Angelica Babiera | Arts Editor
Featured image: Amanda Borges is a York student, makeup artist, and beauty YouTuber. | Courtesy of Amanda Borges
Anyone who has found themselves perusing YouTube and social media for makeup inspiration knows the struggle of finding a good tutorial.
Many YouTubers are too focused on trying to look cute, instead of giving a bit of an entertainment or a glimpse of themselves on camera. Finding a good beauty YouTuber, where the videos are as entertaining as they are informative, is difficult.
Luckily, York has a beauty YouTuber who deserves to have her channel highlighted (and contoured).
Amanda Borges is a third-year Children’s Studies student. Hailing from Brampton, the 21-year-old likes to busy herself in her spare time with makeup, fashion, and making YouTube videos.
Her YouTube page, Gorgeous Borges, has videos dedicated to fashion, makeup, and lifestyle, teaching her subscribers how to create the perfect looks.
Borges first started out with makeup at the age of 13, when she would watch her mom put makeup on. “My mom taught me the basics of makeup such as foundation, mascara, lipstick, and blush. As soon as I experienced the magic of makeup and how it could transform and highlight the features on my face, I fell in love.
“From then on, I started to watch YouTube videos on how to advance my skills when applying makeup. Until today, everything I have learned about makeup has been self-taught, with the help of YouTube tutorials,” she says.
Her high school friends, as well as beauty guru Carli Bybel, have given Borges the encouragement to start a YouTube channel. Her friends always asked Borges how she does her makeup, and Bybel has always motivated her subscribers to spread positivity.
“Because of my passion for makeup and helping others feel beautiful within and without, it made sense for me to start my own channel inspiring and teaching people around the world how to do makeup.”
Borges adds that in order to find a good makeup look, she relies on social media. “The makeup look ideas that I post on YouTube come from my everyday life makeup routine, as well as makeup trends that are popular on social media.
“These makeup trends help me venture outside my everyday look and try something new, while also putting my own touch on the final look. This includes the techniques I use to accomplish the look specific to me—how the makeup style will compliment my specific features of what looks good and feels comfortable on me.
“In addition, because I am creating a makeup tutorial for others to follow around the world, I want to make sure that I am creating a makeup look that can compliment many faces and features, as well as a simple and easy application process for makeup beginners.”
She even explains what she would do for a Saint Patrick’s Day-inspired look, starting off with finding the main focus—which is the colour green—with glitter on the eyes. The look could be a smokey eye or adding winged eyeliner, pairing it with a light pink or nude lip colour to balance the look out.
Many can even add four-leaf clovers on the eyes or face with makeup. If a neutral look is desired, a natural eye can be created with eyeliner and a little bit of glitter, as well as a green lip colour if a more daring look is desired.
“I don’t think there is any limit when it comes to an event like Saint Patrick’s, because it is a day of celebration and to have fun; therefore, why not have fun with makeup as well?” Borges says.
Borges adds: “My biggest advice for people who want to become makeup artists is to love the art itself, practice the art, be dedicated in learning and creating makeup looks, and be open-minded to different trends or interests of people and beauty around the world.
“Positivity is key when creating a YouTube channel, as it is a process that takes time in becoming popular and successful. I have been on YouTube for three years, and I am still growing and have goals that I want to achieve with it.
“My motivation is the way I teach people how to apply makeup on this platform, and make them feel confident, beautiful, and glamorous.
“It’s also a fun hobby and passion to take on. If makeup can make someone smile effortlessly, then all the power to it.”
