As a beauty editor, I like to keep a constant running folder of all my favorite makeup looks for inspo at a later date. While this isn’t exactly a secret, and I’m sure a lot of you do this, I’m going to let you in on where most of my saved looks actually come from. I have plenty of favorites I’ve saved from influencers on TikTok, but no one dominates my saved folder quite like celebrity makeup artist Hung Vanngo. IMO, Vanngo is a bit of a best-kept industry secret, but not for long. Vanngo just launched his namesake beauty brand and the offerings are insanely good. Vanngo works with everyone from Scarlett Johansson and Jennifer Lawrence to Lindsay Lohan and Selena Gomez. To be honest, you’ve probably seen at least one of his looks and you didn’t even know.
Although this launch just rolled around in September, it’s been a long time in the making. “Starting my own line has always been a dream of mine,” Vanngo tells Who What Wear. “I absolutely love makeup and using color. I created Hung Vanngo Beauty to help everyone feel confident and seen. I took my time developing each product because it was important to me that they reflect everything I’ve learned over the years—working with all skin tones, textures, and styles.”
I had the chance to try out a few items from the line and I was not disappointed. While everything was impressive, the eye shadow palettes in particular deserve a shoutout. Vanngo was extremely locked in when creating them. “Each palette was built around a true color story—I wanted every shade and finish to feel intentional and easy to use. My goal was to create something that balanced high artistry with everyday wearability. I designed these palettes to help anyone—from pros to beginners—create dimensional, effortless looks with color.”
For all my thoughts on the line, keep scrolling. I’m sharing it all below.
(Image credit: @shawnasimonee)
In the above photo, I’m wearing the Hung Vanngo Beauty Color Story Eyeshadow Palette in Rebellious Red & Pink.
Hung Vanngo Beauty
Color Story Eyeshadow Palette – Rebellious Red & Pink
I usually tend to gravitate toward warm golden brown eye shadow shades, but trying this pink-themed palette was a refreshing treat for me. Each of the shades are so stunning and work with a variety of skin tones. I especially loved the metallic shades of this palette—they have just the right amount of shimmer. All the colors also blend really nicely together and the end result definitely gives you a glossy editorial look.
I do, however, wish they were a bit more pigmented when applied to the lid. I did find that it took quite a bit of time to build up to the vibrant shades I wanted on the lids, but once I got there it looked amazing. I recently wore this palette to an event and it was one of my most complimented eye shadow looks to date. The quality of this palette speaks for itself!
Hung Vanngo Beauty
Color Story Eyeshadow Palette – Wonderful Warm
This palette is definitely more in my comfort zone. Because I’m Brown, I tend to stick to these types of shades for everyday wear because they flatter my skin tone the most. The warm tones here look beautiful on any skin tone, but if you’re Black or Brown, trust me, this palette is a must. The bronze-copper corner shade is unreal on the lids. It fast became my favorite shade in this palette besides the rich-looking gold. The neutral hues also complement the shimmers perfectly here so they were well-picked by Vanngo. You can create so many different looks with this palette and I had so much fun creating both more glamorous nighttime looks and simple everyday looks using only the matte shades.
Hung Vanngo Beauty
Color Story Eyeshadow Palette – Brilliant Blue
Whew, talk about out of my comfort zone. I’ll be totally honest, although I’ve been a beauty editor for years now, it wasn’t until recently that I started to play with more adventurous makeup colors. I never would have touched these shades a few years ago because I believed I lacked the skills to make them look as high-end and gorgeous as I wanted them to be. Now, I’m glad I gave this palette a try. It’s perfect for those nights you’re feeling extra and want to do something bold. The blues in this palette are super vivid and I’m planning on using it to pair with my Halloween costume when the time comes. The darker teal metallic shades in this palette are absolutely stunning. I found myself gravitating toward those the most.
Hung Vanngo Beauty
Accentuating Longwear Lip Liner
The only reason I never really got into lip liners is because I’m lazy, but after trying this one, I’m a changed woman. It’s funny how much adding something as simple as a liner can make your lip color pop. This nude shade is the perfect neutral to wear with the brand’s Creamy Matte Velvet Lipstick (more on that below) or it’s great to pair with a clear or neutral pink gloss. I tried it with both and absolutely loved the results.
Hung Vanngo Beauty
Creamy Matte Longwear Lipstick in Limitless Sky
This lipstick was one of my favorite things I tried from the brand. For starters, the shades are really vibrant. They’re so flattering and thoughtfully curated to suit all skin tones. I also love how hydrating the formula is. I know that some people might see the word “matte” and immediately be scared away, but it never feels drying on the lips—even after hours of wear.
Hung Vanngo Beauty
Very Beautiful Matte Velvet Blush – Second Language
I usually don’t love powder blushes. I usually gravitate toward cream formulas more, but this blush is definitely one of the exceptions. I do have to warn, though, that it’s extremely pigmented. I initially dabbed a bit too much on and had to blend, blend, blend like crazy to get it to more of a “natural flush” look. But, if you use sparingly, you’ll love how nicely this sinks into the skin and how beautifully it shows up on Black and Brown skin tones.
Hung Vanngo Beauty
Soft Focus Blurring Matte Powder Bronzer – Hardworking
I liked this bronzer, but I tend to prefer a creamier texture only because it blends better into my skin. This one is a little more powdery and definitely gets the job done, but it wasn’t my favorite.
Hung Vanngo Beauty
Longwear Waterproof Precision Gel Eyeliner
I have a confession to make: I haven’t worn eyeliner in years. Looking back on photos of myself in my younger years, let’s just say I went a bit overboard in this department. After that, I decided to ditch it in favor of shadow colors I used in the crease of my lids and it worked great. But, despite that, I decided to give this liner a go anyway and ended up loving it. Just a bit at the corner of my lash line really makes my eyes pop and this formula glides really easily without bleeding much throughout the night.
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