Rachell “Valkyrae” Hofstetter recently revealed her new RFLCT skincare line, a business venture that’s been in the works for two years. But the gaming community has responded with skepticism and criticism.
On October 19, Valkyrae announced the launch of her RFLCT skincare line, focused on protecting gamers’ faces from blue light pollution. The website included two skincare routines, using a variety of moisturizers and balms. The site also made clear in its terms of service that there wasn’t any research to prove that blue light pollution was harmful or that the products would work as intended against blue light,
leading to a lot of backlash.
Community responds to Valkyrae RFLCT skincare line
Valkyrae’s new skin line purports to be all about “benefiting everyone who uses a screen.” The website states that the products boost a gamer’s “defense against blue light.” But the gaming community responded that there’s been a lack of evidence that supports the notion that blue light damages skin in the first place.
Many felt that Valkyrae was scamming her young audience, creating an issue so that she could provide a solution that benefited her financially. Some accused Valkyrae of trying to “trick” her fans. One of the loudest voices has been Hasan “HasanAbi” Piker, who talked about the RFLCT line on a recent stream.
“I don’t believe blue light is destroying your skin in the way that the RFLCT product presents itself. It’s just f—— soap,” Hasan said.
Valkyrae responds to RFLCT haters
As the backlash continued, Valkyrae responded on her private Twitter account. She told fans that she had been told to wait before responding. She said that she was “very confused,” but ended up deleting the post just an hour later.
The original message included a frowning face, with Valkyrae seeming shaken up by the negative response. Valkyrae has said that this is something she has been working on for multiple years and something she expressed she was proud of before the backlash began.
But while her feelings may be genuine, fans are still questioning the validity of the RFLCT skin line. Many feel that the products have no scientific proof behind them and have accused the website of using misleading language to manipulate young fans.
Olivia Richman
About Olivia Richman
Olivia has worked in media ever since graduating from college, with her coverage ranging from traditional newspaper reporting to digital coverage of all things gaming, online betting, and nerd culture. She has traveled around the world pursuing that coverage, from the far coasts of the United States to the busy downtown core of Tokyo, Japan. Olivia’s favorite games include Overwatch and Super Smash Smash Bros, and she has been published at Esports Illustrated, Inven Global, EsportsInsider, Upcomer, and elsewhere.
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