I've Done Countless Hours of Skincare Research, And These Products Actually Work

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One of my greatest joys in life is getting the tea. Not just gossip—I love it when I can get a makeup expert to divulge their tips for a makeup novice or when beauty founders tell me the one beauty trick they would share with a friend. For me, there’s nothing greater than being able to explore fashion and beauty through the purview of someone else. There’s always something you can take away and apply to your own life, especially when it comes to your skincare routine.  

Our skin is ever-evolving throughout our lives, and sometimes we just need someone to tell us which products are actually worth trying. So in that vein, we reached out to 14 beauty founders to share the best skincare products according to their experiences as founders, experts, and skincare aficionados. Whether you’re just now adopting a routine or live and die by your skincare regimen but are looking to solve specific issues, there’s something ahead for you.

Lauren Jin, Founder of Cle Cosmetics

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Lauren Jin)

For those who don’t know about your brand, can you give a quick synopsis of why you founded Cle Cosmetics?

I founded Cle Cosmetics with the concept of beauty as a more ritualistic nature and its perceptions to be subjective and adaptable. I wanted to create something that resonated with the modern womxn, that spoke to the truth that there is no one way to feel beautiful and no right way to get there. Our skincare and makeup are curated, sourced, and centered on the latest Korean beauty technology, but as individual products embrace a distinctly minimalistic approach both in their packaging and simple effectiveness. 

What type of skin do you have? And what’s one trick you swear by for your skin type?

I have combination skin. So I have to make sure to balance deep moisture/hydration while not keeping it heavy or else I would break out. My trick is to portion-control. Too much of anything is not great. I apply thin layers of my products, and if I feel that I need to reapply, then I can always reapply. It is much better than putting on a lot of one product and/or products on my face and risk burdening my skin.

Gwen Jimmere, CEO & Founder of Naturalicious

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Gwen Jimmere)

For those who don’t know about Naturalicious, can you give a quick synopsis of why you founded your company? 

I started Naturalicious in my kitchen with $32 in the bank. I was a newly single mother to my then-2-year-old son, recently divorced from an emotionally and physically abusive marriage. At the time, I was having an extremely hard time finding haircare products that worked great for my coily hair which were also vegan and didn't force me to spend hours managing my hair. I couldn't find a solution to my problem, so I created the first patented system that makes it effortless, giving our customers better hair in half the time. Receiving the patent for my product made me the first Black woman in history to own a patent for a natural haircare product. 

While your company is based in haircare, why is skincare also important to you? 

Self-care overall is paramount in my life, and being intentional about taking care of my skin is part of that. In addition to my at-home regimen, I get biweekly facials from my esthetician, who is a genius in treating darker skin tones. Beauty, to me, is not about vanity. Rather, it’s a foundational element for how you show up in the world. When you feel great about how you look, you stand a little bit taller, you have more swag in your sway, you take less crap from people, and your confidence soars. Caring for my skin, along with my hair and body, is a reminder to myself that I am the standard of beauty. My life’s mission is to empower every woman to know that she is the standard of beauty also.

Nina Zilka, CEO and Co-Founder of Alder New York

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Nina Zilka)

For those who don’t know about your brand, can you give a quick synopsis of why you founded Alder New York? 

I founded Alder New York with my best friend, David Krause, because we wanted truly clean, vegan skincare products that were designed for all genders. We combine the best plant-powered actives with dermatologist-approved ingredients to create truly clean skincare that is as chic as it is effective.

What type of skin do you have? And what’s one trick you swear by for your skin type? 

I go from "normal" (I hate that term) to a bit oily. The best thing for my skin is gentle daily exfoliation to get rid of dead skin before it builds up. Ever since I started regularly using Alder New York's low-dose glycolic acid cleanser, I've gotten rid of the odd pimples I used to get. It's a very low-dose glycolic acid cleanser, and it's the only cleanser I've ever used that can wash off my makeup in one go while being so gentle and hydrating.

Hellen Yuan, Founder & Formulator of Hellen

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Hellen Yuan)

For those who don’t know about your brand, can you give a quick synopsis of why you founded Hellen?

In the face of personal tragedies and a hectic schedule in the ready-to-wear fashion industry, I began to search for ways to release and process the pain in my body. I became a Reiki practitioner and aromatherapist in the process, creating bath brews to have a home-spa experience, which helped me unlock my body and connect to my mind and heart. I began getting orders from friends and family and slowly expanded my line into multiple products. The more I learned about aromatherapy, the greater my desire grew to make products to empower people to heal their bodies. 

What type of skin do you have? And what's one trick you swear by for your skin type?

I have oily to normal skin. I believe the health of skin starts within by eating whole foods, taking proper vitamins (like Bulletproof collagen powder), and drinking a lot of water to stay hydrated.

Danika Berry, CEO of Glam Body

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Danika Berry)

For those who don’t know about your brand, can you give a quick synopsis of why you founded Glam Body? 

Our products are created out of passion and founded by me in 2017, a single mom whose children were combating eczema. My vision was to curate homemade coffee scrubs in order to help nourish and heal the skin. I think self-care should be fun, engaging, and relaxing, and Glam Body has since become my best friend, and she will be yours, too! When you strip off all the layers—the clothes, the jewelry, the makeup—what are you left with? A blank slate for your body. A fresh start for your skin. That's where Glam Body comes in to help you. As your best friend, Glam Body wants you to feel and look your best.

What type of skin do you have? And what’s one trick you swear by for your skin type?

My skin is dry, and the one trick I swear by is steaming my skin. It’s so soothing and hydrates naturally to moisturize my face.

Shelby Wild, Founder of Playa

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Shelby Wild )

For those who don’t know about your brand, can you give a quick synopsis of why you founded Playa?

I founded Playa in 2017, back then I was working as a fashion stylist in New York City with very little time to get ready in the morning. I would often just end up leaving the house with wet hair and wished for a line of easy-to-use, clean hair products that didn’t require heat styling or crazy time-consuming techniques. We have built Playa to be a combination of multifunctional essentials and treatments to achieve the best version of your hair naturally—no drying or styling required.

While your company is based in haircare, why is skincare also important to you?

Since I've spent so much time formulating haircare products that cut down your time getting ready in the morning, I've found that I seek out that same performance standard in my skincare. I'm now a busy mom of a young baby, so while I cherish my (minimal) alone time doing my beauty routine, I need products that work and deliver on their promise! This search for a pared-down, effective routine has given me a renewed interest in skincare, not only because I'm noticing a few more fine lines recently but also because I appreciate the power of a well-designed product.

Melissa Medvedich, Founder & CEO of Supernal

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Melissa Medvedich)

For those who don’t know about your brand, can you give a quick synopsis of why you founded Supernal?

For the majority of my career, I worked as a creative director and graphic designer in media. Toward the end of 2016, with modest savings and a tremendous amount of moral support from my husband, I decided it was finally time to go for it and pursue my long-term dream of having my own clean-and-conscious skincare line. Supernal was launched in February 2019 with a single hero product, Cosmic Glow Oil, which is handcrafted in small batches from potent, plant-based ingredients.  

What type of skin do you have? And what’s one trick you swear by for your skin type?

Relatively well-behaved combination (dry to oily), sensitive skin. Staying internally hydrated is not a myth and works, but I have also come to understand that the face doesn’t really like to be touched—which I know sounds super weird, but this isn’t in reference to cleansing or massaging the skin with (clean) hands or tools—which skin loves and is fantastic. I have noticed that my skin will become irritated in the spot where I rest my chin in my hand at the computer or from taking a call without earbuds and having a phone near my cheek—even if my hands are freshly washed or the phone is recently sanitized. Wearing a hat or sunglasses might cause some congestion to pop up along the areas where those accessories fall on my forehead or cheeks too. I still do or wear all of these things of course, but doing a thorough double-cleanse in the evening to remove any natural debris or daily buildup generally keeps my skin happy.

Taylor Frankel, Co-Founder of Nudestix

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Taylor Frankel)

For those who don’t know about your brand, can you give a quick synopsis of why you co-founded Nudestix? 

Nudestix was founded by my sister (Ally), my mom (Jenny), and me. Our mission was to create beauty products for real life. Inspired by the modern-day woman today, we developed a collection of easy, fast, and effortless beauty products that enhance your natural beauty, making you feel the most confident in your own skin.

Amy Liu, Founder & CEO of Tower 28

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Amy Liu)

For those who don’t know about your brand, can you give a quick synopsis of why you founded Tower 28?

I’ve worked in the beauty industry for over 15 years, but as someone with a history of sensitive skin and eczema, I couldn’t even enjoy the best part of working in this field: trying out all the products! This search for skincare and makeup that’s clean and sensitive skin–friendly inspired me to launch Tower 28 in April 2019. My mission was to create an inclusive and accessible beauty company for all skin tones, skin types, budgets, and beauty philosophies. We are currently the only makeup brand to follow the National Eczema Association's guidelines, which means our products contain zero potentially irritating ingredients, and our products are all $28 and under. 

What type of skin do you have? And what’s one trick you swear by for your skin type?

I have dry, sensitive, and eczema-prone skin. And as far as my trick I swear by for my skin type, I think a lot of people might not realize that "natural” doesn’t necessarily mean that a product is suitable for sensitive skin. I’d recommend doing your research on essential oils and figuring out which ones might lead to irritation for you. A good place to start is the National Eczema Association; any product with its seal of approval will be safe for sensitive skin!

Kay Cola, Founder of the Organi Brands

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Kay Cola)

For those who don’t know about your brand, can you give a quick synopsis of why you founded the Organi brands? 

KC: I founded Organi Grow, Glow, and GoLife to help people achieve their optimal life through healthy choices and self-love through self-care. I wanted to provide better options especially for people of color who are often exposed to toxins via their hair skincare and foods.  

While your company is based in haircare, why is skincare also important to you?

Hair and skin are important to me because they are the shell casings for our souls while we are on this planet, and learning to love the skin and hair we are born with gives you confidence and vibe that can’t be matched. When your hair and skin are glowing and growing, you feel special, and that radiates through vibration to others.

Remi, Founder & CEO of Freck Beauty

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Remi)

For those who don’t know about your brand, can you give a quick synopsis of why you founded Freck Beauty?

Freck Beauty was founded in search of the perfect freckle. During the early days of trying to create Freck OG, I realized that there weren't any bold, clean beauty brands for anyone who cares about ingredients, respects the process, and doesn't care about the rules.

What type of skin do you have? And what’s one trick you swear by for your skin type?

I have pretty easy, normal skin. I like to look at my routine as bringing my skin back "to neutral," whether that's fighting against environmental pollutants or if I've just had a big foundation day. I try not to over-treat or strip my skin and just bring it back to its neutral state.

Spencer Arnold, Co-Founder of Bathing Culture

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Spencer Arnold (pictured left, next to co-founder Tim Hollinger))

For those who don’t know about your brand, can you give a quick synopsis of why you founded Bathing Culture?

We found the act of being with water to be transformational. Our jaunts getting dirty in the nearby headlands brought us so much joy, and when we returned to our small San Francisco apartments we realized our showers/clawfoot tubs happened to be one of the most restorative and overlooked sanctuaries. The soap that was out there wasn't doing it for us and didn't respect the dirt we accumulated. Bathing Culture was born to explore the depths of bathing in the name of people and the planet.  

What type of skin do you have? And what’s one trick you swear by for your skin type?

Definitely run toward the combination skin type. I have found frequent trips in the ocean water even things out a bit and actually help balance my skin. I also like natural toners when I can't dive in. Ours works great, but as long as it's natural and it balances pH. 

Olamide Olowe & Claudia Teng, Co-Founders of Topicals

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Claudi Teng and Olamide Olowe )

For those who don’t know about your brand, can you give a quick synopsis of why you founded Topicals together?

OO (pictured right): We both grew up with skin conditions. I had post-barbae folliculitis, and Claudia had severe eczema, and we never found a brand that resonated with us. We always felt embarrassed about our skin conditions and used to hide our ointments because they made us feel like outsiders. 

CT (pictured left): Topicals products are transforming the way people feel about skin by making the treatment experience more like self-care rather than a burdensome ritual.

Next: Experts Reveal the 18 Best Skincare Brands to Unlock Plump, Youthful Skin

Jasmine Fox-Suliaman
Editor

Jasmine Fox-Suliaman is a fashion editor living in New York City. What began as a hobby (blogging on Tumblr) transformed into a career dedicated to storytelling through various forms of digital media. She started her career at the print publication 303 Magazine, where she wrote stories, helped produce photo shoots, and planned Denver Fashion Week. After moving to Los Angeles, she worked as MyDomaine's social media editor until she was promoted to work across all of Clique's publications (MyDomaine, Byrdie, and Who What Wear) as the community manager. Over the past few years, Jasmine has worked on Who What Wear's editorial team, using her extensive background to champion rising BIPOC designers, weigh in on viral trends, and profile stars such as Janet Mock and Victoria Monét. She is especially interested in exploring how art, fashion, and pop culture intersect online and IRL.