From Face Taping To Slugging, Dermatologist Rates 6 Skincare Trends Popular On Social Media

The digital sphere is currently saturated with beauty advice, with an unending stream of skincare trends promoted daily by influencers and supposed experts who promise significant benefits. These practices vary wildly, from seemingly bizarre methods, such as face taping, to techniques that appear more reasonable, like ice water facial dips.

This raises a key question for consumers: Amidst all the chatter, how can we discern which popular fads are merely distractions and which ones genuinely offer positive results for our skin?

Dermatologist Weighs In On Viral Skincare Trends

Recently, Dr (Major) Gurveen Waraich, a dermatologist (MBBS, MD), shared an Instagram video that evaluated and discredited several prevalent beauty practices circulating online.

In the post, she assigned ratings to popular social media crazes, including plunging the face into ice water, face taping, slugging, skin cycling, applying rice water to the skin, and using rosemary oil for hair. Here’s her verdict.

 

 

 

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A post shared by Dr Garekar l Dermatologist (@garekarsmddermatologyclinic)

1. Ice Water Face Dipping (5/10)

This popular trend, used by celebrities such as Alia Bhatt and Kriti Sanon to combat facial puffiness, received a middling score of 5 out of 10 from Dr Waraich.

The dermatologist confirmed that plunging the face into ice water does offer short-term results, including a temporary reduction in swelling, redness, and the visibility of pores. However, she stressed that this method lacks any genuine, long-lasting advantages for the skin.

2. Slugging (7/10)

Dr Waraich gave the popular technique known as slugging a score of 7 out of 10. This skincare method involves using a thick moisturising product as the final step in a nightly routine to seal in moisture.

While the dermatologist stated that it "can work really well for dry, dehydrated, irritated skin," she cautioned that it "could be a disaster for oily, acne-prone skin.”

Don't miss: What Is Skin Cycling And Is It Worth the Hype? A Beginner’s Breakdown

3. Rosemary Oil For Hair (4/10)

Although rosemary oil is frequently incorporated into many individuals' scalp massage routines, Dr Waraich only assigned it a score of 4 out of 10.

While she stated there is "no harm" in using the oil, the dermatologist expressed reservations about its efficacy, noting that there is limited hard evidence to substantiate claims of substantial benefits for hair growth or overall scalp health. She advised that if one chooses to use it, factors such as the product's quality, quantity, and consistent application are essential.

4. Skin Cycling (10/10)

Dr Waraich awarded skin cycling a perfect score of 10 out of 10. This method, she explained, involves alternating powerful active ingredients in your nightly routine—for example, using a retinoid one evening and an AHA or BHA exfoliant the next. The dermatologist praised this strategy, calling it "a great way to enhance results without compromising the skin barrier."

5. Face Taping (0/10)

The practice of face taping received the lowest possible rating from the dermatologist: 0 out of 10. For those unfamiliar, face taping involves applying flexible, skin-friendly adhesive strips to parts of the face where expression lines commonly form, such as the forehead, between the eyebrows, or near the eyes and mouth.

Don't miss: Slugging - A K-Beauty Trend That Will Sweep Away Your Dry And Patchy Skin!

6. Rice Water For Skin (6/10)

Finally, the practice of using rice water on the skin was rated 6 out of 10. Dr Waraich acknowledged that this method is "quite popular in Korean and Japanese skincare."

Although the dermatologist noted the lack of definitive scientific evidence supporting its benefits, she affirmed that it is widely regarded as a calming and soothing treatment for the skin.

Image courtesy: Freepik