Jaclyn Hill

Jaclyn Hill is an American internet personality, beauty creator, and entrepreneur whose career developed from professional makeup work into one of the most visible beauty channels on YouTube. Born Jaclyn Roxanne Eilers, she grew up near Mineral, Illinois, before moving with her family to Tampa, Florida. During her childhood she was homeschooled and traveled with her family during her father's missionary work. She later studied photography in Sarasota but left college after her first year. Before becoming a full-time creator, Hill worked as a freelance makeup artist and at a MAC Cosmetics store, experiences that helped shape the tutorial-based format and product-centered expertise of her online work. Hill began her YouTube channel in 2011. Her content initially focused on makeup instruction, product recommendations, application techniques, and celebrity-inspired looks. The channel grew into a major beauty media platform, supported by Hill's conversational presentation style and close relationship with viewers. A 2017 video featuring Kim Kardashian became one of her most viewed uploads and reinforced Hill's position within mainstream beauty culture. Her influence also made her an important collaborator for established cosmetics companies. In 2015, Hill worked with Australian brand BECCA on Champagne Pop, a highlighter that became a major commercial and cultural success in the prestige beauty market. Sephora reportedly sold more than 25,000 units within the first 20 minutes of launch. Hill also began a multi-year relationship with Morphe Cosmetics. Her Morphe projects included a palette of selected Morphe eyeshadows in 2015, a limited-edition brush set in 2016, a second Jaclyn Hill x Morphe palette in 2017, and the Vault collection in 2018. These launches sold rapidly and helped establish the influencer collaboration model as a powerful route to cosmetics discovery and distribution. Hill launched her own namesake cosmetics business in 2019. Jaclyn Cosmetics debuted with the So Rich Lipstick collection, a range of 20 nude shades sold through the brand's website. Although the collection initially sold out quickly, customers soon reported broken or melted products, unusual texture, air bubbles, foreign material, possible mold, and alleged skin reactions. The resulting quality controversy became a defining episode in Hill's public career. She addressed the complaints in a June 2019 video, apologized, and offered compensation or replacements, but the response did not end the backlash. She subsequently removed her Instagram and Twitter accounts for a period, leaving YouTube as her principal public platform. The cosmetics line later returned with new products and seasonal releases, including a 2021 Valentine's Day mystery collection, Bronze and Blush duos, Beaming Light loose highlighters, and the 2022 Luxe Legacy Collection created with her mother, Robin. The brand's corporate position was affected by the financial distress of Morphe parent Forma Brands, which filed for bankruptcy protection in 2023; reporting associated with the proceedings identified an unsecured claim by Hill. Jaclyn Hill remains primarily known as a beauty creator whose influence spans social video, product collaboration, and direct-to-consumer cosmetics.

Jaclyn Hill grew up near Mineral, Illinois, on a large family farm. In 1998, her family moved to Tampa, Florida, after her father pursued missionary and evangelistic work. Hill was homeschooled and spent part of her youth traveling internationally with her family. She later attended college in Sarasota to study photography but left after her first year. Her early professional experience included freelance makeup artistry and employment at a MAC Cosmetics store. Hill began publishing beauty videos on YouTube in 2011. Her channel combined practical makeup education with product reviews, recommendations, and celebrity-inspired tutorials. Its growth made her a leading example of the beauty influencer as both educator and product curator. In 2017, she filmed a makeup video with Kim Kardashian, broadening her visibility beyond the specialist beauty community. Her first major commercial collaboration was with BECCA in 2015. Champagne Pop, a highlighter developed with Hill, became a high-profile launch and was reported to have sold more than 25,000 units through Sephora in its first 20 minutes. Hill's relationship with Morphe began in the same year with a palette built around her selected Morphe eyeshadows. Morphe later released a gem-encrusted brush set with her in 2016, another eyeshadow palette in 2017, and the four-part Vault collection in 2018. The speed at which these products sold out demonstrated the commercial power of Hill's audience and helped normalize influencer-branded product development. On May 23, 2019, Hill announced Jaclyn Cosmetics in a YouTube video. The first release, launched on May 30, comprised 20 nude So Rich Lipstick shades. The collection sold out quickly, but customers soon posted complaints about damaged, melted, gritty, or otherwise defective products. Some images appeared to show air bubbles, foreign material, and possible mold. Customers also reported symptoms including itching, swelling, redness, cold sores, and other reactions. Hill initially disputed the scale or interpretation of the complaints, then published a June 12 response video apologizing and promising compensation or replacements for affected buyers. The response generated continued criticism, and she deleted her Instagram and Twitter accounts on July 3, 2019. Jaclyn Cosmetics subsequently returned with new product releases. In 2021, the brand issued a Valentine's Day mystery collection and later launched a Bronze and Blush duo and Beaming Light loose highlighters. On April 24, 2022, Hill released the Luxe Legacy Collection in collaboration with her mother, Robin. The brand was associated with Morphe ownership or corporate control during a period when Morphe's parent, Forma Brands, encountered severe financial problems. Forma declared bankruptcy in January 2023, and accounts of the proceedings stated that Hill held a $2 million unsecured claim. Later in 2023, the main creditors acquired the business. Alongside her commercial work, Hill has remained a prominent online personality. Her career illustrates both the advantages and risks of creator-led commerce: a loyal audience can make a product launch exceptionally rapid, while quality-control failures can become public crises amplified by the same social channels that built the brand.

• 2023

  Forma Brands bankruptcy

  [1]Jaclyn Hillen.wikipedia.org

  The parent associated with Morphe entered bankruptcy proceedings, affecting the broader corporate context of Jaclyn Cosmetics.

• 2022

  Luxe Legacy Collection

  [1]Jaclyn Hillen.wikipedia.org

  Hill launched a collection made in collaboration with her mother, Robin.

• 2021

  Cosmetics line relaunch

  [1]Jaclyn Hillen.wikipedia.org

  The brand returned with a Valentine's Day mystery collection and subsequent complexion products.

• 2019

  Jaclyn Cosmetics launches

  [1]Jaclyn Hillen.wikipedia.org

  Hill introduced Jaclyn Cosmetics with the So Rich Lipstick collection.

• 2018

  Morphe Vault collection

  [1]Jaclyn Hillen.wikipedia.org

  Morphe released a four-palette Vault collection associated with Hill.

• 2015

  Champagne Pop collaboration

  [1]Jaclyn Hillen.wikipedia.org

  Hill collaborated with BECCA on the Champagne Pop highlighter.

• 2015

  First Jaclyn Hill x Morphe palette

  [1]Jaclyn Hillen.wikipedia.org

  Hill released a Morphe palette featuring her selected eyeshadows.

• 2011

  Launch of YouTube channel

  [1]Jaclyn Hillen.wikipedia.org

  Hill began publishing makeup tutorials and beauty-related videos, establishing the foundation of her public career.

Influencer-led beauty with accessible prestige positioning, tutorial-driven discovery, and emphasis on complexion, cheek, eye, and lip products.

• Highlighter · 2015

  Champagne Pop

  A highlighter developed by Hill with BECCA in 2015. Its rapid Sephora sell-through made it one of the best-known early influencer beauty collaborations and established Hill as a commercially significant product partner.

• Eyeshadow palettes · 2015

  Jaclyn Hill x Morphe Palettes

  A series of eyeshadow collaborations built around Hill's preferred Morphe shades. The first palette appeared in 2015, followed by a second palette in 2017. Their fast sell-through helped define Hill's product-collaboration model.

• Eyeshadow palettes · 2018

  Morphe Vault Collection

  A 2018 collection of four ten-pan palettes containing shades Hill described as selections not used in the earlier Morphe x Jaclyn Hill palette.

• Lip color · 2019

  So Rich Lipsticks

  The inaugural Jaclyn Cosmetics release, consisting of 20 nude lipstick shades. Although the launch sold out quickly, it became associated with extensive customer complaints about product condition, texture, contamination concerns, and alleged reactions.

• Loose highlighter · 2021

  Beaming Light Highlighters

  Loose highlighter products introduced during the post-2019 relaunch period, alongside other complexion-focused Jaclyn Cosmetics releases.

• Makeup collection · 2022

  Luxe Legacy Collection

  A 2022 Jaclyn Cosmetics collection created with Hill's mother, Robin, and presented as a family-linked brand release.

• 2019

  Jaclyn Cosmetics lipstick quality controversy

  Customers reported broken or melted lipsticks, gritty texture, air bubbles, foreign material, possible mold, and alleged allergic or other skin reactions. Hill later apologized and offered replacement or compensation assistance, but criticism continued.

  Source

Read more

• 2019Jaclyn Cosmetics debut

  Online · United States

  Hill promoted the first Jaclyn Cosmetics collection through YouTube, product swatches, and direct sales on the brand website.

  Outcome. The lipstick collection sold out quickly but was followed by a major product-quality controversy.

  Source
• 2015Champagne Pop launch

  United States

  The BECCA collaboration used Hill's audience and Sephora distribution to launch a highlighter that quickly became a prominent influencer-created beauty product.

  Outcome. Reportedly sold more than 25,000 units through Sephora in 20 minutes.

  Source

• 2021

  Relaunch the cosmetics lineStrategy

  Background

  Following the 2019 lipstick controversy, the brand returned with a new release program.

  Action taken

  Hill introduced a Valentine's Day mystery collection and later added Bronze and Blush products and Beaming Light highlighters.

  Aftermath

  The line resumed product activity with an emphasis on new collections rather than the original lipstick launch.

  Source

• 2019

  Launch a standalone cosmetics brandProduct launch

  Background

  After years of collaborations with BECCA and Morphe, Hill moved into a namesake direct-to-consumer business.

  Action taken

  Jaclyn Cosmetics launched with 20 So Rich nude lipstick shades.

  Aftermath

  The launch sold out quickly but was followed by widespread quality complaints and reputational backlash.

  Source

• 2019

  Respond to lipstick complaintsOther

  Background

  Customers publicly reported damaged products and alleged adverse reactions after the first release.

  Action taken

  Hill published a response video, apologized, described possible causes, and invited dissatisfied customers to seek compensation or replacements.

  Aftermath

  The response did not stop the backlash, and Hill removed her Instagram and Twitter accounts in July.

  Source

1. 1Jaclyn Hillen.wikipedia.org