Hi friends!
I don’t know about you but if you follow social media in any capacity, whether it be YouTube, Snapchat, or Instagram, you’ll know the drama has been HIGH in the past year, particularly in the beauty influencer community. If you’re unfamiliar, “beauty influencers” are people who have become public figures primarily through social media exposure. A lot of them have huge platforms of millions of followers, and some of them even own their own brand(s) or collaborate regularly with other brands to bring out products.
These are people with a lot of power. Undoubtedly they’ve done the hustle and worked themselves all the way up over the years. They’ve built up legions of fans who trust what they say and buy up all their products and recommendations. But somewhere along the way they’ve become problematic as well. From in-fighting, to openly feuding with brands, to outrageous accusations, to lying & potential scamming, it’s all become very unprofessional in my opinion. Where’s all the “beauty” in that??
Read this: Beauty brands that excite me, and some that don’t
But it’s really important to note that not all beauty influencers behave badly. There are a lot who are out there purely for the love of what they do and to teach us all something. Some are really phenomenal actually. So today I want to celebrate those unproblematic beauty influencers! Here’s my own curated list of just a few; there are more but I didn’t want to make this list too long. So if you’re just starting out on social media or simply looking for valuable information on product or technique without all the drama, these ladies are a great place to start!
EMILY NOEL
I’ve been watching Emily for years now, and she seems like one of the sweetest, most genuine people on YouTube. She’s been making videos for about 10 years, and they’re extremely informative. She talks about products very thoroughly, so if you’re looking for a good GRWM (“get ready with me”) or drugstore tutorial, be sure to check her out!
HARRY MAKES IT UP
I loveeee Harry’s makeup style! She does beautiful everyday makeup looks but also shows you how to change them up to look more editorial. She’s a working makeup artist originally from the UK, but now based out in L.A. Fun fact: my Capsule Makeup series from back in March was inspired by her 10-part YouTube series.
SAM CHAPMAN
Sam Chapman’s tutorials were my gateway into absolutely loving all things makeup years ago. Her style is so cool and effortless, yet beautiful. She’s one-half of the Pixiwoo channel on YouTube that she runs with her sister Nic. Both are makeup artists who also create all the Real Techniques brushes that you can find in Ulta and other retailers in the U.S. Love, love, love her!
JKISSA
I watch Jkissa for all of her amazing colorful looks and her inspiring creativity. For example, she’ll pair lime green eyeliner with orange eyeshadow, and has a whole series where she picks random colors to create looks with. Her videos are also really helpful and informative, like this eyeliner vid. Best of all she seems humble and genuinely grateful for her following.
LISA ELDRIDGE
I’ve written about Lisa Eldridge on my blog before, when she launched her signature collection of red lipsticks last year (which I hear will be back in stock really soon!). She’s a pro makeup artist that works with celebrities, fashion publications, and heritage brands like Lancôme & Shiseido. She’s the epitome of class and sophistication in my book! A masterful communicator, her videos are full of priceless info & beauty tips.
MARIAH LEONARD
Mariah Leonard is the newest influencer to me from this whole list. She’s just so cool – her style, her way of talking about products, her way of applying products, etc. I love the looks she creates on her channel with a lot of bright pops of color and natural-looking skin. And her Instagram is straight-up beautiful!
I COVET THEE
Alix from I Covet Thee is more of a lifestyle vlogger and creator, so you’ll find much more on her channel than just the odd beauty vid. From styling, to vlogs, to food, to interiors, and of course beauty, she does a bit of it all. But I think she’s just so sophisticated, mild-mannered and best of all, uncontroversial. Watching her videos are like taking a Xanax without actually taking one, you know? Her Instagram feed is also totally gorgeous and well-edited.
I’m so curious, who are your favorite unproblematic beauty influencers? Pop them in the comments below, please!
xo, Erica
PIN IT!
Love Sam Chapman and Emily Noel….genuine and no drama with them!
Exactly!
Omg the drama! I do enjoy watching Alix! I completely see the Xanax thing!! 😀
Right?! I’m so over it! Alix is lovely. Lisa Eldridge’s videos are super calming as well, if you haven’t checked her out yet. I think it’s the British accent that does it for me!
I’m only familiar with Emily Noel and Jkissa which I follow. I love her!
I might have heard of the others but never looked into their videos. May have to now lol
Yes, they are all lovely ladies and worth a watch!