Beauty is more accessible than ever before. The mystique of glamor is banished with step-by-step video tutorials produced and posted on YouTube by people just like you but with more time on their hands, apparently.

Are you looking for a specific hair style for a special occasion? Always wondered how to get that make-up look that is in all the magazines and on TV but have no idea where to start? Want that hot nail polish trick? Don’t worry you can probably find an instructional video on YouTube. Everyday people do the work for you of figuring out how to get a specific look and then show you how to duplicate the look.

Heard about a beauty product, but want to make sure if it works before shelling out the cash? No problem, there is more than likely a review on YouTube complete with demo.
Pretty much any look you want to achieve or any problem you need to know how to deal with, there is someone who has made a video about it. And some have become virtually famous from their videos and some have even been invited to appear on daily talk shows as correspondents or in reality shows. Five year old Madison Hohrine’s video tutorials made her an online star and led to her appearing on America’s Next Top Model. Make-up artist Lisa Eldridge’s first impromptu tutorial videos that instructed viewers on how to perk up skin using make-up went viral.

YouTube’s accessibility and reach has so influenced the beauty industry that it has also become a portal for beauty companies to reach their customers. Sites like Beauty Bridge use videos created by their professionals and by users to educate and review products with their own channel on YouTube.

While the ability of anyone to learn the tips and tricks of make-up artists and other beauty professionals is appealing, it’s the amateur tutorials that allow everyday people to share their knowledge and own tricks for getting ‘the look’ that make YouTube tutorials so popular. The beauty product reviews by real people who are often really trying the products in the video or really showing the effects, good or bad, allow consumers to get impartial and real information on a product before they buy. Celebrities may endorse a product, but the YouTube videos let you know if it really works.

The beauty world is forever changed by the influence of YouTube users and viewers.