4 days ago
Woman Turns 'Isolating' Feeling of Grief into Something Beautiful by Using Late Grandmother's Makeup (Exclusive)
Hannah Rains tells PEOPLE that using her grandma's makeup "helps ground me in knowing that she will always be with me, just in a different way"
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Hannah Rains shared a TikTok video doing her makeup with her late grandmother's products
The 30-year-old explained that using her makeup helped her feel close to her grandmother after she recently passed away
Rains tells PEOPLE she was "surprised" by the reaction on social media
Like so many TikTok users, Hannah Rains hopped on the app to share her makeup routine. However, it wasn't your average "get ready with me" video.
In the clip, shared on July 13, Rains applies products from her late grandmother's makeup bag.
"I lost my grandma recently, and she was my best friend, so it has been the hardest experience of my life," she says at the start of the video. "But I'm trying to remember her every day and honor her every day and find beauty in my grief journey. I wanted to do my makeup for you with her makeup bag and talk to you about you, because she was really cool."
The 30-year-old New York-based creator goes on to explain that the item was of special importance to her, and that after her grandmother's passing, she made sure to take it home. "I have so many memories as a child of going into her bathroom and digging through her little basket of all of her goodies, which were all from Clinique," she shares. "Some Avon, but mostly Clinique.
As she applies a full face of makeup, Rains shares memories of her grandmother as well as the stories behind some of the products.
While the ritual may seem morbid to some, Rains says surrounding herself with her possessions is a great source of comfort.
"Nothing will ever bring her back or eliminate the tremendous waves of grief I experience on a daily basis," she tells PEOPLE. "But being able to have her things surrounding me — smelling her perfume on her sweaters, wearing her jewelry, and even using her makeup, helps ground me in knowing that she will always be with me, just in a different way."
Rains has continued to find meaning in the ritual. After getting out of an abusive relationship, she met with a judge to get a restraining order — wearing her grandmother's makeup as a symbol of strength.
"This was the most difficult experience I have gone through, and all I wanted was to be able to talk to my grandma," she recalls. "I wore her foundation to court, which honestly helped me feel not only beautiful and confident in a way I haven't in a long time, but close to the strongest woman I've ever known.
Rains was also "surprised" by the reception to her post on social media. In addition to 39,000 views, the video has received an outpouring of comments from those dealing with similar grief.
"Loved watching this ❤️," one user wrote. "I lost my 96 year old great aunt last week who was my last remaining grandparent figure. I took the professional portrait of her poodle, a vintage Estée Lauder travel mirror and ll bean mini tote."
Another shared, "I still have my Mammaw's YSL lipstick in a gold rectangle tube. This is so special 💖"
"When you are experiencing something like this it feels so isolating," Rains says. "But as the comments began to pour in, what brought me the most comfort was the way people spoke about their own loved ones.... it showed me beauty and love in a way I had never experienced and I am forever grateful for all the loving sentiments shared with me by strangers."
Read the original article on People
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