Abigail Dunagan, campus carrier arts and living editor
Many college students tend to spend their down time scrolling through Instagram and Tik-Tok reels. These apps provide mindless, simple entertainment, yet they have also served as a breeding ground for constantly evolving trends. While Stanley cups and Ugg boots are popular amongst teenagers and young adults, not every trending item is this simple. Recently, Tik-Tok users have seen a rise in popularity amongst skin care products and brands. While this trend may seem harmless at first glance, the popularization of skin care products could have negative effects on different skin types.
Krista Fednander is a licensed esthetician at Dermaculture Skin and Spa in Rome, Geogia. Fednander said that she has had several customers come in and ask questions about specific trends or skincare items that they saw online. While some trends can be beneficial, everyone’s skin is different and certain products will not work for all skin types.
“I’ve definitely seen a lot of trends where some things didn’t work out for one person, whether they saw it on Tik-Tok or heard it from a friend,” Fednander said. “I like to say that Tik-Tok is an enemy in my career. A lot of people believe what they see on the internet, but everyone’s skin is so different.”
While some skin-care trends can be beneficial, Fednander said that many trends are unnecessary. Overusing some products can break down the skin barrier, and some can cause breakouts or dry skin. Many people on Tik-Tok post videos of their 10-12 step skincare routines, although using this many products has no clear benefit. Fednander said that skin can only absorb so much at one time, and the simple approach often works best.
“For people ages 10-18 who are trying to start a skincare routine, I always recommend a gentle cleanser, a moisturize and a sunscreen,” Fednander said. “That should just be your daytime routine, nothing too extravagant. For nighttime it could be a cleanse, exfoliation and then a serum.”
Junior Abby Grace Shrader found that her skin benefited from using products that are made from the same brand; she uses a scrub, cleanser and moisturizer from the brand Clinique. Prior to using these products, Shrader said that she would try different products from different brands without knowing what worked well together.
“For me, that didn’t really work out because I was mixing so many products, and it was overwhelming my face,” Shrader said. “I think it can be good and bad. It’s cool to try new things and to see what works for other people, but sometimes your face might pay the price.”
Junior Holly Jordan said that she uses a basic cleanser and moisturizer for her skin. While she has seen a lot of skincare and makeup advertisements from social media, it can be challenging to determine what products will work without trying that item in person. According to Jordan, the sponsored advertisements on Tik-Tok often have comments from people who have tried the product and commented their own opinions. This can help determine if the product is good for dry or oily skin.
“Be careful and be cautious with what you are buying from the internet,” Jordan said. “I would recommend that you try it in person if you can buy it from a store.”
Shrader said that she believes taking care of the skin has many benefits, but not every trend has positive results. While keeping up with trends, it is important to choose products that will be beneficial in the long run.
“It will definitely help over time, but I have seen some weird things from Tik-Tok like preventive Botox that people are doing,” Shrader said. “I feel like there are pros to taking care of your skin at a young age, but there are also cons.”
Young adults are able to make educated decisions about their skincare, but recently brands such as Drunk Elephant and Glow Recipe have seen an increase in popularity with kids around 10-12 years old. These brands have colorful packaging that appeals to younger kids, but many of the ingredients are not designed for young skin. According to Fednander, some of these brands contain ingredients such as vitamin C or retinol, which is suited for skin that is 20 years or older. For young people who are concerned about anti-aging, a daily sunscreen is the best solution. Fednander said that while skincare has improved over the last few years, it is still important that consumers are careful about the products they use. Some stores have even taken steps to remove the testers of these brands from the store floor, as some kids have been making messes with the testers.
“In the last few years, skincare has blown up immaculately.” Fednander said. “This is great on my end because I like to educate and help people. Our skin is our largest organ, and it is often abused.”
It can be overwhelming to see so many new trends within the skincare and makeup community. Brands are constantly coming out with the new products that are supposedly better than the last, and keeping up with this cycle can be challenging. While it is easy to get swept into the frenzy, it is important that each consumer researches products that will work best for them.