Elizabeth Banks stars as a Hollywood esthetician who finds herself in the middle of a murder plot in the stylish thriller, Skincare. A fictional story inspired by true events, Skincare is a wild ride that brings out the best in its cast. Matched by a strong score and striking visuals, Skincare serves as a cautionary tale that even beautiful people can do ugly things.

From American Dream to Skincare Queen

To succeed in Hollywood means to be the best, and no one knows that better than celebrity facialist Hope Goldman (Banks). From American Dream to skincare queen, Hope’s impact on the beauty industry is similar to how Rachel Zoe influenced fashion. If reputation is everything in this business, then Hope Goldman is royalty.

After working for years to build up her brand, Hope is finally ready to expand her empire by launching a namesake product line. The jars are beautifully elegant with a minimalist high-end appeal, similar to Sunday Reily. It’s the moment Hope has been waiting for her entire life. Little did she know that when a competitor moves in directly across the street from her studio, her life will spiral into chaos. Never one to back down from competition, Hope knows that beauty is a cutthroat business and is willing to do whatever it takes to protect her brand.

Watch the Skincare trailer here.

“Shimmer by Angel” is Hollywood’s newest skincare boutique helmed by rival facialist Angel Vergara (Luis Gerardo Méndez), and he quickly outshines Hope Goldman. Angel claims that his products can reverse the effects of aging, and the Hollywood elites flock to his studio in droves. As her competitor is gaining traction in their shared niche space, Hope can’t help but wonder what devilish games Angel is playing. Ever since his presence in her life, Hope has been stalked, harassed, and catfished. Each incident becomes increasingly more threatening and Hope doesn’t know how to stop it. Enlisting her friend and confidant, Jordan (Lewis Pullman), Hope is determined to solve this mystery and take back control of her life, no matter the cost.

A New Musical Discovery

Skincare marks writer/director Austin Peters’ first narrative feature film. A successful music video director prior, Austin infuses the same gusto and energy into his feature. Skincare is clever, aesthetically bold, and an all-around fun watch. The cast, led by the always-excellent Elizabeth Banks, embrace their roles as morally ambiguous characters. Dark humor is infused with villainous acts, making for an engaging and unique whodunit.

Music also plays a big part in creating the changing atmosphere of the story. The soundtrack by Senegalese-born Kuwaiti musician and conceptual artist Fatima Al Qadiri is a standout, a fiery discovery. Fatima starts with a spa-inspired dreamlike score comprised of flutes and harps, before moving into heavy metal as the film’s tonal shift takes place. It works so well and compliments the visuals perfectly. Every so often, I find myself so moved by a piece of music that I seek out the composer’s personal work. I immediately connected with Fatima’s sound and recommend you check her out as well.

Takeaway

Dynamic and memorable, Skincare is an engaging watch from start to finish. Not only did it leave me with a newfound appreciation for Elizabeth Banks as an actor, but I also came away with a new music discovery in composer Fatima Al Qadiri.