Hailey Bieber and Her Honey Glazed Lips are Dividing the Country
Before we embark on this mini tangent, I am in no way discrediting Hailey Bieber’s extensive influence on the beauty and fashion community. If you have a TikTok account and haven’t witnessed the uproar over a nail or outfit pic she creates, you’d definitely be given a crazy side-eye. It’s almost as if every week, Mrs. One Less Lonely Girl flexes the impact of her trendsetting abilities through how quickly she sways the masses by simply existing. So while recognizing her power on social media, it’s important to note that sometimes being trendy can be harmful. Especially if these “trends” involve taking credit for ideas that come from a person’s culture or those without celebrity status.
@HAILEYBIEBER / INSTAGRAM
Earlier this month, Hailey Bieber posted a tutorial for her favorite fall lip routine, referring to it as “brownie/honey glazed lips.” The technique was an easy step-by-step process: Bieber lines her lips with a brown pencil, gently blending it with her fingertips, and finishes by topping it off with a clear gloss from her own skincare line. As usual, her video went viral on TikTok while stirring up many BIPOC with mixed emotions.
While for many this brownie/honey glazed lip is a new fall craze, those in the Black and Brown community have worn this look for generations. Brown lip liner has always been used by BIPOC women, as it is the only color deep enough to show on their skin tones prominently. It has been especially accustomed to the Chola sub-culture by first and second Mexican Americans for decades.
I’m not saying to gatekeep this look from others. Hailey Bieber and white women are allowed to participate in this look. In fact, the 90s aesthetic has been making a comeback for quite some time; history repeats itself constantly. The issue arrives when the repackaging and discovery of this look by Hailey Bieber and her fans overshadows the historical background of a style that was popularized by Black and Latina women.
As a matter of fact, this 90s style was created as a result of scarcity in products that fit warmer/darker complexions for minority women. Not to mention the struggle POC women had to find makeup brands that had a wider range of face products. Many faced this lipliner look as the only solution to that well-known ashy beige color that had been named a “universal nude.” But this did not suit BIPOC girls at all. I remember my mom telling me that brown liner with gloss was the only look she ever used in her twenties. People don’t recognize the isolation many felt for so long when they were shorted on products. So as per usual, it was up to them to create their own results.
This look is even rooted back to how Black/Brown people were seen as an anti-hero beauty standard in the majority of White media. Examples like Gaby Union in “Bring it On” or Bianca Lawson in “Save the Last Dance” heavily contrast how it was portrayed as the ultimate aesthetic in BIPOC Media. Stars like Aaliyah, Nia Long, and Jennifer Lopez rocked this look, making it a top beauty standard for the girls.
There’s nothing wrong with admiring the beauty or art of another culture. These aspects are meant to catch our eye but also need to be respected. When white celebrities and popular figures reclaim a style that has a substantial connection to marginalized people, that is when factors like appropriation get thrown into situations. Because people will fail to address inspiration from someone’s livelihood actively. For you, it could be just makeup, a hairstyle, or a piece of clothing, but for others, it could be an important piece of history sacred to their family and culture. I doubt Hailey Bieber had any intentions of culture-napping, but this is why it’s important for predominant white celebrities/figures to be mindful of their privilege and pay homage when finding inspiration in other ethnic backgrounds.
Strike Out,
Gael Laguerre
Boca Raton
Gael Laguerre is a content writer for Strike Magazine Boca. She’s a textbook Aquarius: super hyper-independent but also super hot. In her free time, she enjoys music festivals, writing sad poetry, and oversharing on twitter. You can reach her at lgaellynn@gmail.com.
