As Mother’s Day draws near, it invites a quiet moment of reflection—a pause to honor the maternal figures who shaped us in ways both big and beautifully subtle. Long before the era of YouTube and TikTok tutorials, our first beauty influencers lived under our own roofs. Getting ready for the day wasn’t a spectacle—it was a ritual, and we were wide-eyed apprentices soaking it all in from the sidelines.

Whether it was a mother, grandmother, aunt, older sister, or chosen family figure, these early caretakers offered more than just guidance—they gave us a blueprint. We learned how to brush our hair, wash our faces, honor our hair texture, and embrace the uniqueness of our features—in those moments, the bathroom mirror became a classroom. For many of us, these quiet, intimate moments formed the foundation of our lifelong relationship with beauty. They were our first tutorials, rooted not in trends but in love. And isn’t that the essence of self-care? A practice handed down with tenderness, one-morning routine at a time.

From hair styling tricks to signature perfumes—below, in honor of Mother’s Day, 10 Vogue editors share their best kept beauty tips passed down from their maternal figures.

Lather Up on Lotion

“Growing up, my mom had one beauty rule: always wear lotion—lathering on an assortment of Vaseline, Nivea, and Aveeno lotions immediately after showering. Though it felt like a chore during childhood, now, I appreciate its ritual—setting the stage for my bedtime routine, giving me a moment to slow down and take care of myself. More importantly, now I have the softest skin ever and surely have my mom to thank for that.” —Kiana Murden, senior beauty shopping writer

Style, Spritz, and Go!

“My mom is best known for her lovely hair—her layers are always perfectly defined and sprayed into place (or clipped back in a half-up with a fun clip—some even shaped like butterflies). Growing up, she would never leave the house without styling her hair with a beveled edge straightener. I’d watch as she’d section each layer off, taking one to two-inch pieces and, with a slight flick of the wrist, achieving a flipped-out end. Then, of course, there’s the hairspray—like beauty ASMR, you could hear the subtle spraying of a non-aerosol bottle from down the hall. By the time I was a teen, long grown out of my all-one-length chop with heavy bangs, she’d always say, ‘Get face-framing layers!’ and offer to help style my look, brushing back from the crown and spritzing. Needless to say, I, too, never leave the house without my hair done.” —Conçetta Ciarlo, beauty shopping writer

Treat Your Skin With Care

“My mum has incredible skin. Just last week, a friend of mine mistook her for my 28-year-old sister in a photo. Her number one tip? Less is more, but invest in quality products. For years, my mum has just used soap and water to wash her face; however, she has also been using the same three Clarins products for as long as I can remember. Although I try to sneak a dollop of moisturizer every time I’m with her, my budget does not yet allow for Clarins, so I follow her footsteps by using the same simple, no-frills products every day in the hopes that I, too, can be mistaken for my daughter one day.” —Florence O’Connor, associate content manager

Find Your Signature Perfume

“My mother has always loved scents—she had a fragrance for every occasion. I vividly remember the tray of perfumes she kept when I was growing up. One bottle in particular fascinated me: Fragile by Jean Paul Gaultier. Now, I have a tray of my own filled with delectable scents, and I may have quietly adopted one of her favorites as my own—Do Son by Diptyque,”—Carolina Gonzalez, associate manager, social media

What Doesn’t Crinkle Won’t Wrinkle

“I have never seen my mother look not ready. Not once in my entire life. She is a classic Libra and adept at pulling herself together, no matter what’s happening—an attack on her body from her lupus, a last-minute big move, or a divorce. Her favorite motto is ‘Stay ready so you don’t have to get ready.’ Since I was a teen, she gave me all her retinol products to use—‘We don’t age, so you won’t either,’ she’d tell me. And it’s true; she’s 61 and still looks like my sibling. I use medicated options from the dermatologist, but she also swears by her two favorite options,”—Cortne Bonilla, senior shopping writer

Leave Your Brows Alone

“One beauty tip from my mom and grandma that has stayed with me: Don’t touch your brows. They both warned me as a teen not to wax them too thin, always saying, “One day, they might not grow back.” I didn’t fully listen (hello, early 2000s!), but I’ve since repented and now treat my brows with the respect they deserve. Whenever I think about picking up a tweezer, I hear their voices in my head!”—Sam Ravin, community manager, Vogue app

Always Wear SPF

“One word—sunscreen! My mom (like all moms, probably) has been yelling at me to wear sunscreen since I was not even old enough to apply it myself, and I’ve been stealing her EltaMD since high school,”—Emma Specter, culture writer

Opt for a Minimalist Beauty Look

“What’s popularized today as the ‘clean girl aesthetic’ has been in my family for decades. The Black women of my family have always prioritized moisturized skin, mascara, and lipgloss for their beauty look. Currently, I love Burberry’s volume mascara and Laneige’s lip mask.”—Taylor Anderson, associate manager, social media

Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize!

“My mom has always stressed to me over the years to moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! I don’t think a single day has passed since my mom hasn’t applied lotion to her body. I can confidently admit that she has the softest skin known to mankind. She always applies her body lotion straight out of the shower so that it melts into her skin,”—Molly Barstein, associate manager, audience development

When in Doubt, Wash Your Hair

“My mom firmly believes you won’t feel your best unless your hair is clean and styled. Whenever my hair is in that awkward in-between phase of not-so-clean but not-so-dirty, and I question whether washing it before a social occasion will be worth the extra effort, my mom consistently affirms, ‘When in doubt, wash your hair!’ Just like you will never regret a workout, you will never regret washing and properly styling your hair—it is the key to feeling confident. After all, Mother knows best!”—Alexandra Ditch, associate commerce producer