Top Beauty Instagram Influencers

As a visual social media platform, Instagram is a natural fit for beauty influencers. Talented men and women are showcasing new looks, teaching skincare and makeup applications, promoting positivity and advertising sponsored brands. Are you thinking of leveraging the power of Instagram and beauty for your next marketing campaign? It makes sense considering 56 percent of women follow beauty influencers, according to Rakuten. Here are the top beauty Instagram influencers you need to know.

1. Huda Kattan (@hudabeauty)

Huda Kattan is a big name in beauty. Her personal Instagram account has an impressive 1.6 million followers, but that’s just the start. She’s best known as the founder of the beauty and cosmetics brand, Huda Beauty, and the company’s official Instagram has over 39 million followers. She’s appeared in numerous high-profile publications, such as Vogue and Cosmopolitan, and is truly one of the famous faces of the modern beauty industry.

2. James Charles (@jamescharles)

With over 15 million Instagram followers before he even turned 20, James Charles is a force to be reckoned with. As an entirely self-taught makeup artist, he’s proving it’s not just the sisters who are doing it for themselves. He was even the first male brand ambassador for CoverGirl. His feed is an explosion of vibrant, artistic looks, and he’s particularly famous for his glamorous eye makeup.

3. Nikkie de Jager (@nikkietutorials)

With 89 percent of businesses ranking Instagram as being the most important, according to Big Commerce, it’s not surprising so many influencers use the platform. However, many beauty influencers started out on YouTube, using the video format to provide tutorials. Nikkie de Jager is one such influencer. She still uses YouTube, where she has over 12 million subscribers, but she boasts even more followers on Instagram. Her content is inspirational and educational, and she isn’t afraid to keep it real and take the makeup off.

4. Eleanor Barnes (@snitchery)

While many beauty influencers focus on glamorous makeup or skincare regimens, Eleanor Barnes, aka Snitchery, has a different approach. Her content consists predominantly of outlandish cosplay ideas. She uses makeup and costumes to recreate characters such as Pennywise, The Little Mermaid and the stars from video games and anime. This approach has earned her over 771,000 followers and brand deals with Savage x Fenty, Forever 21 and Warner Brothers.

5. Jackie Aina (@jackieaina)

Jackie Aina is an influencer who believes in positivity and inclusivity. It’s an approach to beauty that has earned her over 1.4 million Instagram followers. It’s also earned her plenty of critical praise. In 2018 she won a National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) image award. She also claimed the title of Women’s Wear Daily (WWD) Influencer of the Year.

6. Manny Gutierrez (@mannymua733)

Manny is the second male makeup artist on this list, and another influencer breaking down barriers. He believes “boys deserve just as much cosmetic recognition,” and he showcases stunning looks on his Instagram page. Despite the beautiful and feminine makeup, he’s always rocking stubble, giving him an exciting and distinctive style. His bold approach has made him a sensation, and he now has over 4.4 million followers.

7. Kandee Johnson (@kandeejohnson)

Kandee Johnson is another influencer who rose to prominence on YouTube where she has over 3.9 million subscribers. She’s fully embraced Instagram as a way to connect with fans to be their “virtual BFF.” Beautiful makeup, stunning outfits and the occasional positivity quote has earned her over 1.8 million Instagram followers. She has partnered with various beauty brands over the years, including Ipsy.

8. Jeffree Star (@jeffreestar)

Jeffree Star is a self-made Instagram star with over 14.6 million followers. He’s loud and proud, and his personal feed is a colorful mix of stunning selfies and snaps of a celebrity lifestyle lived to the max. Jeffree is the brains behind the Jeffree Star Cosmetics range, which has its own Instagram account with more than 6.6 million followers.

9. Naomi Giannopoulos (@vegas_nay)

Naomi Giannopoulos has built up a following of more than 6.9 million on Instagram. Her Vegas Nay products are in stores worldwide, and she was ranked number 81 in the Hopper HQ 2019 rich list. She also has over 187,000 subscribers on YouTube, where she hosts tutorial videos.

10. Shayla Mitchell (@makeupshayla)

Shayla Mitchell uses Instagram to great effect, publishing frequently to keep over 2.8 million followers engaged. Her beautiful selfies are inspiring, and the images are carefully constructed to promote customer interaction and sales. For example, in the description for each photograph, she meticulously details the products used so it’s possible to recreate the look. Many Instagram posts direct followers to her YouTube channel, where she runs tutorials for over 732,000 followers.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but searching out the most attractive options for your influencer marketing campaigns isn’t always easy. In fact, with so many top beauty Instagram influencers to choose from, knowing where to start your search may seem daunting. The right tools are essential, and that’s where IZEAx Discovery helps. Register today to start discovering Instagram influencers in the largest marketplace of its kind for 100 percent opt-in content creators. With the right beauty influencers on board, your next campaign has the potential yield a handsome return on your investment.