Inside Selena Gomez’s Most Iconic Looks—Makeup Artist Hung Vanngo Gets Candid on ‘Breaking Beauty’

Have you ever wondered how Selena Gomez manages to look flawless at every event? If you want to know her secrets, you need to get familiar with celebrity makeup artist Hung Vanngo.

On Breaking Beauty, hosted by Jill Dunn and Carlene Higgins, Vanngo opens up about his career journey, his artistry, and the magic behind working with one of the most recognizable faces in Hollywood.

How Hung Vanngo became Selena Gomez’s go-to glam god

Vanngo didn’t land Gomez as a client overnight. “Selena was switching management at the time, and her new team had already worked with me through Miranda Kerr. That’s how we first connected,” he explains. What started more than a decade ago has now become one of the longest-lasting artist-client relationships in the celebrity beauty world.

Even though Gomez has worked with other makeup artists throughout her career, Vanngo has remained a consistent force behind her glam. His ability to create looks that feel timeless yet modern has kept him in demand. “I never say she only works with me,” he adds, “but I can say we’ve shared so many special moments together.”

The wedding makeup reveal

Fans may not have realized that Vanngo was the artist behind Gomez’s highly anticipated wedding look, but the episode confirms it. While he kept the details under wraps before the big day, he shared the exact products afterward. Gomez wore the Hung Vanngo Beauty Color Story Eyeshadow Palette in New Neutral and the brand’s Soft Focus Blurring Matte Powder Bronzer in Positivity.

Dunn and Higgins couldn’t help but point out that those items quickly became bestsellers. The bronzer in particular, as Vanngo hints, is “going to be a sleeper hit.” For Gomez’s fans, it was a rare peek into the behind-the-scenes decisions that made her bridal glam both elegant and understated.

His take on the art of the smoky eye

When it comes to signature looks, Vanngo is known for his mastery of the smoky eye. But it’s never the same version twice. “There’s always a shape, there’s always something different,” Higgins explains, admiring how Vanngo keeps it fresh. “A smoky eye should look modern, not dated. That’s why it works every single time.”

And here’s the kicker—Vanngo insists most people get it wrong. He explains how to avoid harsh lines and why texture matters. His two-product formula for everyday eye definition is one of those tips that listeners will immediately want to try at home.

Balancing artistry and sacrifice

While the glamour is what fans see on Instagram, Vanngo doesn’t shy away from talking about the grind. He shares memories of moving from Toronto to New York, often with nothing but ambition to keep him going. “I was single, I had no baggage, and I told myself I had nothing to lose,” he says. That mindset helped him push past rejections and ultimately land on the sets where Gomez and countless other stars trusted him with their faces.

He also makes it clear that sacrifices were part of the journey. “If I had work the next day, I wouldn’t go out,” he shares. “You have to understand why you’re there and what you’re working toward.” It’s a reminder that behind every flawless photo is an artist who has put in years of practice, persistence, and discipline.

Hung Vanngo Beauty at Sephora

Of course, no conversation about Vanngo would be complete without mentioning his latest milestone: the launch of his makeup line, Hung Vanngo Beauty. The collection debuted at Sephora with eight eyeshadow palettes—because, as Dunn notes, “eyes are what he does so well.” The packaging, a striking red, feels luxe but accessible, with palettes priced at $49.

“His products look a lot more expensive than they are,” Higgins says on the show, saying that Vanngo has found the sweet spot between artistry and accessibility. For anyone hoping to channel their inner Gomez, this is the place to start.

Read Next

• ‘Breaking Beauty’ Says Matte Makeup Is Back—and This Time It’s Fresh, Not Flat
• On ‘Breaking Beauty,’ Bobbi Brown Talks Resilience, Reinvention, and Her New Memoir
• From Barrier Repair to Year-Round Sunscreen: Dr. Kim Blakely’s Cozy Season Skincare Tips on ‘Breaking Beauty’