It's been a few months since I started making makeup content - both video and photographs. It's a great way to scratch that itch I feel with creation using my camera but at the same time learn some new things and improve my skills with color. Doing video, photography, and painting (my face haha) - it's a really good combination of the skills I currently have and what I seriously wanted to do years ago.
Makeup is a different field. Although it's the same color theory and art, it's still something so different because here you are working with pigments on skin. Which made me unsure about to actually do it temporarily or something I would do long term. And here I am after a few months and I'm still doing it and enjoying it. :D
Self Care
I'm very aware of how my body and mind works now and it gave me so much better ways to take care of myself to prevent burnout again (which lasted 3 years btw). I could say I'm not in that phase anymore but I'm still careful because I'm learning a lot of things at the same time which makes my brain use more energy and have to chill cos I only have limited RAM haha.
I'm taking things slowly and not pressuring myself and really just enjoying creation. I don't focus on growth yet. I focus on what my style would be (without ofc putting myself inside a box) and how I would manage my time so my day would be efficient.
Honestly since becoming aware of what stresses me out or burns me out, I am able to take breaks and formulate some new working style that works for me.
I'm gonna talk about this still, but since having known that I am AuDHD, I am able to cater to the needs of both (ADHD and autism) and balance them out so it doesn't cause so much chaos, since both need COMPLETELY different things. Maybe I will write about it at some point, if anybody is interested. I just don't wanna write about it all the time since I don't want to sound like a whiny bitch haha.
How are the acounts doing
My Instagram and TikTok have been doing great lately. I'm surprised it's growing the way it is now despite not really consistent with posting (since I take a few breaks at times). I'm also not engaging so much since I want to focus on making content first but yeah, people still find my content in their feed or by being shared by other people.
I love the niche that I got into. I'm focusing on eyeshadows and lipsticks to make creative looks and specifically using Cbeauty brands. It has I would say a tiny community and it's slowly getting traction so growth-wise it would be better long term. I followed what my heart wants and not the metrics and trends and I am really enjoying it. :D
I also just started another Youtube account specifically for makeup to separate it from the gaming cos I want to upload my stuff to get views and reach haha. The views are doing so well considering I just created it like 5 days ago. :D
Pretty sure people are searching Youtube for swatches and products too since not everyone have IG and TT for that so it will be good in the long run.
Ways to earn
Some of the ways to earn that I know of are affiliate/referral codes, ads, and brand collabs. I already am affiliate for 2 websites where I would earn a small commission if someone orders using my codes. It would be a nice passive way especially I also like taking nice videos of the products haha.
I don't have any commissions yet, I need to make more content first so they'll have a reason to follow me. :P
Another way is in Youtube monetization which I also currently don't have yet.
And of course there's Hive too, I'd like to post my makeup looks and process and also some photography and that adds to the revenue but I just don't want to think of Hive as work. I treat Hive as a way to share my thoughts, make friends, and share my looks and imo focusing on Hive as something with earning makes me feel burnt out. I'd like to keep it my safe personal space and not a work environment, you know? :D
Some nice views
This swatch video has an insane 47k views and I didn't do anything special. No promotions, nothing. I was really surprised it started to get a lot of views and looking at analytics, it showed up on search cos people are looking for swatches and reviews.
You can also see how much users had them saved so they can watch later, and for audience's perspective it makes sense.
So far, when I post a product or makeup look, I put the keywords in the description and tags. I always think "If I'm a customer who wants to buy this product, what keywords would I use in the search tab". I guess that works haha. I don't want to analyze too much on the metrics and stuff since I really just want to enjoy it for now but I'm glad it got those views even at an early stage.
Among the other posts that have the most views of all time are the SAEM pot concealer and ELF liquid glow filter. They are mostly products and people who view most likely are going to buy. So just imagine if you have an affiliate code in that video and a lot of them used your code. :o
But I don't want to go that route tbh. I want to focus on the creative makeup and not on the influencer beauty guru side.
What's next
Overall, I'm learning and having fun so there's no point pressuring myself and having that one big goal to be strictly achieved. I'm being realistic at the same time just not worrying too much about it all.
Since I have kinda settled on what my filming process and lighting setup would be, it has become easier for me with that flow.
I'm hoping I can go back to making art and recording gameplays soon, but also at the same time do this makeup thing. That would be so nice once I figured out the workflow for me and I have accustomed to doing things constantly. Coming from burnout is not easy since I got used to doing unproductive things for so long...
And I'm just glad I am able to do so now. :D
And that is the secret of your success - when you do something you love, the output is amazing.
This is so true
Isn't it fun to strive when you do something you love? Your social media accounts are growing and you already have a few collaborations. I guess you will start finding sponsors when your account gets over 5000 followers. Although I don't do it myself, there are many people in my country who are doing this kind of work 😅
Yeah, not only it's rewarding to see yourself improve in your craft, but you also slowly get attention haha. Compared to focusing on the follower count, it really is so much better just enjoying it first.
There are brands that don't really look that much on the follower count. I've seen people get PR from brands even with 500-1k followers. I think they look at the consistency and engagements.. and maybe it will be better for them long term that a lot of creators make content early.
I also get DMs from brands who want to send free stuff but I mostly decline cos it's either not aligned with my content or I'm not sure about the quality of their products. For example a contact lens brand... I'm very strict about putting something in my eyes cos sometimes contact lenses can be unsafe and damages can be permanent. :D
Of course you can be discovered on a smaller scale, but I think it's a matter of luck. Or someone has to recommend you to that brand.
You should definitely pay attention to quality when advertising because when you recommend something to others that you won't use yourself, you will get bad feedback and this can affect you psychologically.
I still have no Tiktok but I am thinking that way too, since the alogarithm for new account is really friendly
You have good camera, good talent and thata great you are reaching more, to new people
Make up is the biggest niche on the affiliatte world beside home product 😊 Good luck on you
You have beautiful face and expression!
True, I didn't struggle getting views there. Oh I didn't realize home products have a lot of affiliate buyers too haha but it makes sense.
Thank you! Good luck on your journey as well :D
Now people are lazy to buy through offline store. So, shopping from Tiktok is the easier way now, especially so many discount 😁
If I'm not wrong, if you reach a certain amount of followers on Instagram /Facebook, you can unlock the premium where users can pay you a subscription, an other way to earn
I would love a post about audhd, it would be interesting to read how you handle that
How did you manage the burnout?
Ah yeah that too. Although I don't think I'll be using it tbh. I don't know what content I'm gonna put there that's worthy of their sub haha
I don't know. I guess it has been so long that I just had to mentally push myself to get up and do something. And I think the diagnosis really just triggered it to be gone since I don't have to deal with guilt, shame, etc
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Moon is coming - April 19th, 2025
I have always wanted to create videos also either gaming, travel, tech, comedy/sketches but always been so damn lazy and also afraid of judgement cuz no matter how much I say I don't care some days are worse than others and then I wouldn't be able to handle judgement at all, oh well maybe one day lol!
Anyway really well done of you and I wish you a lot of success and happiness in your journey :)
Yeah it's kinda the same with me too, I'm afraid at some point I'll be able to say something bad or weird in an accident and people take offense. But in general I'm scared of being cringe but at this point who cares anymore? It's quite common for people especially who are not used to it but in reality people barely care... if anything it's mostly who you know do care and maybe secretly want you to fail haha.
But yeah you'll get used to it eventually and the beginnings are usually the hardest. Thank you and you too! Someday you'll find that courage and start doing it :D
hehe yeah you're right it's mostly in our own minds we make up situations and sp and blow up everything when it isn't really so bad! thanks and yeah one day for sure :)
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