This is what your favourite beauty YouTuber looks like now

For many of us beauty lovers, beauty YouTubers were the people who taught us how to apply makeup. They told us which products were worth buying, and they even took us along on their lavish influencer trips. 

After the popularity of alternative social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok, the longform content of Youtubers in the 2010s is no longer as popular.

But if they're not making content on YouTube anymore, where are they? We decided to take a look back at some of the most popular beauty influencers YouTube produced over the last decade, to see where they've ended up. Who doesn't love a good before and after transformation right?

This is what your favourite beauty YouTuber is doing these days (and of course, what they look like)...

Then: Michelle Phan

Dubbed the first influencer, while in college, Phan started creating makeup tutorials on YouTube in 2007 at just 19 years old. She specialised in simple to follow makeup looks and easy beauty hacks back in the day. 

Now: Michelle Phan

After basically writing the book on how to be a successful influencer for almost a decade, Phan suddenly stopped posting in 2015. In 2017, after two years of radio silence, she explained why she left the industry via Youtube, citing anxiety, a failed beauty brand, and the pressures of success as just some of the reasons behind her decision to take a break. In recent years, she's sporadically released beauty, lifestyle, fashion and self-help content on her YouTube channel, and in August of 2024 she announced the release of her podcast, Afterglow. 

Then: Zoella

Starting her YouTube career in 2009, Zoella (AKA Zoe Sugg) quickly attained a loyal fan base, accumulating 1 million subscribers in 2013. She made a combination of fashion, beauty and lifestyle content, sharing her Primark hauls and the contents of her bag with avid watchers. In the height of her fame she released two books, staked her name to several beauty collaborations and charities, and even co-founded a business or two.

Now: Zoella

Zoe uploaded her last video to the Zoella YouTube account in 2018, but she still makes content on her secondary Youtube  account, under the name Zoe Sugg. These days you can follow along with her life as a mum of two living in the English countryside by watching her vlogs.

Then: Tati Westbrook

Makeup artist, Tati Westbrook, became a trusted source for product recommendations very quickly after she launched her YouTube channel in 2010. Her fans admired her unwavering and unbiased honesty when it came to beauty products, and she shared budget-friendly alternatives to overhyped and exxier items. 

Now: Tati Westbrook

After taking a break from content production in 2020, Westbrook returned to YouTube in 2021 hoping to return to the foundations of her beauty channel. These days you can tune in to her channel and watch everything from product recommendations to wear tests, and get ready with mes. If you miss the nostalgia of YouTube in the 2010s, it's worth a watch.

Then: Samantha & Nicola Chapman AKA Pixiwoo

Sisters and makeup artists, Samantha and Nicola Chapman, started their YouTube channel Pixiwoo in 2008. The pair uploaded makeup tutorials inspired by the makeup of celebrities, and eventually expanded their beauty empire by launching affordable beauty tools brand Real Techniques in 2011. 

Now: Samantha & Nicola Chapman AKA Pixiwoo

In 2020, the Chapman sisters retired the Pixiwoo Youtube channel and stepped down from Real Techniques, choosing to focus on their personal lives, and their separate business ventures and YouTube channels. 

Then: James Charles

James Charles started posting makeup tutorials in 2015, but it wasn't until a year later that the 17 year old really started getting noticed for his signature 'boy glam' looks, tutorials, and makeup challenges, becoming the first male face for Covergirl cosmetics. 

Now: James Charles

These days, Charles splits his time between making YouTube content and his burgeoning music career. He released his first official single 'Call Me Back' in February of 2024, following it up with 'Can We Just Be Friends' in April, 'Bring Me Water' in June, and 'Used To Love Me' in November. 

Then: Patrick Starrr

Patrick Starrr got his start on Youtube after being laid off from his job in 2013. Inspired by reality shows like The Swan and Extreme Makeover, his channel focused on the transformative powers of makeup. Over the years he shared his attempts at drag makeup, dramatic smokey eye tutorials, transformed himself into recognisable characters from film and television, and even did the makeup of celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Katy Perry, and Keke Palmer.

Now: Patrick Starrr

Starrr launched his own makeup brand ONE/SIZE Beauty in 2020, debuting into Sephora with great success, and becoming a part of the wave of inclusive brands that followed the launch of Fenty Beauty in 2017. These days Starrr's YouTube channel shares a behind the scenes look at his life as a brand founder, as well the transformational beauty videos so synonymous with his name.

Then: NikkieTutorials

Dutch native, Nikkie de Jager, made her first YouTube video in 2008 at the age of 14, but it wasn't until 2015 that she really started catching the world's attention with her video "The Power of Makeup". Her content focused on having fun with makeup, using the medium to express herself, and encouraging others to do the same.  

Now: NikkieTutorials

In 2020, de Jager came out publicly as trans in a video aptly titled 'I'm Coming Out', sharing her experience of transitioning in high school, and has since been a vocal ally and advocate for the trans community. After consistently creating beauty content on YouTube for the past 16 years, de Jager took a step back from Youtube in May of 2024 to focus on her makeup brand Nimya, which she launched in 2021. 

Then: Manny MUA

Manny MUA AKA Manny Gutierrez was working towards a career as a plastic surgeon when he decided to pivot and focus on makeup artistry and content creation. The Bachelor of Science and Health major fell in love with makeup while working part time at makeup counters, and decided to follow his passion by creating makeup tutorials and product reviews for his followers. 

Now: Manny MUA

Manny still makes content on YouTube, but his channel focuses on testing and reviewing overhyped or new makeup products. He splits his energy between content creation and his makeup brand, Lunar Beauty, which he launched in 2018.

Then: Jeffree Star

Jeffree Star has lived many lives. He started his YouTube career in 2014 to coincide with the release of his makeup brand Jeffree Star Cosmetics, but the early videos on his channel are actually dedicated to his stint as a musician. Starr released his debut album 'Beauty Killer', an electronic pop record in 2009. However, he also served as a makeup artist to the stars, designed his own clothes, and was one of the biggest MySpace socialites of the early aughts.

Now: Jeffree Star

In 2021, Star pivoted again and unexpectedly became a yak rancher, and he documents life on the farm via the Instagram account Star Yak Ranch. He still runs Jeffree Star Cosmetics and posts content to his YouTube channel. More recently, he's been focusing on his music career again, announcing the release of the 15 year anniversary edition of his album 'Beauty Killer' in October.

Then: Jackie Aina

Jackie Aina started her YouTube channel in 2009 after a friend emboldened her to take her makeup skills online. Aina had an affinity for showing her followers how to create colourful eye makeup looks on darker skin tones. She subsequently created a niche for herself as a trusted voice in beauty for darker-skinned people who were seeking makeup that didn't white wash their appearance. 

Now: Jackie Aina

Aina still creates YouTube content, but she's expanded her content creation to include topics like lifestyle, fashion, celebrities, and money. In 2020 she launched the self-care brand, FORVR MOOD, with black women in mind, offering candles, silk accessories, and bath accessories, which has become her main focus.

Then: Jaclyn Hill

Now: Jaclyn Hill

After starting several businesses over the years, Hill recently decided to close all of them in 2023, including her makeup brand. She still makes content sporadically on YouTube, but has been less involved in the industry as of late. 

Then: Bretman Rock

Undoubtedly one of the most beloved personalities on the Internet, Bretman Rock was just a teenager when he started filming himself and uploading the videos to YouTube. Although he was a prominent part of the beauty industry for many years, he actually shared a plethora of content that showcased his innate sense of humour and personality. His family also featured heavily in Rock's content, and his sister Princess cultivated a career for herself as an influencer off the back of the exposure. 

Now: Bretman Rock

In 2021, Bretman Rock famously quit the beauty industry, saying that "white people ruined it". He still makes content, but these days you'll find him herding his chickens on his farm in Hawaii on TikTok, rather than filming a makeup tutorial for YouTube. 

Then: Carli Bybel

Carli started doing makeup in high school, when her friends would ask her to do their makeup for school dances and events. In 2011, she decided to take her interest a little more seriously and started to post makeup tutorials on YouTube. She became one of the first influencers on the platform to spearhead affiliate marketing and went on to lend her name to several collaborations with beauty brands.

Now: Carli Bybel

In 2023, Bybel launched her own line of cosmetics called Beauty Bybel. She's also diversified her channel to showcase her travels, home renovations, business ventures, and day-to-day life.

Then: Desi Perkins

Desi Perkins started posting to YouTube in 2012, uploading a mixture of wearable makeup looks, couples content with her husband, and product reviews. 

Now: Desi Perkins

Perkins stopped posting to YouTube in 2023, choosing to focus her energy on her two children, and her brands Dezi and Dezi skin, which she founded in 2020 and 2021, respectively.

Then: Nikita Dragun

Nikita Dragun got her start on YouTube in 2014, but a few years into creating makeup content for her followers she decided to reveal that she was trans. She found a huge amount of support from her fans who followed along as she documented her transition journey. She shared intimate moments such as her face feminisation surgery, her breast augmentation, and her dating stories.

Now: Nikita Dragun

Dragun has maintained a rather low profile in the past few years after she was arrested in 2022. She hasn't posted to YouTube for several years. She was last spotted in Korea, where she appears to be modelling and developing a makeup product under the brand name Doll Nikita.

Then: Laura Lee

Prior to creating content on YouTube, Laura Lee had a number of jobs, including a medical assistant and a preschool teacher. She was inspired to try filming her own makeup tutorials after stumbling across Kandee Johnson's YouTube channel. 

Now: Laura Lee

Laura started her own cosmetics line, Laura Lee Los Angeles, in 2017, and followed it up with a fashion company called Nudie Patootie in 2020. She still regularly posts content to her YouTube channel, but chooses to focus on shopping hauls and product recommendations over the makeup tutorials that got her started.

Then: Huda Kattan

Huda Kattan offered an insight into Arab beauty trends, combining her professional experience as a celebrity makeup artist with the makeup influences of her culture. She even made an effort to include Arabic language in her videos and captions too. In 2013 she launched the brand Huda Beauty, three years after she started her YouTube channel of the same name.

Now: Huda Kattan

Kattan still creates content, but not with the same consistency. Her main focus is Huda Beauty, the globally successful brand is reported to have annual sales of $200 million and more. 

Then: Kandee Johnson

Makeup artist Kandee Johnson started posting to YouTube in 2008, sharing her professional expertise with people looking to improve their makeup skills. Her most popular tutorials involved transformative character looks or SFX makeup, which showcased her unique style.

Now: Kandee Johnson

Johnson posts life updates to her YouTube channel every six months or so, but recently she's been focusing on her health after a cancer scare earlier this year.

Main image credit: @bretmanrock

Love seeing the way familiar faces change over the years? The Selling Sunset cast's before and after beauty transformations are crazy.