Inspiration and advice to get a glowing complexion are just a click away.
Your skin, being your body’s largest organ, can throw a lot at you — from acne and wrinkles to eczema and dullness. In your journey to control your complexion you may have run into a common problem: being overwhelmed by the sheer number of products out there. And many of them make some big claims.
You always have your board-certified dermatologist to turn to. And frankly, these true experts should absolutely be your go-to for all things skin care, especially if you’re dramatically changing your routine or have developed a new skin condition. All the same, you may find yourself needing additional support, tips, and inspiration. That’s where bloggers and influencers come in.
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These skin-care gurus’ palpable love for product tries, self-experiments with procedures like microneedling, and honesty about problems like acne will help you make decisions, figure out what’s working for you (or not), and set you on the right path toward solving your skin issues.
In other words: They try it all so you don’t have to.
The people on this list have a wholistic, compassionate, and candid approach to skin care that’s easy to get behind. Here’s who to follow:
The Style and Beauty Doctor
Danielle Gray is the creator of The Style and Beauty Doctor (@stylenbeautydoc), and she cheekily throws out the disclaimer that she can’t be responsible for any shopping addictions that result from following her.
The blog caters to women of all “skin tones, sizes, and ages,” so there are helpful nuggets of skin-care advice no matter what your complexion concern. Gray is up front about her skin struggles, including her five-year-long journey to treat acne, dark spots, and dark circles. Follow along with her YouTube videos, where she gets candid about getting under-eye fillers and Botox, as well as the specific precautions Black women need to take before getting these pro treatments. “Skin care is a marathon, not a race,” she says.
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50 Shades of Snail
Jude Chao is the mind behind Fifty Shades of Snail, which is dedicated to skin care, beauty, and mental health (@fiddysnails). The 41-year-old, who is based in Southern California, is also releasing a book called Skincare for Your Soul this spring.
Her skin type is normal, but she uses tretinoin (a vitamin A derivative that stimulates collagen production), which can make her complexion lean on the dry side. In between product reviews, you’ll love reading her tips on things like skin-care patience (also known as giving your skin care time to work), skin-care anxiety (the “am I doing it right?” questions), and self-compassion in the face of negative self-talk about your appearance.
Skin by Blair
Blair, of Skin by Blair, (@skinbyblair), is an aesthetics physician assistant and owner of Skin by Blair Aesthetics in Charlotte, North Carolina. She has more than 90,000 followers on Instagram because of her results-oriented approach to skin care. If you have melasma (dark, brown discoloration on the skin), she’ll fill you in on the peel you need, show you exactly how much retinoid you need to apply for anti-aging benefits, and give you the rundown on Botox.
But if you turn to her for nothing else, make it her Instagram Stories. They’re a must-watch. She shares her morning and evening skin-care routine and answers readers’ questions, which will absolutely help you solve your skin woes. (Go to her Q+A tab now!)
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The Organic Esthetician
Written by Katie Sobelman, The Organic Esthetician (@the_organic_esthetician) is dedicated to practical skin-care tips you’ll use every day (such as how to layer your skin-care products) and features reviews of facial devices that you might otherwise be hesitant to try.
When you need a dose of serious self-care, read her guide for identifying the right mask for your skin, or for giving yourself a spa-worthy cleanse or a facial at home. And don’t forget to check out her Instagram for some of her favorite skin-care and makeup products.
The Blended Beauty
Florence Williams, a twentysomething content creator from Atlanta, is at the helm of life and beauty blog This Blended Beauty (@theblendedbeauty). Her focus is on cruelty-free beauty and sustainable living, particularly brands that live up to that promise. Williams has eczema, hyperpigmentation, and hormonal acne, and some of her content is centered on finding solutions to these skin problems.
Her blog and ’gram features reviews of products from well-known companies as well as ones that may be new to you and includes tips for battling common woes like ashy skin in the winter, answers to sustainability questions like where to donate beauty products, and full rundowns of what she uses to get her glow. (Plus, if you’re interested in the behind-the-scenes business of things, she also supplies tips for fellow budding content creators.) Her approach is honest, in depth, and trustworthy, as she works only with brands she believes in.
The Skin Sisters
Lauren and Brooke are dermatologist physician assistants (and sisters, of course) based in Minneapolis and share all of their skin secrets via Instagram (@theskinsisters). If you want to know how to put together an acne-fighting routine, they lay out all the details. If you need to fix a routine that’s irritating your sensitive skin, they’ll tell you what to look for. And if you’re curious about what it would be like to get Botox in the muscles of your neck, they’ll break that down for you.
Their expert advice is info you can use every day, and you’ll appreciate how their product recommendations span a variety of price points so that you can get great skin no matter your budget.
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