Beauty

Influencer Rickey Thompson Manifested This YSL Beauty Campaign

The Gen Z icon heralds the beginning of his “grown and sexy era” with a high-brow beauty deal that puts his rise to prominence (on Vine!) well in the past.

Published on November 18, 2021

Beloved for his candor, Rickey Thompson keeps his 5.3 million-plus Instagram followers coming back thanks to contagious viral videos that are full of laughter, dancing, sass, and style. After first making a splash on Vine as a teenager in 2013, the content creator now showcases his talents on YouTube and TikTok in addition to Instagram. Thompson's feel-good influence has landed him major fashion and beauty campaigns, the latest as one of the new faces of YSL Beauty's Nu Collection. Here, he shares his secret to unapologetic confidence and radiant skin.

Rickey Thompson

Why should beauty be held to one standard? We need more openness.

— Rickey Thompson

My earliest beauty memory was when I was 14 and started to get into my personal skincare journey. I used to watch YouTube tutorials on how to get a natural glow or keep my skin clear. I was like, "Wow, there is a lot that goes into this whole beauty thing!" Now I've learned that the secret to keeping my glow is to drink a lot of water, use sunscreen daily, heavily moisturize, and not stress.

I'm 25, and I want to feel that. So I told myself that I really want to go for this grown and sexy era of my life. I was like, "You know what? Let's just shave my hair off and see what it looks like." I dyed it a different color, which is stepping out of my comfort zone, but I love it so much. It's brought me this newfound confidence. When I get my hair cut, I always feel my hottest. [laughs]

I change up my routine, but my mornings [typically consist of] going for a workout followed by eating something healthy like an acai bowl or avocado toast. Then I take a shower and start my day with a brainstorm.

Ever since I was young, I told myself that one day I would work with YSL Beauty. I finally manifested that and became part of their latest Nu Collection. My go-to product is the YSL Beauty Nu Bare Look Tint because it's very natural and light. It is fitting that the products I am obsessed with showcase diversity; I think that is what the beauty world needs today. Why should beauty be held to one standard? We need more openness.

Buy it: YSL Beauty Nu Bare Look Tint No. 19; $38, yslbeautyus.com.

My ultimate beauty crush is Rihanna. I love that woman and everything she does. I could not stop staring at her [2021] Met Gala look. After she arrived on the carpet, no one else mattered to me.

My mood-booster is retail therapy. If I'm feeling low about myself, I buy outfits that will make me feel amazing. I love dressing myself in my imagination and building it around a scenario. I picture when I am going to wear that outfit, and it always comes true.

Authenticity is key. There is always going to be someone who doesn't like you, but ignore that. When I started showcasing my life online and got a lot of positive feedback, it gave me confidence. By just being me, more people enjoy what I do. I don't have to try so hard or follow somebody else's life; I can just be myself. I'm always unapologetically me, and I never hide it.

Rickey's Favorites

For more stories like this, pick up the December/January 2022 issue of InStyle, available on newsstands, on Amazon, and for digital download Nov. 19.

Was this page helpful?