For many of us, TikTok contains our go-to social media communities to stay up-to-date on beauty trends and find new ideas to experiment with. Whether we’re looking for makeup, hair styling or skincare tips and inspiration, the short video-sharing app seems to have it all. With that said, we couldn’t help but wonder which trends or popular tips aren’t worth the hype.
We checked in with skincare experts to learn more about 3 overrated trends that might be best to skip (for safety, to save time, etc.) Read on for tips and suggestions from Mary Winkenwerder, professional makeup artist, Mina-Jacqueline Au, wellness & dermal restoration specialist and founder & CEO of Vivre SkinLabs, and Diane Ackers, skin expert at Doctors Formula and licensed aesthetician.
@madisonssecretiktok how i create my fluffy brows #makeup #makeuptutorial #fluffybrow ♬ original sound – Tori
Overrated Trend #1— Fluffy Brows
If one were to search ‘fluffy brows’ on TikTok, millions of videos would come up showing (typically young people) fanning out their eyebrows with brushes, exaggerating the shape of them and pushing the hair in an upward motion. Although Winkenwerder deems this a “great trend with considerable fashion editorial merit,” she stresses that the downside to this trend is that “people who are not skilled brow artists or aestheticians should not move” into this creative beauty space.
“If you are an at-home or consumer-skilled beauty applicator, you should not attempt professional artistry trends,” she advises. “Left to their own devices, many attempt these trends alone, with the wrong tools, and can end up removing their brows, cutting themselves or worse,” she continues, noting that visiting a trained cosmetologist for your major brow needs is vital.
@cheleanor Eyelash glue for lip filler ? ✨ #lipfiller #lipfillerprank #prank #funny #saveriktok #lips #lip ♬ original sound – Charlotte Page
#2— Eyelash Glue for Fuller Lips
Every once in a while a legit hack comes along on TikTok, Au says, but unfortunately, “these influencers are not certified experts and some of these hacks are not only not great, but can be dangerous.” If you like the idea of fuller lips, there are options like contouring with makeup, getting lip fillers or lip flips done with Botox by a professional. As many influencers can be found on the app appearing to plump their lips with eyelash glue, Au says that it is not only ineffective, but could come with many drawbacks. “Eyelash glue is not one of the options [for safe fuller lips]. This hack is borderline dangerous.”
She adds that eyelash glues contains cyanoacrylate which when applied to the skin, can “cause severe chemical allergic reactions such as swelling or blistering.” If glue is ingested since it is being applied on the lips, she says, “it can cause severe illness” as well. “Please do not literally glue lips together,” Au says, since the product is only made to hold fake lashes in place, after all.
@therealjuliajolie #duet with @stopiteli sunscreen contouring your face? what do you think? #beautyhacks #sunscreen #RaiseYourVoice #contouring #momsoftiktok ♬ original sound – Eli Withrow
#3— Sunscreen Contouring
As contouring is a timeless technique used to emphasize one’s cheekbones and play up their best features, many trends related to it can be found on TikTok. One strange one that emerged recently could be dubbed ‘sunscreen contouring,’ in which someone puts sunscreen on the high points of their face [neglecting other areas] in order to get a natural contour after time spent in the sunlight. Ackers explains that this trend could cause discoloration, lead to more wrinkles or even scarier risks like melanoma or skin cancer.
“Sunscreen needs to be all over your face with a SPF that will protect and not just on specific areas of the skin, in order to offer real protection,” she says. “By applying sunscreen just on the high points of your face for a natural contour, the remainder of the skin is overexposed to sun damage, running the risk of burning and long-term pigmentation issues.” For a natural contour, she suggests turning to a palette of different shades of concealers and highlighters which is easier to apply, wash away and most importantly, “won’t put your skin at risk of burning and premature aging.”
