“Remove the effect” is the latest buzzword to pop up on our social feeds. And if you thought it sounded obvious, sorry to disappoint. Despite the name, Reducing Impact is still only effective. For a moment, it felt like a refreshing break from the endless stream of ads on Facebook Social media. Don’t get me wrong, I love getting recommendations from my favorite creators, but scrolling through a sea of sponsored posts can get a little overwhelming. (cue the Decision stress!) Detoxing began as a movement to give an honest, realistic look at viral products we probably don’t everyone Need. What does all this have to do with overrated skin care products? Obviously, the topic was on my mind as I sat down to go over the items my medicine cabinet could do without.
When it comes to my own shopping, I’ve found that the only antidote to social media-based overconsumption is consensual spending. (And yes, limit screen time). I’ve been practicing taking some time — and a few deep breaths — before buying. This way, I don’t end up adding things to my cart for fear of being sold out before I buy next trend.
By slowing down the buying process, I am beginning to realize how satisfied I am with what I decide to buy.
Featured image by Michelle Nash.
[table_of_contents title=”In this article”]

[inline_mailchimp_form list_id=”876c959d2c” title=”Sleep well.” source_id=”Sleep Guide” description=”Sign up to receive a FREE E-BOOK with 12 steps to your best sleep ever. ” image_url=”https://camillestyles.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/guide-to-better-sleep.jpg”]
Overrated skincare products: Experts share what to ditch
I also did a fair amount of thinking and memoirs On why I feel the need to buy into the next new trend. There is no desire to own and experiment The other important thing More visible than it is in the beauty industry. Each new component is noisy and Skincare breakthrough It promises to transform your skin — and by extension, your life. Sure, these promises can be tempting. But don’t we now know that the best skincare routine is consistent and personal?
I’ll admit, I have some really viral and trendy skincare products on my top shelf. I think there is value in the first person Reviews you find on social media. But some products just aren’t worth the hype. Wouldn’t you like to know before you hit the “Buy Now” button? Especially when certain skincare trends can really damage your skin?
“A lot of times, skincare trends go viral because they’re effective. Sometimes it’s because they’re sexy or shocking (using a nail file to shape your teeth, anyone?),” says Dr. Heather Smith. MD is dual certified in Critical Care Medicine and Internal Medicine and founder bareLUXE skincare. “There can be a real risk of harming your health if you follow some directions that are not entirely safe.”
So, in an effort to further “de-puff” myself from the trends that could be secretly sabotaging my skin, I asked the experts, founders, and dermatologists about the most overrated skincare products. Read on to discover what they had to say, and how to get those viral results without damaging your skin.
Experts:
- Dr. Heather Smith, MD, is a dual board certified physician and founder bareLUXE skincare
- Dr.. Harikiran ShakuriMBBS, MS, board-certified dermatologist, plastic surgeon, and chief medical officer of the Clinic Spots
- Dr. Michael May, Medical Director at the Wimpole Clinic
- Mary Littlewood, Director at NSI
- Sharon Reid, Founder and Editor intense glow
- Valery Aparovicha certified esthetician and esthetician, and the science team leader at Unskin
- Natalia Grajkar, co-founder of NATO Care
- Maylia Slough, chief esthetician at Hello, humans

Contour with sunscreen
Choosing areas of your face not to protect from UV rays is just retrospective. The look you’re going for can be easily achieved with bronzer or a sunless tan. By selectively applying sunscreen, all you’re doing is choosing the areas of your face that you want to age faster and are more likely to develop malignancy in the future. Not cool. – Dr. Heather Smith
What to try instead:

DIY face masks
DIY face masks are growing in popularity, but they may not always be the best way to take care of your skin. Many homemade face masks contain ingredients such as lemon juice, baking soda, and vinegar that can irritate the skin if used too frequently or without proper dilution. Additionally, these substances can strip the natural oils from the skin, leading to dryness and irritation. – Dr. Harikiran Shakuri
What to try instead:

Baking soda scalp scrub
Using a baking soda scalp scrub can be harmful to the scalp. Although baking soda can be a remedy for many skin and scalp problems, it can also be harmful with continued use. Baking soda has a high acidity level. It can disrupt the natural pH of the scalp. It can also strip natural oils. In response, the scalp will overproduce oil, leading to more sebum. In worse cases, baking soda can cause micro lacerations on the scalp. These tiny tears will irritate and inflame the skin. Prolonged use of baking soda as a scalp scrub can cause irritation, worse than a chemical burn. – Dr. Michael May
What to try instead:

Hazelnut peeled
Walnut-based exfoliating scrubs appear to be an all-natural alternative to abrasive chemical exfoliants. However, the truth is that coarse nut splinters—like walnut shells, for example—do your face more harm than good. Small scratches from the rough edges may irritate your skin and break out. Use a gentle exfoliator like glycolic acid or microfiber cloths instead. Mary Littlewood
What to try instead:

Toothpaste to treat stains
Common drying ingredients such as baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and alcohol that may be found in many tubes of toothpaste are responsible for the myth that toothpaste is a quick and effective remedy for reducing stains overnight. While these substances can be the key to achieving pearly whites, the formulations are often overly effective and can make dry skin disorders like eczema and dermatitis worse. Topical treatments with salicylic acid or benzyl peroxide will produce better results without jeopardizing the skin. – Mary Littlewood
What to try instead:

Products with high concentrations of alcohol
Alcohol can dehydrate and irritate the skin, which leads to dehydration and premature aging. Look for alcohol-free or low-alcohol products. – Sharon Reed
What to try instead:

Using oils that are not suitable for your skin type
Natural oils are commonly used (and gaining popularity) in skin care because they contain many healthy substances that have been shown to nourish the skin. With regular use, it will appear smoother and more hydrated. The oils can be used in their pure form or combined with creams, serums and masks enriched with oil compounds.
Either way, it’s important to remember that many oils appear to be comedogenic. This means that they can clog pores and cause breakouts. So, choosing the option that best suits your skin type is crucial to prevent unwanted consequences. Oily and combination skin types are particularly prone to this because they are naturally more prone to acne.
Cocoa, palm, coconut, and wheat germ oils. Moderately comedogenic oils (meaning they can work differently and need to be tried with caution to see if they work for your individual skin condition) are corn, almond, macadamia, olive, soybean, apricot, grapeseed, avocado, and jojoba oils. Non-comedogenic oils that are safe for all skin types are Shea Butter, Argan Oil, and Rosehip Oil. – Valery Aparovich
What to try instead:

Blackhead removal devices and masks
One that has been popular not so long ago is blackhead masks, which when dried, will exfoliate your skin along with the blackheads from your pores. This isn’t entirely true, in fact, these face masks can actually do more harm than you think. Given how difficult and sometimes painful the exfoliation can be, it can cause your skin to lose its elasticity and even damage your skin barrier.
Another recent trend is devices that claim to “suck” into your skin to clean out your pores. While this may work, the strength of these can also damage the elasticity of your skin. In general, try to stay away from products that claim to remove blackheads. Better to see a professional. – Natalia Gragkar
What to try instead:

Dermaplaning at home
One popular skin care trend is Dermaplaning at home. Oftentimes, individuals think that they can perform this treatment from the comfort of their own home just as they would receive this service in a skincare studio. However, in most cases, individuals have not done extensive research on the appropriate tools (such as drugstore razors), techniques, precautions, and products required to perform this treatment, which can damage the skin.
Dermaplaning is a skin care procedure that involves using a sterile surgical scalpel to scrape off the top layer of dead skin cells and vellus hairs (commonly known as peach fuzz) from the surface of the skin. It can help improve the appearance of skin by reducing fine lines, wrinkles, and dullness. It is a delicate and potentially risky procedure, especially for those who are not trained or experienced in doing so. Some of the risks associated with dermaplaning at home include skin irritation, cuts, infection, scarring, and even accidental injury.
There are several alternatives to dermaplaning that you can do at home to help improve the overall appearance of your skin:
- exfoliate. Regular exfoliation can help remove dead skin cells and impurities, revealing smoother, more radiant skin.
- Facial steaming. Steaming your face can help unclog pores, soften skin, and boost blood circulation.
- masks. Peel-off or moisturizing masks are a quick, safe, and easy way to give your skin a boost of hydration and nourishment. – Melia Slough
What to try instead:
Each product is carefully curated by our editors. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a small commission at no cost to you.