TIK TOK SKIN TRENDS — WHAT’S HOT AND WHAT’S NOT

As a platform for sharing skincare tips and tricks, TikTok has emerged as a go-to channel, especially for tweens, teens and young adults. Every day, there are new influencers promoting new techniques, products, and routines — but are these DIY remedies actually hurting or helping your skin? Let's delve into the fact or fallacy of #skintok…

Do it yourself (DIY) skincare — Hot and Not 

We’re all for self-advocacy, because you know your skin best — but there’s a caveat. While some DIY approaches may be useful (assuming you are using safe, effective ingredients), you shouldn’t trust any and every piece of advice. Some products, even supposedly natural ones, can contain irritants and allergens that can be harmful to skin. Additionally, mixing certain ingredients can have adverse reactions. Some people, especially those with darker skin tones or sensitive skin, can react differently to products that peel and strip skin with the promise of “renewing” it or making it look younger.

Serpentine Tip: DIY skincare can be cost-effective, but if the products and processes aren’t trustworthy or compatible with your skin, you’ll end up spending twice as much to correct the damage done. Do your research and make sure that any products you use are dermatologist recommended. 

Skin cycling — Hot

After New York-based dermatologist Dr. Whitney Bowe talked about the benefits of switching out your skin care products to give your skin a boost, it became a beloved TikTok trend. As dermatologists, we believe in intermittently rotating skin care products, because it shakes things up and makes room for your skin barrier to recover. 

Serpentine Tip: We love this so much we reiterated how to go about it, here. 

Skin slugging — Not 

Here’s the theory: by applying petroleum jelly to your face at night after you complete your skincare routine, your skin can better retain moisture. Please do not do this, especially if you have sensitive skin, pores that are easily clogged, or are prone to acne. Additionally, if you are using products with alpha hydroxy acids or retinols, petroleum jelly seals in and intensifies their effects, so you’re treading on dangerous ground. We have seen far more harm than good come from this TikTok trend. 

Serpentine Tip: There are much safer and more effective ways to keep skin hydrated; read more about them here. 

Pimple popping — Not

We get it: there’s something really satisfying about seeing all that gunk ooze out of a pimple, but as dermatologists, we do not recommend it! Picking at acne can cause scarring and infections. This is something best left to the professionals. 

That said, if you’re absolutely unable to resist, here’s how to pop a zit properly. Don’t interfere with it unless the spot has an obvious, pus-filled head and is not deep-rooted; otherwise, the scarring will be permanent. Clean the area first. Do not, under any circumstances, pop the pimple with your bare hands; either put on gloves or use a clean tissue between your fingers. Once the deed is done, apply an anti-inflammatory like tea tree oil to the area. Something as simple as a dab of petroleum jelly can also help the spot close more quickly and stop environmental toxins from getting in. Better yet? Commit to a skincare routine that prevents you from getting acne in the first place.

Serpentine Tip: If you suffer from serious breakouts, we recommend that you come in and see us — we’ll figure out the cause and put you on a programme that deals with it safely and effectively. 

Gua Sha — Not 

It’s promoted as an ancient Chinese practice for beautiful skin, but does it work? We don’t think so. This is not to say that the practice isn’t rooted in something, but the way they’re doing it on TikTok is not data-driven. There’s simply not enough information on it for us to be able to say that it creates much of a difference. When it originated in China, it is believed that people would drag the jade stone across their face to the point of bruising, and the healing process is supposedly what would rejuvenate the skin.  

Serpentine Tip: The Gua Sha stone is reportedly useful for draining your lymph nodes, which can help reduce puffiness, but this is not a tool we’re going to be using in our skincare arsenal.  

Veganism — Not 

If you want to embrace a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle, we’re all for it, but do it for the right reasons. While there is definitely a link between diet and skin health, it’s not the only thing. Do you drink? Smoke? Exercise? Get enough sleep? All these are factors too; it’s very rarely a case where diet alone impacts how your skin looks. We therefore recommend not only a balanced diet (vegan or not), but a balanced lifestyle for your skin to be at its best. 

Serpentine Tip: The most common food-based culprits when it comes to skin are dairy and sugar. 

Lube before makeup — Not 

TikTok would have you believe that it’s a good idea to prime your face with a lubricant prior to applying makeup, in order for the foundation to be applied more easily and the overall finish to look smoother and sleeker. This is a big NO from us as it’s a recipe for irritating and clogging skin, leaving you prone to breakouts and other issues.  

Serpentine Tip: Skin that is well hydrated with tried and tested products will naturally be a good base for makeup application. 

Any kind of at-home tech gadget  — Not 

Hyaluron pens, plasma pens, microneedling…we could go on, but the bottom line is this: if an “at home” treatment involves needles, chemicals, light treatments, microcurrents, or any kind of safety risk the gadget claims to circumvent, skip it. Treatments like these come with a level of risk that requires professional training — no exceptions.  

Serpentine Tip: Seriously…we’re cringing just thinking about you doing this at home and all the things that could go wrong. Make an appointment with us instead. 

Animal secretions  — Not 

Korean beauty routines, popular on TikTok, extoll the virtues of everything from snail mucin to salmon sperm to heal and restore skin disorders. As such, some TikTokers have been seen allowing snails to crawl on their face. In a word, eww. Please..just don’t. There is no scientific data at this point to prove that these things have any positive effects, though we are on board with K-beauty’s overall gentle approach to skincare. 

Serpentine Tip: We’re all about empirical evidence and will continue to deliver skincare products and treatments that are scientifically sound and proven to work in extensive clinical trials. You and your skin should not be a guinea pig.

Sunscreen as a non-negotiable  — Hot 

As you well know, we’ve been singing the sunscreen song forever! Recognising its value in protecting skin from the harmful effects of premature ageing and skin cancers, TikTok has also got on board, promoting sun safety awareness and encouraging consistent sun protection habits.  

Serpentine Tip: Sunscreens don’t have to be a bother if you make it part of your skincare routine. We have a host of effective, lightweight sunscreens that will do the job, without you even being conscious that you’re wearing it — win/win!