Hyram Yarbro (born April 20, 1996) is an American skincareinfluencer known for his videos on YouTube and TikTok.[2] His videos consist primarily of product reviews, skincare advice, and reactions to celebrity skincare routine videos.[3] In 2021, he launched his skincare product line, Selfless by Hyram, in collaboration with Sephora.[4]
Early life and education
Yarbro's hometown of Paulden, Arizona
Yarbro was born in Paulden, Arizona, and grew up on a cattle ranch.[5][6] He is one of five children and has stated that his family were "strict" followers of Mormonism.[7] As a teenager, Yarbro was kicked out of his family's home after coming out as gay.[3][8] Yarbro has said that throughout his teens and early twenties, he suffered from depression and eating disorders, engaged in self-harm and attempted suicide.[9]
Yarbro began his YouTube channel in 2017.[10][12] His subscriber count grew from 50,000 to 500,000 in under two weeks in 2019,[5] and reached one million before the end of the year.[6] He joined TikTok in 2020 and quickly gained a large following during the COVID-19 lockdown, accumulating nearly six million followers during his first six months on the platform.[13][14]
Between March and October 2020, Yarbro released videos about the L'Oréal sub-brand CeraVe. These videos have been said to have contributed to increased popularity and sales of the brand.[15][16][17] During this period, his videos generated $3.2 million in media impact value for the brand,[15] and reportedly led to an 89% increase in its global sales in 2020.[16] This subsequently resulted in a paid partnership with L'Oréal for Yarbro to create branded content on TikTok and YouTube.[18]
In October 2020, Yarbro signed with United Talent Agency.[19][20] That December, he announced his first product collaboration, the Hyram x Kinship Sea the Good collection, with a portion of the profits donated to Lonely Whale, a charity focused on removing plastic from oceans.[21] In 2022, he launched the podcast Justaposition, focusing on mental health journeys, including his own and other influencers'.[6][9] That year, he also began posting on Flip, a shopping-focused social media app. As of August 2022, he had a small following on the platform according to Glossy.[22]
Selfless by Hyram
In June 2021, Yarbro launched his skincare product line, Selfless by Hyram, in collaboration with Colette Laxton and Mark Curry, co-founders of The Inkey List. The line, consisting of five products priced between $20 and $30, was released exclusively in Sephora stores across 29 countries and online on June 24.[18][23] For the launch, Yarbro partnered with non-profits Rainforest Trust, Youth, and Thirst.[24] The line launched in the UK in March 2022.[25]
Content
Yarbro is among a group of social media influencers known as "skinfluencers" for their focus on skincare products.[3][18][26]GQ Australia described him as being "at the forefront of the men's skincare movement".[27] His content includes reviews and recommendations of beauty products, skincare tutorials, and reaction videos responding to the skincare routines of fans and other online influencers.[13][19][20] Yarbro utilizes the duet feature on TikTok to create reaction videos.[26]Elle has noted that he also uses the duet feature to address skincare myths propagated by other users.[28] He is known for recommending lower-priced products,[19][29][30] generally under $50[5] and often under $10.[11]
According to The Washington Post, Yarbro's brand focuses on promoting "clean beauty," emphasizing products with safe, organic ingredients.[31]The Independent reported that he tends to avoid products containing fragrances and essential oils and prefers brands with sustainable manufacturing practices.[11] In his content, Yarbro states that he is not a licensed dermatologist or aesthetician, referring to himself as a "skin care specialist",[12] and advising that his content is not medical advice, but rather like "shopping with a best friend".[26]
Yarbro's content generates revenue through affiliate links, YouTube ads, and brand sponsorships.[5][13][31] He has stated that he declines 90 to 95% of offered brand deals based on product ingredients, price, and maintaining audience trust.[5]
Criticism
Yarbro has faced criticism for promoting "slugging," the practice of applying a thick layer of Vaseline to the face overnight, which dermatologists say can exacerbate acne.[32]Nylon included excessive slugging in their list of the 10 worst TikTok beauty trends of 2021, citing Yarbro as one of the influencers who promoted it.[33]
