What are the Best Skin Care and Cosmetics Sites?

Okay, granted, I may be a little biased when it comes to this one.  And, of course, FutureDerm.com is the best, and the most informative, and its main author is the greatest and the most modest person ever…

At any rate, I understand that there may come a time when even my most loyal readers may need to look elsewhere.  We don’t necessarily need to have a monogamous relationship for this to be a lasting union (unless, of course, you’re my boyfriend and are reading this, in which case, that’s a completely different story).  But I digress.

Anywho, without further ado, here are five of the [other] best sites available today for your skin care and cosmetics needs:

1.  Best Daily Read:  The Beauty Brains.

The strength of The Beauty Brains is that the site is succinct, informative, ~99% accurate (I’ve only found one or two statements I’ve disagreed with in the past 4-5 years!), and fun-to-read.  The format is literally question-and-answer, with one reader’s question selected daily.  I have it bookmarked as a daily “fun” page to read – perhaps not the best place to go for targeted advice or product reviews, but definitely a way to learn all about the science behind your beauty products.

Expert:  10/10
Fun-to-read:  10/10
Accurate: 10/10
Good place to look for product reviews:  Better to subscribe to daily for interesting content

2.  Best for Getting a Consensus on a Product:  Makeupalley.com, TotalBeauty.com, & QVC Beauty Forums [tie]

If you are looking for a targeted product review from other customers, these sites are about as good as it gets.   Granted, there are virtually no beauty bloggers or experts who contribute to these forums, and for good reason:  I once got kicked off a thread because someone told me point-blank, “If we wanted your opinion, we’d go to your site.  This is OUR place to discuss what works for us and what doesn’t.”

Fair enough.  Even though the Federal Trade Commission requires for bloggers to make full disclosure when we are compensated for a post (and my feelings were hurt a little, I’ll admit), I can still understand that some customers simply like to hear from one another once in a while.  I will often consult these sites before I write the “Personal Opinions” portion of some reviews, just to ensure I’m not alone when I make an assertion about a product.  They’re light and fun, generally non-scientific (and sometimes downright wrong when it comes to skin physiology and mechanisms by which ingredients work), but they can’t be beat when it comes to getting a large amount of opinions on a product at once.

Expert:  4/10
Fun-to-read:  10/10
Accurate: 7/10
Good place to look for product reviews:  10/10

3.  Best for Quick Overviews of a Product:  Paula Begoun’s Beautypedia

Paula Begoun is, admittedly, one of my role models.  I first came into contact with her through a copy of Don’t Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me when I was just 12 or 13 years old, and I’ve been self-investigating the ingredients behind cosmetics and skin care ever since.   Unfortunately, as I’ve gotten older and more educated, I’ve actually come to disagree with quite a few of Paula’s opinions.  For instance, she does not like Aveeno Ageless Vitality and other products by Johnson & Johnson that claim to stimulate collagen and elastin production.  However, these products contain soy, which has been shown to stimulate collagen in human fibroblasts in vitro, according to the British Journal of Dermatology, and as well as in mice who are fed soy, according to the Journal of the American College of Nutrition.

So why do I still recommend her site and/or book?  Two reasons.  One, Beautypedia contains over 45,000 product reviews, the most of any site on the market.  It’s also written by a woman who has over 30 years of experience reviewing products, so this woman and her trained staff are something of time-tested experts.  Two, the information is generally accurate enough to use as a guideline.  For instance, it was only after I ripped open the pores on my nose with Biore Pore Strips that I read Paula’s egregious review of them in Don’t Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me.  Of course, she also does not like Green Cream, and that’s one of my all-time favorite products, but that’s one of the few times I strongly disagree with her.

If you’re serious about your skin care, my best recommendation is to peruse the information contained on her site and then search other sites (pick mine, pick mine!) for additional facts and opinions.   I think you’ll find the same thing as me:  even if it’s not always entirely accurate reasoning, it’s sound advice other experts agree with the majority of the time, though not always.

Expert:  7/10
Fun-to-read:  8/10
Accurate: 6/10
Good place to look for product reviews:  10/10

4.  Best Video Blog: DermTV.com

Dr. Neil Schultz is a genius.  Not only has he been a New York City-based dermatologist for over thirty years, but he also had the good sense to jump on the video bandwagon long before anyone else, creating a cult following in just under three years.  His videos are insightful, entirely accurate, and entertaining.  I’m a huge fan – let’s just hope I get to interview him someday!  (If you work for Dr. Schultz, please feel free to take this as a hint.)

Expert:  10/10
Fun-to-watch:  8/10
Accurate: 10/10
Good place to look for product reviews:  Better to subscribe to and watch regularly

5.  Best Weekly Read: The Skin Guru

Dr. Leslie Baumann is another one of my all-time favorite beauty experts; she’s a dermatologist who founded the Department of Cosmetic Dermatology at the University of Miami.  She currently owns the Baumann Cosmetic & Research Institute.  She’s incredibly research-based in her findings, and if her name sounds familiar, it’s probably due to her development of The Skin Type Solution, the years-long best-seller that classifies a patient’s skin into one of sixteen different types and recommends customized products.  She’s an excellent blend of physician, scientist, and businesswoman, which is why I highly recommend her blog, which is updated twice weekly.

Expert:  10/10
Fun-to-read:  8/10
Accurate: 10/10
Good place to look for product reviews:  Better to subscribe to and read weekly

6.  Best Monthly Read: The Dermatology Blog

Dr. Jeffrey Benabio is one of those powerhouse people.  I’ve never met him, but any man who says that he graduated first in his medical school class and who is interested in “bodybuilding and politics” has to be a powerhouse.  At any rate, Dr. Benabio’s The Dermatology Blog also runs the gamut of topics from the role of physicians and social media to analyzing the order in which you should put on your skin care products.  Interestingly enough, Dr. Benabio is also married to Susan Russo, the author of the powerhouse food blog, Food Blogga.  (If these two have children, I know who I’m electing president in 2040).  At any rate, excellent blog, strong author, interesting assortment of topics.

Expert:  10/10
Fun-to-read:  8/10
Accurate: 10/10
Good place to look for product reviews:  Better to subscribe to and read monthly

Overall Opinions

There are a great number of excellent, fun-to-read beauty blogs out there as well.  (Some of my favorites:  Bella Sugar, Beauty Sweet Spot, 15 Minute Beauty Fanatic, Makeup and Beauty Blog, Nadine Jolie, Temptalia, Beauty 411, Makeup Bag).  I decided to mention those that combine science/medicine and beauty in this post, since I figured those would be of most interest to my readers.  I’ll be sure to cover a list of my other favorites in the future.  At any rate, happy reading, and while you’re out there on these new sites, remember where you came from, 😉