Forget diamonds; makeup is a girl’s best friend. It can conceal a late night of partying, finalize an outfit, remove a pimple, or just act as a fun accessory. However, walking into Sephora without knowing exactly what you’re looking for can be a daunting task. You’ll be hit with an array of products in colors and textures so varied you won’t know where to begin. I have wandered around the store for hours searching for just the right shade of foundation, drowning in a sea of Urban Decay and Stila. But this story of confusion has a hero, The Beauty Guru. What is a beauty guru? A YouTuber who shares with you their knowledge on all things beauty – hair, nails, makeup, you name it! It’s like having a spunky, gorgeous best friend who always wants you to look amazing and shares all of their secrets. Here are the top five beauty gurus whose tips I abide by. Next time you walk into Sephora – you’ll be prepared.
youtube.com/xsparkage
Subscribers: 322,696
Training: Self-taught
Location: Austin, Texas
Leesha is one of the original “beauty gurus” to start appearing on YouTube, and credits her success to her early start. Her love for makeup began in high school when she took her first trip to the Mac Pro store, and she was fostered through online makeup communities. She is known for her daring looks involving acid bright colors and tons of glitter, encouraging her viewers to experiment with their looks and not worry about other people’s opinions. Her bubbly personality really makes her entertaining to watch, and along with basic makeup tutorials and product reviews, she does theme weeks, basing makeup looks off of things ranging from Disney princesses to The Hunger Games.
Video I live by: The Perfect Red Lip
I think a red lip is one of the most classic and beautiful ways to look good, and I rock one almost daily. Here’s the tutorial I use for my pucker:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjjUayEa1zE&feature=BFa&list=PL50DA4FC9E539078C&lf=plcp
youtube.com/pixiwoo
Subscribers: 497,788
Training: Professional schooling
Location: England
Sisters Nicola and Samantha make up pixiwoo. Both are professional makeup artists who have launched their successful videos into their own brand, manufacturing their own makeup brushes and teaching master classes. They were both inspired by their aunt, Maggie Hunt, to pursue makeup as a career. The sisters alternate video duties and are known for their perfect replicas of celebrity, period and runway looks. They also design more costume-esque and editorial looks and they choose to use rather high end products, but the looks can be followed using products on any budget. The sisters also run another YouTube site called pixiwoomadness, which focuses more on their personal lives, as well as their 10-minute makeup looks.
Video I live by: Jessie J Makeup Tutorial
I love bold, dramatic nighttime looks when I go out, and although it isn’t for everyone, I love this style! I usually tone the lip down by using a purple instead of a full on black, it keeps it dramatic but not as heavy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ga4_0OcrBE&list=PL39C5E04C6CCBC095&index=18&feature=plpp_video
youtube.com/michellephan
Subscribers: 1,865,518
Location: Los Angeles, California
Michelle Phan might be the most recognizable beauty guru YouTube has to offer, teaching her followers everything from how to whip up DIY face scrubs to applying supernatural Halloween looks. She has expanded her career as a YouTube star to include becoming a spokesperson for Lancome. Michelle’s videos are the most aesthetically high quality; she often mixes short films with her beauty tips and always ends with her signature “good luck.”
Video I live by: Makeup for glasses
I love my glasses, and I love my makeup. Learning how to accentuate my eyes and still have fun with my makeup while not overpowering or clashing is an invaluable skill.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91-EqPzSiRA&list=PLA219460E9E262AAA&index=1&feature=plpp_video
youtube.com/kandeejohnson
Subscribers: 788,508
Training: Professionally Trained
Location: Los Angeles, California
Kandee is the vivacious, fun mom you want to tell you how to dress. She herself is candy-sweet in all of her videos and a huge supporter of self-empowerment; she even has a whole video dedicated to dealing with negativity. In addition to her YouTube fame, she is a professional makeup artist for film, television, and print. Aside from her amazing makeup application videos, I love when she shares her skin care tips. Kandee is hugely informed on what you should and should not be exposing your delicate skin to and shows her daily washing and care routines – the zits run in fear.
Video I live by: Make-Up Plastic Surgery: Getting Rid of Under Eye Circles
I have really bad under eye circles, thank you college for the all nighters. This video shows how to make them disappear just like the professionals. You’re welcome for how jealous everyone will be of how well rested you are.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZL3m0E8xULk&list=PL392E31DF8B831811&index=3&feature=plpp_video
youtube.com/MakeupByTiffanyD
Subscribers: 474,423
Training: Self-taught
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Tiffany is your classic girl next door; this Georgia peach shares with us her preppy, sweet, and clean makeup looks. A self-taught makeup lover, she has really helpful basic tips and makeup brush explanations that would be beneficial to any makeup beginners or people wishing to sharpen their skills. She has an abundance of product reviews and hauls, (haul videos are created as explanations to accompany beauty products bought by the YouTuber) which make it easy to learn about new products and assess which would be right for you.
Video I live by: My foundation routine for flawless skin
It is so easy to go wrong with foundation, but this video walks you through each step to a flawless base for the rest of your makeup!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHOSv4pgeFw&feature=BFa&list=PLD87E35161092B332&lf=plpp_video