The 2020 celebrity skincare drops that are actually worth buying
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Courtney Rubin of The New York Times said it best: every celeb now has a beauty line. Some brands make sense and others, do not. However, the majority of them have become more conscious.
In 2020, it seems that awareness of the health and environmental impacts that packaging and ingredients have on people and the planet has influenced celebrities in the creation of their skincare products.
The branding and mission statements of many new brands also carry different undercurrents than those of years past - gender inclusivity and the protection of different skin tones have become priorities at last.
Uncoincidentally, the best celeb skincare brands embrace all of these things: a concern for the wellbeing of the planet, as well as the health and preservation of all skin types, no matter the age or the colour.
Although there’s still plenty of room for innovation, the beauty industry has capped off a decade of explosive growth with some pretty impressive advancements in the all-natural department thanks to some of the biggest names in the biz.
From Pharrell’s Humanrace to Carmen Electra’s GOGO, here’s the 2020 celeb skin care drops that are actually worth the purchase.
Emily Ratajkowski: Loops Beauty
Actual customer review: “Not your typical mask. Absolutely loved it.”
This year, Instagram’s favourite supermodel Emily Ratajkowski joined LOOPS as a partner and creative director to produce a line of clean, cruelty-free, and dermatologist-tested sheet masks for all of your skin care needs.
The no-mess collection also includes a concentrated and effective set of lip and eye masks, and everything comes in brightly-coloured customizable cases.
The best part? The masks stay put, leaving you free to multi-task. Plus, a variety pack rings in at the respectable price of $30.
Loops Beauty Variety Loop
SHOP IT: Loops Beauty, $30
Venus Williams: EleVen by Venus Williams
Actual customer review: “It's clean, invisible and works!”
In May, tennis starlet Venus Williams released the first of two reef-safe sunscreens under her EleVen by Venus Williams brand, sold online and in-store at Credo Beauty.
After struggling to find a sunscreen that didn’t leave behind a white cast, Williams designed the EleVen formulas in collaboration with The Sunscreen Company to dry down immediately without any white residue or chalkiness.
In a press release featured on The Sunscreen Company’s website, the family of formulators expressed their excitement over the new products: “It was a huge honour to create this all-new sun-care line with a true celebrity icon and industry heavy-weight to hopefully introduce a new group of people to the beauty of a good, protective and clean sunscreen.”
On why she opted to create a clean formula, Williams told Forbes that “Clean, mineral is important because taking care of your skin is important, so you have to be cognizant of what you’re putting on your body, too. A lot of times we’re not looking at the ingredients. We could be doing all the right things and then we’re putting something that absorbs into our skin into our bodies and it can be detrimental for [our] health. I’m very conscious of what I put on my body.”
SHOP IT exclusively at Credo Beauty
Pharrell Williams: Humanrace
Actual beauty director review: “It makes my skin feel moisturized without weighing it down. The subtle dewy finish is just an added bonus.”
Pharrell Williams developed his all-gender vegan skin care line, Humanrace, with dermatologist Dr. Elena Jones. Designed to simplify the multi-product approach into three steps that take no longer than three minutes to complete, the Humanrace routine includes a Rice Powder Cleanser, Lotus Enzyme Exfoliator, and Humidifying Cream.
On the brand’s website, Williams claims that “Humanrace Skincare doesn’t differentiate by race or gender. We’re creating for humans; we are all born in the same skin and Humanrace celebrates this.”
All of Humanrace’s formulations are fragrance-free, cruelty-free, and do not contain particles that can cause micro tears in the skin. They’re refillable to boot.
“I think your skin is the sum of the routines you put into it,” Williams told WWD. “It’s not just skin care, it’s skin health and as men, we haven’t been raised or advised to care for our skin in that way. We just get up and go. Our face deserves its own three minutes. Your face is the way you and people communicate together.”
Humanrace Routine Pack (currently sold out)
SHOP IT: Wait for a restock on www.humanrace.com
Alicia Keys: Keys Soulcare
Actual editor review: “I've always liked to slather myself in moisturizer, especially as the weather gets colder, but when I say that I wanted to bathe in this jar, I mean it ... The glow that it gives your skin is also addictive; it leaves you with a dewy, radiant-looking complexion.”
This girl is on fire. Alicia Keys has officially called all lightworkers to the table with her new brand, Keys Soulcare.
The songstress who famously swore off makeup in 2016 partnered with a board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Renée Snyder, to create clean, safe, and effective product offerings like a sleek obsidian facial roller, sage and oat milk candle, and a $30 Skin Transformation Cream blended with manuka honey, hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and anti-aging bakuchiol.
Proceeds from the sale of Keys Soulcare products (available exclusively from Ulta Beauty and Keys Soulcare) go towards The HAPPY Organization, a youth-founded nonprofit organization empowering young people through holistic education.
SHOP the first Keys Soulcare ritual with early access at Keys Soulcare
Rihanna: Fenty Skin
Actual beauty editor review: “Despite all the buzz and hubbub surrounding the Fenty Skin launch, I tried to go into my personal trial with zero expectations or bias. And honestly, I’ve been super impressed.”
According to Page Six, “Fenty Skin” was officially listed as a trademark on March 25, 2020. Four months later, Rihanna dropped one of the most anticipated skin care brands of the year.
All Fenty Skin products are cruelty-free, vegan, gluten-free, non-comedogenic (meaning they do not clog pores), and are designed to compliment Fenty Beauty makeup items, of course.
Inspired by her global lifestyle, RiRi’s Fenty Skin is formulated with powerhouse ingredients from around the world like Japanese raisin tree, Australian lemon myrtle, and even Barbados cherry from Rihanna’s place of birth.
On Fenty Beauty’s website, Rihanna says that she was inspired to create Fenty Skin after years of experimenting with the “best-of-the-best” in beauty.
“Fenty Skin is everything I wish I had back then,” the singer said. “I wanted it to feel approachable and easy, and take the pressure off choosing a routine, so I created one for everyone.”
Fenty Skin Start’Rs Full Size Bundle
SHOP IT: Fenty Beauty, $75 ($88 value)
Jennifer Lopez: JLo Beauty
Actual customer review: “My skin looks like glass!”
Jenny from the Block is back with yet another product line, JLo Beauty, launching on Jan. 1, 2021.
Currently available for pre-order, JLo Beauty will be sold exclusively on the brand’s website, at Sephora, and on Amazon starting Jan. 14.
The JLo Beauty line will feature six skin care products including a cleanser, moisturizer, face mask, eye cream, serum, a skin-care-makeup hybrid, and a dietary supplement formulated with an anti-aging olive complex that contains squalene, fermented oil, extra virgin oil and leaf extract.
Prices will range from $18 to $79, and if you’re not completely satisfied with your JLo Beauty products after 60 days, the Queen will take back your bottles, even if they’re empty.
SIGN UP for release at JloBeauty.com
Carmen Electra: GOGO Skincare
Actual customer review: “Take my money.”
The name of Carmen Electra’s brand new beauty line, GOGO Skincare, pays homage to a song that Prince wrote about her called “Go Go Dancer” off her self-titled 1993 album.
Made with hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, folic acid and hexapeptides, which prevent the formation of lines and wrinkles in a similar way to botox, the GOGO Skincare kit provides hydrating, youth-inducing properties without the injections.
“These ingredients are trademark blends that are very expensive, and we’ve been able to incorporate them in our products and keep the cost down for customers,” Electra told WWD. “[The development process] was about me trying these products over and over and over again to get it right. This is something I have such a passion for.”
All GOGO Skincare products are vegan, paraben, and gluten-free, and they’re especially kind to sensitive skin. The collection is also based off the routine that Electra claims she has used her “whole life”.
GOGO Skincare Kit
SHOP IT: $150 (one-time purchase) or save $50 and subscribe for $100 per month
Have you ever wished your beauty tools looked good as bathroom decor? These products improve skin, makeup application, and make great gifts too.
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