This 12-Year-Old Reviews Beauty Products in a Handmade Journal Instead of Posting on Social Media — And the Internet Can’t Get Enough
A preteen girl with no social media account has captured the hearts of more than 1.5 million viewers — all because she chose scissors, glue sticks, and a notebook over an Instagram feed.
Addison, 12, creates handmade “beauty journals” filled with product cutouts and handwritten reviews. Think scrapbook meets magazine column, crafted entirely by hand. She never posted any of it online herself. Someone else did — and the internet lost its collective mind.
How a Friend’s TikTok Changed Everything
Earlier this month, Rhionna, a friend of Addison’s mother, shared a TikTok showcasing the journal. The video shows a scrapbook-style beauty book packed with product cutouts, drawn illustrations, and Addison’s own written reviews.
“My friends daughter is a preteen that doesn’t have social media, so she does make up reviews in her beauty journal,” Rhionna wrote in the TikTok.
A separate post reveals even more pages — including hand-drawn hands on paper with labeled nail polish shades and reviews of specific products like Hard Candy eyeshadow marker and Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Kiss lip balm.
The video quickly surpassed 1.5 million views.
The Sweet Backstory Behind the Journal
The project didn’t start as a beauty review system. It started with Addison’s great-grandmother.
Addison told People on March 24 that the journal grew from time spent during summers with her great-grandmother.
“She loves when I paint her nails, so instead of me bringing all my nail polishes back and forth, I decided to put them in a book for her to choose from like at the nail salon,” Addison said.
“Then I decided to add makeup that I tried with reviews.”
What began as a practical solution — a portable way for her great-grandmother to pick a nail color — became a full-blown creative outlet.
Why the Internet Called It ‘Nostalgic’
Comments flooded in comparing the journal to scrapbooking, with viewers calling the project “nostalgic.” For many adults, the beauty book triggered memories of a pre-social-media childhood spent cutting pictures out of magazines and pasting them into notebooks.
Rhionna told People she knew the video would resonate.
“She captures that preteen spirit so perfectly,” Rhionna said. “It reminded me that we all still have that little girl inside us, and I felt inspired to start filming because I just knew the TikTok girlies would love it. And they did—the internet aunties really showed up, and the love she’s received on that video has been incredible.”
Brands Are Paying Attention
The viral moment hasn’t gone unnoticed by the beauty industry. Bubble Skincare, OPI, and e.l.f. Cosmetics have all inquired about sending Addison PR packages — no algorithm required.
Among Addison’s favorite products from her journal: Glow Recipe blueberry cleanser, wet n wild lip liner “I’m Blushing,” and Hard Candy eyeshadow stick “Dreamhouse.”
A Mom’s Perspective
Addison’s mom, Melissa, told People the whole experience has been unexpected.
“It’s been really exciting but also a little surreal,” Melissa said. “She created the journal simply because she loves beauty and expressing herself, so seeing it resonate with so many people has been incredible, and the comments have been genuinely kind.”
“So many people saying that it brought back memories of their own childhood and how refreshing it was to see a preteen enjoying something creative and positive,” Melissa added.
No ring light. No content calendar. No follower count. Just a 12-year-old, a notebook, and a glue stick — and somehow, that’s exactly what 1.5 million people needed to see.
This article was created by content specialists using various tools, including AI.
