Vintage Avon lipstick sampler box. Photo courtesy of thesalvagecollection.blogspot.com
When I was 16, the only cosmetic I wore regularly was a heavy black eyeliner pencil. I would steal my moms lighter, hold the eyeliner pencil over it and melt it to gooey perfection. I would wait five seconds and then quickly smear the liner on the inner rim of my eyes. Sometimes I wouldn't wait long enough and I would burn myself, but after a few times I pretty much had it down to a science. The hot eyeliner would dry into place and last for about an hour and then it would start running all over my face. I am surprised I don't have permanent eye damage!
I learned that eyeliner trick from watching my mom do it all through my childhood. It was the only makeup she wore and so that's what I did too. Back then most girls learned how to use makeup from their mom, big sister or friends. Some of the makeup tricks you learn in adolescence follows you through your whole life, even if they shouldn't!
Maybelline Expert Eye Pencil, my first eyeliner.
Enter the internet age. A whole new world of learning has been opened up to us all, especially when it comes to makeup. You don't have to rely on your best friends teenage sister to teach you how to put on foundation anymore. You go to YouTube and search "how to {insert any makeup challenge here}" and you instantly have thousands of tutorials at your disposal.
It's an amazing tool for anyone who is even remotely interested in learning to apply makeup, wanting to try out new products or refine the skills they already have. I am in love with YouTube makeup tutorials. I watch them daily and subscribe to a few channels that I think are especially helpful. As a Makeup Artist, I know that there is always room for improvement and there is always something new to learn.
I get amazing product recommendations, I learn new techniques and I get ideas for looks I may have never thought of on my own. There is a limitless amount of education and inspiration at the click of a mouse. It's very exciting! The reason I am sharing my past experience and my current obsession with tutorials is because I believe that women want to learn more about makeup, they just don't know how to go about it. It can be scary to got to a department store and put your face in the hands of someone you don't know. You can ask friends, but it can be a little embarrassing to admit that you "don't know how to put on liquid eyeliner". I think online makeup tutorials are an amazing resource that you can tap into without shame and from the comfort of your own home.
Here are a few of my favorite online tutorials. These are video channels that I actually subscribe to and have purchased products and tools that these artists have recommended. I have been beyond happy with everything I have learned and have been introduced to so many new products and techniques!
Lisa Eldridge
1. Lisa Eldridge. I am thoroughly amazed by the beauty, skill and eloquence of Lisa. She is an amazing, renowned Makeup Artist yet she still comes across as humble and very kind. I have watched every single one of her tutorials and I adore her clean and refined approach to makeup. I believe she cares about everyone she touches and truly wants to help her viewers feel their most beautiful and confident.
Her online tutorials range from barely-there five minute makeup looks to very dramatic party makeup. Every single product that she has recommended, that I have purchased, has been amazing. Her taste level and craftsmanship has never let me down. I cannot say enough about how much of an inspiration she has been to me and how much I have learned from watching her tutorials. I highly recommend subscribing to her YouTube channel and practicing along with her. Her website is definitely worth a bookmark as well!
My favorite Lisa Eldridge tutorials....
How to cover acne/blemishes tutorial: This video changed how I apply foundation and concealer to my clients! It is remarkable.
How to wear bright lipstick: Many women ask me how they can introduce the bright lipstick trend into their routine, this is a great example of how to do that.
Glowing, youthful day makeup for mature skin: This is probably my hands-down favorite video. The look she created is so wonderful and the woman who modeled for the look is gorgeous! This is a must-see for women of all ages.
Samantha Chapman
2. The Pixiwoo Sisters. I have been obsessed with the Pixiwoo Sisters for over a year. When I first discovered their YouTube channel I spent and entire day marathon-ing through each and every one of their videos.
Samantha Chapman is the edgier of the sisters. Her looks are often avant garde, and some would say unwearable. I actually love everything she has ever posted, mostly because I am not afraid to try new looks and experiment with strange colors. Sam is also the designer of my favorite makeup brushes, Real Techniques. I recently wrote a blog all about these brushes because they are fantastic and VERY affordable.
Nic Haste is the softer more romantic sister. She creates beautiful bridal tutorials and does wonders with highlighters! The Pixiwoo sisters come across as very personable. They understand that not everyone can afford to spend a lot on makeup and they have introduced me to some outstanding inexpensive products. In their videos they use a wide range of products, and very often give several options for alternate inexpensive "dupes" for luxury items. The only downside to falling in love with them is that they are based in the UK, so many of the products they use and love are not found here in the USA. I have been forced to order things online and pay a ton of shipping to get some of my favorite products. So proceed with caution if you like instant gratification when it comes to your makeup.
Nic Haste
Party Vamp Makeup: This is a seriously sultry look created by Sam Chapman.
Products we love: Some really great product suggestions from Makeup Artists who know what they are talking about.
The best skincare products: Another video full of amazing skincare product recommendations.
Soft neutral makeup: a beautiful natural look created by Nic Haste.
Ombre Brows and Lips: This might be my favorite video by Sam Chapman. I adore this look!
Makeup Artist Billy B.
3. Billy B. Makeup Artist Billy B. is my most recent online beauty tutorial obsession. I love his laid back imperfect approach to makeup artistry. He uses his fingers a lot and demonstrates methods of product application that I have never seen.
Billy B. has painted the faces of hundreds of celebrities and his work has been featured in magazines and on red carpets for decades. Some of his most interesting work can be seen on "Transformations" a web makeover series that will make you rethink the power of makeup!
My favorite Billy B. makeup tutorials....
Bardot Eyes: In this master class Billy B. recreates the iconic 60's "Bardot" smokey eye. The finished look is stunning.
Colorful eyeshadow tutorial: While this might not be a look for everyone, there is certainly a lot of tips and tricks on how to play with colorful eye makeup. I think the look is beautiful.
I hope this blog post inspires you to go out and explore the world of makeup tutorials and get to playing with makeup. There aren't any shortcuts to perfecting the art of makeup and nobody is born knowing how to do it. It's all just good old-fashioned practice and inspiration! I have twenty plus years of uneven eyeliner, imperfect eyeshadow and other cosmetic mistakes under my belt. You won't ever get it right on the first try, but I promise the more you do it the better you will get. If you have any favorite makeup tutorials please post them in the comments. I would love to see what everyone else is inspired by!
Disclaimer: I don't know any of the makeup artists I have written about in this blog. I discovered the tutorials featured here by digging around on the internet. I do not get paid to talk about any person or product I blog about. These are all my personal experiences.