If you spend a few minutes on Instagram or TikTok, you’ll likely see a new skincare product that claims to deliver smoother skin, fewer wrinkles, smaller pores, or a brighter complexion.
From red-light masks and beef tallow moisturizers to at-home microneedling and “Botox in a bottle,” few of these trends are actually backed by science, and many are a waste of your money and can even harm your skin.
So how can you tell what’s actually worth trying?
Here are some of the most popular skincare trends right now, along with what you might consider trying instead.
“Botox in a Bottle”
You’ll see lots of serums and creams that promise results like Botox. Many contain peptides or other ingredients meant to hydrate your skin and make fine lines look better for a short time.
Is it worth the hype?
A good skincare product can help your skin look smoother and healthier. However, creams and serums can’t relax the facial muscles that cause dynamic wrinkles the way injectable treatments can.
What to try instead:
For at-home skincare, it is important to focus on products that work well for your skin and achieve the goals of moisturization and sun protection, especially to prevent the development of wrinkles over time. If you’re mainly worried about expression lines, treatments like Botox®, Dysport®, or Xeomin® are often a great choice.
The best option depends on your skin, your goals, and how much treatment you want. Talking to a professional can be more helpful than just following this latest trend.
Beef Tallow as Moisturizer
Beef tallow is now a popular “natural” skincare ingredient on social media. People claim it can deeply moisturize, repair the skin barrier, and even help with acne.
Is it worth the hype?
Tallow is full of fats and can make dry skin feel softer. But just because something is “natural” doesn’t mean it’s better for your skin. Heavy products like this aren’t right for everyone, and they often are very occlusive for acne-prone skin and clog your pores.
What to try instead:
If you’re dealing with dryness or a damaged skin barrier, try moisturizers with ingredients like ceramides, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid. Your dermatologist can help you figure out why your skin is dry instead of just adding a heavier product.
At-Home Microneedling and Dermarollers
Microneedling can be a helpful professional treatment for things like texture, fine lines, and acne scars. But that doesn’t mean a device you buy online will give you the same results.
Is it worth the hype?
We recommend avoiding this one. Doing microneedling at home can cause irritation, infection, scarring, and changes in skin color if it’s done wrong or with unclean tools.
What to try instead:
A professional microneedling treatment is done in a safe setting and can be tailored to your skin and goals. At Findley Dermatology, we also offer RF microneedling, which uses radiofrequency energy along with microneedling to target certain skin issues.
Red Light Masks
Red light therapy has become very popular, and unlike some other viral skincare trends, real research supports using certain light wavelengths in dermatology.
Is it worth the hype?
It may help, but not all devices are the same. At-home devices can vary widely in wavelength, strength, and quality, so the results you see online might not match what your device can do.
Before you spend a lot of money on a device, consider what you want to treat. Fine lines, redness, brown spots, and acne all respond to different treatments, and red light may not be the best choice for every issue.
Slugging
“Slugging” means putting a layer of an occlusive product, usually petroleum jelly, on your skin before bed to lock in moisture.
Is it worth the hype?
It can help some people with very dry skin, but not everyone needs it in their routine. If you’re prone to acne or use certain active ingredients, heavy products like this might cause irritation or breakouts.
What to try instead:
Begin with a gentle cleanser and a moisturizer that suits your skin type. If your skin suddenly gets very dry, flaky, or irritated, review your whole routine. Sometimes, the issue isn’t needing another product but using too many.
At-Home Chemical Peels
It’s easy to buy strong acids and “professional-grade” peels online, which can make it tempting to try at home.
Is it worth the hype?
Be very very cautious. Chemical peels remove layers of skin on purpose, but stronger isn’t always better. If you use acids the wrong way, you can get chemical burns, long-lasting irritation, or skin color changes that may be permanent.
What to try instead:
Gentle over-the-counter exfoliators can work for some people. If you have bigger concerns like sun damage, pigmentation, acne, or texture, a professional chemical peel can be tailored to your skin.
Collagen Creams
As we get older, we naturally lose collagen, so it’s easy to see why products that claim to “replace” it are so appealing.
Is it worth the hype?
Creams with collagen can moisturize your skin and may make it look plumper for a while. But applying collagen to your skin isn’t the same as rebuilding the collagen beneath. The latter is best to discuss with your dermatologist as there are many collagen-stimulating treatments available at our office.
What to try instead:
Dermatologists often recommend daily sunscreen and retinoids to help protect and support aging skin. Professional treatments like microneedling and CO2 laser are great choices to help boost collagen and should always be discussed at a consultation visit with us.
The Skincare Advice We Wish Would Go Viral
Your skincare routine doesn’t need 10 steps, cost a lot, or include every trending ingredient you see online.
In fact, for many people, simpler is better.
Begin with the basics: a gentle cleanser, a moisturizer, and a broad-spectrum sunscreen. After that, add products or treatments that suit your needs, not just what’s popular online.
And if you’re spending a lot on products but not seeing results, it might be time to talk to a dermatologist. Our team can help you understand what your skin actually needs and develop a skincare or treatment plan based on your skin type, concerns, and goals.
The best skincare isn’t always what’s trending. It’s what actually works for your skin.
Not sure which skincare products or treatments are actually right for you? Call our office at 401-415-8586 or request a cosmetic consultation today. Let us help you cut through the trends and choose the products and treatments that make sense for your skin type, concerns, and goals.