TikTok Skincare Trends Teens Are Trying, and What Dermatologists Recommend Instead
Skincare advice is everywhere, and nowhere more popular than TikTok. Teens are scrolling tips, hacks, and product recommendations by the minute. While many trends can be fun, some can unintentionally harm young skin or contribute to irritation, breakouts, and sensitivity. Here’s a dermatologist-approved breakdown of what’s trending, what’s safe, and what to avoid.
DIY Skincare Masks
TikTok videos often show teens slathering everything from honey and cinnamon to toothpaste or crushed aspirin on their faces as “miracle masks.”
Why Dermatologists Caution Against It:
Home concoctions aren’t formulated for skin safety. Ingredients like cinnamon and toothpaste can be irritating, allergenic, and disrupt the skin’s natural barrier, especially for sensitive or acne-prone skin.
Dermatologist-Recommended Alternative:
Use a gentle, proven mask formulated for your skin type, such as a hydrating mask for dry skin or a clay mask for oily skin. These products are tested for safety, effectiveness, and pH balance.
Excessive Exfoliation
From physical scrubs to strong chemical exfoliants used daily, “maximal exfoliation” is trending to get ultra-smooth skin.
Risk: Over-exfoliating can strip the skin’s protective barrier, leading to irritation, redness, dryness, and even breakouts.
Dermatologist-Recommended Alternative:
Limit exfoliation to 1–3 times per week depending on your skin type and strength of product. Salicylic acid and lactic acid are good choices in gentle formulations and always follow with sunscreen!
Pimple-Popping Tools
Pressure and tools designed to extract blackheads and acne lesions are widely shown in videos.
Risk: Improper extraction can cause scarring, infection, and inflammation, especially when done without professional training.
Dermatologist-Recommended Alternative:
Use non-comedogenic products and consider seeing a dermatologist or trained aesthetician for safe extraction. Spot treatments with benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid can also help calm blemishes.
Overusing “Skin Boosters” & Serums
Videos showing teens layering six or more serums “to target everything at once” are common.
Risk: Layering too many active ingredients can irritate and confuse the skin, especially with potent ingredients like retinol or high-strength acids.
Dermatologist-Recommended Alternative:
Start with a simple routine: cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen. Then add targeted actives (like salicylic acid for acne or a gentle retinoid) one at a time and monitor how your skin responds.
TikTok can be a great place to learn and explore, but not everything you see is safe or suitable for every skin type, especially young, developing skin. Encouraging teens to focus on science-backed, gentle skincare and to talk with a dermatologist when they have questions can make all the difference in long-term skin health.
Skincare advice is everywhere, and nowhere more popular than TikTok. Teens are scrolling tips, hacks, and product recommendations by the minute. While many trends can be fun, some can unintentionally harm young skin or contribute to irritation, breakouts, and sensitivity. Here’s a dermatologist-approved breakdown of what’s trending, what’s safe, and what to avoid.
DIY Skincare Masks
TikTok videos often show teens slathering everything from honey and cinnamon to toothpaste or crushed aspirin on their faces as “miracle masks.”
Why Dermatologists Caution Against It:
Home concoctions aren’t formulated for skin safety. Ingredients like cinnamon and toothpaste can be irritating, allergenic, and disrupt the skin’s natural barrier, especially for sensitive or acne-prone skin.
Dermatologist-Recommended Alternative:
Use a gentle, proven mask formulated for your skin type, such as a hydrating mask for dry skin or a clay mask for oily skin. These products are tested for safety, effectiveness, and pH balance.
Excessive Exfoliation
From physical scrubs to strong chemical exfoliants used daily, “maximal exfoliation” is trending to get ultra-smooth skin.
Risk: Over-exfoliating can strip the skin’s protective barrier, leading to irritation, redness, dryness, and even breakouts.
Dermatologist-Recommended Alternative:
Limit exfoliation to 1–3 times per week depending on your skin type and strength of product. Salicylic acid and lactic acid are good choices in gentle formulations and always follow with sunscreen!
Pimple-Popping Tools
Pressure and tools designed to extract blackheads and acne lesions are widely shown in videos.
Risk: Improper extraction can cause scarring, infection, and inflammation, especially when done without professional training.
Dermatologist-Recommended Alternative:
Use non-comedogenic products and consider seeing a dermatologist or trained aesthetician for safe extraction. Spot treatments with benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid can also help calm blemishes.
Overusing “Skin Boosters” & Serums
Videos showing teens layering six or more serums “to target everything at once” are common.
Risk: Layering too many active ingredients can irritate and confuse the skin, especially with potent ingredients like retinol or high-strength acids.
Dermatologist-Recommended Alternative:
Start with a simple routine: cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen. Then add targeted actives (like salicylic acid for acne or a gentle retinoid) one at a time and monitor how your skin responds.
TikTok can be a great place to learn and explore, but not everything you see is safe or suitable for every skin type, especially young, developing skin. Encouraging teens to focus on science-backed, gentle skincare and to talk with a dermatologist when they have questions can make all the difference in long-term skin health.
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