Buzz
1. RCLBeauty101
Rachel Levin was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She began uploading videos to her YouTube channel at the age of 15. Her first makeup tutorial on YouTube was titled 'How to Conceal Dark Circles.' In 2014, Levin had 350,000 subscribers on her YouTube channel. Beyond makeup tutorials, she started creating humorous videos. Her first comedic skit, titled 'Back to School Expectations Vs. Reality!,' garnered 25.7 million views by 2016.
By 2015, Levin had accumulated a total of 516 million views on her YouTube channel. In 2015, she was recognized by ZEFR, a social media interaction tracking company, as an influential figure under 21. In August 2015, RCLBeauty101 was the most subscribed YouTube channel for that month. By 2016, she had over 8 million subscribers on her YouTube channel and over 60 million views for her video 'Disney Princess Slumber Party.' Her channel's fan base is known as 'Levinators.'
In 2017, Rachel Levin achieved over 222 million YouTube views, with over 11 million views for her 'Disney Princess Prom' video. By 2019, she had over 13 million YouTube subscribers, surpassing 14 million in 2020 and reaching over 14.4 million by 2022. Her channel ranks as the 83rd most subscribed YouTube channel in the United States. Levin launched her own makeup brand in 2020. Additionally, she ventured into the music industry in 2020, releasing her debut single, 'Myself,' which she co-wrote with Brent Morgan.
YouTube Subscribers: 14.4 million
Instagram Followers: 4.1 million
2. NikkieTutorials
Nikkie de Jager Dossiers, better known by the YouTube channel name NikkieTutorials, is a Dutch makeup artist and beauty blogger. She rose to fame online in 2015 after her YouTube video 'The Power of Makeup' went viral, inspiring many other videos showcasing individuals with and without makeup. After uploading videos for about two years, she enrolled in a makeup course at B Academy in Amsterdam. Subsequently, she signed a contract with a company called Colourful Agency in 2011 and began working as a professional makeup artist.
Forbes magazine honored De Jager as one of the ten most influential beauties in 2017. In the same year, she won awards for 'YouTube Guru' at the Shorty Awards and 'Choice Fashion/Beauty Web Star' at the Teen Choice Awards. On September 23, 2021, De Jager launched her own cosmetics brand, Nimya, after developing it for three years. The brand introduced three products at launch: Moisturizer/Primer combo, Setting Spray, and Cooling & Glow Serum, along with a small fan accompanying the products. Currently, Nimya ships to 37 countries and is in the process of expanding worldwide. As of October 2022, her YouTube channel has 14 million subscribers and over 1.5 billion video views.
YouTube Subscribers: 14 million
Instagram Followers: 16.7 million
3. jeffreestar
Jeffree Star, an American YouTuber, makeup artist, and former singer-songwriter, is the founder and owner of Jeffree Star Cosmetics. In 2009, Star released a studio album, Beauty Killer, featuring songs like 'Lollipop Luxury' featuring Nicki Minaj. Jeffree Star embarked on several world tours to promote his music products. In 2010, Jeffree Star officially signed with Konvict Muzik but later abruptly left the music industry in 2013 due to legal issues that the music label owner faced from 2007 to 2010. In November 2014, Star stopped out to establish his own company, Jeffree Star Cosmetics.
In 2018, Forbes revealed that Jeffreestar earned $18 million solely from his YouTube efforts, making him the fifth-highest-paid content creator on the YouTube platform that year. Star began promoting the brand through videos published on YouTube, leading to the success of his YouTube channel, with 17.4 million subscribers and over 2.4 billion views as of October 2020. His first makeup release was a collection of liquid lipsticks, followed by a highlighter palette, lip scrub, eyeshadow palette, clothing, and accessories, such as mirrors and makeup bags.
YouTube Subscribers: 15.9 million
Instagram Followers: 14 million
4. Zoe Sugg
Zoe Elizabeth Sugg, also known as YouTube personality Zoella, is a British social media influencer, entrepreneur, and author. Sugg started uploading videos to her YouTube channel in 2009, which has garnered over 10 million subscribers. In 2014, she launched Zoella Beauty, a beauty product brand described as the 'biggest beauty launch of the year.' Sugg later released a range of additional home products, and in 2019, reports suggested these businesses generated £3.8 million in annual revenue.
Zoe Sugg is a member of the Style Haul network and is represented by Dominic Smales at Gleam Futures. In 2013, Sugg was mentioned by The Telegraph as one of the 'Most Influential Tweeters in the UK.' In 2013, she was honored as an ambassador for the National Citizen Service, helping promote the newly launched youth service. In 2014, Sugg signed a three-book deal with Penguin Books, and her debut novel, Girl Online, was published in November 2014, breaking records for the highest first-week sales of a debut novelist. Since then, she has released a non-fiction book, Cordially Invited, and is currently co-authoring a book series with Amy McCulloch titled The Magpie Society.
YouTube Subscribers: 4.93 million
Instagram Followers: 9.3 million
5. Huda Beauty
In April 2010, Huda Kattan started the beauty blog 'Huda Beauty' and she also launched a YouTube channel with the same name. Kattan introduced a cosmetics line named after her channel in 2013, which has since become one of the fastest-growing beauty brands globally. Huda Beauty's first product was a collection of false eyelashes released by Sephora in Dubai in 2011 and in the United States in 2015. As of 2020, Huda Beauty is estimated to have a net worth of around $510 million and is valued as a billion-dollar business by Forbes. The beauty brand has released an extensive range of products, including lipstick collections, face palettes like highlighters and contours, false eyelashes, and a collaboration product with Tweezerman.
As of 2021, Huda Beauty has over 4.15 million subscribers on YouTube and is the top Beauty account on Instagram globally, with over 48 million followers. Kattan's channel content includes beauty tutorials, where she shares makeup techniques, skincare routines, and personal favorite beauty products from various brands. Huda Kattan has been dubbed the 'Kim Kardashian West of the beauty influencer economy' for her appearance, family-run business, and influence. However, Huda herself prefers these comparisons to end. In 2016, Huda Kattan was awarded Glamour magazine's Digital Creator of the Year in the reputable beauty category, and in 2021, she won the Glamour Gamechanger Entrepreneur of the Year award as voted by Glamour magazine.
YouTube Subscribers: 4.14 million
Instagram Followers: 51.3 million
6. James Charles
James Charles Dickinson is an American YouTuber and makeup artist. While working as a local makeup artist in his hometown of Bethlehem, New York, Charles started a YouTube channel, where he posted makeup tutorial videos. In 2016, he became the first male brand ambassador for CoverGirl after a tweet about his makeup went viral. In October 2016, at the age of 17, he became the first male brand ambassador for the CoverGirl cosmetics brand. By early 2019, James Charles had over 10 million subscribers on YouTube.
Early in his career, Charles garnered attention as a young male makeup artist. Variety's Todd Spangler dubbed him the 'most famous beauty blogger on YouTube.' An article in the Irish Independent, by Caitlin McBride, remarked that he was 'leading a revolution in male makeup,' while The Guardian's Amelia Tait wrote that his online platform was 'considered a revolution.' In 2020, Charles hosted, directed, and co-produced the YouTube Originals reality competition series Instant Influencer. He released an eyeshadow palette and created a makeup line in collaboration with Morphe Cosmetics, receiving numerous awards for his social media work, including two People's Choice Awards, three Streamy Awards, one Shorty Award, and one Teen Choice Award.
YouTube Subscribers: 23.8 million
Instagram Followers: 22.5 million
7. Safiya Nygaard
Safiya, recognized for her YouTube videos, ranging from beauty tutorials and fashion to what she calls 'weird' videos, where she wears unconventional clothing or tries internet-hyped 'hacks' providing unique solutions for various style challenges. Her subscribers follow as she combines numerous beauty products or shops in her unique way worldwide and across different time periods. Later, she was hired by BuzzFeed as a video producer. However, she left her position at BuzzFeed in 2017, dedicating more time to her YouTube account to produce high-quality videos. She also appeared in the reality show Escape the Night.
Safiya Nygaard might not be a household name, but according to the UK's beauty comparison platform Cosmetify, this 30-year-old American is the highest-earning beauty influencer in 2022. Nygaard earns 191,248 euros per social media collaboration (posting the same content across different social media platforms). On YouTube, where she has 9.5 million subscribers, she earns 182,544 euros per video, while on Instagram, she earns 6,955 euros per post and 1,749 euros per TikTok video. Safiya Nygaard was a nominee for Best Ensemble Cast at the 2018 Streamy Awards. She made it to the finals for the Audience Choice Creator of the Year award in 2019.
YouTube Subscribers: 9.55 million
Instagram Followers: 2.1 million
8. Manny Mua
Manuel Gutierrez Jr, known by the stage name Manny MUA, is a makeup artist, YouTuber, entrepreneur, and beauty blogger. Manny Gutierrez is one of the makeup artists who abandoned a promising career to pursue a passion for building a career in the beauty industry. MannyMUA is more known as a beauty enthusiast from his teenage years. He is the first male brand ambassador for Maybelline cosmetics. He frequently posts makeup tutorials, first impressions of makeup, and beauty tips. He has collaborated with Makeup Geek for eyeshadow palettes, Morphe Cosmetics for eyeshadow palettes, OFRA Cosmetics for lip products, and Jeffree Star Cosmetics for two highlighters and two lipsticks.
Manuel Gutierrez Jr is the founder and owner of the beauty brand Lunar Beauty, and has a social media presence with 4.8 million subscribers on YouTube, over 4.1 million followers on Instagram, and 1.5 million followers on Twitter. Manny Gutierrez's YouTube channel, named @MannyMua733, focuses on providing beauty tips for fashion enthusiasts. The channel reviews the latest fashion trends that are currently popular. To broaden his reach, he has collaborated with other fashion and beauty bloggers like Jaclyn Hill. Jaclyn is a significant fashion and beauty blogger with a substantial presence on YouTube.
YouTube Subscribers: 4.86 million
Instagram Followers: 4.1 million
9. SaraBeautyCorner
SaraBeautyCorner, a famous YouTube sensation from Norway, abandoned her financial and insurance career to pursue her creative passion. In 2013, she uploaded her first video on YouTube titled 'OMG! Not Another Beauty Guru: P! A Beauty Guru's Introduction Living in Norway.' The video immediately gained tremendous success with over 2 million views. While her YouTube channel has 5.4 million subscribers, her Instagram account has 252k followers.
When you think of SaraBeautyCorner, creativity and ingenuity come to mind. Formerly working as a financial and insurance executive, Sara did this job half-heartedly as she knew her true passion lay elsewhere. With a hobby for creating innovative and exciting things, Sara turned to online media to fuel her passion. Her videos convey beauty tips and tricks, with detailed information on bold yet beautiful nail art, easy and simple DIY makeup, and unique yet fashionable creations. Her hands-on DIY videos are extremely popular as they provide viewers with simple tricks on crafting items from household supplies.
In just a few years, Sara's popularity skyrocketed. By August 2016, with 3.5 million subscribers, her subscriber list surged, reaching over 5.4 million fans globally by May 2017. She became one of the fastest-growing channels in 2016 and made it to the list of the top 100 most subscribed channels globally.
YouTube Subscribers: 10.4 million
Instagram Followers: 311 million
10. Iluvsarahii
Karen Sarahi Gonzalez, a young and inspiring American makeup artist, is a social media sensation known by the name Iluvsarahii. Karen Sarahi Gonzalez boasts over one million YouTube subscribers, over six million followers on Instagram, and nearly 100,000 TikTok enthusiasts, earning significantly from her views and social media interaction. Additionally, Karen Sarahi Gonzalez has her own business ventures, with her favorite content revolving around fashion advice, makeup tutorials, and videos on her own YouTube channel.
Karen Sarahi Gonzalez is a highly acclaimed Instagram star. She gained fame right from beauty school by sharing photos with inspirational captions and stories on her account. She is also an inspiring Youtuber who shares health and fitness advice. Karen Sarahi Gonzalez engages in daily workouts, practices yoga, and exercises regularly. She teaches people how to achieve a strong and balanced physique, incorporating both gym and home workouts into her routine, regularly sharing posts about her fitness regimen.
YouTube Subscribers: 1.16 million
Instagram Followers: 6.4 million
