Young women are putting their health at risk by using powerful skincare products promoted on social media that can cause rashes, blemishes and burns, experts warn.
Tens of millions of people have watched TikTok videos of influencers applying multiple facial creams and serums at once.
Many claim that these products, which celebrities also advertise on the app, are the key to achieving “glass skin,” where the face is so flawless that the skin looks like glass.
But experts now warn that young women are using too many of these products, which could cause serious skin damage.
Women have already taken to social media to share their skincare horror stories on TikTok.
TikToker Hannah Chan says she spent £2,000 on skincare in a bid to emulate other influencers’ glowing skin, only to end up breaking out in places.
In a video viewed 200,000 times, Hannah showed off the products she claims “ruined her skin” in just a few months.
“I’d seen so many people using AlphaRet and ZO retinol that I thought, okay, this is going to make my skin so good,” she said, referencing two products that promise to revitalize skin and cost £135 and £90 each.
Tiktok influencer Peyton Smith warns against using powerful skincare products. Experts have warned that the products could cause serious skin damage.
But within eight weeks, he says his fair skin had broken out into sore spots. Hannah, who has 385,000 followers, says her skin is worse than before she started the regime. “If I could do it over again, I would add one product at a time,” he says.
You can take too much care of your skin, says Dr Anil Sharma, a consultant dermatologist at a private clinic in London.
He adds: ‘One problem we see all the time is that patients have been using multiple products (recommended on social media and containing powerful ingredients) at once. They react on the skin causing irritation and peeling.
“If you try to follow all the fads to improve your skin, you will exacerbate the underlying problem: people need to realize that less is more.”
One of the most popular skin care products are scrubs, which are designed to remove dead skin cells and create a healthy “glow.”
They usually contain hyaluronic acid or other corrosive ingredients. Creams with retinol are also in high demand, since they are supposed to combat sagging skin. Experts say these products are safe when used in recommended amounts. However, excessive use of cosmetic products can damage the skin.
“I always tell patients to think of the skin as a piece of cloth,” says Dr. Sharma. “If you keep overwashing it or using too many harsh products, you can really wear it down.”
But recently, the proliferation of skincare recommendations from TikTok influencers has left many trying or combining products that have damaged their skin.
In a video seen by 340,000 people, influencer Kayla Ryan showed off her spots after simultaneously using three products developed by Rhode, a skin care company created by Hailey Bieber, a social media influencer married to singer Justin Bieber. .
Eager to show off the products, Kayla filmed herself applying Rhode Glazing Milk every night.
Peptide Glaze Liquid and Barrier Restoration Cream each cost £30, but they quickly stopped when their skin broke out in painful bumps.
In another clip, which has been viewed 130,000 times, TikToker Peyton Smith listed popular products she wouldn’t use “for a million dollars”, including a £22 serum from Glow Recipe, a company popular with young women.
Experts also warn about slugging. Cover your face with a thick layer of Vaseline every night to retain moisture in the skin and provide a radiant complexion.
But in a video viewed by two million people, American influencer Savannah Turner says it left her with a painful red rash around her mouth. “I couldn’t talk,” he says.
A dermatologist told her that by constantly applying Vaseline she had damaged the skin barrier (the outermost layer that keeps out toxins and bacteria), causing a violent allergic reaction. “Two days after I stopped taking shots, it disappeared,” he says.
Tens of millions of videos of influencers applying multiple facial creams and serums at once have been viewed on TikTok (file photo)
Experts say trying several new products at once can strip your skin of healthy cells and moisturizing nutrients, leaving it inflamed and more prone to acne breakouts and infections.
The key to healthy skin is to use a limited amount of products.
Dr. Sharma recommends using a cleanser to wash your skin, a moisturizer to hydrate it, and a sunscreen to protect it from sun damage.
Research shows that a balanced diet, hydration, and limiting smoking and alcohol can also help keep skin looking young and healthy.
“And if you use something new, use common sense,” adds Dr. Sharma.
“Understand the ingredients in it, and if you have a bad reaction, stop taking it immediately.”