Do We Really Need a $225 Beauty Course?

How much would you pay to find out the perfect long wearing lip?

I remember when makeup knowledge was passed down in bathrooms and bedrooms, traded between sisters, friends, mums, and random strangers in the women’s loos. Now, it’s available in bite-sized chunks on TikTok or through 40-minute deep dives on YouTube, all free of charge. So, when The Lipstick Lesbians announced the launch of their online platform, Let’s Learn About Beauty, with modules costing $225 each - or a hefty $810 for the full four-part series (lip, eye, cheek, and face) - the beauty community had one question: do we really need to pay for this?

On paper, the idea makes sense (kinda, I’m being very generous here). The platform promises to teach fundamental makeup techniques, offering “hands-on” virtual guidance for those craving structured education. The creators, known for their makeup artistry and cult following, are cashing in on a lucrative corner of the beauty industry: education. Naturally, I took to Reddit to see what was up - and the consensus is clear: beauty enthusiasts aren’t exactly rushing to add this course to their carts. I get it. I certainly don’t have $800 lying around for beauty lessons.

“Why would I pay $800 for something I can watch for free on YouTube?” one Redditor wrote, echoing dozens of similar comments. Another pointed out that with no clear information on the course length, instructor credentials, or the number of video hours, the pricing feels more like a cash grab than a genuine learning opportunity. “If you’re asking people to drop that much money, at least tell us if we’re getting more than a couple of pre-recorded videos,” they added. Very true. To be honest, I still don’t have a full grasp of what the course even entails.

And that’s the thing - there’s growing scepticism around the value of beauty courses in the age of free content. Once the domain of professional makeup artists seeking to sharpen their craft, beauty education has now been repackaged for the everyday consumer. The market is saturated with platforms promising to make you a pro from your living room. From MasterClass’s $180 annual membership (which includes lessons from Bobbi Brown) to Mario Dedivanovic’s Makeup by Mario masterclasses, there’s no shortage of pricey tutorials. But how much of it is genuinely useful - and how much is just expensive gatekeeping?

The commodification of beauty education speaks to a larger trend: the exclusivity of skill. Where once you could learn to perfect your cat-eye by watching Lisa Eldridge on YouTube, you’re now encouraged to shell out hundreds for the privilege of being “taught” by influencers including makeup artists turned influencers (they deserve their own category at this point).
Beauty knowledge, once shared freely, is becoming a paywalled commodity.

I’m divided on whether these courses are worth the money. There’s definitely value in learning directly from artists you admire, but most of these courses aren't offering trade secrets you can’t find online. Would you still pay?

For regular makeup wearers, the appeal of courses like Let’s Learn About Beauty lies in the promise of refinement. Maybe you’ve been drawing on your eyebrows the same way for years and want to upgrade your technique. Or, as they claim on their website, you want to “learn how to choose the perfect long-wear lip.” 🤷‍♀️

Part of the problem with Let’s Learn About Beauty is its lack of transparency. The website is aspirational and clearly aimed at a certain customer, but it’s also frustratingly light on detail. There’s no mention of how many hours of instruction you get, how interactive the course is, or whether you can expect a certificate upon completion (or at least, I couldn’t find that information, apologies if it’s there). It all feels very vague.

And that vagueness makes the price point feel even more audacious. On Reddit, some users questioned whether courses like this are even designed to teach, or simply to give fans the illusion of insider access. "These courses aren’t about learning—they’re about buying into the brand’s aesthetic," one user wrote. "You’re basically paying to feel like you’re in their inner circle." I have to agree - it definitely has a join our club, we’re better than everyone else vibe.

I couldn’t imagine dropping $800 to “uncover the secrets behind foundations, primers, powders, and concealers.” It’s absurd. There are no secrets—unless I’m completely clueless. What makes the high price tag feel even more ridiculous is the abundance of free content online. TikTok and YouTube have democratised beauty education. You can learn to create a seamless base, recreate Euphoria-inspired eye looks, or even master theatrical SFX makeup at the tip of your fingers.

In fact, many of the most popular beauty influencers built their careers on free tutorials. NikkieTutorials, Jackie Aina, and Robert Welsh have made professional-level beauty education accessible with no paywall in sight. Even industry pros like Lisa Eldridge regularly share detailed techniques on YouTube, making courses like Let’s Learn About Beauty feel redundant by comparison.

Beauty courses like Let’s Learn About Beauty represent the growing elitism of the beauty world. They create a skill gap where knowledge becomes something only the privileged can afford. Sure, there’s nothing inherently wrong with monetising expertise, but when the price of entry is $800 with no guarantee of value, something feels off (not implying it’s a scam, but still).

Because let’s face it: in a world where you can learn how to snatch your cheekbones or master a smoky eye for free, paying a small fortune for a beauty course feels less like self-improvement - and more like being sold a dream.

Let know what you think, would sign up for a beauty course and how much would you pay?

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