Beauty Guru of the Month: Samantha Lee

“…It all started when I was around 10 years old. I remember hiding in my mother’s closet while putting on her pink lipstick and blue eyeshadow…” For Samantha Lee (StarCentral’s Beauty Guru of the Month for January 2016), that early interest was further fueled when her mother bought her and her sister a toy makeup set to play with. And with that gift, her interest became a passion.

Lee’s passion another outlet when she discovered makeup videos on YouTube – “…I thought that I should try just to see how it would go since I love doing makeup on myself and other people…” Her channel ‘Superlysam’ quickly gained a following which has now swelled to over 6,700 subscribers with over 350,000 views!

While she enjoys the nuances and intricacies of makeup, “…I gotta admit, I am not a big fashionista gal…I choose sweats and V-neck tees over dresses and fancy clothing. Although I love to dress up sometimes, I feel most comfy in my sweaters and tees. Don’t get me wrong, I love dressing up…”

Since beginning her foray into the beauty industry, the Minesotta-based/Hmong native recounts her attendance at ‘Generation Beauty’ in California as one of her most memorable experiences so far. A weekend-long event, ‘Generation Beauty’ (run by Michelle Phan’s ‘ipsy.com’) brings together the leading online beauty, fashion and lifestyle gurus, their fans and the industry’s top beauty brands – “…meeting bigger beauty youtubers was one of the most amazing experience ever. Seeing people you love doing things they love makes me happy. They were a huge inspiration for me because they inspire me to keep going even with a small following on YouTube and Instagram, I mean everyone starts somewhere right?”

But that start, Sam acknowledges, would not even be possible without the support of “…my family, close friends and boyfriend…without them, I would not be where I am at today. They are the ones who push me to do my best even when I am on my breaking point. They are my inspiration to keep going no matter how hard life can be. They taught me how to live life to the fullest and dream big! They are all the reason why I strive to be the best I can be every day…”

And fulfilling her biggest dreams are definitely on Sam Lee’s agenda. She hopes to “…work with my some of my favorite makeup brands and travel with them. I also hope to get somewhere far with my YouTube channel and Instagram account. I want to be able to manage my own…or even start my own brand and become my own boss…” To that end, she plans to finish her degree in Business Management and continue her work as a freelance photographer. “…I believe that if you believe in yourself, you can do anything you want even if the dreams you have are the biggest dreams ever. If you work hard and dedicate yourself to achieve your goals in life in order to make that dream come true, it can come true. Also, do not let negativity guide your way of living, always be positive and strive to be a better you each day…”

‘LIGHTNING FAST’ Round:

1. What is the one beauty product you can’t live without? Concealer – Maybelline Fit Me Concealer is one of my favorite products that I cannot live without! Being a college student, I am mostly on a budget and with this concealer, I can cover my dark circles and any imperfection and can be out the door in 5 minutes!

2. What is the most dramatic thing you’ve ever done to change your looks? Definitely brows! My brow game has changed a lot in the last year, but I am constantly improving which is something I love seeing.

3. What is in your makeup bag when you travel? Too Faced Born This Way Foundation, Maybelline Fit Me Concealer, Hoola Bronzer, ELF Blush Palette, Morphe 35O Palette, NYC Liquid Eyeliner, and L’Oreal Telescopic Mascara.

4. What is the one “flaw” you wouldn’t change about yourself? My shoe size! It is small, but I love it because I can get cheap running shoes and also I can fit into kids’ shoes which gives me so much more variety to choose from.