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As the rise of celebrity skincare brands continues to flourish, it’s not surprising when another famous face announces their own brand of skincare, but what about a famous duo? On June 22, Vanessa Hudgens and Madison Beer launched their collaborative beauty brand Know Beauty.
Perhaps you’re wondering how these two stars crossed each other’s paths. As a friend of Hudgen’s younger sister named Stella, Beer would frequently run into Hudgens. However, they didn’t really connect until the two women began sharing their skin troubles with one another last year.
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Although the 22-year-old singer didn’t struggle with pubescent acne growing up, the problem hit her as an adult just four years ago. Despite trying many products to clear her skin, Beer never truly succeeded and deeply longed for a solution to her troubled skin.
Meanwhile, the 32-year-old actress began worrying about her skin as she continued to age. “Once I hit 30 and started seeing things on my skin that wasn't there in my 20s, I definitely wanted to prioritize skincare,” Hudgens told Allure. “I [also] wanted to know I am putting the right things on my skin that are going to save it for as long as possible.”
Despite their differing complexion concerns, the two women shared a mutual dislike for the unpleasant journey of finding the right skincare products. “We both have spent so much money and have felt frustrated with trying products that end up doing the opposite of what we want them to do,” Hudgens said. From there, the pair began generating ideas for products they wished had existed on the market and declared to make their vision a reality. After collaborating with dermatologist Karen Kagha, Know Beauty was born.
Surely a unique celebrity skincare brand, Know Beauty formulates its products to fit the needs of each customer by examining their DNA. To understand one’s skin on a genetic level, the brand inspects 46 chromosomes linked to seven susceptible factors: hyperpigmentation, collagen quality, skin elasticity, sun protection, antioxidant protection, skin sensitivity, and glycation (the primary cause of wrinkles, fine lines, dryness, and even acne). For reference, other skincare DNA kits only examine four to six factors yet cost more money.
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The test itself requires the user to swab their cheek with the tools Know Beauty sends in the DNA kit, which retails for $95 on knowbeauty.com. Post completion, the brand sends a report detailing the ingredients and treatments that it believes will improve the customer’s skin based on what their skin is genetically prone to — sagging, sunburn, dark spots, etc.
But for those against collecting spit on a swab, Know Beauty also curated an in-house skincare line that comprises several cleansers, serums, moisturizers, masks, and eye creams. Some worthy mentions include the Glowing Collagen Mask — formulated with nourishing squalane and oat kernel extract — and the Clarifying Cleanser, which features pore-clearing alpha-hydroxy acids that Beer herself approves. The products can be purchased on the brand website and range from $20 to $30.
Though a celebrity skincare brand featuring a DNA kit may draw skepticism, Hudgens swears by the process Know Beauty follows to treat different skin concerns. “If I could go back in time and give it to my younger self, it would have saved me a lot of time, money, and frustration,” she said.
