Written by David Roberts
Reviewed by Lucas Walter
Updated
The top makeup YouTubers in 2026 are NikkieTutorials, Denitslava, MissDarcei, James Charles, and Erin Parsons. This list ranks 37 makeup YouTubers by median views across their recent videos, not by subscriber count. Each one was found by searching across hundreds of thousands of top-performing videos in the makeup niche.
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All 37 are listed in rank order. Select a row to jump to the write-up.
| Rank | Creator | Subscribers | Median views | Engagement | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NikkieTutorials @nikkietutorials | 15M | 3.3M | 4.8% | Single-product Shorts trials |
| 2 | Denitslava @DenitslavaMakeup | 8.5M | 1.9M | 1.5% | Odd products and viral hacks |
| 3 | MissDarcei @MissDarcei | 4.2M | 1M | 4.6% | Foundation shades on deep skin |
| 4 | James Charles @JamesCharles | 24M | 641K | 2.2% | Full faces from one brand or store |
| 5 | Erin Parsons @erinparsonsmakeup | 2.3M | 529K | 7.4% | Makeup history and old recipes |
| 6 | mei @meimazing | 887K | 494K | 4.5% | Anime and doll transitions |
| 7 | Kayla Ryan @kayla.ryan1 | 1.1M | 451K | 3.3% | Halloween transitions |
| 8 | Aditya Madiraju @AdityaMadiraju | 726K | 351K | 3.4% | Backstage and brown-skin technique |
| 9 | Glenn DeVar @GlennDeVar | 746K | 277K | 6.7% | Country drag transformations |
| 10 | molchanovamua @molchanovamua | 7M | 238K | 0.9% | Wordless character transitions |
| 11 | Plastique Tiara @PlastiqueTiara | 1.7M | 230K | 3.2% | Drag makeovers of guests |
| 12 | JaDe Rain @jaderainbeauty | 509K | 129K | 4.2% | One fix per Short |
| 13 | Tati @Tati | 7.8M | 125K | 3.1% | Long wear tests of launches |
| 14 | Kat Longoria @kat_longoria | 5.7M | 116K | 1.1% | Silent get-ready Shorts |
| 15 | Slaybyjess @slaybyjess | 769K | 112K | 3.8% | Common mistakes, corrected |
| 16 | Atarah Mayhew @AtarahMayhew | 8.1M | 108K | 3.2% | Cartoon and character faces |
| 17 | Monica Ravi-Conway @monica.raviii | 1.4M | 106K | 5.4% | Brown and olive skin advice |
| 18 | Christen Dominique @christendominique | 5.4M | 105K | 1.4% | Placement hacks and full faces |
| 19 | Ali Andreea @AliAndreea | 1.4M | 104K | 2.8% | A celebrity artist’s lessons |
| 20 | Elena Rachitskaya @ElenaRachitskaya | 542K | 100K | 1.4% | Hooded-eye tutorials |
| 21 | sophdoeslife @sophdoeslife | 1.4M | 95.1K | 3.8% | Monthly tests of new makeup |
| 22 | Smitha Deepak @SmithaDepak | 3.8M | 88.6K | 1.8% | Hooded eyes and base technique |
| 23 | Alexandra Anele @AlexandraAnele | 1.4M | 87.2K | 4.8% | Celebrity look recreations |
| 24 | Nikki La Rose @Makeupbynikkilarose | 580K | 82.3K | 3.3% | A pro’s product shortlists |
| 25 | Laura Lee @laura88lee | 4.6M | 80.9K | 3.6% | Hauls and Sephora verdicts |
| 26 | Shada Alnaas @shadaalnaas | 351K | 77.3K | 1.4% | Character looks in fast Shorts |
| 27 | Rhony Claire @Rhonyclaire | 127K | 73.5K | 4.4% | Red lips and cabin-crew makeup |
| 28 | Taylor Margaret @DrugstoreMaven | 132K | 67.9K | 4.7% | Drugstore against luxury prices |
| 29 | Vincent Ford @VincentFordMakeup | 337K | 66.3K | 1.3% | Mature skin and eye shape |
| 30 | Manny Mua @MannyMua733 | 4.8M | 64.4K | 2.2% | Store hauls and dupe verdicts |
| 31 | Selena Marchand @selenamup | 281K | 60K | 3.7% | Makeup over 40 and brides |
| 32 | Holly Murray @hollymurraymakeup | 772K | 59.2K | 0.9% | Horror and film effects makeup |
| 33 | Glam Girl Gabi @GlamGirlGabi | 782K | 56.1K | 1.1% | Makeup and hair over 40 |
| 34 | Robert Welsh @RobertWelsh | 1.1M | 56K | 3.8% | Release rankings and brand critique |
| 35 | Wayne Goss @WayneGoss | 4M | 55.9K | 5.1% | One placement fix at a time |
| 36 | Lisa Eldridge @LisaEldridge | 2.1M | 52.5K | 3.7% | Studio tutorials from a celebrity artist |
| 37 | Make Me Over ASMR @MakemeoverASMR | 80.5K | 51.8K | 1.4% | ASMR salon makeovers |
The best makeup YouTubers aren’t simply the channels with the most subscribers. YouTube shows videos to people based on how the video performs individually, not just based on who subscribes to the channel. As a result, a small or midsized channel can reach more people than one several times its size.
That’s why we rank makeup YouTubers by median views of their videos (the average number of people a typical video reaches). As of October 2026, the five most watched are NikkieTutorials, Denitslava, MissDarcei, James Charles, and Erin Parsons.
Sorted into groups by the job a makeup brand would give each channel. The number beside each name is the creator’s overall rank.
Music-led Shorts that turn a face into a character, plus drag and salon makeovers. Built for reach, not for detail.
Bedroom-mirror Shorts that turn one look into a character, from anime and Monster High to Slavic doll makeup, revealed to music. Wig and haircut clips come in between.
No sponsored videos found in the last 90 days.
Ten- to thirty-second Halloween transformations and event get-ready clips, posted several times a day. Brand work runs through the feed, from a Huda Beauty palette campaign to Covergirl and MAC.
12 sponsored videos in the last 90 days, in eye makeup, foundation, and skincare.
Drag looks built on camera in a home studio, from clown and vampire drag to a cryptid, each ending on a lip-sync or a pose. A series of bob-wig reveals runs beside the makeup.
1 sponsored video in the last 90 days, in skincare.
Shorts of 8 to 60 seconds that cut from a bare face to a finished character, set to music with no words. Halloween, Monster High, and Hello Kitty looks led the month.
No sponsored videos found in the last 90 days.
A studio makeover series, Plastique’s Beauty Bar, that puts guests such as Larray and Tom Daley in full drag, then cuts reveal and reaction clips from each shoot. A drag performer represented by UTA.
2 sponsored videos in the last 90 days, in skincare and phone cases.
Near-daily Shorts of silent get-ready clips and close application, cut fast to tapping and product sounds, with effects looks in October. Long uploads collect the same clips.
1 sponsored video in the last 90 days.
Character transformations painted in a bedroom studio and set to music: Pikachu, Hades, Shego, Hello Kitty. Several Shorts a day, with a tutorial and a separate reveal for each look.
No sponsored videos found in the last 90 days.
Fast makeup transformations and character looks in Shorts of 10 to 60 seconds, set to music or talked through, between acne-coverage routines. No long videos.
1 sponsored video in the last 90 days, in skincare.
Self-taught special-effects and character makeup taken from horror films and games, filmed in close-up, often followed by a removal video. A few Shorts a month.
1 sponsored video in the last 90 days, in video games.
Real makeover appointments filmed for ASMR, mostly in Seoul and London salons, with the brush and tool sounds turned up: bridal, K-pop idol, and Korean actress looks. Some sessions run past two hours.
No sponsored videos found in the last 90 days.
Channels that try new makeup on camera and say what is worth buying, in Shorts or long sit-down reviews.
Close-up Shorts that put one product on trial at a time, from a blue highlighter to a cushion foundation. Long videos stopped in September 2025.
1 sponsored video in the last 90 days, in foundation.
Tests of odd products and viral makeup hacks, filmed alone in a studio or outdoors and cut to the reaction. Long videos turn the same idea into a challenge.
No sponsored videos found in the last 90 days.
Shade tests and first impressions of base makeup on deep skin, often Korean and drugstore foundations, filmed at home. Korean hair and skincare Shorts come in between.
3 sponsored videos in the last 90 days, in haircare and apps.
Long full-face videos built around one store, country, or brand, from Spirit Halloween to Indian makeup brands, plus vlogs. Also runs Painted, a makeup brand with its own store in New York.
1 sponsored video in the last 90 days, in skincare.
Long sit-down wear tests of new makeup, ranked worst to best or judged worth the splurge, most of them 13 to 22 minutes. Runs DETAILS by Tati, a makeup brush line.
1 sponsored video in the last 90 days, in skincare.
Daily Shorts on shade matching and color theory for brown and olive skin, between costume transformations and Sephora-sale verdicts. About one 20-minute tutorial a week.
12 sponsored videos in the last 90 days, in skincare, lip products, and foundation.
Full-face first impressions of new drugstore and high-end makeup, and dupe comparisons, filmed at home in long videos. Shorts carry quick tips and Halloween looks.
5 sponsored videos in the last 90 days, in skincare, apps, and personal care.
Buys, ranks, and tests drugstore and high-end makeup in Shorts and in hauls of 14 to 32 minutes, filmed at home or on trips. Founder of Laura Lee Los Angeles, a makeup line, and MinimLA, a body-care brand.
6 sponsored videos in the last 90 days, in fashion, concealer, lip products, and sunscreen.
Red-lip and blush reviews and a working flight attendant’s makeup routines, in bathroom and bedside Shorts. Costume and shopping clips fill the gaps.
6 sponsored videos in the last 90 days, in lip products, foundation, and haircare.
Drugstore makeup tested against luxury prices in Shorts, plus anti-hauls of Sephora best sellers. Personal talks about family and confidence come in between.
1 sponsored video in the last 90 days, in skincare.
Handheld hauls and product tests from Dollar Tree, Ross, Walmart, TJ Maxx, and Sephora, plus Shorts that flag one dupe at a time. Founder of Lunar Beauty.
2 sponsored videos in the last 90 days, in concealer and makeup.
Long videos that rank new releases, test viral hacks, and call out brands, from a professional makeup artist. Each Short settles a single technique question.
3 sponsored videos in the last 90 days, in makeup and skincare.
Step-by-step lessons on placement, base, and eye shape, many from working makeup artists who name each product.
Makeup history in close-up Shorts: eyeshadows and lipsticks made from old recipes, discontinued products, and swatches at a dressing table. Runs MakeUpArchive.org, an online archive of vintage makeup.
2 sponsored videos in the last 90 days, in foundation and skincare.
Short technique demos and product verdicts from a working makeup artist, including backstage work at Paris Fashion Week. Brown-skin makeup comes first, with menswear and travel clips in between.
1 sponsored video in the last 90 days, in skincare.
Close-up Shorts that fix one makeup problem each: the right foundation brush, undertone, concealer, eyeliner. Sells an online course, The Makeup Method, built on 18 years of makeup advice.
5 sponsored videos in the last 90 days, in foundation, skincare, and sunscreen.
Mirror-shot Shorts that correct one common mistake with the product held to camera, from setting sprays to eyeliner. Viral lip and powder tests fill the rest.
2 sponsored videos in the last 90 days, in eye makeup.
Full-face and beginner tutorials, and Shorts that isolate one placement hack such as blush or brows, talking to camera while applying. Founder of Dominique, a makeup brand.
10 sponsored videos in the last 90 days, in skincare, fashion, blush, and beauty devices.
Technique lessons of 15 to 40 minutes from a Paris studio, by a celebrity makeup artist whose work includes Brittany Snow’s Venice Film Festival look. Fashion-week and travel vlogs come in between.
1 sponsored video in the last 90 days, in fashion.
Technique tutorials for hooded eyes, filmed close at a home vanity with an English voiceover, in long videos and Shorts. Series on red lipstick, smoky eyes, and liner shapes, from a makeup artist and hairstylist.
5 sponsored videos in the last 90 days, in skincare and makeup.
Step-by-step tutorials of 8 to 20 minutes on base makeup, eyeshadow, and hooded eyes, filmed at home. Founded Ayéura, a skincare brand that sells a superfood face mask.
No sponsored videos found in the last 90 days.
Celebrity and film makeup recreated in tutorials of 15 to 50 minutes, explained eye shape by eye shape, by a creator with a degree in painting. Shorts repeat the same looks in close-up.
2 sponsored videos in the last 90 days, in lip products and makeup.
Close-up vanity lessons that fix one thing per video, such as blush around eye bags or buffing versus pressing foundation, with the product named in the title. Has a makeup brush line, sold on waynegoss.co.uk.
7 sponsored videos in the last 90 days, in skincare, beauty devices, and makeup.
Edited studio tutorials and launch films for the Lisa Eldridge makeup line, from an artist who works with celebrities, magazines, and brands. Makeup history is a running side thread.
No sponsored videos found in the last 90 days.
Tips and full looks for mature skin, from four working makeup artists.
Product shortlists and step-by-step tutorials from a makeup artist with 18 years of celebrity, editorial, and TV work, often for mature or oily skin. A Short for every pick, and long videos on the Sephora sale and Allure’s awards.
No sponsored videos found in the last 90 days.
Close-up Shorts on one feature at a time (eye shape, concealer, or base) from a professional makeup artist, often on mature skin. The products are named in the description.
1 sponsored video in the last 90 days, in blush.
Tips for makeup over 40 from a 42-year-old makeup artist, filmed handheld at home and on location with bridal clients. Sells virtual makeup classes.
6 sponsored videos in the last 90 days, in lip products, skincare, and makeup.
Makeup and hair tutorials for women over 40 from an artist with nearly 20 years of special-events work, with virtual makeovers of celebrities such as Sandra Bullock. Founder of Mature Beauty, a makeup line.
5 sponsored videos in the last 90 days, in telehealth, hair tools, and blush.
We analyzed the 580 videos these 37 creators published on YouTube in the last 30 days. Of those, 103 beat their creator’s usual views by 3× or more.
Here is how this month’s breakouts open, read from what each video says in its first seconds, or from its caption when nobody speaks.
“brainstorming the next Halloween costume..”
More of the month’s breakouts had no speech than any other opening. A song or a film line plays while a bare face becomes a character, a costume, or a doll, and the caption carries the idea.
mei 4.2M views · 8.5× their usualThe same channels talk through more of their usual uploads, so the silence is part of what changed. A wordless transformation shows a product’s color and finish well but cannot explain a claim: put the product’s name in the caption or a pinned comment.
“This is what happens when you don’t know the difference between a fixing spray and a setting spray.”
A common opening is a makeup problem in progress: makeup that slides off during a run, eyeliner that closes a small lid, foundation that sits in texture after 40. The fix follows straight after.
Slaybyjess 1.2M views · 10.5× their usualTeachers and reviewers both use it. It suits a product that solves a problem the viewer already has, and it gives the product a clear job in the video.
“I’m going to show you guys all the minis at Sephora that are actually worth your money.”
These open with the judgment before the evidence: what is worth the money, what is overhyped, what a brand got wrong. Viewers stay to see whether the verdict holds.
Laura Lee 783K views · 9.7× their usualA reviewer who leads with a verdict will also say when a product falls short. For the brand that is a risk, and it is also the reason the audience listens.
Shada Alnaas: “Fantastic butterfly makeup tutorial 🦋” reached 13M views, 168.4× their usual.
molchanovamua: “Hello Kitty🎀 idea for your next Halloween look 👀” reached 30M views, 125.3× their usual.
Kat Longoria: “Pool day approved💦✨ High coverage that stays PUT, even through all that water! @TIRTIR_GLOBAL ❤️” reached 7.3M views, 62.7× their usual.
This table shows what the makeup channels on this list do at each size on YouTube. Use it to judge whether a creator’s numbers are strong for their tier.
| Tier | Subscribers | Median views | Engagement | Videos a week | Sponsored videos |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mid | Under 500K | 67.1K | 2.6% | 3.2 | 6% |
| Macro | 500K to 2M | 105K | 3.6% | 3.4 | 6% |
| Mega | Over 2M | 116K | 3.1% | 2.1 | 7% |
The figures are medians across these 37 channels, from each channel’s recent videos. “Sponsored videos” is the share of videos in the 90 days to Oct 30, 2026, that carry a paid-promotion label or a stated sponsor, or are part of a brand campaign.
If you market a makeup brand and want a YouTube channel to show a product, these checks matter once you have shortlisted channels by their recent views.
A Short gets a product seen by a lot of people at once. A long review or tutorial shows the product in full use and keeps being found in search for months. Many makeup channels now post Shorts first, so say which one you are paying for.
A foundation or concealer video is only as useful as the skin it is tested on. Watch the creator’s last few shade tests, and make sure your range includes their shade before you send product. Channels built on deep, brown, or olive skin test exactly this.
Reviewers who open with a verdict will say when a product falls short, and their viewers trust them for it. Before you send anything, agree whether a negative review still runs, and do not ask for a script.
Several creators in this niche sell brushes, lipsticks, or whole makeup lines of their own. That does not rule them out, but it changes what a partnership can cover, so raise category exclusivity before the brief.
On YouTube, a creator who is paid for a video has to tell YouTube by selecting the paid-promotion setting, which adds a disclosure label at the start of the video. Many sponsored makeup videos carry only a partner hashtag in the description, so write the label into the contract.
We identified and ranked these creators by searching hundreds of thousands of top-performing makeup videos across YouTube with Klint.
We rank by median views across each channel’s recent videos, long videos and Shorts together, so one viral Short can’t lift a channel up the list. Channels from any country qualify if they post in English or with no words, if at least half of their newest 30 uploads are about makeup, and if their typical video reaches 50,000 views.
To get this list or a similar one for yourself, describe the creators you’re looking for in the Klint web app, or paste this prompt into any AI agent connected to Klint:
Find the top 37 makeup YouTubers: channels where at least half of the newest 30 videos are makeup, ranked by median views across their last 30 videos or their last 90 days, whichever is lower. Show subscribers and each one's best video.
Klint is trusted by 1,000+ marketers for AI-native influencer marketing.
As of October 2026 the top five makeup YouTubers by median views are NikkieTutorials, Denitslava, MissDarcei, James Charles, and Erin Parsons.
10 of the 37 channels are run by working makeup artists. By median views the most-watched are Aditya Madiraju, JaDe Rain, Ali Andreea, Elena Rachitskaya, and Nikki La Rose.
Counted by subscribers, James Charles comes first at 23.6 million, NikkieTutorials second at 15.4 million, and Denitslava third at 8.5 million.
Jeffree Star has not posted a video on YouTube since June 2025. Patrick Starrr’s channel now posts mostly Shorts, and its typical recent video reaches about 14,000 views, under the 50,000 a channel needs to qualify.
Search YouTube for your product type with a word like “review” or “tutorial,” open the channels that come up, and compare the views on their last few videos rather than their subscribers. Klint does that comparison for you: ask it for makeup YouTubers who review drugstore foundation, and it returns the channels ranked by their recent views.
Fees are set per video and depend on the format, the channel’s usual views, and what the brand asks for. A dedicated review or tutorial costs more than a Short or a mention inside another video, and many makeup channels also earn affiliate commission, so some deals pay part of the fee on sales.
Yes. Any creator can ask to be taken off Klint’s lists, and the request applies to every page they would otherwise appear on.
Are you on this list and would you rather not be? Write to privacy@tryklint.ai and Klint will take you off.
