While many anticipate a restocking of Hailey Bieber’s coveted lip-treatment, and are beginning to entrust their skin to Selena Gomez‘ Rare Beauty blushers, conversation about the credibility of celebrity-owned (beauty) brands is experiencing a surge with new crop-ups in the scene. From J.Lo to Scarlett Johansson, it seems like stars are bent on venturing into beauty — a ‘life-long dream of theirs that has been in the works for years’.
Assertions about these star-studded brands doing the minimum, and peddling mediocre products to fans at exorbitant prices (with minimal involvement, in some cases, on their part) doesn’t escape Internet-bound conversations. How much do these celebrities know about skincare to be launching their own products — and do they even use their products at all? Such is the sleuthing going around on Twitter and Instagram these days — with many buyers turning into detractors of the brands owing to the underwhelming quality of products delivered to them. These (very) non-economical products are embellished with over-the-top campaigns, and embroidered with photoshoots of forever gleaming, scintillating skin captured at its sultriest — but is it fair to generalise? Because Gomez did found Rare Beauty with the idea of shunning today’s standards of beauty; and Bieber did involve herself in Rhode from conception to launch.
Experts continue to demonstrate their skepticism with regard to these brands through examples of Kylie Jenner’s skin-scraping walnut-based scrub — and that’s just one controversy. But are they of the belief that these brands are worthy of all the hype and accolades — or do they think we should exercise caution while experimenting with these products?
I’ve roped in Dr. Ameesha Mahajan, Consultant Cosmetic Dermatologist, RM Aesthetics, Amritsar and Dr. Karishma Kagodu, Plastic Surgeon, Founder & Managing Director, Dr. Karishma’s Aesthetics (Kaesthetics), to deliver a verdict on this hotly-debated subject once and for all. Here’s what you need to know.
What’s The Consensus? Yes To Celeb-Owned Brands Or No?
A lot of celebrities are launching their very own skincare lines — from Hailey Bieber to Kim K. What do you think of this crop-up from a dermatologist’s POV?
According to Dr. Karishma, “It’s been a decade since celebrity-owned brands descended upon the scene — many brands, names, and products have entered the picture. But when we talk about skin-health and skincare, remember that these are two things that shouldn’t be merged — nor should a product be chosen based on a brand-name.
As a cosmetologist/plastic-surgeon, I would not give my immediate approval to celebrity-owned brands — especially if their products are not dermatologically-approved/certified. Before anything else, you must attend go in for an introductory consultation with your skincare-expert, and follow their recommendations as every skin-type is different, and requires customised attention.”
She suggests consulting a dermatologist to help you assess the following:
- What is your skin-type, and what content of products does your skin truly need?
The expert will, then, conduct a patch-test based on your skin-type and level of sensitivity to rule out any risks. And they will help you track the progress of particular product’s effect on your skin to avoid side-effects.
Dr. Ameesha advises us to not falter in the face of these brands. “Even though most celebs have great skin thanks to their dermatologists, a lot of them are turning themselves into moguls these days; but just because someone stars in films. or has a fan-following doesn’t mean they understand the intricacies of formulating moisturisers, sunscreen, or skincare products. The key lies in research, and a deeper understanding of skin, and how different skin-types behave.”
Do you think their products are capable enough to deliver on their propositions — or do they get
away with being average because of the celebrity’s name attached to them?
“Most products sell courtesy of the name of the celebrity rather than the actual quality of said product. That being said — I do believe that some celebrities put in effort to research the molecule, and come out with good products,” says Dr. Ameesha.
“Don’t forget that these brands create a hype amongst masses because of being associated with said celebrity – that’s enough to fulfill their agenda. They might have a strong mass-appeal because they are careful with choosing their words — every woman, for instance, wants to opt for Selena Gomez’s makeup formulae to look stunning; Alicia Keys’ skincare essence is focused on soul-nurturing rituals; and Ellis Ross essentially developed a hair-care line for coily to curly, low porosity to high porosity for a wide variety of patterns, and created a curl guide. Many brands and product names might excite you, but while deciding on specific products based on your skin and hair-type, the opinion of an expert is recommended.”
Have you tried out any international celeb-owned skincare products at all? What was your experience like?
Dr. Ameesha attests to the fact that some celeb-owned brands selling makeup are, in fact, good, “I like blushes by Rare Beauty, and foundations by Fenty Beauty. But for skincare, I stick to dermatologist formulations only. I have had so many patients come to me with skin-related issues — using products like La Mer’s moisturiser without observing any significant improvement in their skin — and they saw results with pharmaceutical formulations customised to their skin’s needs.”
Would you recommend we try out these products?
“I wouldn’t recommend buying these products after seeing these celebrities’ skin. Everyone in the industry looks after their skin with formulations customised to their skin-type by dermatologists and in-clinic procedures. There is no harm in giving these products a try if you want to try something new and different, but don’t burn a hole in your pocket because of all the hype.”
Dr. Karishma says, “I recommend dermatologically-approved products like Zein Obagi, A-derma, and Bioderma; but don’t use them without the assessment of your skincare-expert/dermatologist. Always consider their advice to avoid hurting your skin.”
So — all that glitters is not necessarily golden. The next time you’re shopping for skincare, keep this in mind.
Featured Image: Instagram
