The Glowdown: Jess Hunt Shares the Beauty Secrets We All Want to Know

Welcome to The Glowdown, the series where we dive into the beauty secrets of our favourite celebrities as they get real about their routines and non-negotiables exclusively with us. Join them as they sit in our beauty hot seat and we fire off a round of quick questions, giving you never-before-shared insight into the products they can't live without, their secrets to getting red carpet ready, beauty pet peeves, and the genius tips they've picked up along the way. This is no-holds-barred beauty at its finest.

This month, we sat down with Jess Hunt, co-founder and creative director of TikTok-favourite beauty brand Refy. The 27-year-old social media sensation is known for her bushy brows and glowing skin, and with her makeup brand going from strength to strength, she is definitely one to watch. We sat down with Hunt and asked her all about her favourite moments since starting the brand, her top beauty tips and tricks and which products she simply can't live without.

1. Which makeup product gives you the biggest mood-boost?
Our Refy Face Primer, always! I love how fresh and glowy it makes your skin look. It's a priming serum and the unique applicator also depuffs and sculpts your face. It's the perfect way to start your morning.

2. If you could steal someone else’s makeup bag, whose would it be?
I would probably say my business partner, Jenna. I could trust that all the products I use to achieve an elevated look would be in there, and I wouldn't be overwhelmed.

3. You’ve got a spot. Are you team pop it or team leave it alone?
Leave it alone —although I swear by pimple patches!

4. You only have one product to use for the rest of your life—what is it?
Forever the Refy Lip Gloss. A high-shine gloss with all the benefits of a lip balm? It’s perfect!

5. What’s the best piece of beauty advice you have ever received?
Less is more.

6. It’s a bad hair day. What do you do?
A hair mask and then a slicked-back bun.

7. What's your signature fragrance?
My favourite [fragrance brand] would be Maison Margiela.

8. Strong lip or a strong eye?
Strong lip, always. I really believe it can transform your whole look.

9. Best beauty hack?
I love to use the Refy Brow Pomade as eyeliner. It’s super buildable and creamy so it's really easy to create the perfect smokey-eye look. It also has a dual-ended brush, so it makes my routine and packing my makeup bag so much easier.

10. You’re having your nails done. What’s your go-to colour?
I always opt for a nude, I never get bored of it!

11. What led you to start Refy?
I was on a shoot doing my makeup and Jenna, my now-business partner, was there. She asked me about my brow routine. At the time, I was using around five different products and two brushes to achieve my desired brow look. We just knew that this could be simplified and that was when the Brow Sculpt and 3.0 Stage Brow was born. Since launch, we have been committed to only developing products that are missing from your makeup bag and will simplify your routine.

12. You've had some incredible launches and events over the past few years. What has been your favourite moment since starting the brand?
It’s been wild, to say the least! My favourite moment was when we hosted The Refy Studio in London last summer. When I turned the corner I saw a queue that I now know was three hours long! Meeting the Refy community and everyone who supports the brand genuinely blows me away every single time. I love our community, and getting to show them the Refy experience in real life is always an incredible experience for me.

13. If you could share one piece of beauty advice, what would it be?
A good skincare routine is so important and essential for the best results. Also, never forget your SPF!

14. What beauty product do you recommend to everyone?
The Refy Lash Sculpt. This is way more than just a mascara. It creates a lengthened, lifted and sculpted lash with 12 hours of wear. Game-changing.

15. Name one beauty product that is always in your handbag.
Refy Lip Blush—it's essential when I'm on the go. It's super easy to apply and adds a subtle blush of colour to the lips. Perfect for no-makeup days.

16. Are you team dewy or matte?
Dewy.

17. The greatest drugstore product for under £10?
It has to be the got2b hairspray. Anyone who knows me knows I have around five bottles on rotation at all times. It's a necessity for my slicked-back buns.

18. Your brows, in one word:
Defined.

19. Your worst hairstyle (or hair moment) ever…
I would have to say the time I tried overnight plaits. When I woke up my hair was out of control, to say the least. I was able to make it work but I can safely say I didn't try it again.

20. You have to have crimped hair or wear blue eyeshadow for the rest of your life. Which do you choose?
I would have to say crimped hair. Like I mentioned before, even though my hair was out of control, I was still able to make it work.

21. Makeup primer: love it or hate it?
Love, love, love it!

22. Confession time how often do you clean your makeup brushes?
Definitely not enough. Maybe every six months—don't judge.

23. Would you rather have ultra-skinny brows or bleached brows?
I would definitely be up for trying bleached brows. My hair is very fair anyway and I actually tint them every couple of months.

24. Which celebrity’s hair would you love to steal?
Pamela Anderson's in the '90s was iconic!

25. What’s your biggest beauty no-no?
Overcomplicating your routine.

26. In a sentence, what is your beauty philosophy?
Beauty to me is all about enhancing what you’ve got, embracing imperfections, feeling confident in your own skin and using products that make life that much easier. Beauty is all about being your most confident self!

27. What beauty rule do you always break?
I'm all about simplifying beauty so I like to use lip products on the rest of my face. I always carry the Refy Lip Blush in Amber and apply it on my cheeks to bring my makeup look together. I love using products in other ways.

28. Which era of beauty inspires you most?
The '90s have my heart when it comes to beauty inspiration. It’s all about that effortlessly chic vibe—think supermodel glam meets grunge.

29. Eyelash curlers: love them or hate them?
LOVE! They make such a difference.

30. What is your favourite lipstick colour?
Nudes! I'm a creature of habit, even though I do love our iconic Refy Red Lip if I want to be more glam.

31. Candles, reed diffusers or nothing at all?
Candles!

Shop Jess Hunt's Favourite Beauty Products: