TikTok has turned the average influencer into a dermatologist – and they’re telling us to do some pretty wild things to our skin and hair. Should you be buying what social media is selling?
Imagine a world in which, instead of consulting a GP about the health of your heart, you consulted your smartphone – and took the advice of an enthusiastic inf luencer. If such a scenario sounds farcical, when it comes to your skin, it’s already playing out. Thanks to the inf luence of TikTok and Instagram, we’ve subjected our largest organ (not to mention our hair and nails) to countless fads and remedies promising to solve everything from dryness and acne to breakage. And the question the Women’s Health beauty team gets asked about each one: is this really a good idea?
To answer it once and for all, we consulted dermatologists, along with hair and nail experts, to bring you the low-down on five social media beauty trends. Scroll this way…
THE TREND
Coined by Whitney Bowe, a New York-based dermatologist, skin cycling looks like a four-evening skincare routine. It might involve one night of chemical exfoliation (with an acid such as glycolic or salicylic), one night using a collagenboosting retinoid, followed by two consecutive nights of recovery (with a hydrating moisturiser that contains either hyaluronic acid or squalene). After that, the process is repeated. ‘Most people assume more is better when it comes to using active ingredients – and we’re seeing a lot of red, irritated skin as a result,’ says Dr Bowe. Skin cycling gives your face a break from those effective, but potentially irritating, ingredients.
Anything that forces overzealous skincare buffs to press pause on hardcore active ingredients is a win, says cosmetic dermatologist Karan Lal. But if you’re looking for, say, noticeable line-smoothing, it may not be for you. ‘Using a retinoid or exfoliant once or twice per week isn’t going to do much,’ he adds. ‘It’s a starting point that allows your skin to become accustomed to products, but you should be using some of these several times per week and, in some cases, nightly.’
THE TREND
This one’s all about keeping your cuticles in good condition. You’ll exfoliate your nails with a scrub, massage them with cuticle oil and lock in moisture with a thick ointment, says dermatologist Dana Stern. Then leave it on overnight to remedy dryness and dehydration from handwashing, dish washing and swimming.
That’s a strong yes. Your cuticles are important to the overall health of your nails, so anything that nurtures them and helps maintain their integrity is a smart move. ‘Think of your cuticle as the grout in the shower: it keeps bad stuff out, preventing infection,’ says Dr Stern. ‘But when that seal is removed or becomes dry and dehydrated,
