Yuri London’s online pseudonym is “the dewiest” and rightly so! Have you SEEN her skin? She’s a registered esthetician, so you know that she’s got all of the behind-the-scenes skincare secrets. We were lucky enough to sit down with her and hear about her favorite skincare must-have, what her nighttime routine looks like, and also where race and skincare intersect.
Q
What started your journey into skincare, beauty, and being the dewiest? Was it something you were always doing, or did you have an “a-ha” moment?
A
I got into skincare when I was 12 years old, nothing too fancy at the time, just sunscreen. It wasn’t until my late teens that I really started to take it seriously. From that point on I knew skincare was going to be a part of my everyday life somehow.
Q
What does your nighttime skincare routine look like?
A
My nighttime routine consists of double cleansing, followed by a hydrating serum, which is then followed up with retinol. I finish everything off with a humectant-rich moisturizer and a more occlusive ointment to seal in the moisture.
Q
What is the one product you can’t live without?
A
SUNSCREEN. Without it, any treatments to the skin are pointless.
Q
There’s been a lot of change (though not enough) when it comes to skincare and makeup availability for Black individuals. Can you talk a bit about how that has affected your own skincare journey?
A
As a black woman, finding contour, bronzers, and blush has been a hassle– in my opinion. Foundation and concealer have been getting better but the areas mentioned previously could still use some work!
I find that oftentimes the shades just are not dark enough to appear on deep skin tones– and when they do, it just doesn’t give the vibe that many of us want.
In terms of skincare, I have dry and dehydrated skin– what a combo!! With these skin conditions (always remember to think of the condition of your skin rather than your skin type, skin types are a marketing term baby) it can be tough to keep the skin moisturized and hydrated.
There is also the struggle of mineral sunscreen being marketed to deeper complexions as: “white cast free” and “sheer.” Mineral filters like Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide are literally white in color, adding tints to them can help blend on some skin tones, but not all, and marketing it that way is not ethical to consumers.
Q
It’s no secret that the beauty industry has some major inequities, can you talk a bit about this? What you’ve seen as an insider, and what you’d like to see?
A
Lol, I’ve never considered myself an insider before! I personally would love to see more fat people in beauty marketing. As a fat woman, I want to see bigger arms in swatches! I want to see fuller bodies and faces in beauty campaigns!
There is also a lot of inequalities for people who wear Hijab. They are often left out of the conversation regarding hair, simply because they cover their hair– BUT THEY STILL HAVE HAIR and should be included in haircare campaigns!
Q
What do you look for in a product when purchasing? Is it the founder behind the brand, the sustainability, etc?
A
I look for clinical studies to back up the brands marketing claims, and results from their clinical trials! These are the things that actually matter, even before looking at the ingredient list!
Q
Finally, how can our readers and community support you? You offer so much amazing knowledge and advice when it comes to gorgeous skin and it’s important for you to get the compensation you deserve.
A
Y’all can support me by commenting, saving, sharing, and liking my paid posts on Instagram and TikTok! I’ve always worked with brands that aligned with my values and will never do paid work for a product/brand that I don’t genuinely love! These acts of engagement help me to do more paid projects, which thus pays my bills!
