“Hey everyone, I’m Sylvie,” she says beaming at the camera, “and today we’re doing my everyday makeup routine! It’s just a super simple routine I use to help me get in the right headspace for the day–so I can be relaxed and feel good.” Her gaze is direct, piercing even, despite the fact that you’re watching a video, you feel like she can see you–like her little half-smile is for you, “So grab a comfy seat and let’s get started!” 

“I like to start with a toner–I just use the basic alcohol-free Neutrogena and a MakeUp Eraser microfiber cloth.” She positions the bottle’s label deftly in front of the camera. You blink as the camera refocuses, shifting your attention, “I just really like how soft it feels against my skin. It’s good to take the time to just massage it into your skin. If your life is anything like mine, and I’m sure it is,” her cadence is rapid but her tone is soft–soothing, “it’s just sooo easy to get stressed out. If I don’t take the time to take care of myself and really relax, I just cannot deal, you know?” 

You watch as she begins to slowly massage the cloth against her skin, turning to the camera to demonstrate, “It’s just really important to take the time to relax and let out all the tension, you know?” The lilt in her voice sounds genuine, but there’s something about the half-smile–the same one she’s been wearing the whole time–that strikes you as off, almost predatory. “It’s just really essential to that headspace I was talking about. If I’m really going to clear out all that worry and stress, so I can actually enjoy myself.” 

“Now that we’re nice and relaxed and clean, it’s time for a little color corrector and our foundation. I like to use the Two-Faced sculpting concealer and Clinique full coverage.” She places the vials against her hand, clacking them gently with her nails, and again the camera shifts, catching the glint of the glass and her glossy nails, “It’s more expensive but it has spf coverage and it never irritates my skin, you know?” She holds the vails up a little longer than necessary shifting them back and forth–it would be imperceptible if not for the shifts in the glittering light.

Again you catch her half-smile as the camera finally refocuses on her face. 

With practiced motions she dabs applicators and sponges, depositing neat circles of product before blending it out evenly against her skin. “My natural skin tone is great, but sometimes it’s nice to have that even, smooth look. Just a little doll-like, you know?” she pauses for a bit to look directly at the camera–at you–as she asks, bending her wrist with a flourish. “It might sound a little silly.” She giggles as she goes back to applying her makeup. “Who wants to be a doll, right? But it’s actually a big part of that headspace I keep talking about. It’s, like, so important to feel really good and relaxed. To let go of all the worries and anxious thoughts–I know how real those are for us. That’s why sometimes it helps to just imagine what a doll must feel like. They don’t have any of that, you know?” She punctuates her last question with the snap of her foundation’s lid. She’s already done applying it. Last you remember, she was still dabbing it on her skin. 

You shake your head and decide not to worry about the odd sensation that you’ve lost time. It’s a relaxing video. You want to relax. Why worry about the time? Maybe she’s right; you do stress yourself out too often. 

“After my foundation, I like to apply a little eyeshadow. I use the Give It To Me Straight palette from ColourPop.” Again she shifts the camera and your attention to the product in her hand–a rectangle of glittering colors in shades of red and brown and gold. “Aren’t they so pretty to look at?” she coos as she shifts them slightly back and forth causing the glitter-filled pigment to sparkle. “I feel like that’s exactly what a doll would do, you know? Like, just appreciate pretty things and enjoy them. How often do you do that? Just really like your head empty out and just be present in the moment? Really enjoy the aesthetic experience in front of you?” 

It’s absurd; you don’t want to be a doll, but she does make a lot of sense. When was the last time you just enjoyed the beauty of something? 

“You could just be a doll like that, couldn’t you?” she coos. “Just enjoying your present moment for it’s aesthetic qualities. There’s nothing ridiculous about that. It’s important and valuable. We’re surrounded by so much beauty, and we just ignore it because we’re constantly stressed and on-guard. Why don’t we just let go and relax and enjoy pretty things? Stop overthinking.” 

“I always know that I’m getting into a headspace that’s going to help me have the best kind of day when I get just a little spacey and fuzzy, you know?” she taps a brush against her palette causing you to blink and shake your head. Her eyeshadow is mostly done already, When did that happen? “The finishing touch for me is always just a little of the brightest glitter right…” She pauses, positioning the brush carefully, “by my tear ducts.” She sweeps the brush in short, precise motions.

“There. See how that really highlights the green of my eyes?” she prompts. She’s near the camera. Her eyes take up most of the frame. When did she move that close? “Can you just get lost in them like this? They're just so green and bright. Couldn’t you just lose yourself in them, doll?”  

Something is off about what she said, but you can’t quite place it. 

“You are a doll aren’t you? Doing such a good job. Just relaxing and enjoying yourself. Just letting yourself be nice and empty and pretty? Good doll.” She snaps her palette shut, and you find yourself staring at her face. She’s positioned further back, but the same wicked half-smile is hanging on her lips. 

“Last thing I like to do,” she transitions before you can collect your thoughts, “is a little blush and highlights. It’s just the Maybelline Master Contour kit–nothing fancy you could really use whatever. Just don’t worry about it. Remember? It’s just about not worrying and feeling good.” 

“The trick is to get the right amount on your brush. It can take some practice, but you don’t have to worry about that do you, dollie? The point is to get into the headspace. To be nice and pretty and empty and floaty for me. Good dollie.” She’s staring you down when the camera suddenly refocuses on the end of her fan brush, the glittering particles of her highlighter coating the edge. She begins to circle the brush gently. 

“That’s a good dollie. Just be pretty and peaceful for me. I know it’s so hard to focus. It’s so sparkly and takes so much energy to follow it with your eyes. You’d much rather just be blank and not worry wouldn’t you? Just be a good empty dollie and sit pretty for me? Yeah, you can just empty out and drift off,” her voice is becoming a buzz–warm and comforting but hard to follow. “You can just drop…” 

There’s another loud snap, and you come back to. She’s just capped her setting spray and is looking into the camera. Her half-smile curled in gleeful satisfaction. “And that’s it, everyone.” Her voice is bright and energetic. What were you doing? “I really hope this video helped you relax and gave you a few, new, helpful ideas. It takes some practice, so don’t be afraid to watch it again if you need to.” 

“Oh,” she says as if she forgot, “don’t forget to like and subscribe. And be sure to share it with any of your friends who seem stressed or worried. I super appreciate it, doll. Have a great day.” She winks and blows you a kiss.