In terms of a model’s career, there are few jobs more sought after than earning your wings as a Victoria’s Secret Angel.
Except maybe winning a coveted major cosmetics contract.
Mega-babe Taylor Hill nailed both before she turned 20, walking for VS three years in a row, then becoming a spokesmodel for Lancôme.
Poring over Taylor’s Instagram, it’s easy to see why her pairing with the French beauty brand makes sense. Between professional shots of her walking for Miu Miu and Dolce & Gabbana, and slouching around in Fenty x Puma, her selfies communicate a relaxed, undone approach to makeup, teaming bushy brows with clean skin, or red lips with messy bed hair. Although her work for Lancôme is undoubtedly more high-glam, her personal style is akin to a low-key French aesthetic.
It’s almost hard to believe the 21-year-old hails from middle America, until you get to the ’grams of her wearing a Stetson and cowboy boots. We caught up with Taylor to get some tips on the products she loves.
As a model, you must pay a lot of attention to your skin. What’s your routine?
The most important thing for me is to always stay hydrated. I take my makeup off at night with Lancôme Micellar Cleansing Water — I pour a little on a cotton pad, wipe my face, and rinse. Then I mix a bit of Lancôme Énergie de Vie moisturiser with Lancôme Hydra Zen moisturiser. It makes my skin feel nice and soft, and just so much better after wearing makeup all day. In the morning, I usually come to work with a clean face, so I don’t do much. If I need a boost, I’ll do a hydrating mask, but for the most part, I try to keep it simple.
In the bag of Taylor Hill
Video c/o British Vogue
What’s your best trick to combat fatigue?
Drinking lots of water. I’m sensitive to caffeine, so if I have a cup of coffee, I drink at least five bottles of water right afterwards. I also try to get as much sleep as possible.
What makeup do you always have with you?
Tinted balm, concealer, mascara and an eyelash curler. I like tinted lip balm because it’s not too heavy.
What’s the best beauty advice you’ve ever received?
I took an art class in high school, and I remember my teacher always telling me, “When you finish, finish! Don’t try to perfect things. The things that are wrong are what make it art.” That stuck with me, and I think it also applies to beauty. Less is more. When we obsess and try too hard to mask our insecurities, we should stop, be confident and step away. There’s something beautiful about simplicity.
Do you wear makeup when you’re off duty?
Not always, but I think because I have my makeup done so often for work that it doesn’t feel like a real day unless I’m wearing some. I’m a bit of a tomboy, but the girly side of me loves makeup and I’m good at doing my own. It’s usually the bare minimum: concealer, mascara, tinted lip balm. It makes me feel like I’m awake and ready to start my day.
How do you prepare for a night out?
I figure out what I’m wearing first, because I usually base my makeup and hair off that. My signature is a black cat eye; it fits the shape of my eyes and I’ve been wearing it for as long as I can remember.
What do you think makes a woman beautiful?
Personality has everything to do with it. I know a lot of women who aren’t models and who people wouldn’t say are physical phenomenons, but I find them so beautiful because they’re such great human beings.
How would you describe your personality?
My friends call me “the wild child”, even though I wouldn’t necessarily call myself wild! I do like to have fun and make people laugh, but I’m also quite nerdy and weird, and people like that because they’re like, “Oh, she’s human.” I have no interest in being a perfect person.
Watch Taylor Hill’s workout:
You were bullied in high school — how did you deal with it?
My height was pretty unusual, so people thought I was weird, and I was painfully shy and never knew how to talk to people or make new friends. And then I started modelling, and girls were like, “What’s that weird girl doing? She’s not that pretty.” I had to remember that everyone’s human and we all have insecurities. I’d tell young girls not to worry about pettiness with classmates. You’ll all be friends in 10 years.
You appeared on the cover of French Vogue’s September issue, representing Generation Instagirls. What defines this generation, and what makes it special?
I think we’re living in the supermodel-comeback era, and social media gave us that power back. A few years ago, you saw only celebrities — actresses and musicians — on the cover of magazines, but now supermodels are back. I think what makes this new generation of models special is that we’re relatable. We’re open books, and people love that.
How do you decide what you share on social?
I share impulsively — it’s fun! I try to post organically without oversharing. I want people to know the real me, and I want to be friends with everyone. People leave comments like, “I want to meet you”, and that’s cool because that means they relate to me in some way. The things I keep private are just those mornings when I’m hanging with my dog and don’t want to be on social media.
Do you have any advice for perfecting a selfie?
Find good overhead light. As long as you can feel the light in your eyes, it’s good. And be sure to hold the camera slightly upward.
Taylor’s Must-Haves….
