As Mother’s Day approaches, it’s a time to pause and reflect—to honor the maternal figures who shaped us in ways both profound and quietly beautiful. Long before YouTube and TikTok tutorials, our first beauty lessons came from the women in our own homes. Getting ready wasn’t a performance—it was a ritual, and we were eager observers, soaking it all in from the sidelines.
Whether it was a mother, grandmother, aunt, sister, or chosen family member, these early guides gave us more than just advice—they handed down a blueprint. We learned how to brush our hair, wash our faces, embrace our natural texture, and celebrate our unique features. In those moments, the bathroom mirror became our classroom. For many of us, these quiet, everyday interactions laid the foundation for our lifelong relationship with beauty. They were our first tutorials—rooted not in trends, but in love. And isn’t that what self-care truly is? A practice passed down with care, one small routine at a time.
From hair tricks to signature scents, here are 10 beauty tips Vogue editors learned from the women who raised them.
### Lather Up on Lotion
“My mom had one golden rule: always wear lotion. She’d slather on Vaseline, Nivea, or Aveeno right after a shower. As a kid, it felt like a chore—now, it’s a cherished part of my bedtime routine, a moment to slow down and care for myself. And thanks to her, I have the softest skin ever.” —Kiana Murden, senior beauty shopping writer
Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Body Lotion
$14 ($9 at Amazon)
Vaseline Intensive Care Cocoa Radiant Body Lotion
$21 at Amazon
### Style, Spritz, and Go!
“My mom’s hair was always flawless—perfectly layered, flipped at the ends, and held in place with hairspray (or a fun butterfly clip). She never left the house without styling it, and by my teens, neither did I. She’d say, ‘Get face-framing layers!’ and help me brush, spray, and flip my hair just like hers.” —Conçetta Ciarlo, beauty shopping writer
GHD Platinum+ Styler 1″ Flat Iron
$279 at Bluemercury ($289 at Amazon)
Solar Eclipse Morpho Butterfly Claw Clip
$32 at Nordstrom
Denman D90L Tangle Tamer Hairbrush
$30 at Nordstrom ($30 at Amazon)
Suave Max Hold Hairspray
$8 at Amazon
### Treat Your Skin With Care
“My mum has amazing skin—so good, a friend recently mistook her for my 28-year-old sister. Her secret? Less is more, but invest in quality products. She’s used the same three Clarins items for decades. I can’t afford them yet, but I follow her philosophy: keep it simple, and maybe one day, I’ll be mistaken for my daughter too.” —Florence O’Connor, associate content manager
Clarins Double Serum
$95 at Clarins, Nordstrom, and Amazon
Clarins Body Firming Cream
$72 at Nordstrom
Clarins Extra-Firming & Smoothing Day Moisturizer (SPF 15)
$96 at Nordstrom ($96 at Amazon)
Clarins Super Restorative Anti-Aging Night Moisturizer
$144 at Nordstrom ($136 at Amazon)
### Find Your Signature Perfume
“My mother adored fragrance—she had a scent for every occasion. I still remember her perfume tray, especially one bottle…”Here’s the rewritten text in clear, natural English:
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Fragile by Jean Paul Gaultier fascinated me. Now, I have my own tray filled with delicious scents, and I might have secretly adopted one of her favorites—Do Son by Diptyque.
—Carolina Gonzalez, Associate Manager, Social Media
Diptyque Do Son Eau de Toilette
$135 at Nordstrom
Diptyque Do Son Eau de Parfum
$240 at Nordstrom
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What Doesn’t Crinkle Won’t Wrinkle
I’ve never seen my mother look unprepared—not once in my life. She’s a classic Libra, always put together no matter what: a lupus flare-up, a last-minute move, or a divorce. Her motto? “Stay ready so you don’t have to get ready.” Since I was a teen, she’s handed me her retinol products, saying, “We don’t age, so you won’t either.” And it’s true—she’s 61 and could pass for my sibling. I use dermatologist-prescribed treatments, but she swears by her two favorites.
—Cortne Bonilla, Senior Shopping Writer
SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.3
$78 at SkinCeuticals
Nurx Tretinoin Cream
$30 at Nurx
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Leave Your Brows Alone
My mom and grandma drilled this into me: Don’t touch your brows. They warned me as a teen not to over-wax them, saying, “One day, they might not grow back.” I didn’t listen (thanks, early 2000s!), but I’ve since learned my lesson. Now, I treat my brows with respect—whenever I reach for tweezers, I hear their voices in my head!
—Sam Ravin, Community Manager, Vogue App
Ilia In Frame Brow Gel
$24 at Ilia
NeuLash NeuBrow Brow Enhancing Serum
$85 at Nordstrom
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Always Wear SPF
One word: sunscreen! My mom (like all moms) has been nagging me to wear it since I was too young to apply it myself. I’ve been stealing her EltaMD since high school.
—Emma Specter, Culture Writer
EltaMD UV Daily Tinted Broad-Spectrum SPF 40
$42 at EltaMD, Amazon, and Dermstore
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Opt for a Minimalist Beauty Look
What’s now called the “clean girl aesthetic” has been a family staple for decades. The Black women in my family have always focused on moisturized skin, mascara, and lip gloss. Right now, I love Burberry’s volume mascara and Laneige’s lip mask.
—Taylor Anderson, Associate Manager, Social Media
Burberry Beyond Volume Mascara
$36 at Nordstrom
Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask
$24 at Amazon
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Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize!
My mom’s lifelong advice: Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! Not a single day goes by without her applying lotion—her skin is the softest I’ve ever felt. She always puts it on right after the shower so it sinks in perfectly.
—Molly Barstein, Associate Manager, Audience Development
Nivea Essentially Enriched Body Lotion
$6 at Amazon
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When in Doubt, Wash Your Hair
My mom’s philosophy: You won’t feel your best unless your hair is clean and styled. Whenever I debate whether to wash it before an event, she insists, “When in doubt, wash your hair!” Just like you never regret a workout, you’ll never regret washing and styling your hair—it’s the key to confidence. Mother knows best!
—Alexandra Ditch, Associate Commerce Producer
Olaplex Wash and Shine Hair Kit
$64 at Amazon, $60 at Dermstore
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Let me know if you’d like any further refinements!