Though TikTok first launched in 2016, its meteoric rise came in 2020, no doubt thanks to the pandemic keeping many of us at home searching for new entertainment sources and with time to spare.
This made way for a huge shift in the beauty industry, with many taking to the app to share their tips, tricks, and reviews – and TikTok’s impact on the industry and consumer habits since has been undeniable. Surveys from 2021 showed that 52% of users had been influenced to buy a beauty product that they saw on TikTok.
With approximately 34 million TikTok’s posted daily, the rapid trend cycles on the app can be overwhelming. In just 2023, we’ve seen beauty trends from ‘glazed donut skin’, to ‘latte girl’ and ‘strawberry girl’ makeup. With these never-ending trends often leading to over-consumption and, frankly, stressed-out skin, how do we separate the genius beauty hacks from the ones to avoid at all costs?
We’ve asked Kelly Saynor, aesthetic nurse and the Founder of Medica Forte to debunk some of TikTok’s most popular trends…
Trend #1 – Skin flooding
Skin flooding involves the regular and liberal application of hydrating products such as serums, essences, moisturisers, and masks, without allowing products to soak in before application of the next step. The goal is to saturate the skin with moisture, creating a barrier that helps to lock in hydration and protect against external stressors.
However, skin flooding could potentially do more harm than good. Kelly says: “When overstimulating the skin with product, it can become lazy – skin interprets all the heavy-duty products being applied as a sign that it can become complacent. Skin cells starts to slow down and won’t operate as effectively. Typically, it’s best to stick to the application guidelines on each product – for example, hyaluronic acid is more effective on damp skin, whereas retinol should only be applied on dry skin – therefore skin flooding would lead to decreased product efficacy in this case.”
Trend #2 – At-home peels
With the term “skin barrier” mostly unknown a few years ago to now having over 4M searches on TikTok, there seems a plausible link between this and the rise of ingredients such as AHA, BHA, and retinol becoming more mainstream. With TikTok helping to demystify ingredients you’d once only see buried deep on an ingredient list, more and more consumers have started incorporating these within their skin routine and doing intense DIY treatments – often without fully knowing how to properly use these ingredients and therefore damaging their skin barrier in the process. Kelly says: “Chemical peeling is one of the most dependable and widely recognised methods of improving the overall health and appearance of the skin, regulating and enhancing the cellular turnover process in the dermis for incredible results. However, not all chemical peels are created equally, and you can get unwanted side effects if the epidermis of the skin is upset. In-clinic, I offer The Perfect Peel ® but I wanted to create an accessible at-home option for those who can’t afford the downtime of a regular peel. I created at-home peel products Glutaceuticals ® Night Shift and Glutaceuticals ® Pep Talk to include ingredients that work harmoniously and won’t irritate the skin, such as glutathione, azelaic acid and kojic acid.”
Trend #3 – Pro-ageing skin
The term ‘pro-ageing’ spins the tired ‘anti-ageing’ rhetoric on its head, celebrating the changes we see in skin as we get older. With TikTok championing the likes of Pamela Anderson who has chosen to go makeup free and embrace her glowing natural skin, there’s also been a steer towards using skincare to enhance a complexion rather than resorting to aesthetic treatments as an immediate response to any sign of skin ageing. Kelly says: “I would always recommend skincare first before resorting to any kind of fillers or tweakments. I recommend all my patients to try a peel before anything else – most of them are shocked by the results they can get from efficacious, results driven treatments using high quality ingredients and skincare, and often don’t feel the need for cosmetic treatments afterwards. The pro-ageing trend is one I can get firmly behind!”