Don't get us wrong, we love the crazy wonderful world of YouTube with it's 'mixing every foundation together' and 'Kylie Jenner lips' challenges.
But sometimes a gal just wants a straightforward tutorial on how she can quickly do her makeup at her desk before Friday night drinks, or nail a smokey eye in a reasonable five steps rather than fifty.
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This is what Bobbi Brown Pro Artist, Amy Conway is hoping to achieve with the launch of her new channel. Having worked for the brand for over ten years, with backstage experience and magazine covers under her belt, GLAMOUR picked the makeup artist's brain on bloggers versus professionals, the future of Youtube and how her career started...
From accounting to theatre makeup
Would you believe that someone in such a creative profession started in accounting?
"I originally trained in accounts and bookkeeping, and started an apprenticeship", says Amy. "It lasted all of six months (and making lots of awful tea!) when I realised I was not made for that kind of office environment."
Deciding simply that she wanted to spend her time do something she loved, Amy signed up to a theatrical makeup course and went for it.
"Still to this day one of my biggest pieces of advice to anyone deciding what career path to take is to do what you truly love, and it will be impossible not to be good at it."
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Her first client was a dog
Forget Selena Gomez or Blake Lively, Amy's first superstar client was a dog. Yes really!
"My first ever paid job (that wasn't cleaning dishes or wiping tables!) was for my local theatre in Portsmouth. I was working on an amateur dramatics production of Oliver", says Amy.
"My job was to pin curl the dancer's hair and paint a black patch on 'bullseye' the dog. Oh that job was the topic of my conversations for months after! I somehow managed to drop it into anything because I was just so proud to say I worked backstage. And in hope one day be able to call myself a 'real makeup artist'."
It's safe to say Amy has done just that, with her career highlights spanning from working backstage at London Fashion Week, to securing makeup for her first magazine cover and meeting a lot of celebs along the way.
"But I can truly say this past month has just been a real pinch me moment – launching a YouTube has always been on my career bucket list, but something I knew wasn't going to be easy to do. But seeing all the love and support from my followers has just made me want to work hard and get filming even more tutorials for them."
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Professional makeup artists versus bloggers
Youtube has been a brilliant platform for launching the careers of mega-influencers, many of whom had no professional experience prior.
But with the demand for beauty tutorials stronger than ever, Amy believes there's room for both makeup artists and self-learned.
"I love that bloggers share products that they love and why it works for them, they are just so inspiring and I have bought so many products off of their great recommendations", she says.
However, what sets professional makeup artists apart is that they have more background knowledge and are able to share why products works for certain skin types or eye shapes and have a little more experience in advising audiences which products would work for them.
"I've been so lucky to be involved with the actual making of formulas and packaging of products that it really gives such great understanding that only helps make advising others easier", says Amy.
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The future of Youtube
Youtube has long been the reiging video king when it comes to beauty tutorials, but with the launch of Instagram TV is it still the place to be?
"For now yes", says Amy. "It's already the hub for tutorials which is why it marries so perfect with makeup and hair how-tos. I can see a lot more experts joining it too which is exciting!"
"The future of beauty is definitely heading towards the more paired down look and I’m so happy to see such beautiful natural makeup looks making a real comeback and having such a positive effect on confidence, self-esteem and celebrating individuality."
Seizing the opportunity, Amy plans to fill her channel with what she's truly passionate about: natural makeup.
"I want to create tutorials on how to just be the best version of yourself", she says. "I will also be sharing my bride-to-be journey as I plan my wedding this year which is super exciting!"
You can check out Amy's latest tutorials, including 'Holiday makeup' and '3 minute day to night eyes' via her Youtube channel.
Welcome to the winter of skinimalism.
