From slugging and sunscreen contouring to drinking liquid chlorophyll and sandpaper shaving, Vogue asks the experts about the pros and cons of a few recent TikTok beauty hacks.
Which TikTok Beauty Hacks to Try at Home (and Which to Skip)
It’s no secret that TikTok is full of useful beauty and wellness hacks, like using dollar bills to create the perfect winged eyeliner or wrapping your hair around a radiator to cheat your way to salon curls. But not everything you see on TikTok is user-friendly. In fact, last year, an Australian reality TV star was left scarred and temporarily blind in one eye after an at-home acupuncture attempt she followed on TikTok went wrong. And it’s happening more and more.
“The hyper-virility built into TikTok’s platform has given rise to warp-speed trend cycles of skincare, beauty, and wellness fads—with different trends more dubious than others,” says Carrera Kurnik, director of culture at New York-based trend forecasting agency Fashion Snoops. “Beauty and skincare content on TikTok often combines viral challenge formats with a DIY attitude, resulting in the casual adoption and trial of novel and sometimes dangerous wellness practices.”
While there is an allure to the platform’s trends, it is this casual use of them, without knowing the science behind them, that has ended with people in hot water—or worse.
So, how do you know which viral beauty hacks to try and which to avoid? Vogue speaks to the experts to separate fad from fact. And remember, don’t try everything you see on the internet.
1. Slugging
Slugging is one of TikTok’s biggest beauty hacks: you cover your face with a thick moisturizer or Vaseline and leave it overnight as a way of hydrating the skin. “The trend originated in South Korea, where dewy and plump skin is trendy,” explains Mallory Huron, beauty and wellness strategist at Fashion Snoops. Eventually, it made its way to TikTok, where it has exploded in popularity.
According to dermatologist Dr. Muneeb Shah, slugging can be an excellent way to lock in moisture and repair a damaged skin barrier. “Cleanse, apply your favorite moisturizer, and then follow with your chosen ointment,” he says. “I don’t recommend slugging on top of harsh activities such as retinol or exfoliating acid because it can enhance their effects. Only apply occlusive moisturizers over gentle ingredients.”
However, Dr. Shah cautions against overuse. “Slugging is mainly useful as an occasional overnight treatment to address seasonal or situational dryness and flaking. Used regularly, it’s a one-way ticket to breakout city.”
This story originally appeared on: Vogue - Author:Sara Radin
