Have you ever looked at someone with flawless makeup and wondered, “How do they do that?” While it’d be nice to commandeer their skills every time you have a fancy occasion, there’s another solution: YouTube. Since YouTube user panacea81 began showing people how to do different makeup looks online, the world of viral “makeup gurus” has exploded. You can find everything from crazy Halloween makeup tutorials to simple “five minute faces.”

The YouTube world of makeup tutorials can be intimidating. Do a quick search for, say, “smokey eyes” or “five minute face.” It’s practically impossible to pick just five top videos. Given the immense amount of videos out there, you should be able to find someone with features similar to yours.

If you don’t have the time, be sure to check out these five!

1. Sexy Smokey Eyes w/ Warm Touches by xteener

Xteener’s videos may not be as fancy as other “gurus,” but she’s very budget-friendly, using mainly drugstore makeup. Even better, she seems to legitimately prefer the products she uses.

A really simple smokey eye tutorial is a must for any ranking of YouTube makeup videos. If you look at a celebrity with sultry, dramatic eye makeup, chances are they’re rocking a smokey eye of some sort. There are an incredible amount of smokey eye tutorials on YouTube, but I picked this one because it’s easy to follow even for beginners.

What You Need:
White base
White Shimmery Eyeshadow
White Matte Eyeshadow
Black Eyeshadow
Purple Eyeshadow
Brown Eyeshadow

The first four items she uses are from the affordable brand, NYX, and the last two are from a random Estee Lauder palette, which just goes to show that even cosmetics junkies use the random eyeshadow palettes they have lying around.

2. Perfect Red Lips (Gwen Inspired) by makeupbytiffanyd


MakeupByTiffanyD is one of the most popular channels on YouTube, and it’s easy to see why. TiffanyD’s videos are professional without bombarding us with strange music or animation. She covers everything from simple foundation routines to extremely dramatic eye makeup in a charming, straightforward manner. Another plus is that she’s not afraid to tell you what does and doesn’t work on her. Just try not to be jealous of her ridiculously long eyelashes while you’re watching.

You would think simply applying red lipstick would be easy, right? Keep in mind that this video is over ten minutes long! However, its instructions are clear and TiffanyD’s lips are realistic. After all, if you have perfect lips, they’ll look good no matter what crazy shade you wear!

What You Need:
Red Lipstick
Chapstick
Red Lipliner
Lipgloss (either clear or red)
Concealer.

3. Mac Makeup Tutorial: Quick. Easy. Natural. by makeupgeektv


Makeupgeektv is a professional makeup artist, so you can rest assured she won’t leave you looking like a clown. Her explanations are clear and she doesn’t use any overly-complex makeup artistry, instead sticking to simple and easy steps. She does, however, boast unusually big eyes and big lips, so be cautioned that your version of these looks may not be as striking. Also, be warned; some of her videos are a bit over-edited and include cheesy introductions.

The title says it all with this one. If you just want to enhance your own natural beauty, this one’s for you. The simple brown shades and lack of extensive shimmer make this look a winner for pretty much any occasion.

What You Need:
Shimmery Peach Cream Base
Medium Brown Eyeshadow
Dark Brown Eyeshadow
Light Beige-White Eyeshadow
Brown Eyeliner
Black Mascara

While Makeupgeektv mainly uses MAC products in this tutorial, you can definitely replicate this look with other brands. However, you may want to invest in the shimmery peach cream base she uses (Rubenesque Paint Pot by MAC).

4. Megan Fox Dramatic Eyeliner by makeupbytiffanyd


Even though there are hundreds of makeup tutorial-artists on YouTube, I ended up including two by MakeupByTiffanyD. She’s charming, clear, and has a great array of videos. According to TiffanyD, this is a great video for doing “thick eyeliner without just applying a thick line of eyeliner.” It’s perfect for when you want to pump up your black eyeliner.

What You Need:
Beige Shimmery Eyeshadow
Light Brown Eyeshadow
White Eyeshadow
Creamy Black Eyeliner
Black Eyeshadow
Black Liquid Eyeliner

TiffanyD uses mainly MAC products, but you can also get the products from CVS-Evanston.

5. Barbie Transformation Tutorial by michellephan


You either love Michelle Phan or hate her. Her floaty, ethereal-sounding voice-overs are relaxing at first, but can grow annoying after a while. Since October is upon us, I figured I had to include at least one Halloween makeup tutorial. I picked this one because it isn’t overly elaborate and doesn’t involve too many extra props (sticky rhinestones, plastic masks, etc.) but still can make a great Halloween costume when paired with a little pink mini dress. However, this is by no means the only Halloween tutorial out there: a YouTube search will yield you makeup how-to’s for everything from 1920’s flapper to rag doll.

What You Need:
Coastal Scents 88 Palette (88 shades for $20)
White Eyeliner Pencil
Bright Pink Blush
Fuschia Lipstick

Honorable Mention: If you want to try a quick change from YouTube tutorials, check out Temptalia. It’s a Web site based more on pictures than videos. Christine, the owner of the Web site, has an astonishing array of makeup looks that are clear, easy to follow, and have great quality pictures.