The one product this LGBTQIA+ skinfluencer can’t live without
Kevin Lee is an LA-based content creator that shares his knowledge of all things beauty, including time-saving hacks, curly hair tips and product reviews. To celebrate Pride Month, we chatted with Lee about his experience as being part of the beauty community, what he does for selfcare and the one product he can’t live without.
When did you first get interested in skincare?
I think skincare is something that a lot of us just get thrown into when we deal with hormonal acne. So I’ve been interested in it ever since late middle school, early high school, but I wouldn’t say that I became as invested as I currently am until late grad school, which was probably 2018 or 2019.
I started dealing with very bad acne, and a lot of texture and dullness in my skin. I looked to YouTube for solutions to those issues, and found creators and a huge community of people in the comments saying, ‘This worked for me, that worked for me, this didn’t work for me, why don’t you try this instead?’ It’s been a few years, and it’s just a great community to be involved in.
What’s your experience been like in the beauty community as someone who is LGBTQ+?
There’s a huge abundance of queer creators in the beauty space, so it’s super welcoming. I do find challenges here and there, like when our content sometimes reaches people with more conservative views, you’ll get those [negative] comments on your content. But then you’ll get the super creative, super supportive, queer community that has your back. You feel the community aspect in the beauty space a lot.
Can you tell us about your go-to skincare products?
I have very, very dry skin, so I’m constantly looking for hydrating products and always a gentle cleanser. I love the Murad Soothing Oat and Peptide Cleanser. It’s a really fabulous formula, and so good for my dry skin. To top that off, I look for ingredients like glycerin and hyaluronic acid to hydrate after my cleansing routine. And I always go in with a vitamin C serum in the morning and a retinol serum at night.
What’s a product that you can’t go without?
The top one is going to be a retinol product. It helps with my acne, texture and my clogged pores. I even saw improvement with my fine lines with consistent use. It’s either that or a sunscreen for me. If you just use those, you’re gonna be okay.
What do you like to do for self-care?
I have a very long skincare routine. It’s about 12 or 13 steps at this point. I love doing gua sha with a jade roller and lymphatic drainage on my face. It’s just something that lets me spend time with myself away from the world. That’s my time. Nobody can interrupt that.
Is there a skincare treatment you’ve been dying to try?
I really want to try body gua sha. Traditional Chinese gua sha really goes in on your lymph nodes, and you sometimes leave bruised—but you don’t want that on your face, necessarily. It kind of rejuvenates you and you feel lighter, because you don’t have all that excess fluid in your body. I’m really interested! I need to try it out.
The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Murad, and are for informational purposes only, even if the advice of physicians and medical practitioners are included. This article is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, and should not be considered specific medical advice.
