When 19-year-old Amy Powell puts on her makeup, people pay attention - 317,000 people, to be more specific.
The Surfside Beach resident began creating makeup tutorials from her home a year and a half ago. Now she has more than 30 videos available online at www.youtube.com and over 4,300 people who subscribe to them.
``I really just started because I could,'' Powell said. She got her laptop as a gift in 2006 and since then has been using it to record, edit and upload videos onto the Web.
In most of the videos, she demonstrates how to apply eye shadows to create different looks.
``I really like eye makeup,'' she said. ``You can do so much with it.''
A recent video shows how to create a July Fourth look for eyes. In it, she sits on her bed, surrounded by bright pots of eye shadow, angled brushes and an oval mirror. A small camera built into the top of her laptop records her as she expertly applies a bold blue shadow and dark maroon liner. She talks through it, offering advice and giving step-by-step directions.
``If I have the time, I talk through it and it really helps people,'' she said.
The finished design is a bold, fun look that screams ``Happy Fourth!''
Her videos have garnered lots of attention. The self-taught makeup artist was featured in a New York Times article and has been contacted by the editors of ``Good Morning America'' for a possible spot on that show. One makeup company even offered her free supplies if she used their product in her tutorials. And don't forget the 317,000 people who've watched her videos online.
Powell said she receives requests for more videos all the time. People ask for different styles, such as a '50s look or a geisha look.
She plans to make more videos.
``I want to do some summer ones, not using just light makeup but using summer colors,'' she said. ``There aren't any rules for makeup really,'' she says, but she shares some tips.
Anyone living near the beach knows that the sand, sun and salt can drain your skin of moisture and melt your makeup right off. Amy Powell shares some tips for beating the summer heat.
“Because it’s summer and it’s hot here, obviously, I would suggest using a tinted moisturizer as opposed to foundation,” Amy says. She makes her own by mixing a little bit of foundation with a skin moisturizer. “It can hide a little bit of what you want to cover up but it’s also really good for your skin.”
She says to stay away from heavy foundations or cream-based products because they have a tendency to melt off in the heat or humidity.
If oil is your problem, Amy recommends blot powder or blot sheets. They’re widely available and they soak up the excess oil on your face that could cause breakouts.
“If your makeup is getting creamy, you can use sheer powder,” Amy says, “I like loose powder. That will kind of matte-ify your face.”
If you’re going to wear mascara, opt for a waterproof one that can stand up to humidity.
To keep eye shadows from creasing, she says to use a primer.
Amy also recommends choosing products with SPF in them.
If you’re going to the beach, wash your face and moisturize when you get home. “It’s really important to use a moisturizer because you want to make sure that you keep the moisture in your face, instead of having it dried out by the salt.”
If you want to get the best out of your products, you have to fork over the extra cash and buy a higher quality makeup.
“I really believe in the mantra, ‘you get what you pay for,’” Amy says. “If you go to the drugstore and by the cheapest eye shadow, it’s not going to last very long, it’s not going to give you the best color pay-off and it’s not going to be as good or as long-lasting as a higher quality makeup.
At the end of the day, remember to take your makeup off, duh.