The Ten Most Annoying Things Beauty Vloggers Do!

By BR Tabby

Hi, my name's Tabatha and I have a confession - I'm addicted to YouTube. More specifically I'm addicted to watching beauty vloggers on YouTube. Whether they're trying new makeup, hauling, hot or notting, high end vs drug store duping, or just going about their day and bringing me along for the ride. I love it all. I love getting insight into products that haven't made it to our fair shores. I love seeing the opinions of people who have probaby tried more makeup in one month than I'm likely to in my entire life. It's all so... watchable. Except when it isn't. You see sometimes, and probably when I'm sleep deprived and my hormones are dancing a rollercoaster jig, I get a bit grumpy with my lovely vloggers... why? What sins are they committing in the land and mind of Tabby?

1.  Whenever someone says 'make love to the camera' while clicking away I think it's a joke. However I'm convinced that phrase is what crosses a beauty vlogger's mind when they're doing those pre-tutorial looks. It's all fluttery lashes, seductive pouts and coquettish looks. Yes, I want to see their makeup in all it's glory, but a nice still will capture that, and I won't have to worry that someone looking over my shoulder will think I'm watching something a bit ... adult.

2.  'I'll link that down below'. How many times have I heard this, then gone to find the link and there is none. Don't promise and not deliver people!

3.  You know what gets old quickly? The same old descriptors used over and over. Yes I realise there's only so many words to describe colours in the world but hearing 'it's pinky, it's a kind of mauve, it's a pinky mauve' over and over again becomes yawn-worthy. What should they replace the words with? Purple, lavender, lilac, amethyst... fuschia, soft-salmon, babies bum pink. I don't know. That's what the thesaurus is for.

4. Updates! Update more! Update us! Now this goes two fold. I hate finding a YouTuber who I love and who says they film and upload twice a week and then they don't. It's like having a guy say he'll call and then he doesn't, except this is worse because this is makeup and I count on my favourite YouTubers to keep me informed. If you're not going to upload at the rate you promise then don't say you will. Further to that... I hate it when a YouTuber tries a new produc and says they'll let you know what they think about it once they use it a bit more, only to never speak of it again.

5.  Remember how Harvey Norman had an anti-Harvey Norman Facebook page set up because people got tired of being yelled at in the ads. I want to do the same for some beauty YouTubers. Don't scream down the screen at me. It hurts my ears.

6.  We all know popular YouTubers get PR sent their way. We also know some of the products are paid to be talked about. That's cool. But it grinds my gears when they don't mention that it's either PR product or that they're being paid to talk about it. Now I know if it's something given to them for free they don't have to mention that, but I wish they would because it could influence their thoughts on a product. And if it's paid then they actually have to say something because that's YouTubes rules. The only thing worse than not saying you're being paid to talk about a product - burying the fact you are among a ton of other information in the down bar. It just makes them look sneaky.

7.  Speaking of sponsorship. Beauty gurus who'll represent anything do my head in - especially when the product they're promoting is off brand. It's not helpful to the company paying, and it damages the YouTubers brand. I know money's lovely, but you know, keeping one's self looking legit is more important.

8.  I'm not great with languages. I can barely speak English at the best of times. But if my job involved having to say the names of foreign brands in a video that reached millions - you can bet I'd do my best to have those names slip off my tongue like I was born in the country they came from. 

9.  A big spin-off for beauty YouTubers these days appears to be collabs with makeup brands. Or they create their own makeup and use YouTube as another means of promoting it. Yay for them! It's very cool! BUT - does nobody give these people customer service training? Or basic 'how to deal with conflict' training. I've seen collabs go wrong. Or products go wrong. I've seen the people who've bought products because it came from their favourite YouTuber/beauty guru upset when it's not been up to standard. I've seen these people ignored or told they're wrong, or lying. I've seen YouTubers blame the company they've worked with. Essentially that's biting the hand that feeds you, and it's not cool. Take responsibility. Be gracious. Better to be remembered for being a person who's fine to admit when things aren't great than to be remembered as a snitty diva.

10.  Finally, number ten. My most un-favourite annoying beauty YouTuber quirk. Telling me they love me at the end of the video. You don't know me. You don't really love me. You love the fame and attention my watching you brings me, but that's not love. And to be fair, I don't love you either. I enjoy watching you. But I reserve love for my family, friends and favourite neighbourhood dogs. So don't say I love you. Just say thanks for watching. 

So there you have it, my top ten annoying things beauty vloggers do. Did any strike a chord for you? Do you have any pet peeves of your own? Chat away!