In the beauty world, it’s not unusual to see a celebrity attached to a beauty product. From makeup, to fragrance, celebs have been the face of cosmetic brands for years now. Though lately, it seems every time I browse Sephora or the beauty editorials, I see another celebrity that has released a line of skin care. Skincare has always been popular (to me), but during the pandemic, we saw less makeup trends and more ways to indulge in self care while taking care of our skin. Soon, your favorite producer, actress, singer and celebrity influencers were not just partnering with brands to promote beauty products, they made their own complete line. So, I had to ask myself, are celebrity skincare lines worth the hype?
In the past two years alone, we’ve seen skincare line releases from Jennifer Lopez, Pharell, Alicia Keys, Naomi Osaka, Lori Harvey, Kristen Bell and most recently Scarlett Johansson, just to name a few. Even Fenty Beauty, who changed the makeup game significantly upon its release in 2017, dropped a 3 piece skincare line in 2020. So, with all of the celebs telling you that their skincare is the ABSOLUTE BEST, how do you know if it’s true?
Is The Hype Worth It?
When it comes to celebrity skincare lines, the advice I’ll give my readers is don’t shop with your emotions. I love Rih just as much as the next person, but I really took my time when deciding which products I wanted to try from Fenty Skin. What ingredients work best on your skin? If you don’t like olive oil, why spend $79.00 on a serum that promises to “brighten, and tighten skin’s appearance”? (Yes, J-Lo, I’m talking about you)
My biggest gripe with some of the celebrity skin care lines is that there is nothing particularly innovative about most them. Sure you have a serum with hyaluronic acid, an acid that draws moisture into the skin, but who doesn’t? It’s a popular ingredient, one that works really well, but does that make a celeb serum special? Not to me. The sleek packaging and luxury price point is often masking a mediocre product.
The Truth Is…
Keep in mind that celebrities have unlimited access to dermatologists, estheticians, and all kinds of skin treatments that will keep them looking youthful, glowing and blemish-free. The same benefits that their skincare products claim to give the consumer, they have immediate access to. Now, this is not to say that I hate celeb skincare lines, not at all. In fact, one that I quite enjoyed was from Alicia Keys Keys Soulcare Golden Cleanser. I purchased the travel size to try it and I loved the ingredients of turmeric and Manuka honey, and how gently it cleansed my skin. Though I love Fenty Beauty as a whole, I’ve only repurchased one of their skincare products and that is the Hydra Vizor Invisible Moisturizer SPF 30 with Niacinamide– for me, it’s a gentle sunscreen that I can use daily and it won’t leave a white cast on me. From research of his products, Pharrell’s Humanrace Skincare was made in partnership with a certified dermatologist. One product in particular, the Lotus Enzyme Exfoliator has been praised by dermatologists and won beauty awards from Allure as one of the best exfoliators for 2021* .
Final Thoughts
The most important takeaway here is to do your own research when it comes to skincare. Skincare isn’t one size fits all, I love niacinamide, but it may not work for you. Once you target your skincare concerns, you can make a more informed decision about which products will work the best. Also, I’m not saying that all celeb skincare brands are trash. But, I encourage you to remember, celebrities have access to the best skin care treatments in the world, they did not wake up like this. Don’t let that fool you and end up disappointed because you still have dark marks after using your favorite influencers toner that they swear gave them an instant glow. Don’t get caught up in the hype, do your research and put your coins towards products that keep your skin happy and healthy.
XOXO-Lydia Marie