Skincare Advice: Estheticians vs. Influencers – How to Find the Best Products for Your Skin
Skincare advice is abundant! But, this overload of information can make it difficult to figure out exactly who has the best advice or who to listen to. Some people are giving sound skin care advice based on science and education, others are giving advice based on personal experience, and many are trying to promote products simply just to make money 💰
So where should you get your skincare advice from? Those who have the knowledge and have your best interests in mind!
scrub me secret: even though some estheticians, like myself, have product partnerships and sell skincare items we choose items that we trust for our skin and our clients and don’t compromise our integrity as professionals.
What Estheticians Focus On
What makes someone an esthetician? To legally work as an esthetician we need to attend school that is both hands-on and classroom education for a certain amount of hours. The hours you need vary depending on your state; Illinois, where I went to school requires 750 hours of education. After completing education hours we take a state test and if we pass, we receive an esthetician license! Then, there are continuing education hours that we are required to have to reinstate our license every 2 years.
scrub me secret: Since I am moving from Illinois to Colorado I had to check and see the number of education hours that were needed for licensing in Colorado. If Colorado required more education hours than Illinois I would have had to go back to school for a little bit and take a test before I could work there. Lucky for me, I have more than enough education hours and it was easy to become a licensed esthetician in CO.
Science-Backed Skincare & Personalized Care
Estheticians are educated in skincare ingredients and how they work with each other and your skin. It’s a special science the way ingredients work in a skincare product and how they interact with the skin. As estheticians, it’s our job to understand the ingredients listed in a skincare item and be able to tell if the item has efficacy or if it’s not good. For example, a vitamin C serum or a brightening serum can look good on its face, but it takes an expert to look at the ingredient label and be able to tell if it will benefit your skin or if the product is something you should pass on 🗑
Some ingredients and skincare products can become way overhyped for whatever reason. Maybe they have a lot of paid promotions going on, or maybe it’s just a fleeting internet trend. Whatever the reason, sometimes certain skincare items can become so popular that many people are influenced to start using them without thinking about what the science is or what does for the skin. An esthetician is a skincare expert who can do the work for you and let you know what trends to follow and which to skip.
Estheticians will focus on what your skin needs personally because they understand deeply how different everyone’s skin is. More than that, we are also able to sift through the trending products and treatments and use our education to decide what we recommend for people. And finally, I know this to be true for myself as an esthetician, we would never compromise our professional reputation and recommend a product solely to make money or promote an item. Estheticians choose to promote and sell items we believe in.
scrub me secret: When I give someone a Facial, I take a look at their skin under the magnifying lamp each and every time, even if I have been seeing them for 12 years. This is because I want to look at their skin closely and see its current state and how it has improved or changed skin the last time I saw them. Then, I can properly customize the facial.
Influencer Skincare Advice
What/who exactly is an influencer? These are people we see on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok that share things about their lives, interests, etc. They make money from posting about certain items and products. We love our influencers! They provide entertainment and sometimes very good advice. The best kinds of influencers are ones that share because they love it and wish to provide value not just because it makes them money.
The Good Side – When Influencer Tips Are Helpful
Not all influencer skincare advice is bad. If you have been following someone for a while and you know they have skin that is similar to yours, then some of their recommendations might be good for you. Also, if someone explains in depth how a product works and the effectiveness of the ingredients and it sounds like something that your skin needs I would most likely tell you it’s okay to try it.
Some influencers are also great at taking progress photos when they get a skincare treatment or try a new product. So you get to see results in real-time before you decide if you want to purchase an item.
It’s still always best to check with your esthetician or at least check the item on the EWG skin-deep database to make sure it doesn’t contain any harmful ingredients before purchasing.
Red Flags to Watch Out for on Social Media
🚩Someone with no skincare expertise promoting a skincare item
🚩Trending skincare ingredients: Be aware of choosing something for your skin and skin goals and not choosing an item because everyone says they are using it.
🚩Big promises: products or treatments that make unrealistic promises like “no pores” or “getting rid of all dark spots”
🚩Skincare influencers that often use the “beauty” filter or other filters to make their skin appear smoother or more youthful on social media
scrub me secret: certain influencers and podcasters who are not licensed skincare professionals themselves, but have a lot of access and take their time to interview and learn from skincare experts, estheticians, doctors, and other experts are doing great work by sharing correct and helpful skincare advice and recommendations.
How to Find Reliable Advice
Questions to Ask Before Trusting Skincare Recommendations
✅ Is the person recommending this product or treatment a skincare professional or expert?
✅ Are there are lot of reviews from non-influencers that have used the certain product or had the treatment recommended?
✅ Does this recommendation seem genuine? Or solely an advertisement?
✅ Do I need this product or treatment? Do I know how it will fit into my current skincare routine and work for my skin?
My number 1 goal is for you to have healthy, glowing skin that you are happy with.
✅ Does the person making the recommendations use the skincare item and/or have before and after photos?