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People are ruining their skin and wasting thousands of dollars following influencers’ skincare routines – with experts once again warning against following social media-fueled beauty trends.
TikTokker Hannah Chan shared that she spent nearly $2,500 on products she slathered on — in an attempt to make her skin glow like the glamorous personalities she fawned over.
But instead of waking up with perfect skin, she began breaking out.
She realized that the expensive routine she started had “ruined her skin” in a few months.
And she’s not alone, TikTok is filled with thousands of videos of people revealing how #skintok-driven trends have led them to suffer breakouts and other skin issues after being influenced to try intense daily skincare routines with a long list of products.
“A problem we see all the time is where patients have been using several products — recommended on social media and containing powerful ingredients — at once. They react on skin, causing irritation and peeling,” Dr. Anil Sharma, a consultant dermatologist with a private London clinic, told the Daily Mail.
“If you’re trying to follow every fad to improve your skin, you’re going to exacerbate the underlying problem — people need to realize less is more.”
Emma Miller posted a video showing how Korean skincare products — commonly promoted on #skintok — “ruined” her skin. In the video, she shows clips of her before and after using those types of products.
At first, her face appears clear, smooth and glossy, but is then covered in large red bumps which she claims were caused by an allergic reaction to a certain product.
In another clip, TikTokker Peyton Smith listed off several products she wouldn’t use “for a million dollars,” including a Glow Recipe serum — a popular #skintok brand — and 7th Heaven’s Cucumber Peel-Off Mask which she said “burned” worse than a chemical peel.
Dr. Sharma noted that a common problem is people using products too often or that are too strong for their skin.
“I always tell patients to think of skin as a piece of fabric,” Dr. Sharma said. “If you keep over-washing it or using too many harsh products, you can really wear it down.”
The issues with #skintok are particularly plaguing young girls — and experts are warning parents to watch out as pint-sized beauty influencers — also known as “Sephora kids” — are sharing their 12-step skincare routines.
“The skin is the largest and most complex organ and if the wrong products are used or introduced too early or for the wrong skin type, you can end up having more problems than originally were present,” celebrity dermatologist Dr. Harold Lancer previously told The Post.
Although it may seem like all the cool kids are doing it, beginning a multi-step skincare routine too young can disrupt the natural process of the skin cycle and cause premature damage.
“Changes in the skin occur at different ages, climates, and skin types. But usually, young skin replenishes faster and is prone to more oil and hormonal change,” Dr. Andy Franklyn-Miller, chief medical and innovation officer of Nuritas, explained to The Post.
“This can mean that products designed for older skin are too irritating and can disrupt the skin microbiome.”
The experts agreed that children and teens should be especially cautious of harsh products like high chemical acids, exfoliants and retinol — unless prescribed by a medical professional.
The experts advise that a more intensive — and expensive — skincare routine can begin in the prepubescent years or whenever issues such as blemishes begin to arise as long it is done safely.
“The key is to use the correct ingredients and products and start with a simple routine that won’t overwhelm the still delicate/ changing skin,” Dr. Lancer said. “If there are no symptoms, then a mineral-based sunscreen for sun protection should start as early as infancy.”
