The definitive FAQ!

These are my most frequently asked questions on Youtube! Here are the answers. You can also find a more extensive and interactive Q&A here: formspring

Are you a professional makeup artist?
That depends on how you define it. I have done some freelance work in the past but don't do it anymore because I just don't have the time. I have a regular "day job" that has nothing to do with the beauty industry, and no, I will not list what that other job is. I am entirely self-taught and have never taken any classes or attended beauty school.

How did you learn how to do makeup, how did you get so good?
I learned by doing! I started out as a complete beginner and just taught myself by practicing lots! There's no magic recipe to get good at applying makeup. Always challenge yourself by trying out new techniques and don't be afraid to experiment, even if it ends up looking horrible! I picked up lots of tricks and ideas from Youtube and Specktra. I have been interested in and practicing applying makeup for about 6 years or so.

Please tell me how to start my career as a Makeup Artist - what schools do you recommend?
I'm sorry, I can't give you any advice on the industry, how to become a successful artist, or which schools to attend. I am not qualified to answer these types of questions and I never went to school for makeup artistry.

Where do you buy Ben Nye? Where do you buy your other makeup products?I order most of my supplies online, please click here for a list of recommended online retailers. I find accessories for my more extravagant looks at my local craft store. I purchase MAC at MAC counters, or swap on Specktra or Makeup Alley. I strongly advise against buying MAC or other high end brands on eBay because of counterfeit issues.

What foundation do you use and what do you recommend?
I use various liquid or cream foundations by Illamasqua, Lancome, Makeup Forever, Nars, and Revlon, depending on the look and finish I need. I used to use a mineral foundation by Alima before but have generally fallen out of love with mineral foundations. That being said, what works for me might be totally wrong for you, so please check out my Foundation Basics video to help you find a foundation that is perfect for your needs.

Where do you get inspiration from for your looks?
Everywhere! Magazines, makeup forums and communities, paintings, art, fashion ads, actresses, eras, etc. I like to take inspiration from different sources and then make them my own in some way. Carbon copies are dull.

Can you recommend a look for me? What makeup should I buy?
I'm sorry, I get so many messages, I can't recommend a specific look for you to match a dress, wear on a special occasion, etc. You should wear makeup that you feel looks good on you, suits the occasion, makes you happy, and that you can afford. I don't think makeup has rules, and I certainly don't want to limit my viewers by telling them what to buy and wear.

Can I make a request for you to do a video on?
Sorry, I am currently not taking requests, but I often get input from my viewers on Facebook.

How can I best contact you?
I have to warn you that at this point I am unable to get back to most people simply due to the high volume of messages and comments I get. I estimate that I get about 1000 questions, messages, emails and comments a day through my various sites. This is well above my capacity of replying back. However, I make sure to take some time to interact with my viewers on my social networking platforms like Twitter and Facebook, so please be sure to add me there as it's much easier and faster for me!

I sent you an message, why didn't you reply?
There's a chance your question was already answered in the information box below the video, or I already have a video up answering your question, or it is answered in this FAQ. You would be amazed how lazy some people are to look for the answer themselves and just decide to send me a message instead when I've already provided the information! Please use the Youtube search function on my videos to see if I already did a look you're requesting. Otherwise, please understand I get so many messages on a daily basis and I do this as a hobby in my spare time. I work and have many other responsibilities. I do not have time to reply to every single message and email that is sent to me. Sorry!

What is your favorite makeup brand?
I don't have one; no single company makes the best of everything, so I use everything from high end to low end. But generally, I frequently use products from MAC, Ben Nye, Makeup Forever, Illamasqua, Nars, Bobbi Brown, Urban Decay and NYX. I don't have access to all the products available in North America.

Where do you live? What languages do you speak?
I'm of Swiss-Canadian dual nationality and I currently live in Switzerland. I speak and write English, German, and French (a bit).

What camera / editing software do you use? Who makes your videos/pictures?
I'm a one-woman show, completely. I do everything by myself, from filming, to lighting, to editing, to taking all my own pictures. Here's what I use:

Cameras: Canon 600D SLR with variety of lenses, Canon HF S-21 Camcorder
Picture editing: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Video editing: iMovie for Mac, Final Cut Pro X

Are your nails real? What nailpolish are you wearing in a particular video?
Yes, my nails are 100% real, I've never had artificial nails (gels, acrylics, etc.) I use NailTek Foundation II to strengthen them and prevent splitting, Seche Vite Dry Fast topcoat, and generally just take good care of my nails. I have a video up where I show how I do my nails and apply polish. I always list the nailpolish I am wearing, both brand and colour either in the info bar below the video or on my blog.

What hair color do you use?
I stopped colouring my hair in February 2011 and haven't coloured it since. So what you see now is my natural hair color.

What music did you use in a particular video?
I always list the music I used, please check the information box for the artist and track name. I get most of my royalty-free music from ccmixter.org or incompetech.com to use in Partner videos, or get permission from the artist personally for copyright music on major labels. If nothing is listed, it's generic software music that came with my iMac.

How can I change the thumbnail on my Youtube video? How come your videos are longer than 10:00 minutes? How do I get a banner on my channel page?At the moment these features are only available for Youtube Partners, which I am. You can find out more about the Youtube Partner program and your eligibility to enroll here.

I have a cosmetic company, will you review some of my products on your channel?
Please send all inquiries of this nature to juliayoutube.biz@gmail.com and include a link to your website. I will not feature products that do not have a professional looking website and store (for example Myspace or Blogger.) Please note I have become very picky about which products I accept to try out as I get many requests of this nature and cannot or do not want to accept all. Sending me samples does not guarantee a feature on my channel.

Can you send me free makeup? When is your next contest? No, I won't send you free makeup, I'm not a makeup ATM machine. I frequently hold contests and giveaways on my Youtube channel so be sure to be subscribed not to miss out.


I hope that has answered some of your questions!