There are almost 15 million TikTok users in Canada and over one billion worldwide, so it should come as no surprise that beauty trends get a lot of traction on this social site. But that doesn’t mean they’re safe or right for everybody, and some of them could pose a real risk to your skin’s overall wellbeing. In fact, a lot of the DIY beauty how-tos you find on the internet could cause permanent damage to your face, body, and teeth. Before you start falling down the rabbit hole of beauty videos on TikTok, be sure to avoid these 5 “trends.” —Jennifer Cox
Sunscreen contouring
Even though experts have been warning against this for years, videos continue to circulate encouraging the use of sunscreen to contour the skin. Purposely exposing certain areas of the face to the harmful effects of the sun is an extremely bad idea, and dermatologists strongly advise against it. Besides, there are enough great makeup products out there designed for contouring that won’t result in long lasting skin damage.
Food on the face or in the hair
While the idea of using something “natural” like food to add vitamins and nutrients to our skin and hair may seem like a good idea, the truth is, different foods contain a myriad of chemicals that may cause discomfort and irritation. And what works for one person may not work for another. Always test a small amount first – if someone on TikTok makes a face mask out of a mixture of fruits, you can do the same but put a dab on the back of your hand to make sure you don’t have any kind of reaction before applying it to your entire face.
Homemade teeth whitening
This is one of the most popular search terms when it comes to beauty on TikTok, and some of the suggestions on how to achieve pearly whites is alarming. Your teeth and overall oral care are very sensitive, and using products like hydrogen peroxide or lemon juice on them can eat away at the enamel and cause sensitivity as well as permanent damage. Leave the teeth whitening to the professionals.
Face-lifting patches or face tape
Anything that sounds too good to be true probably is, and that’s the case with face-lifting patches or face tape. Although these sticky cosmetic products seen on TikTok do, in fact, pull the skin really tight and alleviate the look of fine lines and wrinkles, their effects are very short term. And, in the end, removing them from your face won’t help your skin at all. In fact, it could even cause redness and inflammation.
At-home mole removal
During Covid when going out was restricted, people started sharing videos where they’d actually remove their own moles. This is a huge no-no. Although you can still find videos of people attempting these dangerous procedures at home, there are just as many stories about people who tried this and got terrible skin infections and other damaging results. Removing a mole or beauty mark is something that must be done in a sterile environment with the proper tools to make sure it heals properly afterwards. Do not try this at home!
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