In today’s beauty landscape, it’s easy to get swept up in influencer-led skincare trends. A glowing complexion, artfully filmed tutorials, and promises of “instant results” can be tempting. But blindly
following these routines can do more harm than good.
The biggest issue lies in skin individuality. Your skin type, underlying conditions, age, climate, and lifestyle are unique. What works wonders for an influencer may trigger irritation, breakouts, or sensitivity for you especially if your skin barrier is already compromised. Many viral products feature high concentrations of actives like retinol, AHAs, BHAs, or vitamin C, which, when layered incorrectly or used too often, can lead to redness, peeling, or even chemical burns.
Dr. Gagan Raina, Medical & Clinical Director, Cosmetologist & Aesthetic Medicine Specialist at Arisia Skin Clinic, shares all you need to know:
Another hidden danger is lack of professional guidance. Influencers are not necessarily trained dermatologists or cosmetologists. Their recommendations are often based on personal experience, PR samples, or sponsored campaigns not on your skin’s needs. Without understanding ingredient interactions or contraindications, you could combine products that cancel each other out or worse, cause inflammation.
There’s also the problem of overcomplication. Multi-step routines popular on social media can overwhelm your skin. Constantly switching products to chase trends doesn’t give your skin time to adapt, making it harder to assess what’s actually helping or harming.
Before adopting a trending routine, pause and ask yourself:
Does this suit my skin type and current concerns?
Are these ingredients safe for my condition (e.g., acne, rosacea, eczema)?
Have I done a patch test?
The safest route is to treat influencer content as inspiration, not instruction. Consult a qualified skincare professional, start slowly, and listen to your skin’s feedback. After all, healthy skin is built on consistency not on every viral product that hits your feed.
Remember: skincare is deeply personal, and your best routine is the one tailored to you, not to someone else’s highlight reel.
