Let me paint you a picture.
You’re scrolling Instagram. You see Karlie Kloss looking like a literal Renaissance painting. Selena Gomez with skin that glows like she bathes in moonlight and Serums Only Sold in Heaven. Kendall Jenner with the kind of softly smudged eyeliner that makes you whisper “teach me.” And in the comments? One name, over and over again:
Hung Vanngo.
At this point, I’m convinced the man doesn’t blend makeup—he whispers blessings into the brush. And as someone trying to claw her way out of a makeup rut (hi, it’s me, Kristen), I had to know more about him. Who is Hung Vanngo? Why is every face he touches art? And how do I steal 1/100th of his technique without a Sephora Pro card or selling my soul to a Tom Ford counter?
🎨 The Origin Story
Hung Vanngo was born in Vietnam, raised in Canada, and trained in Calgary—proof that artistry doesn’t require a NYC zip code or a famous godparent. He didn’t start in red carpet glam; he hustled through salons and fashion week gigs, slowly building a portfolio of models who looked effortlessly luminous, like they just emerged from a Vogue editorial and not, say, a 3-hour shoot in fluorescent lighting.
Fast forward: Hung moves to New York, gets signed by The Wall Group (aka the Avengers of beauty representation), and suddenly he’s making up basically every It Girl you follow.
✨ The Signature Look
Let’s break it down, Kristen-style:
- Skin: Hung’s skin finishes are plush. Not matte. Not dewy. They look like real skin that drinks water and files its taxes early. Foundation disappears. Glow isn’t a product—it’s a vibe.
- Eyes: His signature eye is a softly smoked-out wing. Nothing harsh, nothing overdrawn. Just diffused magic that makes even tired eyes look smoldering and expensive. Teach me your ways, oh soft eyeliner sorcerer.
- Lips: Think blurred edges, natural tones, and the kind of lip you could wear to brunch or a black tie gala. Effortless. Feminine. Slightly smug.
He somehow manages to make bold looks seem soft and natural makeup feel intentional. Every face he touches looks like themselves—just more them.
🧠 Why He Matters (Even to Us Normals)
Now, I know what you’re thinking: “Kristen, this man works with Chanel and Anne Hathaway. My budget is Wet n Wild and anxiety.” SAME.
But here’s the thing: Hung’s work proves that technique beats product. His signature moves—diffused eyes, balanced skin, softly built layers—are replicable. Even if you don’t have his brushes or backstage pass, you can:
- Stop over-powdering.
- Blend with intention.
- Use fewer products, better.
He also constantly shares product recs, tutorials, and BTS peeks on Instagram and YouTube. He’s not gatekeeping—he’s gently whispering you can do this too while holding a Tom Ford quad.
🧪 Kristen’s Takeaways
After my fourth doom-scroll through his grid, I decided to experiment. Here’s what I learned:
- No more Instagram concealer triangles—Hung only highlights under the eye socket, and guess what? I looked awake, not cakey.
- Brushes matter more than I thought—I swapped my stubby drugstore blender for an old fluffy eye brush, and boom: instant Hung-lite eye contour.
- Patience = polish—Instead of slapping on a whole face in 8 minutes, I slowed down. Built in layers. Blended longer. The result? Less product, more glow. And for once, my makeup looked better after four hours—not worse.
💄 Final Thoughts
Hung Vanngo is the kind of artist that makes you believe in the craft of makeup again—not just the trends. He’s not selling hype, he’s showing you how to enhance what you already have.
And while I may never be a red carpet regular, if I can borrow even one trick from his glam playbook to make my Tuesday feel a little more like a Vogue spread—I’m in.
Want me to test a Hung-inspired technique on my next Kristen Experiments face? Drop a comment or DM me a look to try. Bonus points if it involves soft smoke and budget dupes.
Till then, stay glowing—but like, the soft-skin Hung Vanngo kind, not the “forgot to powder” kind.
💋
Kristen
*Feature photo from the Globe and Mail
