An Honest Review of MasterClass’ Newest ‘Skin Health’ Course

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, WWD may receive an affiliate commission.

As a 20-something beauty writer, I have two wolves inside of me: One that’s in the know of the latest and greatest skin care innovations and one that makes me forget to apply the key tenets of skin health to my own life — falling into the trap of thinking young skin doesn’t require anything more than a daily cleanser to stay supple and glowing.

So imagine my excitement at the news of a skin care class release on MasterClass: the ultimate platform for online learning, offering cross-disciplinary classes led by visionaries like Anna Wintour, Gordon Ramsay, Esther Perel, and Ringo Starr.

Especially during the pandemic, MasterClass achieved massive popularity as an easy choice for getting better at your already established hobbies or else unlocking new passions, without ever leaving home. To this day, it’s a fun and relatively low-lift way to scratch your itch for new knowledge: seeing as how you can control the pace of the 200+ available classes, shift gears at any time, and get full access to sections from “Design & Style” to “Science & Tech.” MasterClass is truly a gift that keeps on giving, which is why its subscription package got a key spot in our roundup of the best gifts for moms (there are three subscription tiers at $10 to $20 a month, depending on how many devices you want to view the classes on and if you opt for special features like the “offline mode” that allows you to watch videos without needing a Wi-Fi connection). Through May 26, in honor of Memorial Day Weekend, all MasterClass subscriptions are on sale for 40 percent off; consider that yet another incentive to become a member!

While the platform already had classes revolving around gut health, brain health, and menopause, the expansion of its “Wellness” category via the “Skin Health” launch is something that caught the full attention of WWD Shop’s beauty journalists, and the fact that the class is helmed by a roster of A-list experts is what ultimately made us click “play.”

The episodes are led by Dr. Shereene Idriss, TikTok’s favorite dermatologist and founder of skin care line Dr. Idriss; Dr. Michelle Henry, cosmetic dermatologist and clinical instructor at Weill Cornell Medicine; Ron Robinson, award-winning cosmetic chemist and CEO of the buzzy brand BeautyStat; as well as Dr. April Armstrong, chief of dermatology at UCLA. In other words, you’re in good hands from the get-go here, and each of the instructors gets ample airtime to share their own unique, honest takes on skin care topics across the 20 episodes clocking in at a total of two hours and 16 minutes.

As I tuned into sections of the class spanning scalp health, lip care, optimal-for-skin nutrition, and nighttime routines — pen in hand, even though MasterClass subscriptions come with instantly downloadable PDFs summaries of any given class — I was struck by how easily accessible the language is while also not shying away from more technical verbiage (hello, “adapalene,” “glucosides,” and “catagen phase”!). I also appreciated the option to take online notes in a dedicated site section, as well as the ability to bookmark certain moments for later reference, to jump between lesson subchapters with ease, and to add on subtitles in a wide range of languages.

The series is transparent as can be, debunking, in no uncertain terms, the skin care myths that flood our TikTok FYPs and are spread by word of mouth in a game of broken telephone (“There is no such thing as a healthy tan,” Dr. Henry emphasizes while locking eyes with the camera, and I believe her every word).

Other takeaways that shook me to the core, in the best of ways? Our skin produces enough sebum a day to fry an egg; it’s unhygienic to keep the same pillowcases on your bed for more than two days; and, if you see your face reacting badly to retinol, switching to a gentler one made only for the eyes will work wonders. It’s safe to say you don’t learn any of this in school.

Still on the fence about grabbing your own MasterClass subscription and unlocking priceless insights from four first-rate leaders in the skin care industry? Read on for all the ways I learned to take better care of my skin — beyond the face — after just a two-hour time commitment.

1. Cleansers Should Give, Not Take

Our beauty editors and writers have tested no insignificant amount of facial cleansers throughout our lives and careers, including great drugstore face washes that are capable of granting results just as applause-worthy as their more expensive counterparts while oftentimes not costing more than $20. That being said, I personally haven’t yet been able to nail down my ideal face care routine and am often tempted to buy cleansers that are the very worst choice for my acne-prone, combination complexion (that is, abrasive ones with “exfoliating” in their name that leave my oft-irritated skin quite unhappy).

Therefore, I needed to hear what MasterClass’ “Skin Health” class has to say about finding your own sweet spot in the cleanser universe. Dr. Idriss is quick to advise against the squeaky-clean feeling we often desire as an aftereffect of washing our faces. In fact, according to her, if you feel that way, you’ve gone too far — as that’s a telltale sign of over-stripped skin, which will soon begin producing even more oils to make up for the moisture loss. Previously unbeknownst to me, our skin generates one to three teaspoons of sebum a day, enough to fry an egg. Though this might seem like something to get rid of, stat, part of that sebum is actually very essential for protecting and moisturizing the skin — so it’s not something you want to fully wipe away with a cleanser.

I also learned that urbanites have between 200 and 300 percent more oxidative stress on their skin than their city-averse counterparts, which leads to faster aging and demands more targeted efforts at getting rid of all that “noise” (this is where a trusty cleanser comes in handy).

One thing I’m proud of myself for doing is cleansing my face only once at night and just using water in the mornings. Dr. Idriss says this is the right routine to adhere to, unless you live in a humid climate that makes your face a sweaty, oily mess every morning.

As we discuss in the “formula-skin type match” subsection of our aforementioned drugstore face wash roundup, different skin needs should be addressed by different cleanser types. This is a major focal point of the class’ “Cleanser” section, too, as the instructors recommend emollient-based cleansers with creamy textures for dry skin and gel or foaming cleansers with surfactants for oily or combination skin.

“Our skin generates one to three teaspoons of sebum a day, enough to fry an egg.”

– Dr. Shereene Idriss

I loved the fact that the class leaders aren’t afraid to diverge ever so slightly from the specific topic at hand and offer broader suggestions that are more lifestyle-oriented. “Seven washcloths for every night of the week!” Dr. Idriss urges at one point, alluding to the importance of using a fresh face towel daily so as to keep your face as spotless as possible. “Change your pillowcase every two days!” she adds on, making me feel both inferior for keeping the same sheet set on for nearly a month at a time and deeply grateful for this game-changing morsel of information.

2. Train Your Skin to Tolerate Retinol

In 2025, retinol is still very much a buzzword in the world of beauty, with people being well-aware of the best retinol products‘ multihyphenate nature: being able to reduce breakouts, smooth wrinkles, and otherwise ensure better skin outcomes. In MasterClass’ videos, retinol is called the “Swiss army knife of skin care,” and the four skin experts’ biggest message related to it is this: Less is truly more.

I’m someone who has a heavy hand as it relates to applying serums, moisturizers, and even sunscreen on my face, so I was shaken awake from my bad habits by Dr. Idriss’ reference to the “kiss of death”: the area around our noses and mouths that is most susceptible to flakiness, inflammation, and redness when coming into contact with too much retinol. How to make sure it still reaps the rewards of the ingredient that boosts collagen production, de-gunks pores, and stimulates cell turnover? The dermatologist-turned-social media sensation advises using more gentle retinol made for the eyes on your most sensitive facial regions.

As far as quantity is concerned, the skin gurus all drilled down in me the tenets that a light touch goes a long way, that retinol needs to be introduced slowly at first, and that consistent yet carefully measured use over a lifetime is the key to witnessing results you’ll be happy about.

Also: Glass skin is an unattainable idea, as not even the best prescription retinol on the market can alter the pore size you were born with.

3. Eat Well, Look Even Better

Myth: That hot-at-Sephora skin salve will hydrate your skin and reverse years of damage caused by a bad diet and lackluster hygiene habits. Fact: You not only are what you eat but also look how you eat, so no amount of topicals can make up for poor nutrition.

By far one of my favorite sections of MasterClass’ “Skin Health” class ended up being the one that focuses on nutrition. I was shocked to find out that when we deplete ourselves of nutrients, a kind of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs kicks in, and the nutrients our body does hold are siphoned off to vital organs: leaving the skin and hair in a compromised state. To stop this pattern in its tracks, Dr. Henry recommends a simple fix in the form of a well-balanced diet.

While I’m no stranger to the ways humans should be eating for holistic health (I like to think of myself as a follower of these principles, too), I never knew what foods skin in particular needs to thrive until I opened up the lesson. Lean protein is a win; omega-3 fatty acids lead to greater skin luster and elasticity; hydration-rich foods can be just as powerful as your favorite hyaluronic acid–equipped moisturizer; and antioxidants sourced from citrus fruits or berries help skin fight off free radicals and pollutants.

Ironically, I viewed the nutrition part of the skin class right after scarfing down a bowl of Cheerios with full-fat milk, lactose intolerance allegations notwithstanding. Dr. Henry, though, is a firm opponent of dairy and other inflammatory foods — stating that they cause insulin peaks and subsequent acne outbreaks. When it comes to savoring some pizza from your go-to slice shop, you should continue to do so in moderation, while also realizing that the inevitable breakout won’t come from all that oil: It will instead be traced back to the sugar found in the pizza’s sauce, dough, and toppings, which is another inflammatory ingredient that skin hates.

“Your skin care can augment good nutrition and make things look better, but we cannot outcompete a poor diet and lifestyle choices.”

– Dr. Michelle Henry

Ultimately, I closed my laptop shut after my MasterClass skin seminar with one standout message in mind: Prevention versus reversal. Also — always cleanse with lukewarm water and consider using diaper rash cream in the winter, since its zinc oxide component helps curb inflammation and irritation on the face.

My eyes (and pores) have been sufficiently opened, and my skin is already thanking me for joining MasterClass. I promise that yours will sing the class’ praises in short order, too.

Sign up for WWD Shop’s newsletter to get the scoop on the best in beauty and style with in-depth reviews of exciting new releases and buyer’s guides to find the products you need to try ASAP.

Can’t Get Enough of the “Skin Health” Instructors? Shop Their Top Beauty Products

Why Trust WWD

Since 1910, WWD — often referred to as “the fashion bible” — has been the leading industry voice of authority for senior executives in the global women’s and men’s fashion, retail and beauty communities, while also informing the consumer media that cover the market. Today, WWD’s breaking news and trend coverage continues to be a trustworthy resource for both fashion insiders and consumers alike. Our shopping editors continue to uphold WWD’s editorial standards and values with quality, expert-backed product selections. Learn more about us here.

Meet the Author

Stacia Datskovska is a Senior Commerce Writer at WWD. Previously, she worked at ELLE DECOR as an assistant digital editor, covering all things luxury, culture, and lifestyle through a design lens. Her bylines over the past five years have appeared in USA Today, Baltimore Sun, Teen Vogue, Boston Globe, Food & Wine, and more. Prior to joining ELLE DECOR, Datskovska learned the ins and outs of e-commerce at Mashable, where she tested products, covered tentpole sales events, and curated gift guide roundups. She graduated from NYU with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and international relations. Datskovska regularly reports on breakout trends in the beauty industry and new releases to watch.