5 Worst TikTok Skincare & Beauty Trends you should Avoid in 2023

TikTok- love it or loathe it, there’s no disputing its influence on the world of skincare of the globe. As one of the fastest-growing applications in the world with 2.6 billion downloads to date; TikTok has developed a plethora of beauty and skincare material for us all. Some of these viral videos have propelled skinintellectuals like Hyram Yarbo to fame (FYI, he has collaborated with The Inkey List for his own skincare line); broke sales (The Ordinary’s AHA and BHA Peeling Solution crossed sales of 100,000 bottles in weeks) and gave rise to some questionable trends.

Just like anything else on the internet, not everything that you see can be believed. To help you discern fad from fiction, here’s a doctor’s advice on the top 5 TikTok beauty/ skincare fads to avoid. If you’d like to find me and my amateur video attempts on TikTok, my username is @drrachelho.

1. Drinking Chlorophyll

Meet the newest IT drink on TikTok: chlorophyll. Yes, you read it properly. Chlorophyll is the green pigment present in plants for photosynthesis. TikTok-ers such as @marycjskinner have been touting the dermatological advantages of sipping liquid chlorophyll as they swirl down their chlorophyll cocktail. According to these TikTok influencers, some of the advantages of consuming chlorophyll include improvement in acne and rosacea.

So what’s the tea on chlorophyll? Chlorophyll is a significant source of antioxidants and inflammatory chemicals. Inflammation has a function in acne and rosacea; yet consuming chlorophyll is not verified as one of the therapies for these illnesses. In reality, there is no big, controlled research that supports drinking chlorophyll at all for acne and rosacea. You may read about the relationship between food and acne in Foods to Avoid for Fewer Pimples

It may be worthy of a TikTok video, but drinking chlorophyll isn’t going to help anyone’s acne or rosacea. If you’re still thinking about using chlorophyll drops, why not obtain it the natural way- vegetables? Spinach is a major source of chlorophyll. One cup of spinach contains more chlorophyll than 1-2 drops of chlorophyll.

2. Toothpaste On Pimples

Another TikTok fad that will make your doctor cringe? Using toothpaste to dry up your pimples! According to these influencers, using toothpaste as a spot treatment helps dry up zits overnight.

Historically, toothpaste used to include an antibacterial ingredient called Triclosan. However, since 2019, Triclosan is no longer available in commercial toothpaste owing to concerns that Triclosan might affect thyroid hormone levels.

It may seem reasonable to prevent bacterial infection and inflammation using toothpaste. There are, however, more elegant and safer methods to handle them in acne using antibiotics, skincare, and pimple patches. If you need to fast shrink an angry pimple or cyst, steroid injections by your doctor may assist with that securely. Toothpaste includes various components that might provoke irritating contact dermatitis; therefore consider these safer options!

3. Treating Acne with Potatoes

Another odd viral TikTok craze that does not appear to be abating anytime soon- putting raw potatoes on your face for hours. The movies of individuals putting spuds on their cheeks are worth a look for their humorous impact.

Where did this concept come from? The roots of this urban myth are unknown but it could have something to do with the salicylic acid concentration in potatoes. Salicylic acid is widely used in anti-acne treatment to exfoliate the skin. There are various over-the-market salicylic acid face cleansers, toners, serums, and moisturizers for acne. You don’t need to glue a potato to your face ok?

4. DIY Toners and Serums

Joining the rich mine of incredibly terrible TikTok advice is DIY skincare. Having agency and being actively engaged in your skincare regimen is absolutely a positive thing. Attempting to build your own skincare products using items from the grocery store? Not a brilliant idea.

One prime example? Using freshly squeezed lemon juice as a serum or toner. It can be rich in vitamin C, but acidity can burn your skin. Household ingredients and DIY skincare are not refined or treated for sterility, safety, and longevity. This hack of producing your own skincare may instead disturb your skin barrier, causing burns and infection and irritating contact dermatitis. Not pleasant at all.

5. Slugging

Another TikTok craze that’s also widespread on Reddit- slugging. Slugging refers to slathering your skin with Vaseline or petroleum jelly overnight. This locks in the skin’s moisture so that you’ll wake up with moist, plump, baby-soft skin.

When applied to the skin, petroleum jelly or vaseline produces a protective barrier against water loss from the skin. In turn, the skin gets moisturized. The issue with slugging? Slugging with Vaseline or petroleum may clog the pores and worsen acne. If you have oily skin or acne, there are components that help maintain the skin barrier healthy and well moisturized- hyaluronic acid and ceramides are fantastic and economical examples.

What is poor skin care?

Poor skincare is often the result of a busy lifestyle and not taking the time to properly take care of one’s skin. It can also be the result of using harsh cleansers and not using enough moisturizer. Poor skin care can lead to dull, dry skin, wrinkles, and breakouts.

Which chemical is worst for the skin?

There are many different chemicals that can be bad for the skin, but some are worse than others. One of the worst chemicals for the skin is hydroquinone. Hydroquinone is a bleaching agent that is often used to lighten dark spots on the skin. However, it can also cause a number of serious side effects, including skin irritation, redness, and swelling. It can also make the skin more susceptible to sun damage.