Beauty influencer Jaclyn Hill can't seem to catch a break where public speculation is concerned. After many starts, stops, and changed launch dates, Hill recently launched her Jaclyn Cosmetics brand, which has been five years in the making. Lots of naysayers felt it was too late for her to drop makeup since she was in her prime years ago. Even Hill herself confessed that she had similar feelings about the launch. Still, she pushed through, and Jaclyn Cosmetics products will finally go on sale May 30!
Unfortunately, this triumphant news doesn't come without a little drama. Apparently, beauty critics are concerned that Hill didn't come by her product packaging honestly, and they're pointing toward a fan art post on Instagram that hints that someone might not be getting credit for the Jaclyn Cosmetics packaging.
Hill revealed her lipstick packaging just a few days ago.
The packaging was met with mixed reviews. Some fans adored the soft glittery texture of the lipstick tube, the hexagon shape, and the diamond at the top of the cap. Others dubbed it tacky thanks to the diamond and glitter mash-up. Hill seemed overjoyed with how the packaging turned out. In a YouTube product reveal, she noted that she appreciates that the glitter on the packaging isn't grainy and doesn't leave a residue. She also explained that the overall lipstick tube has some weight to it and isn't cheap.
Critics' biggest issue with the lipstick packaging is that they felt it too closely resembled the Fenty Beauty packaging.
People quickly made Fenty Beauty comparisons all over Instagram.
"Am I the only one who thinks she copied this for Rih's Fenty collection? [I know] they were the ones to start this shape in a lot of their products??" one person asked on Instagram.
"LOL thought this was like a Fenty Beauty limited edition," one fan joked.
"The packaging is like the Fenty contour sticks with different colour and a diamond at the top," another wrote.
Some Jaclyn Hill fans defended her against the copycat claims.
"While I agree Fenty is an awesome brand, they didn't create everything," one person wrote on Instagram. "Just because the shapes are similar doesn't mean it's the same?? Why are people so quick to be so hateful and negative and 'call out' [people]. Makes me so mad. If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it."
Unfortunately, the copycat accusations haven't stopped. They've only gotten worse, and this time, it's not about Fenty Beauty at all.
Jaclyn Hill is being accused of stealing her lipstick packaging idea from a fan who claimed to design it in a fan art illustration back in 2015. If that were true (and Jaclyn Hill has not confirmed one way or the other just yet), then that would mean Jaclyn Hill straight-up jacked her idea from a supporter with no credit and no check cut. That's a horrible idea to put out about an influencer, as it can affect the fan support and business opportunities the person receives in the future. So let's dive into this just a little further.
Check out the fan art from an Instagram post published in 2018.
"I used to imagine how @jaclynhill brand would look like. This is just some images that I never share because I believed she will see them one day (on her dms) and use them," the fan captioned this photo on Instagram in December 2018.
"Well it never happened, but I’m glad I created them. Fun fact, I came out with this packaging idea in 2015. I’m still waiting for her makeup line to launch. What do you guys think? What her brand would look like? Please let me know #fanart#jaclynhill #jaclynhillcosmetics."
The fan also shared this image of the lipstick packaging alone.
The fan also captioned this Instagram photo with the same caption as the other photo. There is no proof that the fan actually did create the lipstick tubes in 2015. All the public is working with is their word shared in a caption. The 2018 publish date on the Instagram page could make a person skeptical of Jaclyn Hill since she only revealed her official lipstick packaging a few days ago.
As it often (and unfortunately) goes with the internet, lots of critics are taking this information and running with it.
People are already questioning whether or not she gave the fan credit for her lipstick packaging and why.
"You did a great job," one person wrote to the fan who created the illustrations. "It's just too bad that she didn't give you some recognition for [it]."
"This looks so much like her lipsticks. Is she giving you credit??" another asked.
But Jaclyn Hill fans were quick to point out some very important information to shut down the rumors.
"I’m sorry but it’s not the same. And [there's a whole] screenshot of a Snapchat of her holding up similar packaging?" a fan shared. "How do we know this person [didn't] see it and draw it after the fact? They are obviously a fan of Jaclyn’s. So what if they saw it and drew up the same kind of packaging just to now possibly use it to sue her or extort money out of her? People are always so quick to judge on past experiences but that doesn’t make the other party innocent."
Interesting.
So, about that Snapchat image of Jaclyn Hill holding up a prototype of her lipstick packaging in 2015. IT EXISTS.
Leave it to fans to drop receipts! It has been circulating online for a while that Jaclyn Hill once revealed her lipstick tube on Snapchat. Now a screenshot of that post has resurfaced. That lipstick packaging from Snapchat looks exactly like the fan's illustrations. Meanwhile, Jaclyn Hill's official lipstick packaging has clearly been upgraded, with its glittery finish and bejeweled cap.
If nothing else, the Jaclyn Hill screenshot is supporting evidence that she didn't take inspiration from a fan at all.
In fact, it looks like things happened the other way around unless more information tumbles out later. That 2015 Snapchat image also proves once and for all that Jaclyn Hill never stole her lipstick packaging idea from Fenty Beauty either. It appears that she's always had the idea to have hexagonal packaging. Hill is also nobody's hater either, because when Fenty Beauty launched, she didn't even throw shade at the packaging.
So there you have it, folks. As of right now, there's no proof that Hill stole anything. Let's just let the woman enjoy her Jaclyn Cosmetics launch in peace.
