Finding YOUR YouTube Guru

I have spent a lot of time watching the women of YouTube talk about makeup, skin care, hair care, fashion, etc. YouTube has become a great source for makeup lovers to come together and share their thoughts.

I love YouTubers because I love learning new things and about new products. I have found that I do most of my makeup research on YouTube and through blogs. I don't like buying something unless I have found significant evidence that it is worth my time and money. I also want to find the right techniques and tools that will best benefit me. For a lot of YouTubers it is their job to try out these products are report back to their viewers so let them do all the work for you and it will make your life to much easier.

I used to watch every YouTube Guru I loved and took all their recommendations as solid proof they it would also work wonders for me. However, this is not always the case. I began to realize that everyone has different skin and different desires as how they want their makeup and skin care to work for them. Also, I realized that even if I loved someone's videos they might not be as reputable as someone else. It became very difficult when one YouTuber is telling me a product is holy grail material and another says to throw it away.

I devoted some time into going through my YouTube subscriptions and finding which ladies' qualities best matched mine:
Skin type (dry, oily, combo, etc.)
Hair type (straight, wavy, curly, greasy, kinky, etc.)
Makeup style (neutral, colorful, classic, edgy, etc.)
Price point (drugstore, high end, etc.)
Fashion style (girly, edgy, boho, etc.)
Eyeshape (hooded, monolided, etc.)
and more...

By doing this I was able to mentally keep track of who's recommendations to trust when it came to a product that would best work for me.

For example: I trust itsjudytime for almost anything having to do with face and hair. This includes foundation, primer, powder, hair spray, heat tools, etc. I love Judy because her skin type is so close to mine and she desires the same things out of her makeup that I do. Her hair type and style is also very similar to mine so I trust her on the hair front too. Not to mention she is so informative and nice to watch. She also has a pretty strong professional beauty background, which is a huge plus!

Don't get me wrong. I also watch other Guru's simply because I enjoy them or their advice helps me in other areas. Some all around awesome YouTubers are: glamlifeguru, emilynoel83, frmheadtotoe, and bubzbeauty. These ladies give all around great makeup advice that I trust plus they produce great tutorials that I can actually use. Most of them also have professional beauty backgrounds.

Just a few quick things and deter me from certain YouTubers...
If they are heavily sponsored: I'm happy that they are probably making a lot of money but it gets annoying to take everything they say with a grain to salt because they can lean towards bias.
Their price point doesn't match mine: Dior, Marc Jacobs, Bobbi Brown... These are all great brands and I love to splurge now and then but if every product they recommend is out of my price range then there isn't really any point to watch.
They don't have much talent: Some YouTubers are beautiful and fun to watch but they neither have a professional background or much natural talent and being a noob myself I would much rather spend my time watching people who know what they are doing.
Their style is not close to mine: Some ladies are so talented and create great content but I would never wear any looks they create just because they aren't for me. I love when YouTubers mix it up and throw in a fun tutorial now and then but if all your looks are not for me then I don't waste my time.

After you have sorted through your subscription box don't be afraid to search for some new people to watch. It is great when your favorite YouTuber recommends another YouTuber to check out. Also, talk to your friends. I have found so many great ladies to watch through my friend's recommendations.

You can use these tips if you're a newbie and trying to sort through the many YouTube gurus out there, if you have a very full subscription box and need to condense, or even if you are wondering if you can trust your favorite YouTuber on that new foundation that costs $30+.

It's a lot like finding a new best friend! Have fun with it! ~ Love Alissa!

*All of these tips can also work on blogs.

Alissa's Seal of Approval: Revlon Foundations

Note: I GENERALLY love these brands/products and I have had great experience with these but it may not be the same with you.

I have tried many drugstore foundations and some work for me and other's don't. I'm the type of person who does tons of research before buying things so when I buy something I usually like it.

Just some background on my skin: I have VERY oily skin with some occasional dry patches around my mouth. I occasionally have break outs and I have my fair share of acne scars. I also have large pores on my nose and cheeks. 

Anyway! I love lighter foundations with matte finishes. I believe that if you only have minor skin imperfections you don't need a high coverage foundation. Just use a light, comfortable foundation and use concealer to spot conceal. I don't rely on my foundation to do all the work. 


I enjoy Revlon's line of foundation because they always offer a large array of colors and they have something for every skin type. I have tried two foundations from Revlon, I have tried the Revlon ColorStay Makeup with SoftFlex for Combination/Oily Skin (they also have a formula for normal to dry skin) and the Revlon Nearly Naked Liquid Makeup. 



I enjoy the Colorstay one the most because it is made for oily skin and keeps my oil under control in all kinds of weather. It is also long lasting and makes my skin look awesome! However it is pretty thick and takes some extra time to apply. This is where the Nearly Naked comes in. It is light weight and really easy to apply. I use the Nearly Naked one when I don't need my makeup to last long or look flawless but I want some coverage. The Nearly Naked one doesn't do much to control my oil but it does have more SPF in it so there are trade offs. 

I do use a primer under my foundation and I also set my makeup with powder. I also do not take the long lasting claims on any product seriously. The Colorstay foundation claims to last 24 hours. I don't believe that nor do I need my foundation to last that long. I always carry touch up tools in my purse like blotting sheets and powder (I have also been liking some other products for touch ups that I will discuss later). If my foundation lasts me from when I apply it in the morning to when I come home from work or school and can handle some touch ups if I decide to go out at night I am a happy camper. 

I have only tried these two foundations because they are the ones that seemed like they would work well with my skin and suited my needs. However, from what I have heard there are a lot of amazing foundations in Revlon's line so it just takes some research to find your foundation soul mate. I highly recommend Revlon foundations if you are new to foundation, especially drugstore foundations, because with a line this good it is hard to mess up.

For Rachel: Night Skin Care

Dear Rachel,
Time to wash away a long day! This is the time to give your skin some extra TLC and prepare it for the next day. A lot of the steps are similar to the Morning Skin Care but there are some differences that I will stress.

Step 1: Remove your makeup. I already did a post on this so refer to that. :)

Step 2: Cleanse. Because you are going to sleep you can use a stronger cleanser at night. This means you can use an extra moisturizing one or one that has some serum in it that can work in your skin over night. I just use a different gentle cleanser because I haven't fallen in love with a stronger one yet.

Step 3 (Optional): Exfoliate. I use a finer scrubs at night. I find that they buff away all the dirt and makeup left on my skin. I like: derma e Microdermabrasion Scrub and Michael Todd True Organics Jojoba Charcoal Facial Polish. If you're going to exfoliate make sure to use toner.

Step 4 (Optional): Face Mask. Because you are going to sleep you can use a mask over night. Not all masks are made to be used over night so read the directions. I prefer to use either a peel or sheet mask. Sheet masks have great liquids that get absorbed in your skin while you have the mask on and it also leaves some behind after. You can get sheet masks almost anywhere are they're usually cheap.

Step 5: Tone. Just like in the morning you should use toner on a cotton pad a sweep this across your face. I use this step to see if I had done a good job of cleansing my face. If I see a lot of gunk on my cotton pad after this step I know that I should have cleansed better and keep that in mind for next time. I like: Boots Expert Sensitive Gentle Refreshing Toner with some exfoliating cotton pads. Let this sink in before moving on to the next step.

Step 6 (Optional): Blemish control: If you have some troublesome acne you want to treat do this now. I especially like doing this at night. I use: Clean & Clear Advantage Acne Spot Treatment. Wait for this to sink in before moving on.

Step 7 (Optional): Exfoliate lips. There are many different ways to do this. I like to dampen a a wash cloth and rub my lips or use a lip scrub. You can also use a tooth brush if you're in a pinch. For a lip scrub you can make your own or I buy mine from LUSH: LUSH Bubble Gum lip scrub.

Step 8: Moisturize. Again, this is the most important step. Always moisturize your face. You can use a thicker moisturizer and eye cream at night to wake up super plump and hydrated.

All the products I mentioned have worked great for me but they might not do the same for you so feel free to experiment and try out different things. A lot of the steps are optional, do them on a lazy Saturday morning or the day before a big event, so this routine won't take up too much time. Between steps you can brush your teeth or whatever else needs to be done. Have a good time a relax after a long day.

Love,
Alissa :3

For Rachel: Removing Makeup

Dear Rachel,
Removing your makeup after a long day can be very relaxing. It is important to give your skin time to breath at night by removing all the makeup. By properly removing everything you will see a great improvement in your skin.

Step 1: Remove Eye Makeup. Whether you use water proof eye makeup or not removing it is a delicate process. You don't want to tung and pull at your lashes or skin. I like using an oil based eye makeup remover on a cotton pad. I use: up & up™ Makeup Remover. Most eye makeup removers are in two parts that you shake together then put on a cotton pad. You should place this on your eye and let it break down the makeup. You can do light sweeping or rubbing motions but nothing to harsh. To save supplies I usually flip the cotton pad over and do the same on the other eye. If you still have some eye makeup left feel free to repeat this step or take a q-tip in the same eye makeup remover and clean up anything left behind.

Step 2: Remove Face Makeup. There are many different ways people do this step. You can use a oil to break it down or you can use a makeup wipe. I personally use: CVS Eye Makeup Remover Pads for All Skin Types but any wipes that are moist and have a little grit work the best for me. I usually take this all over my face and neck in small circular motions. I sometimes go over my eyes very gently to get anything I may have missed. You can also use the same wipe to remove any lip products you have on.

Step 3: Carry on with your night time routine but still wash your face. Even though you skin might seem perfectly clean you should still wash your face after removing your makeup.

And that's it! The great thing is that if you had a no makeup day you can skip this whole process. You don't even have to do these steps in front of a mirror. You can relax while watching some Netflix or in the bath. I was going to do a night time skin care post first but this seemed like a good place to start off. Make taking off your makeup a relaxing process, not a chore.

Love,
Alissa :3

For Rachel: Morning Skin Care

Dear Rachel,
Even if you have nice skin there is a need for a good skin care routine. We are young but keeping our skin young is the challenge. Also, keeping your skin nice is so comfortable and nice feeling. Being able to touch your face and feels the soft, smooth skin is so satisfying.
Knowing your skin type is an important thing to figure out to know what types of products you should use. However, the basic routine is the same.

Make sure you start off with a clean face from the night before. If you still have makeup and stuff from the night before just remove it and maybe give your skin some extra love in the morning.

Step 1: Cleanse. The cleanser you use will depend on your skin type but a gentle cleanser is universally great. My favorites are: Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser, Normal to Oily Skin and CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser. These are great for all skin types. They are gentle and hydrating. Using your hands with these is good but using a tool like a Clarasonic or Olay Fresh Effects Va-Va-Vivid! Powered Contour Cleansing System can get your skin extra clean and can mean you can skip Step 2.

Step 2 (Optional): Exfoliate. You don't have to do this in the morning but sometimes it is nice if you feel like your skin is looking a little dull. Again, the one you use will depend on your skin type, if you are especially sensitive you might want to skip this or use a cleanser mixed with some exfoliates. My favorites are: St. Ives Naturally Clear Apricot Scrub Blemish and Blackhead Control and Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash Foaming Scrub, Pink Grapefruit.

Step 3 (Optional): Face Mask. Sometimes our skin is kinda gross or our pores are really clogged. Using a face mask in the morning is very luxurious if you have the time but not necessary at all. I like: Origin's Clear Improvement and almost the whole Freeman line. If you see a specific problem with your skin get a face mask that claims to fix that. Don't leave it on for too long, they can really dry your skin if you leave it on way longer than the directions.

Tip: Use a white face cloth to dry your face and change it often. Some say to change it every time you wash your face but I think that is ridiculous. I change mine every few days or if I drop it on the floor (Haha!). Also steps 1-3 can be done in the shower! However, if you wash your face in the shower do it last so your shampoo and other hair products don't mess up your freshly cleaned skin.

Step 4: Tone. Toner is a great way to remove anything that got dislodged from your pores from all the other steps. You may think your skin is clean but soak a cotton pad in some toner and sweep it across your face and you will be shocked at what you can pick up. I like: Boots Expert Sensitive Gentle Refreshing Toner with some exfoliating cotton pads. Let this sink in before moving on to the next step.

Step 5 (Optional): Blemish control: If you have some troublesome acne you want to treat do this now. I use: Clean & Clear Advantage Acne Spot Treatment. Wait for this to sink in before moving on.

Step 6: Moisturize. This has to be the most important step. If you are in a rush just do this. This will make a world of a difference to how healthy and alive your skin looks. Makeup looks so much better on hydrated skin. A lightweight eye cream in the morning will also help with puffiness and dark circles. I am currently using: The Body Shop's Vitamin E Eye Cream and Aveeno Clear Complexion Daily Moisturizer. Take some down your neck too. Let this sink in.

Step 7: Apply your makeup.  Now your face if the perfect canvas for makeup.

All the products I mentioned have worked great for me but they might not do the same for you so feel free to experiment and try out different things. Once you find something that works great for you you'll know. As you can see a lot of the steps are optional, do them on a lazy Saturday morning or the day of a big event, so this routine won't take up too much time. Between steps you can brush your teeth or style your hair or whatever else needs to be done.

Hope this helps. I'll do a night one soon and let me know if you have any other questions.

Love,
Alissa :3