How Much Do Beauty Creators Make on TikTok?
Complete earnings breakdown for makeup & skincare creators—from 1K to 1M followers
The Quick Answer
Beauty Creators Earn 30-40% More Than Average TikTokers
At 10K Followers
$500/mo
Mostly gifted + small deals
At 50K Followers
$3K/mo
2-3 paid brand deals
At 100K+ Followers
$10K+/mo
Premium partnerships
Why beauty pays more: Beauty brands have massive marketing budgets ($10B+ industry), high product margins (50-80%), and TikTok drives actual sales. A single viral video can generate $100K+ in revenue for a brand, so they pay creators well.
Earnings by Follower Tier
Here's what beauty creators actually earn at each level:
Nano (1K-10K) Followers
Mostly gifted products, occasional $50-$150 paid deals
Total Monthly:
$100 - $500
Income Breakdown:
Key Insight:
Focus on building engaged audience. Accept gifted products to build portfolio, but start charging by 5K followers.
Micro (10K-50K) Followers
2-3 paid brand deals per month, mix of skincare/makeup
Total Monthly:
$500 - $3,000
Income Breakdown:
Key Insight:
This is where beauty creators turn profitable. 2-3 paid deals per month covers living expenses in most US cities.
Mid-Tier (50K-500K) Followers
Premium brand partnerships, ambassador deals, PR packages
Total Monthly:
$3,000 - $20,000
Income Breakdown:
Key Insight:
Sweet spot for full-time beauty creators. Mix of mid-tier brands + premium partnerships. Consider hiring manager/agent.
Macro (500K-1M+) Followers
Multi-month ambassador deals, brand collaborations, product launches
Total Monthly:
$20,000 - $100,000+
Income Breakdown:
Key Insight:
Top-tier income. Focus on exclusive long-term partnerships over one-off deals. Product collaboration opportunities.
Beauty Brand Deal Rates (Premium Multiplier)
Beauty creators can charge 30-40% more than general creators:
| Followers | General Rate | Beauty Rate (+30-40%) | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10K | $1,000-$2,000 | $1,300-$2,800 | Skincare review video |
| 25K | $2,500-$5,000 | $3,250-$7,000 | Makeup tutorial + product |
| 50K | $5,000-$10,000 | $6,500-$14,000 | 3-video campaign |
| 100K | $10,000-$20,000 | $13,000-$28,000 | Monthly ambassador |
| 250K | $25,000-$50,000 | $32,500-$70,000 | Exclusive partnership |
Pro Tip: Skincare deals pay 10-20% more than makeup deals. Why? Higher price points ($50-$200 vs. $10-$40), repeat purchases (monthly skincare routines), and less saturated market.
Real Beauty Creator Examples
Sarah - 35K Followers (Skincare Focus)
Monthly Income:
$2,400
Income Sources:
- • Creator Fund: $80/month (2M views)
- • Brand Deals: $1,800 (2 deals: $900 each from indie skincare brands)
- • LIVE: $200 (weekly GRWM streams)
- • TikTok Shop Affiliate: $320 (selling skincare through shop)
Posts daily skincare routines, honest reviews, and ingredient breakdowns. 6.2% engagement rate.
Marcus - 80K Followers (Makeup Artistry)
Monthly Income:
$6,500
Income Sources:
- • Creator Fund: $200/month (5M views)
- • Brand Deals: $5,000 (1 major brand deal with Sephora-level brand)
- • LIVE: $600 (3x/week makeup tutorials)
- • Affiliate: $700 (Amazon affiliate + TikTok Shop)
Professional MUA, posts tutorials and transformations. Works with mid-tier and premium brands.
Emma - 200K Followers (Affordable Drugstore Beauty)
Monthly Income:
$18,000
Income Sources:
- • Creator Fund: $500/month (12M views)
- • Brand Deals: $14,000 (2-3 deals: Maybelline, ELF, NYX at $5K-$6K each)
- • LIVE: $1,200
- • Affiliate: $2,300 (high conversion on affordable products)
Focuses on drugstore dupes and affordable beauty. Massive engagement because products are accessible.
Top 7 Monetization Strategies for Beauty Creators
1. Niche Down (Don't Be "General Beauty")
Why: Brands want specialists. "Acne skincare for 20s" beats "general beauty tips."
Action: Pick ONE sub-niche: K-beauty, clean beauty, acne care, mature skin, budget beauty, luxury skincare, etc.
2. Create Honest Reviews (Not Always Positive)
Why: Authenticity = trust = higher conversion = brands pay more. Fake positivity hurts long-term.
Action: Rate products 1-10, show real before/afters, mention pros AND cons. Brands respect honest creators.
3. Post "Dupes" Content (High Engagement)
Why: "Luxury vs. Drugstore" and "Designer dupe" videos go viral and drive affiliate sales.
Action: Compare high-end to affordable alternatives. Example: "La Mer vs. CeraVe" or "$200 vs. $15 foundation."
4. Use TikTok Shop Affiliate Aggressively
Why: Beauty has highest Shop conversion rates (8-15%). You earn 5-10% commission on every sale.
Action: Link products in every video. Create "shop my favorites" collections. Mention "link in bio" verbally.
5. Build Email List for Brand Pitches
Why: Brands check audience quality. Email list = proof of engaged audience beyond TikTok.
Action: Offer free guide ("My 10-step Korean skincare routine PDF") in exchange for emails. Use Beacons or Stan Store.
6. Go LIVE 2-3x/Week (GRWM Format)
Why: Beauty LIVE streams have high gift rates. Viewers love real-time Q&A about products.
Action: Schedule consistent LIVE slots: "Monday GRWM" or "Thursday skincare routine." Engage with every commenter.
7. Pitch Indie Brands (Less Competition)
Why: Everyone pitches Fenty, Glossier, Rare Beauty. Indie brands (100K-500K followers) pay well + less competition.
Action: Find indie brands on Instagram, check if they work with creators, email with media kit. They often respond faster.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Calculate Your Beauty Creator Earnings
Use our brand deal calculator to see what you should charge as a beauty creator (remember to add 30-40% premium):
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