Report: The Trust Gap in Skincare Marketing

Influencers drive discovery. Medical experts carry the authority.

Skincare consumers are not relying on one trusted source to tell them what to use. They discover products through creators, look to influencers for real-world experiences and product recommendations, and turn to dermatologists, clinicians and other medical professionals when questions about ingredients, treatments and safety get more complicated.

For skincare and beauty brands, that raises a practical question: How should skincare brands choose influencers or creators?

We analyzed 1,703 skincare social media posts across influencers, medfluencers and clinicians to better understand how different creator types shape product discovery, consumer trust and skincare advice.
The findings show that no single creator type is best at every part of the skincare journey. Influencers can be effective at creating awareness and getting products in front of people. Medical experts are better positioned to answer more complex questions, explain treatments and support claims that require real expertise.

That means brands need to look beyond reach alone. Should skincare brands work with influencers, dermatologists, or both? What makes a skincare creator credible? How should brands balance reach and credibility? What metrics should skincare brands use to evaluate creators beyond engagement?

The Trust Gap in Skincare Marketing looks at those questions through social data, creator behavior and audience response. The goal is simple: help beauty marketers choose the right voice for the job.

Download the full report for the analysis, charts, examples and recommendations. Download now.

About the Author

Chase Varga is the Director of Growth & Brand Strategy at ListenFirst, editor of LF Pool Party, and the voice behind the ListenFirst deep dives. Her work focuses on how cultural shifts, fandom economies, and social platforms are reshaping audience behavior and the business of media.

Who is ListenFirst?


At ListenFirst, we’re the social intelligence partner built for brands that want to lead the feed, not just show up in it. Our platform combines owned and creative analytics, competitive benchmarking, and curated social media reporting to help you grow share of voice, track brand health, and gain a true market advantage. Whether you need social media consulting, deeper social media analytics reporting, or insights that actually drive action, we’ve got the tools—and the team—to help you outperform your category.

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