# Gross close-up of the problem first

A beauty format, measured November 8, 2026 by Volume. https://tryvolume.app/working/beauty/gross-close-up-of-the-problem-first

Open on a visceral, slightly disgusting close-up of the problem, such as dead skin, a blackhead, extracted gunk or odd foam, before explaining the fix. It worked for 6 accounts, with a median of 17x their usual reach. Type: Angle. Seen as: Screen recording, Talking head, Green screen.

## Why it works

Morbid curiosity stops the scroll. Pairing the gross shot with a payoff (glow, clear skin, product) keeps people watching.

## How to make it

1. Show the gross close-up in the first seconds
2. Name the problem in one line
3. Show the fix or after-shot

## Hook formula

I did not know you could get [problem] until I [reason].

## Examples

- @hondroutwins (1.1M followers, TikTok screen recording): 98x their usual views. Hook: “VIOLET vs GREEN ✨self tan✨” [Original post](https://www.tiktok.com/@hondroutwins/video/7702023721619426566)
- @xarabeq (531K followers, TikTok talking head): 43x their usual views. Hook: “texture” [Original post](https://www.tiktok.com/@xarabeq/video/7690697363958041869)
- @kensieluvbeauty (6K followers, TikTok talking head): 23x their usual views. Hook: “How to get rid of a PERMANENT middle part” [Original post](https://www.tiktok.com/@kensieluvbeauty/video/7698163735797501197)
- @heybriajones (528K followers, TikTok talking head): 11x their usual views. Hook: “if you want your edges back don't be silly like me” [Original post](https://www.tiktok.com/@heybriajones/video/7692781764120562975)
- @miriah_celeste (102K followers, TikTok talking head): 7.7x their usual views. Hook: “NATURAL HAIR SETBACKS + FRUSTRATIONS” [Original post](https://www.tiktok.com/@miriah_celeste/video/7690375839048912159)
- @drdrayzday (701K followers, TikTok green screen): 3.7x their usual views. Hook: “Your tretinoin is useless. It's not going to do anything here.” [Original post](https://www.tiktok.com/@drdrayzday/video/7696212217506712845)

More beauty formats: https://tryvolume.app/working/beauty.md

## Get the full library

The full library has every post, format and hook in beauty, plus long-running Meta ads, and your AI agent can search it over MCP. The library comes with Volume Core and Pro, from $29.99 a month, and every plan starts with a 3-day free trial. Start a free trial: https://tryvolume.app/library

Agents: add Volume's MCP server (https://app.tryvolume.app/api/mcp) and call `search_library(shelf: "formats", niche: "Beauty")` for every format, `search_library(shelf: "posts", niche: "Beauty")` for examples with transcripts and scripts.

## How this is measured

- Every post is compared with its own account's usual reach, not with other accounts. "14x their usual" means the post got 14 times the median views of that account's recent posts.
- TikTok videos and Instagram Reels are measured on views. Instagram carousels have no view count, so they are measured on likes against the account's usual likes, and say so.
- A post makes the library at 2x its account's usual or more. A format is a repeatable move (what is said or shown, or how it is edited) that several accounts used in breakout posts. It is listed here once it worked for 3 or more different accounts.
- Formats rank on how many accounts they worked for and how far above usual, damped so a fluke on one tiny account cannot outrank a format that worked for ten.

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