Skincare
Directed by Austin Peters
Written by Sam Freilich, Austin Peters and Deering Regan
Starring: Elizabeth Banks, Lewis Pullman and Michaela Jaé Rodriguez
Rated R
94 minutes runtime
In theaters August 16

by Chelsea Alexandra, Staff Writer

It is hard to keep up with the revolving door of beauty trends these days. What was hot in 2016 isn't so popular today in 2024. In an era where social media dominates, it is hard to stay current on what is trendy. It is even harder for beauty influencers and licensed professionals to stay up-to-date or even relevant to their audiences. In Austin Peter’s Skincare, paranoia starts to get the best of famed LA aesthetician Hope Goldman (Elizabeth Banks), who is facing a new challenge as a competing aesthetics clinic opens up directly across from hers.

Hope has always been on top of the skincare game. She is beloved by loyal long-time clients as well as local TV personalities. Hope is about to embark on her next career phase, launching her skincare line. She prides her new line of products on being the best of the best in skincare, having been formulated exclusively in Italy. A lot is riding on the launch of her new endeavor, especially as the bills begin to pile up. Her career takes a blow when a new trendy aesthetics clinic opens up directly across from hers. Her new neighbor is Angel Vergara (Luis Gerardo Méndez), an up-and-coming, fresh-faced aesthetician on the rise. With his steadily growing clientele, she becomes immediately threatened by his presence. Hope goes as far as trying to get him evicted. Not long after, her mental stability is put to the test as strange acts of sabotage begin to happen to her. Paranoia begins to consume Hope, allowing her business to fall through the cracks. Although she may have a few suspicions, she is desperate for the truth to find out who is trying to sabotage her and her brand.

Skincare is a cautionary story about self-sabotage. Hope will stop at nothing to get to the bottom of who is sabotaging her career even if it means self-sabotaging it herself. Tension rises throughout the film as Hope grows more and more paranoid. She becomes obsessed with finding the truth without costing her her reputation. She is in fact, a woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown. If you have been on the internet in the last few years, you can tell how fast trends are turned around. We have seen the rise and fall of beauty influencer after beauty influencer. There is a need to constantly hold relevancy and stay at the top of your game.

Banks gives an eccentric performance as the famed aesthetician, fitting the mold of a stereotypical QVC skincare guru. Some of her products could be found in your grandma’s medicine cabinet. Under the facade of smiles, there is a fakeness and unlikability to Hope and how she goes about treating her new neighbor. However, there is a level of empathy for a character like Hope which Banks brings to the role as we watch the rug being pulled from under her in real-time.

Hope ends up teaming up with self-proclaimed life coach, Jordan (Lewis Pullman) to help her find who is sabotaging her. I have seen Pullman in a few different projects (The Starling Girl, Top Gun: Maverick), and this was another great performance from the actor. It was nice to watch Pullman lean into a more skeezy, unlikable character that you have no intention of rooting for. Pullman is also capable of bringing out a few laughs during the little over ninety-minute runtime.

Skincare leans into the dark-comedy and provides some great moments from Banks, Pullman and Michaela Jaé Rodriguez (Pose) playing Hope Goldman’s receptionist/assistant.

The cut-throat world of cosmetic beauty set the scene for the film to tap into interesting themes. When you think of skincare products, you immediately think of the anti-aging formulas. Most selling points to skin care products are all about keeping a youthful glow, hanging on to something that is slowly fading away. Skincare is not a story about the fear of growing older in a traditional sense, but Hope’s fear of fading into oblivion is in the same vein as getting older. She is struggling to come to terms with her time as the top aesthetician passing. Hope will do whatever it takes to cling to whatever relevancy she has left. Skincare leaves you asking the question, “Was it all for the clout?”