As a dermal therapist, I always find it a little concerning when someone starts a sentence with, "I saw this skincare trend on TikTok..."
Why? Because people are genuinely filming themselves doing silly things like applying their serums backwards and sticking potato skins to their faces, and calling it education.
Don't get me wrong, I love how skin care has boomed online, and once you wade through some of the videos that simply must be a joke (right??), TikTok is proving great for short, educational titbits of information that are quick and easy to follow.
Plus, I love how consumers want to understand the science behind skin care so they’re not wasting their money. Skin care can often feel intimidating and overwhelming, so I'm all for anything that makes skin care more accessible.
But... there’s also a tonne of crap on TikTok. The truth is, there is a lot of scary and concerning skin health misinformation out there. And when it goes viral, it's terrifying.
At best, a 30-second video of someone dancing and pointing to ingredients is a starting point, but it'll never beat a proper skin analysis and consultation with a skin professional. Worst case scenario? You follow a random person's advice and end up doing some serious damage.
So, let’s break down some popular TikTok trends and whether there's any substance to them.
Best & Worst TikTok Skincare Trends.
1. Rubbing Potatoes on Your Pimples.
First cab off the rank is videos like this one of people taping cut up bits of raw potatoes to their faces.
I'd prefer a nice crunchy roasted potato or maybe even a chip, but you do you.