Which TikTok Beauty Hacks to Try at Home (and Which to Skip)
Those with acne-prone skin, in particular, should avoid slugging at all costs, because Vaseline forms a barrier that can lead to breakouts.
2. Sunscreen contouring
Sunscreen contouring is when you use sunscreen on certain areas of your face as a way of keeping skin lighter, while everywhere else is left unprotected to tan, to achieve a contoured tanning effect and definition. This TikTok trend Huron describes as “a massive skincare ‘no’.”
“It’s an incredibly dangerous, aging, damaging method,” she says. “Not only does exposing unprotected skin to the sun lead to premature aging and burns, it can also lead to skin cancer. No, thank you!”
But Dr. Shah has a more nuanced take. “I’ve seen some people use a base of SPF30 with a contouring layer of SPF50 and while I don’t recommend this, it’s not the worst thing I’ve seen on TikTok,” he says. “I recommend at least protecting your skin with SPF30+ and reapplying every two hours.”
3. Sandpaper shaving
Shaving your legs with sandpaper has, astonishingly, become a trend thanks to TikTok. However, as Dr. Shah warns, do not try this at home. “Using sandpaper can certainly remove hair, but it’s terrible because it removes skin as well. This can lead to hyperpigmentation and scarring—especially since the legs are slow to heal after injury.”
Huron agrees: “Not only is sandpaper an ineffectual hair removal method (both shaving and waxing are safe for skin and gently exfoliate at the same time), this is one of those TikTok trends where even trying it out could be damaging.”
