Social media plays a huge role in the day-to-day of Gen Z. It’s important that we interact with content that lifts us up, and leaves us feeling inspired following a good scrolling session. #Influenced is a series of chats with social media content creators who not only bless our feeds with über cool content, but also make an effort to spread positive messages.

This month, we get advice on following your passion and the secret to ‘glazed donut skin’ from the most down-to-earth yet savvy skincare aficionado - Sakura Aoki Danielson (AKA ShitSkinChat).

How did @shitskinchat come to be?

In the past, my answer to this has been out of boredom during covid lockdown, which in a sense it definitely was. I was spending longer than usual doing my skincare rituals in the morning and the evening, I was reaching for those special sheet masks that I was saving for a special occasion, and I was purchasing more skincare products than usual so the thought of sharing this seemed logical. As a teenager I would drain the dial up internet scrolling through Tumblr, Blogspots and watch YouTube for hours on end. I’ve always been enamoured by being part of these communities with other like-minded people to discuss new product trends and recommendations. I think subconsciously I’ve also wanted to create something like that for myself, but in fear of maybe exposing too much of myself and coming across as cringe to my peers, I let the idea gather dust in the back of my head for over a decade. So to that, if you have the urge I say embrace the cringe. Just do it and don’t look back.

What do you believe makes you stand out from other beauty and skincare content creators?

Honestly, I don’t know. It still baffles me that people other than my mum and friends follow me. But if I were to take a stab in the dark, I think it’s because it’s real and unfiltered. I want SSC to feel more like a group chat amongst friends than a perfectly manicured feed with perfect stories to match. Cue the sub par lighting, shaky hands in videos, badly lit photos and random recommendations scattered throughout the week. I’m not putting on a performance, I’m not living my life for Instagram and for the sake of becoming an influencer. What you see is very much what you get. This is me. Mildly chaotic, passionate and means well.

What do you hope to achieve with your content?

I want SSC to add value and be a worthwhile contribution to someone's feed. I also want to bring more diversity to the space, whether it be through a different perspective,  introducing new products and brands that aren’t typically talked about within the western community or shedding light on small businesses. Though I think it’s also worthwhile noting that at its core, SSC is an ode to my multi-cultural upbringing, a reflection of my Japanese, Pakeha, Samoan and Maori heritage. SSC is very much a space to help bridge the gap between Asian skincare and Western consumers as well as try and alleviate the negative stigma that still exists around Asian skincare. A space that would help younger me embrace my mixed-race heritage with open arms and help me be proud to be a part of it.

What are three tips you have for making engaging and relatable content?

Be yourself, be genuine and engage with your community. 

How important is your community?

I count my lucky stars for them, I really do and I will be forever grateful for everything they have done for me because without them, I wouldn’t be writing this either. Arigato Gozaimasu.

How do you stay up-to-date with beauty news, trends, and research?

My mum for starters, we talk every single day, she is the original SSC and keeps up to date with the beauty news in Japan and regularly sends me product try ons and reviews. She’s taught me everything I know and I would not be the skincare obsessive that I am today if it wasn’t for her. Then there are my fellow skincare obsessed friends who send me tid-bits throughout the week as well as my followers who tag me in posts and send me DM’s on the latest beauty news and trends. However on a more traditional front I also think it's really important to be  diverse with the content you consume, especially in the beauty and skincare space because as we all know everyone's skin is different and what might work for you might not work for someone else. When it comes to social media I like to follow dermatologists, beauty editors, brands, third party stockists, beauty magazines and a range of beauty and skincare content creators from all over the world. Otherwise, call me old school, I read a lot of beauty news articles, including a range of beauty newsletters via email or Substack. I also listen to a lot of beauty podcasts and this is probably an unpopular opinion but I still choose beauty and skincare YouTube over TikTok anyday. 

If you could only use three skincare products for the rest of your life, what would they be?

Oh this is a cruel question, it’s like asking me to pick my favourite child. My cop-out answer to this would be a cleanser, moisturiser and sunscreen as those products are, in my opinion, the building blocks and the essentials of an effective yet simple skincare routine. However, if you want the tea (which I know you do) my choice of cleanser would be the Krave Beauty Matcha Hemp Cleanser, mainly because it’s super gentle on the skin barrier, packed full of antioxidants, non-stripping, hydrating and I would happily use it for the rest of my life. In terms of moisturiser I’m going to cheat a bit and say the Hada Labo Koi Gokujyun Premium Gel, I’m cheating because although it can be used as a moisturiser it’s a 5-in-1 product in the sense that it also covers off the toner, essence, serum, moisturiser and sleeping mask steps. This product is a family favourite, my mum and I have been gatekeeping this product for years, it’s what I call ‘glazed donut skin in a jar’, it’s my magic cream that helps keep my acne at bay and keeps my skin healthy and glowing. And then last but not least is sunscreen. Sunscreen is the most important step in your skincare routine and without it you may as well not even bother with the rest. I’m going to pick the Skin Aqua UV Super Moisture Essence SPF50+, which again, is another family favourite that I bulk buy every time I fly to Japan. I love it because not only does it offer broad spectrum protection but it also leaves a beautiful finish on the skin that’s not too glowy but not too matte either. 

Follow Sakura on Instagram @ShitSkinChat