Published:
TikTok has managed to establish itself as the place to go for beauty advice, and while there’s no denying how easy it is to consume TikTok skincare content and learn new things, this has led to some unexpected negative consequences. Yes, TikTok has, in many ways, made skincare more accessible, but many users now blindly follow new trends simply because they “saw it on TikTok”. While some of those trends may be worth a try, there are also plenty that are downright dangerous, yet discerning between the two can be tricky.
So, when it comes to the many TikTok skincare trends and tips out there, which ones actually work? Keep reading as VouPre explores which TikTok skincare tips to follow, as well as which ones to stay well away from!
Try: Slugging
While slugging may not have a very appealing name (it refers to how slimy and shiny the face looks after carrying out this technique), it can actually be a very beneficial way to give your skin a moisture boost and your skin barrier a break. This technique involves following your evening skincare routine as normal, but applying a thick occlusive layer, like petroleum jelly, as the final step. This layer is then washed off the next morning.
The purpose of slugging is to prevent transepidermal water loss, which is when moisture evaporates out of your skin and into the air. The rate at which this happens speeds up overnight, making evenings the perfect time to give slugging a try. The fact that the occlusive layer is essentially functioning as an additional skin barrier gives your natural protective barrier a break as well. If you’re dealing with barrier damage, slugging can leave your skin barrier feeling more capable of repairing itself.
While those with oily skin may claim that slugging has led to an increase in breakouts, this isn’t actually very common. Petroleum jelly has a very large molecular size, meaning that it won’t be able to sink into your pores and cause blockages. However, if you’re still concerned, try short contact slugging. Rather than leaving your occlusive layer on all night, rinse it off after a couple of hours. Your skin will still benefit from the extra moisture during that time.
Avoid: Moisturizing With Beef Tallow
Many of the recent TikTok skincare trends have been all about moisturizer alternatives. From coconut oil to honey, TikTokers are always seeking out new ways to moisturize their skin. The latest craze? Beef tallow, which is beef fat that has been rendered down.
Why are people moisturizing with beef tallow? Because the combination of essential fatty acids it contains very closely resembles that of the skin’s own sebum. In theory, this makes it great for moisturizing the skin and leaving the skin barrier feeling stronger.
In reality, however, beef tallow is likely to leave your skin feeling congested and clogged. It’s an extremely thick and greasy ingredient that isn’t very enjoyable to use. Plus, not only does it smell distinctly ‘beefy’, but it also needs to be stored in a specific way to prevent it from going rancid.
Although this trend may seem clever when you first hear about it, we’d recommend avoiding it. There are plenty of better skincare ingredients out there that work just as, if not more, efficiently, just like the shea butter and sunflower seed oil found in the VouPre Revitalizing Night Cream. They’ll leave your skin feeling just as soft and supple, yet without any of the downsides that come from using beef tallow!
Try: Simplifying Your Skincare Routine
Skinimalism has been one of the biggest TikTok skincare trends over the past year. It involves taking a minimalist approach to skincare, meaning streamlining and simplifying your skincare routine so that you’re able to meet your skin’s needs with far fewer steps. It’s a very different approach from the 10-15-step K-beauty-inspired routines that were previously making headlines.
Unlike many of the other TikTok skincare tips that are trending, this is one that dermatologists wholeheartedly support. They’ve seen a huge increase in skin problems caused by overcomplicated skincare routines, so they’re all for encouraging people to cut back and give their skin a break.
If you’re not sure where to begin when it comes to simplifying your own routine, start by establishing the basics. You’ll need a gentle cleanser, a moisturizer, and some SPF. You can then look into adding in some multipurpose products that are able to cater to what your skin needs. The VouPre Vita C Serum, for example, will tackle the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots, rough skin, and more. Try to keep your skincare routine to just a handful of strategic steps, and you’ll have mastered the skinimalism trend!
Avoid: DIY Sunscreens
There’s a rumour going around that sunscreens are bad for you. Some people even claim that they cause cancer, even though one of the primary purposes of a sunscreen is to prevent UV-induced skin cancer!
This, as a result, has led to people shunning their usual sunscreen products in favor of DIY alternatives. TikTok skincare recipes make use of natural ingredients, like coconut oil, shea butter, and zinc oxide, claiming that combining them in certain ways will help to keep sun damage at bay.
Unfortunately, this isn’t true at all, making this one of the most dangerous TikTok skincare trends around. Instead, homemade sunscreens are nowhere near effective enough. It’s pretty much impossible to accurately determine how much SPF they provide, especially since a DIY formula won’t be as stable as a professional one, meaning that those ingredients will degrade much faster. Professionals are desperately warning people against trying this trend, as it only increases a person’s chances of experiencing the various signs of sun damage.
While a commercially produced sunscreen may not seem as exciting as a homemade version, it’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your skin. Find yourself a broad-spectrum sunscreen that you enjoy using and, most importantly, can fully rely on. The VouPre Age Defense Cream SPF 30 is one that doesn’t feel as heavy as a traditional sunscreen, yet still provides enough protection to keep your skin feeling safe.
Try: Skin Cycling
Another TikTok skincare trend that dermatologists fully support is skin cycling. Not familiar with it? Instead of following the same skincare routine every night, skin cycling involves going with a four-night cycle that usually looks something like this:
- Night one – on the first night, you exfoliate your skin before carrying out your evening skincare routine.
- Night two – this is when you apply an active ingredient, most typically a retinoid.
- Nights three and four – these nights are all about giving your skin some time to recover from the exfoliation and active ingredients. The products used on these nights should be focused on hydration and leaving the skin barrier feeling boosted.
The purpose of skin cycling is to prevent overloading your skin with aggressive products and ingredients. When following this cycle, your skin is much less likely to feel over-exfoliated or irritated by the retinoid you’ve used, which is a common side effect of using retinoids. It also falls perfectly in line with the skinimalism trend we talked about earlier – with skin cycling, you’ll be able to keep your skincare routine simple while still incorporating important actives.
Avoid: Self-Injection Kits
Botox and other injectable fillers are nothing new – people have been using these treatments for decades. However, up until recently, the only way to access these treatments was by visiting a licensed professional.
Now, self-injection kits are appearing on the market, and TikTok skincare influencers are raving about them. With these kits, people can inject Botox into their skin from the comfort of their own home. It’s easy to see why they’ve become so popular!
Unfortunately, this is an extremely dangerous trend. Products like Botox need a very precise application technique. The dosage also varies between individuals – it’s not a “one size fits all” treatment. Get any of this wrong and you could end up with droopy brows, an asymmetrical face, and a multitude of other problems.
Even more worryingly, it may not even be a safe solution that you’d be injecting into your skin! There are so many fakes out there, most of which are sold online. Even with proper Botox, the solution would need to be stored in a certain way to retain its potency. It would need to be kept cold throughout the transportation/delivery process, as any fluctuations in temperature will affect how the solution works.
If you’re looking for a safer way to eradicate the appearance of wrinkles, try VouPre’s Anti-Aging Rescue Solution. This formula makes use of fast-acting ingredients to instantly smooth away the look of facial creases, giving the face a much smoother and firmer finish.
Try: LED Light Therapy Devices
Last but not least, let’s talk about LED light therapy. This is a trend that has been growing for a few years now. Like Botox, it was a procedure that previously could only be carried out by a professional, yet there are now plenty of at-home LED light therapy devices available on the market. The good news is that, unlike Botox, carrying out LED light therapy at home yourself is completely safe.
With LED light therapy, you’ll be able to rid your complexion of the appearance of wrinkles, dark spots, puffiness, inflammation, and more. These devices are extremely versatile, making them well worth the investment.
If you’re new to LED light therapy, the VouPre L’Rae Beam is a great device to start with. This device combines LED light therapy with radio frequency electrodes, electric muscle stimulation, and cooling stainless steel chillers. These various modes all allow you to fully customize your LED light therapy sessions.
Summary
There’s no getting away from the fact that some TikTok skincare tips can be extremely harmful, making it important to do some digging before diving into an exciting new trend you’ve heard about. Try to find out what dermatologists and other professionals think of those tips before implementing them on your own skin.
Click here to treat your skin to more bestselling products from VouPre.
