty–have a sense of humor about it. Don't follow me if you're uptight and find glowjob offensive."

How has your approach to makeup evolved?
"For me, I've always stayed consistent. I like skin, I like the glow, and I don't really veer off from that. Trends come and go, but beautiful skin is forever. I'm a very skin-focused makeup artist, so two and a half years ago I had one highlighter video go viral and then the dewy dumpling thing happened.I like to do makeup in a three-dimensional way. Every face is not one color, and I always like to do makeup as if there's a spotlight shining through. Skin will always be the focus, but I go through little phases and I do fun glittery eyes or something a little smokey and then a little lip. But the one consistent thing is that the skin always glowing and pretty. I have yet to book a matte foundation campaign."

"I like skin, I like the glow, and I don't really veer off from that. Trends come and go, but beautiful skin is forever."–Nam Vo


Do you have a favorite look you've done recently?
"It's one using the Marc Jacobs See-quins [Glam Glitter Liquid] Eyeshadow in Moonstoned. I love it because it's a bold brow, beautiful skin, and you see there's something magical and fairy-like about it. She's kind of like a sexy fairy. Even though it's sparkle, shimmer, and shine, there's something simple about it. You're pulling some of the colors from the eye and on the lip, so this is one of my favorite latest looks."

What are your favorite products at the moment?
"I love Marc Jacobs coconut Dew Drops and the Marc Jacobs highlighters. They also make a liquid in the Dew Drops family called Tantalize. I like to use it as an overall bronzer. I love the Tatcha dewy mist, and also Beautyblender. There's not one single face that I touch that I don't use Beautyblender. "


What's your daily skincare routine?
"First of all, I'm literally the most high maintenance person when it comes to my skin. You know how men will have a fancy sports car and polish it up and take it out–for me it's my skin. If I have a photoshoot or am going somewhere I will prep my skin. I polish it up like a diamond and will start swiping highlighter in its best shape. I think it's a cultural thing, too. I have a Vietnamese mother and since I was a child, she used to make me wear sunblock. I was made fun of so much when I was little, because right before I got off the bus stop I would slather sunscreen on, then I would have to walk home with an umbrella. It was like a 15 to 20 minute walk and sometimes my mom would cruise by in her car and if I didn't have the umbrella she would start yelling at me in the streets. But now I'm so thankful! I wear sunblock every day. I have a seven step skincare regimen–double cleansing, toning, serum, moisturizer, eye cream, and an oil. I'm also a big, big, big facial whore. I get radio frequency and microneedling done consistently. I'm really big on facials and facial massages and tools and staying the fuck out of the sun."

What about daily makeup?
"I'm lazy. Unfortunately, being Asian I only have like four eyebrow hairs and four eyelashes. I usually use concealer and a little cream blush when I'm feeling fancy. The funny thing is, I don't even wear a lot of highlighter. On special occasions I do, but I'm really simple. I like my skin to breathe. I try not to wear foundation when I'm not working or shooting glow porn."

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