Examining The Beauty Industry's Use of Social Influencers
Examining The Beauty Industry's Use of Social Influencers
Examining The Beauty Industry's Use of Social Influencers
2 • Fall 2016
Kristen Forbes
Strategic Communications
Elon University
Abstract
With the rise of social media, the use of social influencers has become a popular tactic in brand marketing.
Research to date regarding the use of social influencers for branding has lacked specific insight regarding the
beauty industry. This study identified characteristics of selected beauty social influencers to see how they are
utilized in advertorials for brands on YouTube. The study used a content analysis of Maybelline’s sponsored
videos that three influencers produced and featured on their YouTube channels. Attribution theory and social
learning theory were used for analysis of influencers’ impact on viewers.
I. Introduction
In 2014, beauty was the fourth-leading industry with the largest reach of influencers in the United
States (Statista, n.d.). These influencers, dubbed online as “Beauty Gurus” online, use their skills in makeup
to partner with cosmetic brands, earning big bucks while building brand awareness around products.
Influencers have gained popularity due to the rise of social media and their ability to connect with their
consumer peers. These self-made social media celebrities are vital to brand storytelling, and their thoughts
and opinions may actually be more persuasive than messaging straight from the cosmetic brands themselves.
With this realization, marketers and communications professionals are seeking ways to leverage these new
influencers in changing brand dialogue in the digital space.
Research has been conducted on social influencers for brands, but there is a lack of research
focused specifically on influencers in the beauty industry. To gain more insight into this area, this study will
dive into the world of beauty social influencers, specifically looking at the brand Maybelline. Maybelline is a
top-selling cosmetic company across the globe and the leader on the Nielsen “Top 10s” Health and Beauty
list with more than $86 million in sales at the end of January 2016 (Nielsen, n.d.). Maybelline’s communication
strategy includes the use of social influencers to promote trends and products in the social space by the use
of advertorials on YouTube. This provides a perfect case study for identifying the characteristics of influencers
used by a successful cosmetic brand. This paper will study what the successful characteristics of social
influencers are and how they are utilized as an advantage to the branding of Maybelline.
This undergraduate project was conducted as a partial requirement of a research course in communications.
Examining the Beauty Industry’s Use of Social Influencers by Kristen Forbes — 79
Consumers have always been the heart of the brand, and their opinions and attitudes toward the
brand are what builds it up or leads to its demise. Social media allows for brands to directly engage in
conversations that build relationships with consumers and encourage brand loyalty (Booth & Matic, 2011).
Although brands do not have complete control over the conversation, they can influence it with the use of
social influencers online as consumer brand advocates. Influencers who participate in advertorials allow
brands to have a direct voice in the conversation, reaching consumers through their more trusted consumer
peers.
III. Method
Based on literature review, five characteristics were chosen to analyze YouTube beauty advertorials:
relatability, knowledge, helpfulness, confidence, and articulation.
The characteristics are defined by this study as such:
• Relatability: The influencer shares a connection with their consumer audience. They give
personal accounts and experiences that cause a sympathetic relationship with their peers.
• Knowledge: The influencer has insight about the industry they are representing and is able to
offer clear and certain facts about products to the consumer audience.
• Helpfulness: The influencer gives advice and usable opinions that can persuade consumer
decisions on a product.
• Confidence: The influencer trusts in their own words and has assurance of themselves and their
abilities.
• Articulation: The influencer clearly communicates and presents information fluidly to help
audiences understand the product, both verbally and visually.
Examining the Beauty Industry’s Use of Social Influencers by Kristen Forbes — 81
The cosmetic company Maybelline was chosen as a case study to apply these characteristics as
defined above. Three social influencers were chosen based on highest posting frequency of sponsored
content or advertorials on Maybelline’s playlist “Maybelline Beauty Tutorials” on its official YouTube page for
2015. In order to capture the different makeup trends throughout the year, the sample was further broken
down by season. Each season had at least two videos featuring separate influencers. Influencers have total
of four videos each for analysis, as shown in Table 1.
A large number of people viewed the advertorials these bloggers posted, as shown in Table 3. It’s
also important to note that by law, each of these influencers does state in the description boxes below their
videos that Maybelline has sponsored these particular videos along with the statement of “all opinions are my
own” beside it.
feels as though you are listening to a friend teach you how to do your makeup. This allows the audience to
feel a connection with these influencers right away, whereas if the brand marketers were to host these videos,
the type of language would be more direct, focused on selling and, therefore, harsher and less personal.
These influencers also show personality through the videos, whether it’s poking fun at themselves or cracking
a joke, friend-like character traits poke through the holes of the advertorial, making it feel more fun and
relaxed.
One influencer does this particularly well, when she opens up the conversation and makes it a two-
way dialogue between her and her viewers. Jenny Clair Fox demonstrated this during a video when she asks
the audience a question as she’s applying her makeup. She talks about the trend of contouring, or applying
shadows and highlights to manipulate the structure of the face. She tells her viewers that she dislikes the
trend, but then asks what they think and encourages them to comment their opinions below the video. This
shows the influencer’s effort to connect in a casual way, where she is simultaneously opening up a brand
conversation about the product she is using while building a relationship with the audience.
The relatable characteristic is important for brands to consider when choosing influencers. What Fox
did was show an interest in her viewer’s point of view. When influencers commit to knowing their audience,
they become a part of their audience, forming relationships and becoming that peer whom viewers can look to
give them a voice in the brand conversation. Booth and Matic (2011) stressed, “Ownership of the brand and
its reputation ha[s] always belonged to the consumer,” (p.185). Using this type of brand advocate who also
acts as a consumer advocate for her viewers gives Maybelline an upper hand in not only getting across its
messaging, but also provides insight into the consumer conversations and valuable feedback for the brand.
By using this influencer, Maybelline has now been able to connect to their consumers by simply giving them a
voice through the influencer acting as a consumer advocate.
Knowledge Benefits
All of the influencers in this case study showed a high degree of knowledge in their videos. As defined
in the methods section, for influencers to be considered knowledgeable, they must be able to offer clear and
certain facts about products to the consumer audience. MakeupByAli demonstrated this while describing the
product design details of The Falsies Push Up Drama Lash Mascara. She stated, “This applicator has a lot of
mini cups on it that help push up your lashes and you get lots of impact with it.” She was able to give specifics
on the design of the applicator to show the audience that she has an understanding of how the product works
the way it does and what consumers can expect to see from it.
All the influencers also seem to have extensive experience with the application of the products.
Fox consistently gave the names of brushes and clear instructions on application methods. These clear
instructions show a level of expertise that only comes with being knowledgeable about products and their
specific uses. This allows the influencers to give advice about the uses of certain products. For instance,
Fox talks about the Maybelline Lip Studio Color Blur Lip Pencils: “They’re great if you want just a little bit of
wash over your lips or what I’m doing today, which is layering them over your lip color.” This helps consumers
further understand what Maybelline products can be used for and in what different ways.
Being insightful about the beauty industry as a whole was another qualification of this characteristic
that the selected influencers demonstrated well. For example, Shaaanxo infuses the Maybelline spring
makeup trend of “Chaotic Lashes” with Korean makeup trends she is seeing in fashion and other tutorial
videos by fellow influencers. This shows that this influencer pays attention to global makeup trends, not
just those issued by her sponsor. This builds credibility for influencers when audience members see that
their content is not just being fed to them by a sponsor, but crafted out of research and knowledge of what’s
currently happening in the beauty world outside of the brand an influencer is promoting. When Maybelline
uses influencers who can clearly demonstrate knowledge about the industry, it’s incredibly helpful to the
viewers who now get a well-rounded look at the products in a larger context than just the Maybelline brand, or
just their own makeup uses. It also reflects Maybelline’s own desire to develop and incorporate global aspects
of makeup, rather than just catering makeup to one certain market.
Helpfulness
Each video was a tutorial, which means that there was an added “how to” element within the
advertorial, which allows influencers to demonstrate helpfulness within their videos with the how-to
Examining the Beauty Industry’s Use of Social Influencers by Kristen Forbes — 83
instructions. Tutorials work well with cosmetic brands because they give instructions on how to apply the
makeup and which application methods work best for what products. They also give consumers ideas on how
to incorporate Maybelline products into their regular makeup routines. In the videos, all influencers disperse
the Maybelline products amongst products from other brands. This helps viewers understand which other
brands’ products complement the Maybelline products. The influencers also include swatches, or small color
samples of products in their videos seen, as shown in Figure 1. This allows watchers to see the color of a
product out of the package, giving them a better sense of what the product will look like in real life.
As found in the literature review, influencers love to give advice. Viewers often feel that is helpful
to hear these words of wisdom from a fellow consumer, than a brand marketer. Both the consumer and the
brand benefit when the influencer gives advice regarding their particular products. MakeupByAli was the
most thorough in her advice and the most consistent in giving the viewer tips and tricks of how to apply the
makeup more effectively to get the best use out of the product. For example, when talking about how to apply
shadows from The Blush Nudes Eye Shadow Palette, she suggests a method that improves the look of the
shadows. “I’m using a brush that’s made for a cream product, because when you use it with a powder it’s
going to give you even more color impact and color payoff,” she said. When consumers watch this video, it
will help them understand how to apply the product better. Consumers may also learn an insightful tip that
they can further use in their own makeup routines, which is another benefit to them.
Confidence is Persuasive
Influencers exhibited confidence through the assertion of specific claims they make on products
throughout the videos. All influencers used words like “love” and phrases like “my favorite” to describe
products that have worked for them. For example, in one instance the influencer said, “This has to be one of
my favorite lipsticks of all time.” These types of claims show assurance in influencer opinions and reinforce to
the audience that the influencers are not wavering between certain products. They know and have confidence
in the fact that this product is something that they trust and have no problem sharing with thousands of
viewers that it is something they love.
Body language was another signifier of confidence. The influencers always made eye contact with the
camera, sat up straight, and spoke with authority. There was also a lot posing, as seen in Figure 2, that goes
on in the beginning and end of the advertorials to show off the final look. This type of body language gives the
illusion that the influencers know what they are doing and feel confident in themselves and their abilities.
84 — Elon Journal of Undergraduate Research in Communications, Vol. 7, No. 2 • Fall 2016
For Maybelline, utilizing video as a presentation method for its brand messaging helps consumers
visualize themselves with the product. Advertorials on YouTube allow them to present brand messaging
through a visual means while also getting the audience engaged in conversation on a social platform. The
fluidity of the advertorials is like a one-stop shop for consumers where they can see products, learn how to
use them, and utilize the referral links to get a further explore the product. When the influencers are articulate
in their presentation of the information, Maybelline benefits by building consumer awareness and knowledge
surrounding its products.
V. Discussion
The influencers chosen by Maybelline can be understood in the context of both social learning theory
and attribution theory. Using YouTube and its video platform, consumers watch, listen, and read about the
products all at once, through the voice of an influential, persuasive consumer. The YouTube platform makes
it possible for these two theories to function in tandem, both forming and molding the behaviors and decision
making of the consumer. Advertorials can arguably be the most influential on this platform for this reason.
In Bandura’s social learning theory, he describes how learning by experience is reinforced by
outcomes and consequences: “Knowing that a given model’s behavior is effective in producing valued
rewards or averting negative consequences can enhance observational learning by increasing observer’s
attentiveness to the model’s actions” (p.9). This increase in attentiveness to a model’s actions, which in this
case is a Maybelline influencer, may lead to the adoption of the influencer’s purchasing behaviors. In a sense,
the how-to portions of the tutorials alleviate some of the expected problems that Bandura suggests, such as
frustration or dissatisfaction when applying products wrong or in an ineffective way. The reward for consumers
is a more positive outcome with the product; and in turn, more satisfaction in their purchasing decision. When
Maybelline’s influencers act out the how-to portion well, consumers learn beneficial behaviors and Maybelline
gets more brand exposure.
eWOM or electronic word-of-mouth is made easy by the YouTube platform. As mentioned earlier,
influencers love to give advice and refer products to their audiences. However, consumers are aware of their
marketing techniques, so what they say and how they say it can make a big difference in the consumer’s
opinion of their review. In attribution theory, if an influencer positively reviews a product, the consumer will
attribute more positive outcomes of the product; therefore, the language being used to sell the product in a
positive light during the advertorials contributes to the consumer’s perceived positive outcomes.
86 — Elon Journal of Undergraduate Research in Communications, Vol. 7, No. 2 • Fall 2016
Messages of confidence and positivity could be built by influencers when they used words like “love,”
“like,” “favorite,” or phrases like “highly recommend,” according to attribution theory. These casual statements
regarding products, according to the theory, are persuasive in forming consumer opinions about a product
because it is a review by an influential voice. When the influencers are confident and positive in their reviews
and opinions, consumers will in turn be confident in their own purchasing decision and use of the product
based on that review. Maybelline’s use of these influencers who exhibit confidence in their statements creates
a positive conversation surrounding the brand that will then reflect in other consumer’s positive experiences
with the product.
Advertorials on YouTube incorporating influencers explains why so many communications
professionals are using bloggers, vloggers, and online videos as part of their campaign tactics. The reach
of influencers can go beyond just the number of shares and likes, but can actually make a difference in the
behaviors and opinions of consumers. There is also a peer element in both of these theories that allows for
more trust and credibility and a better consumer-brand relationship to be built in an organic way, rather than
through straight brand messages. This makes advertorials a highly engaging and highly effective method to
reach consumer audiences.
VI. Conclusions
Maybelline has done an excellent job in selecting influencers who have shown the characteristics
defined by this study. Some influencers exhibited the five characteristics better than others, but each has
individual strengths that allow them to succeed in providing Maybelline a voice in the beauty conversation.
Each characteristic —relatable, knowledgeable, helpful, confident, and articulate—relates back to the role
of the influencers using their voice to inject Maybelline into the online dialogue. Being relatable creates
openness between brand and consumer, while being knowledgeable reflects insight and awareness of the
beauty world in a larger context. Being helpful builds a relationship between the consumer and brand that
alleviates the stress of applying products, while self-confidence arises positivity around purchase behavior
and satisfaction of the product. Articulation then pulls in all these characteristics with the ability to clearly
present the material in a video format that visually engages viewers with Maybelline products.
Acknowledgment
The author would like to extend thanks to Don Grady, associate professor and associate dean at Elon
University, for his constant guidance and help throughout this process, without which this article could not
haven been written. The author also thanks the School of Communications and the numerous reviewers who
have helped revise this article.
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