Shelly Hokanson
Shelly Hokanson creates Geek Out of Water, sharing makeup wear tests for mature, dry skin, skincare ingredient explainers, and her own handcrafted skincare line.
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Latest
Shelly’s happenings, collected from public sources, plus their backstory and Starbook, where fans write.
Known for
YouTube
YouTubeOverview
- Creates as
- Geek Out of Water (GOOW)
- Started
- Beauty channel launched in 2016
- Focus
- Makeup for mature, dry skin and skincare ingredient literacy
- Also
- Cosmetic formulator and professor at James Madison University
Mini bio
How it started.
Shelly started Geek Out of Water in 2016 after struggling to find foundation reviews that reflected their own dry skin, fine lines, and texture. The channel grew around testing how makeup actually wears on maturing skin. In June 2024, Shelly thanked viewers after an eighth-anniversary and 40,000-subscriber giveaway.
From reviews to formulas.
In 2020, Shelly learned cold-process soapmaking with friend Judy and started a handcrafted business under the Quirky Creators brand. After it closed in late 2022, Shelly continued developing products through GOOW. They completed Formula Botanica’s five-course International Organic Skincare Entrepreneur program in August 2024 and make their own skincare products alongside videos.
The geek behind GOOW.
Shelly began building websites as a college student in 1994. After a decade teaching web and graphic design at Prairie State College, they joined James Madison University in 2011. That background in media literacy now informs their skincare explainers and conversations about beauty marketing.
Creditschronological, newest first
Beauty and skincare
- 2026What Actually Matters in Skincare? Separating Science From MarketingGuest, Wellness Explained with Sandy Jolles
- 2026Red Flags, episode 5Host, ingredient literacy video
Interactive media
- 2019Racial Undertones in Advertising: Lack of Diversity Divides UsAward-recognized work with Talé Mitchell
- 2015Wildlife Center Patient Care AppCreator, faculty interactive multimedia competition entry
- 2013Valley Immigration Stories ProjectWeb design and production
Awards
- 2019 BEA Award of ExcellenceFaculty Interactive Media and Emerging Technologies, Website Category, with Talé Mitchell for Racial Undertones in Advertising: Lack of Diversity Divides Us.
- 2015 BEA Best of CompetitionFaculty Interactive Multimedia, Solo, for Wildlife Center Patient Care App.
- 2014 BEA Award of ExcellenceFaculty Interactive Multimedia, Documentary/Promotional/Informational, with Shaun Wright and Talley Mulligan for Valley Immigration Stories Project.
Quotes
Be yourself. Love yourself. Take care of each other.Shelly Hokanson, Take Care newsletter
Shelly’s recurring community motto. Source: https://sendfox.com/shelly.hokanson/c/5nnr0l/a-big-thank-you-and-the-tirtir-foundation
Trivia
- Shelly volunteers as an outreach educator and raptor handler at the Wildlife Center of Virginia.
- Rescue cats Ziva and Charlie make cameo appearances in GOOW videos.
- Beyond skincare, Shelly designs graphic tees and makes tie dye.
Find Shelly
Follow Shelly for wear tests, ingredient explainers, and life behind GOOW.
Are you Shelly Hokanson?
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