The Glowdown: Jonathan Van Ness Shares the Beauty Secrets We All Want to Know

Welcome to The Glowdown, the series where we dive into the beauty secrets of our favourite celebrities as they get real about their routines and non-negotiables exclusively with us. Join them as they sit in our beauty hot seat and we fire off a round of quick questions, giving you never-before-shared insight into the products they cannot live without, their secrets to getting red carpet–ready, beauty pet peeves, and the genius tips they have picked up along the way. This is no-holds-barred beauty at its finest.

This month, we're talking to the one and only Jonathan Van Ness. The hairstylist-turned-TV personality is well known as one of the stars of Queer Eye, and has since become an author, comedian and founder of his sought-after haircare brand, JVN Hair. Van Ness is not only the embodiment of dopamine in human form, with his feel-good advice on fully accepting yourself, but he also has plenty of beauty recommendations and philosophies to share which will have you laughing out loud. Ahead, we asked Van Ness about his favourite beauty products and tips—and girl, did he deliver.

1. Which makeup product gives you the biggest mood-boost?

Other than skincare, doing my eyes.

2. If you could steal someone else’s makeup bag, whose would it be?

Pat McGrath, for sure!

3. You’ve got a spot. Are you team pop it, or team leave it alone?

If it’s ready and you have clean hands and you know what you’re doing, extract it. If you don’t and it turns worse every time, then don’t.

4. You only have one product to use for the rest of your life—what is it?

Dental floss.

5. What’s the best piece of beauty advice that you have ever received?

The most important relationship you will ever have is with yourself.

6. It’s a bad hair day, what do you do?

I throw it up. I would apply a hair cream that has some hold to snatch a little ponytail, ponytail braid, or a half-up, half-down situation. If your hair is too short, try a slicked-back style, and if all else fails rock a hat and try again next time. Every time we fail, it helps us learn to succeed. 

7. What is your signature fragrance?

Char by Henry Rose.

8. Strong lip or a strong eye?

Strong eye.

9. You’re having your nails done, what’s your go-to colour?

Anything [nail artist] Mei Kawajiri wants me to have.

10. What is your beauty philosophy in a sentence?

Beauty is a form of self expression, and we all deserve to—and are allowed to—express ourselves.

11. What is your favourite lipstick colour?

Clear. 

12. What’s your biggest beauty no-no? 

No heat protectant. Your body heat and daily wear-and-tear creates heat damage too, so even if you're not using an iron or blow-dryer, a bit of leave-in conditioner like our conditioning mist or our JVN Instant Recovery Serum is super light but will nourish your hair.

13. Candles, reed diffusers or nothing at all?

Love candles.

14. If you could share one piece of beauty advice, what would it be?

Sleep with your hair loosely tied up and use a silk pillowcase. I also think we age [slower] when we sleep on our backs, because we’re not scrunching our face[s] up so much.

15. What beauty product do you recommend to everyone?

JVN Pre-Wash Scalp Oil.

16. Name one beauty product that is always in your handbag?

Char by Henry Rose.

17. Are you team dewy or matte?

Love dewy.

18. The greatest drugstore product for under £10?

Floss. 

19. Your brows, in one word:

Gorgeous. 

20. Your worst hairstyle (or hair moment) ever…

Never had one. 

21. You have to wear your hair crimped or blue eyeshadow for the rest of your life: Which do you choose?

Crimped hair.

22. Makeup primer: Love it or hate it?

Love. 

23. Confession time—how often do you clean your makeup brushes?

Weekly.

24. What beauty rule do you always break?

Being a hot slut 24/7.

25. Would you rather have ultra-skinny brows or bleached brows?

Bleached. 

26. Which celebrity’s hair would you love to steal?

JVN’s—oh wait.

27. Which era of beauty inspires you most?

I love finger-waves—so '20s.

28. Best beauty hack?

Blow-dry preservers for a plane ride, or wrist guards for washing your face at the sink—[they] keep it mess-free!

Shop Jonathan Van Ness's Favourite Beauty Products:

Next Up: The Glowdown: Pat McGrath Shares the Beauty Secrets We All Want to Know