5 YouTube Drag Queens Who'll Help You Look Beat For The Gods
Wondering how you can have your face looking beat for the gods? Look no further than the drag queens of YouTube who’ve mastered the art of makeup.
Now, we understand that drag makeup ― with the exaggerated brows, extra-long lashes and sparkles galore ― may be a little too bold for most people’s day-to-day, but that’s no reason to be intimidated. We can definitely stand to learn a thing or two from drag performers, especially when it comes to makeup. The way they masterfully contour their faces and apply their perfectly winged liner really is amazing.
Whether you’re trying to up your contouring game or you just need a little more convincing that a sparkly lip is a good idea, these drag queens can provide all the inspiration you need:
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L’Oreal Voluminous Mascara
![Most of the makeup artists we spoke to agreed that <a href="https://www.lorealparisusa.com/products/makeup/eye/mascara/voluminous-original-mascara.aspx?shade=black-brown">L’Oreal’s Voluminous</a> mascara is a must-have in their makeup kits. “I love L’Oreal’s Voluminous,” <a href="http://lorihamlin.com/" target="_blank">Lori Hamlin Penske</a> of New York City told HuffPost. “I totally swear by it. I have YSL and Armani, I have all of them, for different things, but that’s my go-to for everyday and I actually carry a few in my bag at all times so I can just give them to the client.” <br /><a href="http://www.nybridalbeauty.com/2337496-portfolio" target="_blank"><br />Amanda Shackleton</a>, a makeup artist also based in New York City, said she likes the big, chunky brush, but noted it can cause a few clumps. However, she has a simple solution. “What I do is, once I’m done with the first couple coats, I wipe off the brush and then I use it to blend out any kind of chunks,” she said. “But it’s the best mascara out there. I’ve tried all of the Dior ones and everything, and that is the one that is in my kit nonstop.” <br /><br />Shackleton also said she sometimes mixes Voluminous with <a href="https://www.maybelline.com/eye-makeup/mascara/great-lash-washable-mascara">Maybelline Great Lash</a> (the one in the pink tube that almost everyone has). “That one has been in my kit since I started being a makeup artist and I still keep it in there,” she said. “I love that for definition in the eyelashes, but not necessarily for thickness.” By combining the two ― Great Lash first, followed by Voluminous ― “it just creates this really pretty look,” she said. <br /><br />“Basically, you don’t have to spend $50 to get a great mascara,” New York City makeup artist <a href="http://www.amyzdunowskiroeder.com/" target="_blank">Amy Zdunowski-Roeder</a> told HuffPost, adding that she, too, loves L’Oreal Voluminous. “[It works] just as well as anything you buy at Barneys or a department store."<br /><br /><strong><a href="https://www.walgreens.com/store/c/l'oreal-paris-voluminous-volume-building-mascara-original/ID=prod12950-product" target="_blank">L'Oreal Voluminous mascara</a>, $7.99 at Walgreens</strong>](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/et5AuC.PJt8Ev026dHDFzw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MA--/https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/5ad571681f0000280616d4b8.png)
Amanda Shackleton, a makeup artist also based in New York City, said she likes the big, chunky brush, but noted it can cause a few clumps. However, she has a simple solution. “What I do is, once I’m done with the first couple coats, I wipe off the brush and then I use it to blend out any kind of chunks,” she said. “But it’s the best mascara out there. I’ve tried all of the Dior ones and everything, and that is the one that is in my kit nonstop.”
Shackleton also said she sometimes mixes Voluminous with Maybelline Great Lash (the one in the pink tube that almost everyone has). “That one has been in my kit since I started being a makeup artist and I still keep it in there,” she said. “I love that for definition in the eyelashes, but not necessarily for thickness.” By combining the two ― Great Lash first, followed by Voluminous ― “it just creates this really pretty look,” she said.
“Basically, you don’t have to spend $50 to get a great mascara,” New York City makeup artist Amy Zdunowski-Roeder told HuffPost, adding that she, too, loves L’Oreal Voluminous. “[It works] just as well as anything you buy at Barneys or a department store."
L'Oreal Voluminous mascara, $7.99 at Walgreens
Physicians Formula Organic Wear Mascara
“It’s super dark, it goes on really well, the tubes are cool. That one’s amazing,” she said. “You can get ones that have little fibers in them that make it look like you have false lashes. You can get one that’s strong impact, like super black. You can get one that’s a little bit more natural. It’s kind of cool, because they’ve got maybe six or seven different formulas, and they’re all organic.”
Physicians Formula Organic Wear mascara, $9.99 at Walgreens
Pacifica Dream Big Lash Extending 7-in-1 Mascara
"Love this brand, which is 100 percent vegan and cruelty free!" she said. "Also this is my favorite mascara because it doesn’t irritate my eyes, you can get a lot of volume and a lot of length as well with just a few coats using their adjustable brush.”
Pacifica Dream Big Lash Extending 7-in-1 Mascara, $11.29 at Target
Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer
Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer, $14.95 at Walgreens
Ardell False Lashes
![“Lashes are kind of my thing,” Hamlin Penske told HuffPost, adding that she’s always used false lashes from the drugstore. <br /><br />“I would definitely swear by the <a href="http://www.ardelllashes.com/" target="_blank">Ardell</a> individual lashes, and then I also have a drugstore glue I use by <a href="https://www.cvs.com/shop/duo-striplash-adhesive-prodid-1014141?skuId=307250" target="_blank">Duo</a>, but I always buy the dark tone. That’s a little secret,” she said. "[The glue also] comes in white and clear, but I just find the darker tone blends in more easily.” <br /><br />(And yes, Hamlin Penske also loves L’Oreal’s Voluminous to finish off her lash looks.)<br /><br /><strong><a href="https://www.walmart.com/ip/Ardell-Individual-Lashes-Starter-Kit-7-pc/42864290" target="_blank">Ardell Professional Individuals starter kit</a>, $7.96 at Walmart</strong>](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/dUuF5ljmvEMu1z4ur0Qbkw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MA--/https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/5ad5627a2000001311eb4d6c.jpg)
“I would definitely swear by the Ardell individual lashes, and then I also have a drugstore glue I use by Duo, but I always buy the dark tone. That’s a little secret,” she said. "[The glue also] comes in white and clear, but I just find the darker tone blends in more easily.”
(And yes, Hamlin Penske also loves L’Oreal’s Voluminous to finish off her lash looks.)
Ardell Professional Individuals starter kit, $7.96 at Walmart
Revlon ColorBurst Lipsticks
“You can get them in stains, you can get them as really matte, long-wear ones, which are the ones I usually use, and they’re about maybe $9,” she said. “They really compare to some of the bigger counter brands. Those are mostly what I’m using right now for lips, because they last so long and the colors are so good, and they’re really easy to put on.”
Revlon ColorBurst lip products , $6.69 at Target
Rimmel London Lasting Finish by Kate Moss Lipstick
Rimmel London Lasting Finish by Kate Moss lipstick, $5.99 at Walgreens
Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes
Simple cleansing facial wipes, $4.49 at Target
Milani Blur Stick
“You can use it for a bunch of different things,” Shackleton said. “You can use it as a primer, you can use it to fill in lines, you can use it for oil absorption and as a makeup extender.”
“It’s got a little bit of a silky feel,” she added. “It’s really kind of a primer stick, but it does more than just a primer. And it’s cheap.”
Milani Blur Stick, $11.99 at Target
Coty Airspun Loose Powder
“Everybody uses foundation and primer and contour and highlighter, but nobody uses powder on their skin,” Shackleton said. “This is the one I recommend to people if they don’t want to spend a fortune and they want something that’s just really light. They have two different kinds now ― a light formula, that’s just to set things, and they also have one that’s extra coverage, so if someone has more problem skin they could use that.”
Coty Airspun loose powder, $7.99 at Walgreens
Maybelline EyeStudio Micro Eyebrow Pencil
![Zdunowski-Roeder's go-to drugstore brow pencil is the <a href="https://www.cvs.com/shop/maybelline-brow-precise-micro-pencil-prodid-1090398" target="_blank">Maybelline EyeStudio Micro eyebrow pencil</a>. <strong><br /></strong><br />“[It's] fabulous because it is thin enough to make the tiniest of lines, which looks so natural on the brow," she said. "It’s foolproof with the spoolie on the end to help with blending.”<br /><br /><strong><a href="https://www.target.com/p/maybelline-174-eye-studio-174-brow-precise-153-micro-260-deep-brown/-/A-50554581" target="_blank">Maybelline EyeStudio Micro Eyebrow Pencil</a>, $6.99 at Target</strong>](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/2k6WGOCskCnTeOMUjsUplg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MA--/https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/5ad56a6d1e00008e0b7b1ade.png)
“[It's] fabulous because it is thin enough to make the tiniest of lines, which looks so natural on the brow," she said. "It’s foolproof with the spoolie on the end to help with blending.”
Maybelline EyeStudio Micro Eyebrow Pencil, $6.99 at Target
NYX Epic Ink Eyeliner
![Navaro said she swears by the <a href="https://www.nyxcosmetics.com/epic-ink-liner/NYX_409.html" target="_blank">NYX Epic Ink eyeliner</a>. <br /><br />″[I] love that NYX is a cruelty-free brand and a lot of their products are vegan!” she said, noting that drugstores that carry NYX “are a great place to run in and grab your cruelty-free makeup wears.” <br /><br />What she especially loves about the liner, she said, is the fact that it makes cat-eye application easy and the formula is great for long wear.<br /><br /><strong><a href="https://www.cvs.com/shop/nyx-epic-ink-liner-prodid-1710127?skuId=388827" target="_blank">NYX Epic Ink Eyeliner</a>, $7.99 at CVS</strong>](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/mCJP21toYe9sANIrs75A3A--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MA--/https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/5ad56cb31e00003b137b1adf.png)
″[I] love that NYX is a cruelty-free brand and a lot of their products are vegan!” she said, noting that drugstores that carry NYX “are a great place to run in and grab your cruelty-free makeup wears.”
What she especially loves about the liner, she said, is the fact that it makes cat-eye application easy and the formula is great for long wear.
NYX Epic Ink Eyeliner, $7.99 at CVS
Revlon ColorStay Eyeliner
Her top pick is the Revlon ColorStay eyeliner. “You can cry, sweat, swim whatever and it will stay on!” she said.
Revlon ColorStay Eyeliner, $8.79 at Walgreens
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