Unfortunately for me this week, I’ve been laid out by a bad case of bronchitis. All my productive plans seem laughably out of reach. Shadowing my supervisor at my new internship? Reading ahead in my literature classes? Getting a jump start on research for my thesis? All these goals have been shelved for the next few days, because all my body wants to do is cough, wheeze, and sleep.
There has been one magical secret up my sleeve these last few days, though, that’s helped me forget my current inability to breathe: beauty vloggers. That’s right. I have spent an embarrassing number of hours this week zoning out to the voices of these lovely ladies as they talk about all things makeup, beauty, and skincare. There is something so hypnotic and relaxing about beauty videos. They’ve allowed me to immerse myself in the creative world of makeup as I focus on resting and healing—not stressing about work and classes I’m being forced to miss.
That being said, here are three of my favorite beauty gurus on YouTube!
1. Tati
The number one spot has to go to my all-time favorite beauty YouTuber, Tati Westbrook. Tati is 34 years old and is based in California. I’m relatively new to the online makeup community, and Tati was the first YouTuber I stumbled upon a few weeks ago. I’ve been hooked ever since. She does a wide array of reviews from drugstore to high end products, and she does videos 5 days a week. She is 100% committed to her channel and takes makeup very seriously, calling herself the "Makeup Investigator" as she is always searching for the next hot product. Tati has reviewed products from all over the beauty spectrum and has videos of full-face $1 makeup to a $3,000 tutorial. Each week she gives her honest reviews on dozens of items to over 2 million subscribers. Extra bonus: her voice is very mellow and soothing, which I’ve definitely been enjoying during my sick week. Find her on YouTube here.
2. RachhLoves
RachhLoves is probably my second most-watched beauty channel after Tati’s. Her full name is Rachel Cooper and she is based in Canada. Unlike Tati, Rachel has two children and also maintains a full second channel full of vlogs about her family life. Rachel is much more high-energy and humorous than Tati, so I’ve been tuning into her channel during moments when I want a little pick-me-up. Her high spirits and bright smile make any video a joy to watch, even when she is trying out the newest failing slew of Pinterest beauty hacks. Rachel also spends a lot of time discussing drugstore makeup, which I appreciate coming from the strict budget of a student. Rachel has done wonders for my mood this week and has really helped keep me in high spirits. Find her on YouTube here.
3. KathleenLights
When I’m looking for a seriously in-depth informational video about any beauty category, Kathleen is my girl. Kathleen Fuentes is Cuban American and is based in Miami, FL. She has videos about absolutely every category of product, and she also does tutorials more often than Tati or Rachel, making her videos a little more accessible to beginners. She is also aware of concerns of the everyday makeup user and makes videos frequently about the best affordable brushes and skincare items. Again, Kathleen’s channel is well balanced between drugstore and high end products, ensuring her audience will always see a variety of items. Kathleen is very successful in the beauty world and has collections of her own with Colourpop and Makeup Geek. Find her on YouTube here.
So if you’re like me and you’re bedridden for the foreseeable future, I highly recommend checking out the low-stakes world of YouTube beauty gurus. If you fall asleep watching, you won’t miss any important plot points! But if you’re not sick, just interested in makeup and looking for an alternative to Netflix, these are still three of the best YouTubers to check out. There are several other more popular choices on YouTube, but Tati, Rachhloves, and KathleenLights work hard to present high quality videos aimed at the everyday makeup user. All said, I love all three of these ladies for a variety of reasons, and I would surely be miserable in my sickbed without them!
