13 beauty creators I’m always delighted to be influenced by
The advice and opinions of the following people are gospel to me.
A few months back, a reader asked me which beauty content creators I enjoy following, and it got me thinking. I’m always going on about what I like and what I’m buying, but who am I getting my intel from? So, I’ve compiled a list of 13 beauty content creators I regularly watch, read, and listen to. There are probably a ton more I’m forgetting about, but these are my main squeezes.
The trustworthy reviewers
Laura Capon @laucapon
I discovered Laura when she worked at Cosmopolitan – she’s now a freelance beauty editor and content creator on Instagram, TikTok, and
here on Substack. I never skip an empties video, devour her post-holiday hauls, and rely on her for an honest appraisal of buzzy products. I also love her for speaking pretty candidly about the magazine and beauty industries – she had a similar “got the dream job, realised it was not a dream” trajectory as I did, and it was a relief to hear someone else say it. An essential follow for no-nonsense beauty chat.Emma @olgreeneyesemma
Emma is one of the original Irish beauty bloggers, and creates some of the most beautiful makeup looks I’ve ever seen. If you’re looking for inspiration, you’ll find it here. I think we have a similar taste when it comes to products and brands, and I’m always excited to hear her opinions on what she’s been trying out. I’ve noticed that many of my favourite “influencers” are people who are passionate about researching products, not just chatting through the newest stuff they get sent. It’s an important distinction! Emma is a real makeup lover, and it comes through in everything she does.
Gracey O’Connell @graceyoconnell
Gracey is a makeup artist and paragon of glamour, in my not-so-glamorous opinion. If you’re interested at all in what’s going on in the Irish beauty space, she’s the one to watch, being a great supporter of home-grown brands and products. She’s also a fountain of knowledge on beauty treatments, from injectables to laser. I have occasionally DMed her really random questions because I know she’ll know, and I’m grateful that she takes time to answer. A gem in the increasingly crowded Irish content creator space.
Jen Morris @jen.morris
I would also love love love to mention my pal Jen – she’s taken a little step back from Instagram content to work for Dermalogica, but I listen intently whenever she pops on to talk about beauty. I’m always in awe of just how flawless she can get her base makeup, and I think we will always agree that sparkle is for life, not just for Christmas.
The teachers
Nykita Joy @neoitgirl
Everyone’s making get-ready-with-me videos where they pat in a dot of concealer and some blush or whatever. Miss Nykita is out here doing capital-E Eyeshadow. And I love to see it! It’s less about having to have particular products, and more about achieving a look and a vibe. She’s perfecting the sultry eye, she’s dropping simple but life-changing makeup tips, she’s creating her own vocabulary (“stunerella”). Love her.
Bronte-Marie @thebrontemarie
Ethereal makeup queen! Bronte-Marie takes viral makeup trends and translates them on to her own cherubic features, which I find so helpful as someone who does not have the cheekbones of a teenage model. She does quite detailed, specific TikTok tutorials, like how to achieve Elle Fanning’s flushed skin on The Great or Keira Knightley’s blush-pink Pride and Prejudice lipstick. I’m literally doing my makeup differently because of her – she typically applies her setting powder AFTER her setting spray, and when I tried it, I could not get over how well my makeup looked. Very grateful to Bronte-Marie.
Erin Parsons @erinparsonsmakeup
What this woman doesn’t know about makeup is not worth knowing. Erin is a celebrity makeup artist and amateur beauty historian, with a huge collection of vintage makeup she showcases on YouTube and TikTok. Like, do I want to know how modern-day MAC Spice compares to the 90s version? Oh yeah. Am I interested in 1930s bracelets that contain hidden compartments for rouge and lipstick? Yes! God yes. It’s so, so fascinating.
The artists
Mei Pang @meicrosoft
I am consistently blown away by Mei’s talent. She’s out here making high art with lipstick and shadow – like this stunning interpretation of Simone Rocha runway makeup, or this incredible calligraphy-inspired dragon look. Is it something I could ever recreate on myself? No! But it’s inspiring to witness someone creating something so wholly unique.
Aoife @aoifeartist
You never really know where one of Aoife’s videos is going to end up. She’ll do a gleaming, dewy skin look then finish it off with metallic blue lips. She’ll block out her eyebrows and apply thin silver stickers in their place. She’ll make fake eyebrow piercings out of gems. It’s creativity in its purest form, a true makeup artist just following her whims, and amazing to watch. Beauty, as imagined by a high-fashion alien just popping in to check out Beyoncé’s Renaissance tour.
The YouTubers
Jamie Page @jamiepaigebeauty
The first of my two Canadian brunettes. I have a type, what can I say. Jamie is excellent at what I like to call relaxed glam: beautiful, everyday-friendly makeup that can be amped up when necessary. A lot of her recommendations have worked for me – this year she has introduced me to the Haus Labs bronzer and the Makeup By Mario Soft Sculpt Skin Enhancer, which have both become favourites. I’m always happy to see her on my homepage.
Julia Adams @juliaadamsmua
My second Canadian brunette, Julia, bridges the gap between “regular makeup” and “artistry” – her looks almost always have a unique element, whether that’s an unusual colour choice, bold blush, or graphic eyeliner. It makes me think about how I can push things a little with my own makeup without feeling too done. I’ve learned a lot from her. Also, as a cat lady, I appreciate that many of her videos come with “kitten intermissions,” where she inserts a clip of her cats while she does her brows off-camera.
Jackie Aina @jackieaina
One of the OGs! And one of the few I still watch. Jackie has been a very important voice in the beauty industry for a long time now, and while her videos now veer more towards lifestyle, she’s still an authority on makeup, skincare, and fragrance (her perfume collection is aspirational). There’s something very soothing about her TikTok, too, where she floats around her lavish, beautifully-appointed home in expensive-looking loungewear. ASMR for the eyes.
Trixie Mattel @trixiemattel
I am a big, big fan of Trixie Mattel and Katya Zamolodchikova. What started with simply liking them on RuPaul’s Drag Race eight years ago has led to a very deep connection. Their YouTube show UNHhhh genuinely means so much to me. I listen to The Bald and the Beautiful every week, and try desperately to keep up with Katya’s pinballing thoughts (I love her so much). And I adore Trixie’s own channel, where she gets in drag and talks about makeup like the big beauty nerd that she is. She’s just an entertaining person, whether she’s packing for tour, getting ready for gigs, or attempting to do her full Trixie beat with drugstore products. I have yet to buy anything from Trixie Cosmetics, but I think it’s only a matter of time.
Thanks for reading Vanity Project! Who are your fave beauty people? Is there anyone I should 100% be following? Let me know!