My struggle with beauty products continues, but thankfully I have technology by my side to help me figure out all my blunders.

Like the arrival of a superhero, there are YouTube tutorials, beauty bloggers and product-review sites to chase away all my worries and questions, and save the day.

Makeup techniques for the day as opposed to nighttime, the difference between gel and pencil liner, drawing the perfect eyebrows—all of the answers came as easy as typing my questions in the search bar.

I could read up on my phone in the car, practice at home in my pajamas and know exactly which counters to go straight to at the department store.

Quality over quantity

My rejoicing and excitement was short-lived, however, as I realized that finding the right websites and people to listen to was just as hard as finding the best products for my skin.

Quality is always better than quantity, but sadly it is the latter that comes with the Internet.

For the most part, it is a plethora of unflattering and blurry photos, annoying accents, and overdone faces that makes up the digital beauty universe.

My search was for credible, clean and relatable guides; people who look approachable and not straight out of “Jersey Shore”; product reviews that were honest and not paid for; and short but direct tutorials that were bearable and easy to watch.

Beauty is Boring (beautyisboring.com)—Some of the most beautiful people in the spotlight have Robin Black to thank for their good looks. Her client list includes famous musicians, actresses and media personalities.

Enjoy the outtakes; the personal Polaroids from photoshoots are as engaging as her tutorials—the way she describes beauty regardless of age, gender or cultural trends.

Byrdie (byrdie.com)—More of a website than a personal blog, Byrdie is everything from a collection of trends and how-tos to a place to directly shop for your favorite products. The creators of WhoWhatWear give us a useful platform, with inspiration, education and resource all rolled into one.

Into the Gloss (intothegloss.com)—Former Vogue assistant Emily Weiss has an affinity for all things beauty, and from that penchant came a website that strikes the perfect balance. She writes product reviews, but includes a special section for interviews with both celebrities and everyday individuals.
Her posts are raw, individualized and free of cheesy statements, much to the delight of many.

They say it’s what is inside that counts, and I believe it’s the same that goes for these websites.

They are thoughtful, convincing and enjoyable to read; I hope they pump up your beauty knowledge as much as they have mine.