Welcome to Beauty Lookbook, Highsnobiety’s series examining the beauty routines of our stylish friends. This month we chat with Mina Le, the YouTuber making fashion and beauty history accessible to all.
Name: Mina Le
Location: New York City
Occupation: Fashion and culture analyst
What’s your earliest beauty-related memory?
My mom doing my hair in the morning before school. As a six-year-old, I mostly wore a ponytail with plastic barrettes in my hair that had little rabbits on them. My hair tangled really easily, so my mom would yank on my hair when she was brushing it. That’s why I have low sensitivity in my scalp — that, or the bleach from my 2017 to 2019 yellow hair phase did it.
How has your definition of beauty changed as you’ve gotten older?
When I first started wearing makeup, I definitely followed trends — I did the matte ColourPop lipstick and attempted the Anastasia Beverly Hills dip brow. But around 2018, I started experimenting with vintage looks. I finally shaved off my brows in 2020 right when lockdown was happening. I also started playing around with finger waves and pin curls.
I’ve since grown back my brows. I still keep them thin, but they’re less dramatic. Beauty is fun! I don’t take it too seriously and am open to shifts and changes to keep things fresh and sexy.
What’s the first beauty product you ever bought?
Stila Stay All Day liquid eyeliner! It’s my mom’s favorite eyeliner so for a while I would just steal hers. Eventually I did buy my own.
What’s the one product you always splurge on?
I can always find an excuse to buy a new lipstick. Most of my collection is Gucci Beauty and Rouge Dior Forever.
What’s your favorite drug store product?
PanOxyl Acne Creamy Wash 4% Benzoyl Proxide. It's, like, $12 at CVS. My friend put me on recently and it’s seriously great.
What’s your holy grail — the one product you can’t live without?
I want to gatekeep this so bad, but… my vintage Mervin wave clips! They’re used to set marcel waves. The fancier ones will cost you an organ, but the butterfly clips do the same job and I use them more frequently because they’re cheaper, and I’m a little afraid of rusting my other ones. I also think they sell new butterfly clips at some beauty supply stores, but I like the little vintage cards that sometimes come with deadstock Mervin’s. Pro tip: You have to make sure the teeth interlock (ask the seller if you’re looking online!) or else it can cause weird breaks in your hair.
What do you smell like?
I have a humble perfume collection. I know everyone talks big about a signature scent, but I think it can get boring to limit yourself. Most consistently, I reach for Coriander by D.S. & Durga. It smells fresh, a little earthy, summery, and dewy, more vegetal than floral. The Fragrantica reviews capture the scent much better than I can. It’s not super long-lasting but I have a sensitive nose and strong fragrances give me headaches, so it’s perfect for me.
What’s your favorite under-the-radar beauty brand?
Ellis Faas' Creamy Lips! The formula is super hydrating and the colors are gorgeous. I’m always getting compliments.
Do you shower in the morning or at night?
Both. I usually shower in the mornings, but in the summertime, it’s so humid that I have to do a rinse before I get into bed. If I have an event the next day, I’ll shower, set my curls, and do a prayer that I can sleep with all the metal in my hair. Beauty is pain sometimes!
That said, I also [bought] one of those mid-century hair dryers off Etsy, so if I have 3 to 4 hours to get ready the next day, I can do my hair in the morning instead.
How does your style inform your beauty routine?
I like to balance dark and soft energies. So, for example, if I’m wearing something really feminine, I like to do a dark makeup. To be honest, most of how I style my clothes and makeup comes down to how I’ve set my hair for styling since that’s the one thing I have to do in advance.
What is one piece of beauty advice you would give to everyone?
Play > listen to anyone else! Also: Beauty is a mindset. I’ve been told it would be more flattering for me to have thicker brows and to wear pink lipsticks. My reaction: AS IF!!!! Wear whatever feels right to you — that’s gonna be your best look.
