‘I’m no Expert’: A Look at Hyram Yarbro, the Informed Influencer

Hyram Yarbro is a different kind of skinfluencer. He rocketed to fame this spring when COVID-19’s mass relegation to home confinement drove millennials like me to the soft, escapist confines of TikTok. A man of the people, Hyram is the well-connected friend who lends a hand to the new kid on the block (most notably the Gen Z population), sincerely educating skincare outsiders one YouTube video or TikTok duet at a time. He’s young, clear-skinned and kind-hearted with a touch of saucy wit.

His triumph comes not only from who he is and how he skinfluences Gen Z, but also what he doesn’t claim to be: an expert. Nearly every Hyram video comes front-loaded with a warning label for the uninitiated, “I’m passionate about teaching you about skincare,” with the caveat, “I’m not a licensed esthetician or dermatologist.”

Prior to the “explosion” he mentions in his 18-minute video entitled “I am not an expert,” he says he never imagined the impact he would have on the flock of young skincare enthusiasts he has shepherded into the complex world of beauty and self-care.

With that instant attention and widespread impact, came a humility and deep sense of responsibility that’s refreshingly rare within the influencer space, especially for a 24-year-old overnight celebrity.

Hyram actually cares about accountability, transparency and continuous learning. Despite having die-hard followers who’ve roused some of the more senior skincare specialists in the industry, and a few faux pas early in his glow up that provoked the ire of Redditors, Hyram encourages his flock to seek out the advice of licensed medical professionals, and to challenge his opinions in the comments section below each video.

His authority comes in using his expanding platform to highlight issues of affordability, sustainability, and fanciful marketing vs evidence-based science. Learning the science behind cult favorite cleansers, serums and creams, and delivering formula/ingredient lessons in an easy-to-understand way is Hyram’s sweet spot.

While compensated through affiliate links and sponsorships with various beauty brands, Hyram is faithful to his followers, never leading them astray to make a quick buck for himself. Rather, he unabashedly challenges lines from brands he loves, in the interest of truth and credibility.

Hyram is the quintessential example of the informed influencer making inroads in an often-unfriendly industry, thanks to a powerful and unyielding combination of transparency, accountability/credibility, and uncompromising values.

Even in 2020, we can breathe a sigh of relief that the nice guy doesn’t always finish last.