"Tiara, What's Your Skincare Routine?"

Skin type: dry to combination acne-prone skin

Mar 29, 2025

If you are a beauty and skincare enthusiast then you should already know who Tiarra Willis is! She is literally one of the people who pioneered the landscape and pushed brands to consider women of color in the product development process. I’ve been following Tiara on Twitter since I was in high school — and once I began my acne journey, her highly informative threads have literally saved my skin many times over.

This is such a full circle moment and I’m so grateful she agreed to this interview! I hope you guys enjoy and are able to pull some helpful insights to help your skincare journeys as well.

Understanding Skin Type

Toluwani: What is your skin type?

Tiara: My skin type changes with the seasons and my hormones. It’s usually dry, but in the summer and around my period, it shifts to combination with some oiliness in my T-zone.

Toluwani: What type of breakouts do you typically deal with? (Papules, pustules, whiteheads, etc.)

Tiara: When I break out with acne vulgaris, it’s usually a papule. I also have acne rosacea and ocular rosacea, which can present as pustules during flare-ups.

Toluwani: What is your skincare history? Have you ever had acne? And if so, did it develop later in adulthood or have you been dealing with it since puberty?

Tiara: I’ve had acne since I was 11, dealing with a mix of pustules, papules, and whiteheads. My breakouts also left me with post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

Skincare Routine Breakdown

Toluwani: What is your current AM & PM routine?

Tiara: Since my job as an esthetician and content creator involves reviewing products, my routine changes often.

Morning Routine

I usually rinse my face with water, apply a brightening serum, and finish with sunscreen. My mornings are always rushed, so I keep it simple.

Evening Routine

I always do a double cleanse—sometimes a triple cleanse if I’m wearing heavy makeup. A few times a week, I use a physical exfoliant at night. While my skin is still damp, I apply a hydrating toner to prevent transepidermal water loss. Then, I layer 1-2 active serums, followed by a hydrating and healing serum, and finish with moisturizer.

Toluwani: What is one product that you will never take out of your routine?

Tiara: Sunscreen! It’s essential for preventing and treating a variety of skin concerns—plus, it protects against skin cancer.

Skin Journey

Toluwani: How has your routine evolved at different stages of your skin journey? And how do you gauge when it is time to rotate products and techniques in and out?

Tiara: Since I deal with both acne vulgaris and acne rosacea, my routine changes depending on what my skin needs.

When I’m experiencing a severe acne rosacea flare-up (typically from stress or environmental allergies), my focus is on healing and hydration. I prioritize barrier repair, use soothing ingredients, and may incorporate a topical medication like Ivermectin if needed.

My skin tends to break out more in the winter because dry skin makes it harder for dead skin cells to shed, leading to clogged pores. During that time, I rely on a combination of physical and chemical exfoliation to support skin cell turnover and prevent congestion.

Winter is also the best time for professional treatments like lasers and chemical peels, so I adjust my routine accordingly to support recovery and maximize results.

Toluwani: How did your skincare education journey begin?

Tiara: Since my career as a content creator took off at 14, I chose not to pursue college and graduated early at 16. However, I still wanted to continue my education in a way that aligned with my passions. I decided to attend esthetician school to deepen my understanding of my acne-prone skin and to integrate skincare expertise into my content strategy.

Toluwani: What is the main goal that you hope to address with your content? How has this evolved over the years as you've gotten more entrenched with the beauty industry?

Tiara: For the past 10 years, my main goal as a creator has been to look out for women of color—providing education and inspiration for this community has always been my priority. While the type of education I share has evolved over the years, the core purpose remains the same: making sure Black women feel seen, informed, and empowered in the beauty space.

Toluwani: Our skin affects our self esteem in so many ways. How did you cope in moments when you felt your skin was in its worst state?

Tiara: I used to rely on makeup to cover my skin, which actually led me to my passion for sharing makeup content. What truly helped me feel more confident was understanding the science behind my skin—knowing how and why things happen made me feel empowered, because I knew I had the tools to treat it if I wanted to.

Over time, I also made it a habit to go without makeup more often, which helped me get comfortable with my skin’s natural appearance, imperfections and all.

Final Thoughts & Advice

Toluwani: What are some resources that people should seek out if they want to become more knowledgeable about skincare?

Tiara: Following licensed skin professionals online is a great way to access free, reliable skincare knowledge. However, for the best understanding of your own skin, seeing a professional in person is key—you’ll get a personalized solution tailored to your specific needs.

Many skincare brands also offer free webinars and educational resources, which can be a great way to learn more about ingredients, treatments, and skin health from experts.

Toluwani: What is the best skincare advice that you have ever received?

Tiara: The best skincare advice I’ve ever received is that having acne doesn’t always mean you have oily skin. For a long time, I treated my skin as if it were oily, even though it’s actually dry. This ended up damaging my skin barrier, which is the foundation of a healthy routine. Once I started focusing on hydration and barrier repair, my skin improved significantly.

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