In the 90s, it was sneakers and sodas. In the 2000s, it was Barbie dolls and clothing lines. In the 2010s, it was Fashion Nova fits and eyeshadow palettes. For years, celebs have hawked their brands and collaborations at us with hopes of selling the dream: look like your favorite celeb, live like your favorite celeb, eat like your favorite celeb!

Now, it’s skincare everywhere. In the wake of Rihanna dominating the makeup and skincare industries with Fenty Beauty’s debut, many have been scrambling to get their beauty products on the shelves. 

With the hopes of cashing in on fans’ desire to have perfect skin like their fave celeb, celebs and influencers are offering miracle toners, washes, and serums that have allegedly been thoroughly researched and tested. Many of these celeb-backed brands have received complaints of using harmful ingredients, repackaging and rebranding discontinued products, and using disingenuous marketing ploys. 

For a group of people who regularly (and quietly) utilize fillers, facelifts, and more to achieve the look that they’re attempting to package and sell, partnering with or creating a skincare brand is not necessarily ethical.

The idea in itself completely disregards the hundreds of thousands of dollars spent per year by said celebs on skincare maintenance and upkeep ranging from vampire facials to mono-threading and other experimental skincare treatments and surgeries. It is upkeep that the majority of their following simply can’t afford or imagine having access to. 

Is skin-like-JLo truly attainable? Or are celeb skincare selling the dream in the form of an aesthetically pleasing, overpriced bottle of gloop? 

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