Meet The Talented New Crop Of YouTube Beauty Vloggers
1/7It’s officially August, which means it’s almost time for the NYX FACE Awards — beauty world, rejoice! Now in its fourth year, NYX Cosmetics, the major cosmetics brand (who also happens to be opening their first professional makeup stores starting in greater Los Angeles this fall, with more to come across the country in 2016—the countdown begins!), has given YouTube beauty vloggers the chance to compete for the ultimate makeup title: “Beauty Vlogger of the Year on YouTube.” The winner receives $25,000, consultations with pro makeup artists and a year’s supply of makeup…and of course, the added bonus of being able to expand their channel even more.
This year’s event is not to be missed. Over 3,000 people entered (that’s 1,000 more than last year!). And the host is none other than Kelly Osbourne. It makes sense, as Kelly is the ultimate beauty girl. “Makeup can take you anywhere, but it can also turn you into anything. To me, it’s a creative outlet that makes me feel empowered, confident and ready to take on the world in an unstoppable way,” Kelly says. And we agree. The one look she’s glad she left behind? “Putting on as much black liner as I possibly could, just to prove my adolescent point of showing everyone how pissed off I was at the world. Now I’m a less-is-more kind of girl,” she says. “With a blank canvas and a bit of imagination, makeup can take you anywhere,” she says.
Now, the pool of contestants has been narrowed down to the final six — and their work is truly inspiring. On August 22nd in Los Angeles, they will show what they’ve got to a panel of judges and duke it out for the win.
Kelly’s career advice? “First, you have to figure out what it is you want to do or become and immerse yourself in that world. Learn every single day and never stop learning. If you are a good person who works hard, your dreams will come true. If there’s one thing I know, it’s that good things happen to good people who work hard,” she says. We’re taking that mindset and running with it.
Get to know the final six in our exclusive interview — we grilled them on their fave products, how they got started, and why they hope to take the title. Oh, and don’t forget to subscribe to their channels…we promise, they’re gonna be huge.
2/7Rosy McMichael (RosyMcMichael)
How’d you get your start?
"I started my YouTube channel about five years ago, because I needed both a creative outlet and a way to advertise my makeup artistry. As a freelancer, I wanted to show girls different looks — kind of like a makeup catalog. I never in a million years would have imagined that it was going to become my career."What’s your signature look?
"A neutral soft smoky eye with soft contouring and shimmery highlighting."What’s your most popular video so far?
"Makeup Horrors! I went over common makeup mistakes and how to easily fix them. My followers liked that I showed pictures of my younger self making those same mistakes!"Do you have advice for girls just starting a makeup channel?
"Find your voice and your passion...and have fun with it!"What’s your favorite on-camera products?
"NYX Jumbo Eye Pencils. I do not think I would be able to count how many times I have used them in my videos."Why would winning NYX FACE Awards be so important for you?
"As a Latina vlogger, it is an honor to be part of this competition. I am beyond thankful to be able to compete in Spanish. Winning the NYX FACE Awards is not only important to me, but to the thousands of Latinas in the States who love the brand but do not speak English."
3/7Mykie (Glam & Gore)
How’d you get your start?
"I loved makeup from a young age, especially special effects makeup ever since I saw The Exorcist. It wasn't until years later when I was 20 that I took my first professional makeup job at MAC Cosmetics. I worked there, at an award winning haunted house, and freelanced on various gigs for years before I decided one day to do the #100daysofmakeup challenge for myself. I posted a different makeup look for 100 consecutive days and from there, my journey into social media began."What’s your signature look?
"I'd say it's my two-part glam and gore makeup, that either starts pretty, and then veers into an ugly twist, or is both oddly pretty and gross at the same time. Hence the channel name, Glam & Gore!"What’s your most popular video so-far?
"My most viewed video so far is a quick little parody/hidden PSA video about the Kylie Jenner lip challenge with 1.4 million views, but my most liked video is actually my [Toxic Bioluminescent Mermaid] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scWRboQxOHs) from the third challenge of the Face Awards with 53,000 likes!"Do you have advice for girls just starting a makeup channel?
"Yes! The biggest mistake I see people make when starting a new channel is that it already heavily emulates another popular one, either in style, subject matter, or personality. In a world with so much of the same, something rough around the edges, but unique will always stand out more than a great replica. My advice to anyone starting out is to be 100% yourself because I think viewers can sense when someone is being genuine, and your true personality and style will bring you the most success. Start from there and you can always improve things like camera, editing, and lighting equipment as you go!"What are your favorite on-camera products?
"I love NYX Roll On Shimmer and Ice Queen from the Pro Highlight and Contour Palette on camera, because when bright filming lights hit them they shimmer and glow like crazy!"Why would winning the NYX FACE Awards be so important for you?
"It would be important for me because it would send the message that the tide is changing for what we consider beautiful in the makeup industry. It would mean that the idea of timeless beauty could extend to more avant-garde looks. It would mean being a talented makeup artist could go beyond a flawless contour job and extend to something as unsettling as a sharp-fanged monster. It would mean there's more to beautiful makeup than a smoky eye — it might be a light-up mermaid. It would be important to me to win so that everyone who likes avant-garde makeup as much as they love beauty makeup wouldn't feel like outliers, but would know they are part of a new growing community of well-rounded makeup enthusiasts."
4/7Erin Timony (FreshBlush)
How’d you get your start?
"In middle school, I was first inspired by Michelle Phan’s earliest videos made in front of her shower curtain. I watched her videos all the time, and she really felt like a friend to me. Her personality was so similar to mine, that I felt incredibly inspired seeing someone a bit shy like myself being so successful and bringing other people so much happiness and knowledge. By creating my own channel, I hoped to inspire and bring joy and confidence to others in a similar way."What’s your signature look?
"Something I always love to add to my makeup looks is freckles! I have freckles naturally, and absolutely love the look of them. Freckles have a sort of magical fairy-like feel, and I like to amp up that style in my more dramatic looks by adding even more with eyeliner, in a natural brown, a white, or a fun bright color."What’s your most popular video so-far?
"So far my most popular video is a hairstyle tutorial I created in eighth grade. The video has now surpassed over 1.2 million views! I made it one afternoon not thinking much of it, and I can’t believe how popular it has become."Do you have advice for girls just starting a makeup channel?
"Just jump right in, it’s okay to make mistakes! If you never made any mistakes, you would never learn anything. And even though it’s hard, try to be as true to your authentic self as much as possible. Say and do whatever first comes to mind and feels most natural. Pay no attention to hateful comments, because no matter what you do, you’ll never please everyone. Know that by putting your content into the world, you are bringing joy to other people. Even if you have only 10 subscribers, know that you are making a difference in those people’s lives."What are your favorite on-camera products?
"I have so many favorites it’s hard to pick, but NYX Stay Matte But Not Flat Foundation, fun false eyelashes, and the new white liquid eye liner are among my favorites."Why would winning the NYX FACE Awards be so important for you?
The NYX competition has allowed me an opportunity to expand out of my comfort zone, think outside the box, and grow my social media presence so that I can meet and learn from a whole new set of people. Winning would be an incredible accomplishment, and would help fund my college education, but the learning experience this competition provides is the most important thing to me.
5/7Patrick Simondac (PatrickStarrr)
How’d you get your start?
"I started with photography. I was always photographing my friends and family, and I loved playing on Photoshop. I fell in love with Photoshopping features and makeup on the computer screen so much so that it sparked my interest in all things beauty and makeup."What’s your signature look?
"My signature look includes lots of lashes, a smoky eye…and full coverage beat foundation. I love full glam. Of course my turban is signature to my look."What’s your most popular video so-far?
"My [FULL Coverage Foundation Routine] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZlFcd-IvEk) has to be the most popular on my channel. It is so simple and so plain! I guess it has so many views because boys and girls want to know how to get that 'no skin' beat face."Do you have advice for someone just starting a makeup channel?
"My advice would be to just do it. Have fun on your channel and interact with other YouTubers no matter how big or small they are. You never know who you will meet!"What are your favorite on-camera products?
"I love my Coty Airspun Powder (http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/coty-airspun-loose-face-powder/ID=prod6577-product)! Its like all-purpose flour for my face. It gives me a flawless finish. I also love large wispy lashes for the top and bottom of my eyes! You cant go wrong with fleek highlighter to get that Hollywood glow!"Why would winning the NYX FACE Awards be so important for you?
"Winning would mean everything to me. I am the oldest of three boys. I want to be an inspiration to my brothers and other families out there. I love love. I want to inspire boys and girls out there that it is ok to be yourself and love yourself. I may not be the best makeup artist...but I know I am a great friend, brother and son. Winning the NYX FACE Awards would mean so much to me."
6/7Elsa Pageler (Elsa Rhae)
How’d you get your start?
"I needed one elective to graduate from college. With little to no cosmetic or painting experience, I chose stage makeup as an easy A…and it was! The class was very basic, but I had a cool new makeup kit required for the class that I took and used it to explore outside class using the Internet as my teacher. From then on I continued to practice, joined up with a local Kansas City Face Paint Company and expanded my collection of paint, tools and skills."What’s your signature look?
"My signature style is that of illusion. I do everything I can to break the box and challenge the ordinary. Whether it involves changing the structure of my face with makeup (my Paranormal Activity look), transforming into a two-dimensional cartoon or filming stop motion videos with moving inanimate objects, I always aim to trick the eye with illusion."What’s your most popular video so-far?
"My most popular video to date is my White Walker stop motion…though my NYX Face Awards Mermaid video is close on its tail! My White Walker look went viral last may and appeared in places like Ashton Kutcher’s blog and the Huffington Post!"Do you have advice for girls just starting a makeup channel?
"Art, like many things, is a practice. Kick your own butt in everything you do, and make yourself pour every ounce of your heart into your passion. The energy you put out into the world and the universe will come back to you in full force, so make sure that energy is all positive!"What are your favorite on-camera products?
"My favorite on camera product is NYX HD Finishing Powder. While dewy skin is a HUGE trend these days (I rock the dew every day!), the last thing you want is an oily looking face in front of the camera. Having some extra powder on hand will take away any excessive dewiness in a snap…and it really comes in handy when shooting bald people!"Why would winning the NYX FACE Awards be so important for you?
"A win in the NYX FACE Awards (as if I haven’t won already by just being in the competition!) would be proof that popularity is not everything. I was one of the smallest channels through the entire competition and am currently the smallest in the top six, yet I am still here! I’m still standing! I used my best tool (my brain) and worked it harder than ever before. With creativity comes great responsibility, and if there is enough drive in your heart, anything is possible."
7/7Lorena Gallardo (LoLo Love)
How’d you get your start?
"In 2013 I decided to start my own YouTube channel after many years of overcoming my shy personality. It is rewarding to be able to connect and help people across the world by sharing what I have learned throughout the years." What’s your signature look?
"My signature look would be black winged eyeliner and red lips, I love the classic pin-up makeup look." What’s your most popular video so far?
"My most popular video is a step-by-step tutorial on how to achieve perfect and beautiful eyebrows." Do you have advice for girls just starting a makeup channel?
"Remember to always stay true to yourself, be creative and original. The fans appreciate that."What are your favorite on-camera products?
"My favorite on-camera products would have to be NYX Epic Black Mousse Eyeliner and NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Monte Carlo…they are amazing!"Why would winning the NYX FACE Awards be so important for you?
"Winning the NYX FACE awards and obtaining the title of beauty blogger of the year would be like a dream come true! I also want to be able to help my mother financially and make her and my viewers proud."
