Top 10 beauty videos on YouTube

By Ingrid Schmidt

Jan. 2, 2013 12 AM PT

Beauty video blogs have been gaining in popularity. Which are the best to watch? The 10 here have topped YouTube charts in the beauty category in 2012, with the most number of views as of mid-December.

The star vloggers (video bloggers) range from Los Angeles YouTube veteran Blair Fowler to a nameless Russian woman dubbed “4Oxygene” to rising personalities Venus Palermo of Britain and Anastasiya Shpagina of the Ukraine, who make themselves up daily to resemble dolls. Two clear trends emerge from the pack: The continuing popularity of braided hairstyles and a new enthusiasm for “living doll” makeup tutorials.

1. Mermaid tail side braid hair tutorial by Bebexo

More than 7 million views.

Self-taught hair-styling guru Nee, known as Bebexo on YouTube, has gained a following for her concise, step-by-step video tutorials that make the most complex-looking hairdos relatively easy to achieve. The most-watched beauty video of the year to date translates an intricate, mermaid-style braid into two classic, inverted braids, pinned together with hair pins. Ignited by Jennifer Lawrence’s messy fishtail braid in “The Hunger Games,” braided styles were a major hair trend in 2012.

2. May favorites by Talia

More than 6.5 million views.

Recently named an honorary face of Cover Girl on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” 13-year-old vlogger (and cancer patient) Talia Castellano has inspired legions of fans with her upbeat beauty product reviews. Dismissing wigs, Castellano has focused on cosmetics to help her feel pretty while undergoing treatment. Punctuated with phrases like “Holy crap!” and “Legit!” her commentary on affordable makeup and fashion finds, from sources such as Costco and Kmart, is endearingly down-to-earth. “This is my Forever 21 eyelash curler,” she says. “Obviously, it’s not the best eyelash curler. It was about five dollars. But it’s bedazzled! I was like, ‘Oh my God, I need that.’ The band can fall out sometimes, which I guess is bad. But it’s really squishy, which I like.”

3. Barbie makeup tutorial by BeautyLiciousInsider

More than 6 million views

Doll-like beauty looks became a YouTube phenomenon last year. At the front of the pack is 14-year-old Chelsea Crockett’s advice on how to mirror Barbie’s makeup. “Since Barbie’s face is completely impeccable, I’m concealing any imperfections,” says Crockett, applying Erase Paste by Benefit to her face, seemingly unaware of any subliminal messages about self-image that she is conveying. Crockett continues with a “perfectly defined brow” and eye makeup that creates the illusion of an almond eye shape, with painted-on liquid eyeliner lashes for “a cartoon feel.” Her confident conclusion: “So now you should look like the perfect, plastic Barbie doll.” Assuming that’s one’s goal.

4. Easy, quick everyday hairstyles for long hair: Side French braid edition by asksash88

More than 5.5 million views

This French braid-focused tutorial is a follow-up to “10 easy, quick everyday hairstyles for long hair,” which has more than 9 million views to date. Featuring 10 new riffs on the ever-popular plaited hairdo, the video features easy-to-mimic, step-by-step instructions along with sisterly reassurance. “Once your arms get used to being in that orientation, you’ll get a lot better,” says Sash. The looks build on an elegant, French-style side braid to create more elaborate bun, ponytail, up-do and double braid styles. As seen at the spring 2013 presentations of fashion designers, such as Tory Burch, Marchesa, Jason Wu and Balmain, plaited hairstyles continue as a key trend next season.

5. DIY: KoolAid dip-dyed hair tutorial (possibly permanent) by makeupkatie95

More than 5.5 million views

In this two-minute video, 17-year-old Katie dyes the tips of her 9-year-old sister’s hair in a boiling, stovetop pot of Tropical Punch-flavored Kool-Aid. Her one tip is that more water adds up to a less vibrant hue. No, really? A red flag that vloggers are no beauty pros, the video boasts an all-caps warning, “POSSIBLY PERMANENT,” shouted after the title, and is riddled with consecutive disclaimers. “If you are younger, please ask for a parent’s permission or help on this,” Katie says. “This doesn’t look dangerous, does it?” she inquires later, while dipping the locks of her kid sis. “I hope not.” One draw is that dip-dyed hair showed up on the spring 2013 fashion runways of designers such as Peter Som and Oscar de la Renta.

6. Living doll by Venus Palermo

More than 5 million views

Fifteen-year-old Brit Venus Palermo has gained a somewhat controversial cult following for styling herself as a “living doll” each day. Starting with the dubious proclamation that “this makeup works on everyone... just use the right skin shades,” the video teaches how to create the “sweet dolly makeup” of a “ball-jointed doll.” Tips include using makeup to achieve a porcelain-like complexion with rosy accents and the illusion of a narrow nose “like most dolls usually have.” Palermo applies special contact lenses, known as circle lenses, to make her iris appear larger for the illusion of anime-style eyes. Dressed in frilly rompers, Palermo speaks in a disturbing, stilted, “doll” voice, with a feigned Japanese accent. And yes, her mother approves of it all.

7. Hairstyles with weave by Olga Kharitonov

More than 5 million views

This Russian tutorial features a hair “weaving” technique, in which fine sections of hair are consecutively wrapped and pulled tight in a move that mimics the first step of tying a shoelace. The lattice-like webs of hair are combined with braiding to elaborate effect. Demonstrating one complex look, the video shows how to weave a section of hair on both sides of the head; then a ponytail in back is braided into sections, coiled up, and pinned in a spiral. Awe at the beauty of it all transforms into an acute sense of panic -- how could this ‘do possibly be undone, aside from a buzz cut? It’s a relief to realize that the demo is done on a mannequin.

8. Make-up tutorial: Flower Fairy by Anastasiya Shpagina

More than 5 million views

Wearing fairy wings and a crown of colorful flowers in her long, crimson hair, 19-year-old Anastasiya Shpagina from Ukraine uses makeup to transform herself daily into a Japanese anime-inspired “living doll.” While it takes Shpagina hours to get ready in the morning, this six-minute video focuses on creating her giant, doe-eyed look with a heavy application of white contouring shadow, thick liquid eyeliner and false lashes. Going by the alternate name “Anime,” an ode to her cartoon influence, Shpagina has a growing following, with more than 39,000 Facebook fans. Like it or not, the enthusiasm for doll-like looks appears to be on the rise.

9. Plaits of hair in the form of two flowers by 4OXYGENE

More than 4.5 million views

Yet another elaborate braiding video. Without commentary, a Russian stylist quickly and deftly weaves a French braid around one side of the head. In the back, sections of two ponytails are added into the plait to form two blossoming buns amid a labyrinth of braids. While this demonstration is quite difficult to follow, it can be considered a masterful and inspiring work of art.

10. My boyfriend does my makeup by juicystar07

More than 4.5 million views

Angeleno Blair Fowler and her older sister Elle have been Web celebs for years, creating makeup tutorials and videos dedicated to their shopping “hauls” since 2008. Earlier this year, they coauthored a book and launched the “U Look Haute” channel on YouTube. In this clip, Fowler entertainingly allows boyfriend Sawyer Hartman to apply her makeup. “Do you do ears?” he asks, wielding a bottle of foundation. “I wouldn’t want my ears one color and my face the rest.” It’s a valid point that most ladies may not consider. Hartman proceeds to apply concealer to Fowler’s eyelids, followed by clownish purple eyeshadow and red lipstick. “Are all girls ambidextrous?” Hartman asks. “It would really help.” In conclusion: “This is really hard. I have a lot more respect for girls now,” he says.