Bethenny Frankle’s Favorite Serum “Feels Like Air”

Even if you’ve never seen a single episode of The Real Housewives of New York City (though I really cannot recommend starting that journey enough), chances are you know who Bethenny Frankle is. Maybe you know her from Skinnygirl, the cocktail empire that she started—and sold—while on the show. Or perhaps from her talk show, Bethenny, or one of her many Bravo spin-offs.

But more recently, you probably know her from TikTok, where her content ranges from recipes (she’s currently on a chicken salad kick), reviews of Hamptons hot spots, and, what started it all, her no-BS opinions on makeup and skincare. The “accidental influencer’s” quick, honest reviews of beauty products at all price points are what got her started on the app, and two years later she keeps them coming for her two million followers (and counting).

The latest product that’s “at the level?” Beautystat’s new Triple-Plump Coconut Milk Serum, for which she co-hosted a chic lunch in the Hamptons. At the event we caught up with Frankle about her skincare journey, her favorite products, and the one step she never skips.

About Her Skin

“I used to have dry skin but it’s more normal now because of my skincare regimen.”

How She Got Into Skincare

“I mean, I’ve always been into beauty, and because of my career I am always in the spotlight and always being sent new products, so I’ve kind of made it my business to know. I love skincare, I love trying new products, and I happen to be able to tell immediately if I love a product and if it works or not. If anything, I’ve learned not to listen to outside noise about products. I cherry-pick things I’m sent and figure out what works for me.”

Her Morning Versus Night Routine

“I’m big on routines, but not the same exact one every day. Where you are in the world, what the weather is, what you’ve been doing… all of that has an effect on what your skin needs that day. The steps are the same though. I start with a cleanser, move on to a facial spray/toner, then a serum, followed by an eye cream and rich moisturizer.”

The Skincare Steps She Never Skips

 “SPF for day, and cleanser, especially at night. My number one piece of skincare advice is to take off all makeup and get rid of all dirt and germs before you do your skincare routine. I love a good gel cleanser. The second piece of advice is to start early with SPF in your skincare routine. Why… because it becomes a good habit, and it prevents dark spots early. Also, do not underestimate the power of a good night’s sleep.”

How Her Routine Changed Over Time

“Earlier on I didn’t realize how sensitive my skin was to makeup, so it took me a while to realize that it was my makeup really clogging my pores. Making sure I always take off my makeup before bed and having a solid nighttime skincare routine has made a huge difference in my skin.”

The One Product That’s Made the Biggest Difference

 “I love a serum. Which one exactly depends on time of day, season, whatever my skin may be experiencing. Vitamin C is a key ingredient I need in a good serum. I love the BeautyStat Universal C Skin Refiner, it feels like air, and no other product I’ve tried feels like this in any way.”

The Best Skincare Advice She’s Ever Gotten

 “Always take off your makeup before bed and don’t touch your face!”

Her Skincare Pet Peeve

“The amount of celebrities and brands in general that make you think you have to pay a lot of money to get a skincare product that really works. How much something costs definitely does not make it high quality necessarily, and I wish more people knew that. I am all about drugstore beauty products if they truly work.

“And I don’t like marketing ‘multi-functional products’—just say what they are. Like tinted moisturizer is not a moisturizer, it’s a foundation.”

Her Most-Used Product

“I love serums because you can use them for so many different things. I love serums for eye care and they give moisture to my face.” 

The Best Product She’s Recently Discovered

“I have always been a fan of BeautyStat, and I have gotten to know the founder, Ron Robinson, who happens to be a cosmetic chemist. They are launching a new coconut-based serum this month called the Triple-Plump Coconut Milk Serum, and it’s like nothing I’ve ever tried before. Coconut water is extremely hydrating in a different way. But I haven’t seen it in skincare except for in a lotion. I think that’s really innovative and creative and jumps off the page. It’s good fat, and as a natural food chef, that was the first place we used coconut water and coconut oil.”

Her Approach to Aging and Treatments

“I don’t like a lot of gimmicks. I don’t like anything really extreme—years ago, I would do those peels where you look like a pizza, but then you’re a baby’s ass, you can’t go in the sun or it all comes back. So I would rather do the light peels occasionally. I just don’t like anything too extreme, I don’t think you can shortcut [your skincare].

“The one thing I don’t really believe in [is fillers]. I’ve heard that fillers really do stay with you. So you have to kind of be educated, but also figure it out yourself and what works for you. We’re all getting older, so just buckle up and it is what it is. I just think we’re being sold so much in so many areas, that you have to be careful, because I do see people grabbing onto everything they read in the press, and then doing that, and then the other thing, and then you have to reverse that thing. And it’s scary. It’s like cooking. You should add a little bit at a time, because if you mess with the whole dish, it’s hard to go backwards.”