What do you look for in a makeup tutorial?
I like a product list, and then step-by-step with clear, concise instructions. Bonus points for an interesting tip or method!
— Christine
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70 Comments
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I like a close up if they are doing eye tutorials. Products mentioned in the description box or as they go along is great and dupe suggestions help. Under 10 minutes is best for me, anything more than that and I get bored. I also really appreciate somebody that tries to keep it professional instead of this sort of meandering walk through while they do their makeup. I like them concise and well-edited – I cannot stand someone who sits there and gives all of these fake-smiley-peekaboo-come-hither-look-at-me poses. This isn’t a modeling shoot. It’s so needy and awkward. I hate the narcissism and vanity behind it. I do like before and after shots, side-center-side shots so I can see how the light plays off of the finished look, but find the desperate voguing and squinty-eyes and duck-lipping so low-rent and tacky.
I know exactly what you mean, Pearl. The posing and acting all cutie pie doesn’t cut it for me, either. Like you put it: this is NOT a modeling shoot! And it just looks all kinds of awkward and ridiculous.
I said something very similar and now saw your post. Yes, cringe worthy.
Yes I love when they are 10 min or less! Could not agree more!!!
I agree with everything you said! *round of applause*
Finally, someone is calling these women out. Besides the posing and come-hither looks, I can’t stand rambling about your experience at the sales counter or silly comments like “Sorry how bad my nails look today, I need a manicure so bad!” (Why are you doing a beauty tutorial with badly chipped nails to begin with?). Also mispronunciation. If you’re going to invest in a high-end European product, why not learn how to say the brand and product names correctly?
As far as what I look for: a focused theme, good lighting, clear demonstrations of the products used, listing of the specific products used and a helpful application technique or two.
What they’re going to be using and how, to begin with. Then placement is key, even if their eye shape or angles in their face are different from my own, because whatever they’re doing, I can tweak it to fit my own. I like to hear them describe the implements being used as more than, ie; ” I’m taking my #217 …” .I may not have the exact same brand of brush or be overly familiar with the numbers. So I’d rather hear, ie; ” I’m using my fluffy blending brush, a MAC 217…”. Also, I do not like a ton of background noise going on or other distracting stimuli. Hopefully, I will walk away with learning something useful and/or fun!
LoL! I said a MAC 217, and I cannot even use it because goathair! ?
Hahahahaha! That’s so funny!
I like the camera to be close enough that you can actually see the application of the makeup. I don’t care for overly long introductions, just get to why we are all watching. I prefer that they not speed through the blending too much as I like to see if the shadows are blending well or whether it takes a lot of work to blend them out. I like them to list all products used down below the video, in particular I like them to list unusual products or their favorites. Ex- sunscreen because so many of them do not play well with foundations, etc. Most videos just say “I put my sunscreen on, etc.” I wish more “beauty gurus” would indicate why they choose a particular lipstick, blush or eye shadow. You know, I am doing an all cool look but I am adding this warm toned whatever because it does this, kind of a thing. Not everyone understands how to choose colors. To this day I am still struggling with what blush to pair with red lipstick, LOL. When I pay for a tutorial I expect them to spend more time teaching me and less time trying to sell me their product. If the product is good I will want to buy. Show me how to make it work.
– New techniques,
– thoughts on new products and how to use them (like which brush type gives the best effect),
– ways to make my routine faster
Ditto!
Exactly what you’ve said, Christine. It helps a lot if the person speaks CLEARLY so I can actually make out what they’re saying (you’d be surprised by how often I have to play something again and again and again to try to make out what the person has said in a particular part) and also if they can stay in camera range (far too often, a person will go to apply something and move totally out of view!).
I prefer when they get to the point. I hate when they bubble and take forever to get to the tutorial. I mean I want them to talk but get to point. Too much irrelevant yammering is a turn off which is why I have to complete a Jaclyn Hill video. She is a babbling idiot no offense!
Yes!
Yup!!!
I care the most about the details of the makeup look. I look forward to learn a new tip or a new technique. And of course i like to check the product list in case there is something new and interesting!
links to the products themselves!
I like to find videos where the vlogger shares something in common with me physically; whether it be age, eye type, colouring, etc so that the content is more relevant. I like this person to have clear concise speech. I have no problem with accents, love them, but please make some form of mental plan for your commentary ahead of time. I despair the bumbling rambling commentary. A vid filled with choppy edits is usually not very helpful. Segways to complete other half of face.. no probs.. Some suffer seriously on content as I like all the nitty gritty details. So share them; and share them multiple times using different words You just never know what gem will completely click with your audience. I like to see a complete list of products and tools use in the description box. This one a deal breaker: I would rather they didn’t stare and admire themselves in the mirror throughout with that awful head flip back and forth way. It’s creepy. Engage your audience, not yourself.
AlyArt remains one of my personal favs as she rapid fires key pointers like no one and seems to have a more technical brain, can actively describe the details of what she is doing, while she is doing it, so her delivery is spot on for a ‘must understand it first’ person like me. Alissa Ashley has also been very helpful; especially with adapting different eye styles to hooded eyes.
Oh my gosh, I hadn’t realized how much I hated that posing, rolling eyes, pouty lips, come hither look that they do at the beginning of their videos until you mentioned engaging the audience and not themselves! I do like AlyArt, also. I am considerably older than most YT gurus but I do like Karimma McKimmie (I think that is how she spells her name) and I also like Sharon Farrell. They are both Australian bloggers and actual MUA’s. Karimma is particularly good for people with more ashy, greenish undertones as she has the same tone.
Yes, I enjoy Karimma’s vids: she’s gorgeous and lovely without need for false affectation, and yes we do share a very similar skintone. Sometimes I think she might be a half shade lighter, but lighting plays into it and it depends on the video. I will check out your other recommendation. Thanks Deborah 🙂
second look at her list of videos. The ones that I had seen previously related to foundation swatches where I wanted a look see of a specific shade and found her through Google search. Wow, we do have very very similar skintone. There’s a few odd videos where she looks darker and a bit lighter, but I’m now subscribed and going to haunt down foundation choices.
Oh! I love them too. They are very clear, not overly self-engaged and their approach to makeup speaks to me better than other vloggers. Im 37, and it is very hard to find good quality tutorials that are both complex and realistic.
Yes I love Karima’s videos. I sometimes feel she’s an old soul! I like how she can articulate herself very clearly.
Thanks for mentioning AlyArt! I just watched two of her video’s about face shapes and contouring. Wauw. She is really clear. Very helpful and also fun to discover new things about faces. 🙂
Oui! 😀 There’s an eyeshadow vid of hers where I just had to keep pausing the video so I could gather all the tips. I agree with her assessment on hooded eyes; they do not require intense highlight on inner third or half of the mobile lid, just leave it with whatever base. .. particularly if you prefer a more casual less made up look. I’ve been skipping it altogether lately and I prefer me without the strong contrast. Anyhow her techniques and knowledge of structure are excellent, but for me the key is her placement and her explanations of why that placement works. Makeup facelift was fun too.
Thanks for mentioning AlyArt! I’m always on the lookout for tutorials of using eye shadow on hooded lids. I’m going to look her up. It’s hard finding good tutorials for people with hooded lids because a lot of these youtube people who say they have “hooded lids” don’t have much of a hood at all and mine are pretty severe.
I hear you Lori 🙂 I agree. I think there are very different degrees and types of hoods. Mine are a function of aging and I have a bit of crease skin fold over thing happening; trickier to deal with in my opinion. I think many hoodies start out with just that heavier chunk of skin up at the brow bone which can obscure the true crease if severe or heavy enough. In many cases, gravity takes over and eventually peeps end up with similar problem to me; that skin drops and becomes a skin hood and you can’t see crease at all, or just partial crease. In my opinion, If you can see someone’s full crease, they do not belong in the ‘hooded’ eye category although they may ultimately over the years end up there as a result of their prominent brow bone structure. Eyes downturned at the corners also represent a ‘hood’ of sorts, Definitely a lot of ‘hooded’ eye tutorials which do not work for my brand of eyes, but I have at least learned how to look at my eye structure more objectively and learn skills to address their limitations and advantages
Love those two! Alissa Ashley has me laughing out loud during some of her videos. I love how she doesn’t take herself too seriously but she is conscientious and maticulous as well.
She is endearing because she has a sense of humour without forcing it or trying too hard; reads true to herself. 🙂
I agree. I think it’s also important to explain the technique being used. Not just I’m going to put on eyeliner. Well that type, with what method? Give me all the facts pls.
Agreed!!!! Especially eyes. I am still trying to get my own techniques down. 🙂
I’m with you on the detailed product list and clear instructions, Christine!
When I look at makeup tutorials, I’m usually searching for a way to solve a particular challenge I’m experiencing with application, eye shape, skin texture, whatever.
But it also helps when the video is entertaining, without going too far off topic for too long.
I’m really not much of a video-watching person; I’d actually rather read text, lol.
I’ve watched more videos by Wayne Goss than by anyone else. I find Lisa Eldridge’s to be very informative. Like Pixiwoo and A Model Recommends, too. Doesn’t it seem like I favor British artists? But I don’t really watch that often — it happens in spurts, when I’m trying to figure something out. I think the audience for many of the youtube videographers is about forty years younger than myself. Which doesn’t mean I don’t learn from them, but their issues and mine don’t always intersect. I’ve gotten some fantastic ideas for easy updos for very long hair (waist-to-hip length) from young youtubers, though 🙂
Oh, that’s my point. I feel yt is lacking of more “mature” artists. Thats why I like the more “toned down” ones with more realistic and wearable looks. Jordan Luberty and Harry Makes it Up are hreat, too.
I’ll have to take a look at them, Jeanette!
I’m also a fan of Wayne Goss and Lisa Eldridge. Both of them have an understanding of why certain products, tools, and techniques work (or don’t work, as the case may be); tutorials geared to those of us who don’t *want* packed-on glam every time we so much as pick up a lipstick; suggestions for different face and eye shapes, skin types, and so on. I used to enjoy watching Eve Pearl for the same reasons, though her video tutorials are few and far between these days. I also like Angie from “Hot and Flashy” for suggestions specific to women over 50 (I am one). If I want to learn how to do MY makeup, that won’t happen from watching a 20-something “glam guru” only doing her own, and always according to the most immediate trends (often only proving that just because something is trendy, that doesn’t mean it looks good).
I will have to try looking at Angie — thanks for the tip!
The Freckled Fox has awesome how-to’s for waist length hair.
I will have to look her up — thanks 🙂 My hair is currently tailbone length, but I should probably get it trimmed a bit… it starts getting more difficult to wear loose at this length without becoming a tangly mess.
I agree re product list and techniques. At risk this is tangential — I’d also be glad to see a greater range of features and considerations than I’m able to find so far. Like techniques to address: wide set or close set eyes, larger eyes, longer faces or different shaped faces, greater range of ages, more diverse settings (conservative office to party night out), inside versus outdoor makeup key points, etc.
I like to hear details in technique. I have stopped watching a few vloggers after realizing every tutorial is just a variation on “and blend this into the crease… and blend this onto the lower lashline.” I like to hear why they are using that particular brush, why they put a lot or a little product onto the brush, basically *how* they get the color to blend out, and why they are blending it out to whatever degree. I also love tips for different eye shapes. I also don’t like them to fast forward through the blending process. I know a lot of them do that just to save time… but I honestly don’t mind watching a 20 minute video. It’s interesting to see a professional artist take ten minutes to blend shadows. Helps me to realize that a complex eye look really does take time.
I so agree with you on wanting to see the whole proces. When I do my own eyes it never looks as great, probably because I do not realize enough that one must go little by little (a bit of shadow, blend, more shadow, blend, a little more shadow, blend…). Also agree with the others here on that one wants to know why a certain color or why this brush and not that. Tips on good youtubers are welcome!
My favorite is Pixiwoo. Not every single video they do is out of this world amazingly informative, but in general across their career they are very good at actually showing the work and explaining the why and how. Sam’s videos in particular often include great tips about different eye shapes and how to customize the look for your eyes. I can’t think of another makeup vlogger as consistently helpful as Sam.
ah yes, I’ve been watchin them for a long time now. Even before I really was into makeup. Sam is also my favorite.
no talking. and immediate start of doing the make up. good light, good camera.
list of product.
i am very impatient 🙂
I also like clear concise instructions preferable with suggestions of other products I could use if I don’t have what they have. It really annoys me when I select a tutorial stating “get this look with with X palette/set” only to find that they use a ton of other products to create the look.
I look for genuineness and someone who is themselves. And someone who keeps it real! I look for actual application and explanation without too much rambling. Sometimes in the beginning theres wayyy too much introduction and not getting to the application of the makeup. I also like when they use only one (maybe two) palettes…but using one color then jumping from palette to palette gets confusing! And I like a list of their products in the description box. 🙂
Makeup that I have or brushes that I’m interested in buying!
Mostly I am looking for special instructions/techniques, how to do tightlining for example, I am not looking for special looks very often
So I am more interested in the “how to make it” than in the look.
agree. Wayne Goss is good for specific instructions like this
I enjoy watching tutorials on YouTube, and was pleasantly surprised when CHANEL had official videos on how to use the new fall collection, because I really wasn’t sure what to do with the red at my age. So, official videos from companies, Lisa Eldridge every time she releases something because I always learn something great, and then I have a few fun people I enjoy that do fabulous work like Desi Perkins, LustreLux, Wayne Goss, and occasionally Nikki Tutorials. I can always just take an element away from what they teach and use it in my day to day life. Most of the above specify what brush brand and. model they are using, and give a decent instructional design to their videos.
Important things for me:
Someone who speaks clearly
Explain techniques and choices
List of products
Mention dupes or similar shades
Not being “too funny, too sexy, too bit€#Â¥”
I like some personality, but sometimes I feel like to turn off the audio.
agree!
An actual tutorial and not a lot of unnecessary gabbing and mugging for the camera. And close-ups!
YES!!!!
I’ve given up on tutorials because my eyes don’t work with most techniques so I just prefer swatch videos. I especially appreciate it when they do shadow swatches using brushes…it’s more authentic. I’m tired of cookie cutter gurus…
Precise and concise. I don’t care for all the talking to be honest. I prefer a talk over because it gets to the point and what needs to be covered.
I do NOT care for all the posing. It gets to be too much. And please don’t blow kisses, that only works on children BY children.
I like a listing of products used – that’s really helpful especially the links on where to buy.
Lighting. Honestly, if you’re doing a a technique tutorial video and you can’t present it in proper lighting then it is worthless IMO. The number of beauty vloggers who present their work in the dim just astounds me.
I also cannot BEAR the intros. Lordy, just get to it. What are you using? What are you planning to do? Just get to it already.
Ideas on how to use a eyeshadow palette. Tips and trick. Step by step tecniques. The best tutorials consider individuals particularities such as eye shape and things like that.
Thanks for the recs, you guys. Don’t watch them often, but really enjoy the specifics and generally concise delivery. Product list with links is a must, including brushes. Usually look for how to get varied looks from an eye palette, for example. Helps me rule in or out for purchase. But spending 15 minutes mispronouncing ‘sequoia’ is not acceptable. It’s not ancient Amharic. If you don’t know how to say it, look it up before you begin. Not a total grammar Nazi, but that too can play into my offclick. It ruins their authority. Many tuts are far too self aggrandizing. We are there for the makeup and to learn technique, not to gaze at a self promotion. Vids need to be instructive and informative, not an exercise in narcissism.
After seeing plenty and more plenty of YouTube videos must say lots of them are so badly done. Girls posing and talking for hours it seems before getting down to business. Most of the times you can tell whether us a cheaply review when they show the product in front of their hands or return in a few hours to see whether the foundation, blush or whatever still holding on. Some are downright hilariously made I mean poorly. But there are many good ones too. I like Emily Noel, Kathleen Lights and a few others. These girls are dressed professionally according to their reviews, some others seriously they just lack cleanliness and their presentation a mess. I don’t mind they take especially if reviewing an entire line of products but some are so poorly done I think I could teach them a lesson or two. Lol!
Yes, list all products used and prepared your work area before entertaining us.
I have read all the comments and agree with most, although I prefer a longer tutorial especially if content suffers by editing too much out. I also appreciate either avoiding terms that may not be common knowledge or explaining the meanings if the terms are used. I still remember a video I was trying to follow that used the term “blowout” when referring to eyeshadow. That term, combined with heavy editing, left me scratching my head.
Another thing, this is more of a pet peeve, is looking into the viewfinder instead of the lens when addressing the audience. I always feel like checking next to me to see who is being spoken to, lol.
I’m usually drawn to someone with the same coloring as I have. I like the artist to be a bit more mature as opposed to someone in their teens or early 20s so that they may face some of the same skin/aging issues that I’m facing. I like good instructions and explanations of techniques. I like when they list the products that they are using. And hopefully they have a nice personality. I’m completely turned off by foul language. If you’re an adult, use words with more than four letters.
Details!!!! Lots of them! Complete product list! I get so mad when there are products already on the face and the tutorial doesn’t say what they are or how they were applied.
I don’t like it when they are too bubbly and excited about the product. I do want someone more mature, who speaks clearly and is not sponsored.
I also want a full explanation and step by step instructions. Having links in the description bar helps.
I have hooded lids so I can’t apply makeup the way I used to.
I like a short, sharp intro and then straight into it. Descriptions of the products and comments on what they are putting where. It is much better when the person has rehearsed what they are going to say instead of meandering around and professional comments work best for me.
I also meant to say speaking clearly, pronouncing words clearly, correct grammar and knowing colours. I have seen a few youtube girls not knowing the colour teal……….
yes, description of the color you use! So I can see if I might have something similar…
I can’t stand it when the lights bleach out or over yellow the subject. It’s hard to see the color product going on and seeing the progress of the makeup application. Therefore, I look for good lighting and crisp colors.
I don’t mind longer videos as long as there’s not much pointless jibber jabber. When the subject rants off on something a bit too long it’s adding extra pointless minutes to a video.
I prefer no music playing on the background, as often it’s really distracting. And please don’t say that this product is, “absolutely amazing”, or, “I’m so obsessed with __ right now”. Too many people say the same phrases and it’s like they were trained by the same people on how to make a video. It really irks me when I hear it over and over again.
I really like it when the personality of the subject comes through. Even though it’s not someone I prefer to watch on a regular basis, it’s something that makes them stand out and makes the tutorial that much more engaging.
Not everyone can go tutorials. Three should be a lot of previous preparation involved. Like Lisa Eldridge’s. Clear, doable makeup.
I don’t like transformations or look alike.