Love Island Makeup + Reality TV's Untapped Beauty Potential
Major networks need to give us more #GRWM.
I am not a religious Love Island watcher. In fact, this most recent season of Love Island USA was the first time I’ve tuned in for a “full” season (I have a few episodes left), and even so, it was only so I could understand better the online discourse — FAWWKKK AARON, who is Rob — that follows me through Reddit and on my FYP.
As a new watcher, I was struck by just how much time is spent chatting in the get-ready room. And how most contestants seems to have mastered the Alix Earle-level makeup routine with casual chat. I also couldn’t miss the impressive amount of product merchandised on the shelves in the room. A quick Google returned results for a Love Island x Maybelline collab. Very smart, yet underexposed. The intersection of Maybelline and Love Island on TikTok has 1.4M total views, and #loveisland alone has 16.2B total views (Source: Spate US TikTok ending September 1, 2024).
Why don’t more of these shows, from Love Island to Real Housewives, give viewers explicit GRWM content in-show? I guarantee viewers and advertisers would be into it. Another Google Search returns a host of “Chatty GRWMs” in which people discussing reality goings on or their experience on social media. Somehow, this is entirely untapped by major networks. There’s a few beauty collabs here and there, but it’s more product than content-based.
What if instead of — or in addition to, fine — confessionals, we occasionally get this with a side of full-face application. I’ve seen plenty of content recently talking shit on Hannah’s makeup, and while I can see the room available for constructive criticism, I cannot be the only person both intrigued and impressed by this level of beat for a day by the pool every day. I want to understand every layer. Watch this TikTok and tell me these women can’t tell you about mascara or strip lashes. They know product.
I am in the midst of a RHONYC watch from start to finish (on Season 4), and there’s plenty of makeup to be discussed here as well. Don’t get me started on VPR. I could go on…
Am I the only one?
— Addison <3