Today we're talking 6 of the most hyped-up skincare products on social media - and specifically, TikTok (which can be a little ropey for skincare advice!) Are they worth the hype, decent products with exaggerated claims or total fails? Let's find out...
Next is the infamous product whose hype just won't die: the Ordinary 's AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution | £6.30. This is something I first used many years ago, and back then it actually said 'for professional use only' on the packaging, which was sufficient warning that this is strong stuff! In here we have a 30% complex of AHA exfoliating acids: glycolic, lactic, tartaric and citric, then 2% BHA in the form of salicylic acid. The AHAs will resurface the skin, even out its overall tone and texture and give a great level of skin-smoothness, whereas the BHA is oil-soluble so can get into the pores and clear out spot-causing debris. There's also Tasmanian pepperberry in here, which has skin-soothing properties and gives it it's famous blood-red colour. I think that's kind of the issue with this product! It looks 'cool' with its blood-like appearance and the price-point puts it within reach of young people who don't necessarily need a product like this and don't know how to use it correctly. Taken to its logical extreme, there are definitely people on the internet deliberately being reckless and ruining their skin with this product for 'clout'! For me, this is a product for those with hardy, perhaps even mature skin to use one night a week as part of a balanced skincare routine that includes daily sunscreen. It should be applied as a thin layer and left on for 5-10 minutes. If you are not an advanced user of chemical exfoliants: this isn't for you. If you feel a strong tingling or burning sensation: this isn't for you. If you're prone to hyperpigmentation: this isn't for you. In the right hands, this is a great product at a great price-point, though for my own skin I do prefer gentler options these days.
Moving on, we have the Isle of Paradise Self-Tanning Drops in Medium* | £19.95. I think this was the first self-tanning product I really tried, and I was definitely worried about looking orange or streaky! However, these were fantastic for me as a beginner; you mix in 1-14 drops of this serum-like product in with a basic moisturiser depending on how deep you want to go, and of course you can build up the colour over several applications. I like to use this before bed so I wake up with a fresh warmth and glow to my skin and I love how natural it looks. It's quite hard to do this product justice in photos but you can see a before and after here. Even that biscuit-y smell isn't too bad with this product! My only negative is that you don't get a ton of product in here, so depending on how much you like to self-tan, you might not get much mileage out of it. Otherwise, though, it's a great formula.
Next, let's talk the First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub with 10% AHA* | £26. I did a bit of a deep-dive on KP here, but in essence: it's a harmless condition that means keratin plugs up in the hair follicle, causing red bumps and dryness, usually on the arms and legs. This can get quite itchy and irritating at times (particularly during the winter) and for some, it can really harm their confidence. Because of the name of this product, I do have to be clear: there is no 'cure' for KP and you can't 'erase' it with a body scrub, so we're really looking for an improvement in its appearance, skin smoothness and a reduction the itch that often comes along with this condition. This formula combines micro-exfoliant crystals with a 10% complex of lactic and glycolic acids, so you're getting physical and chemical exfoliation in one step. My only slight caveat is that you might not want to use this if physical exfoliation (even on your body) causes you to hyperpigment. I personally apply this to my skin, leave it for a few minutes and then rinse it off as as massage gently so I get the benefits of both. This definitely helps soften, smooth and unplug things for me when I use it a couple of times a week. Erased? No, but improved? Absolutely!
A more recent product to get the 'OMG! LOOK AT WHAT THIS PRODUCT IS DO-ING!' treatment on TikTok is the Caudalie Vinergetic C+ Instant Detox Mask* | £23. I used and liked this mask many years ago, but it's been repackaged and possibly a few more ingredients were added to the formula, so (given it's reignited popularity of late) I decided to give it another go. This is formulated with rose clay (so it's a pink, clay-based mask), caffeine (an antioxidant and vasoconstrictor), papaya enzymes (for mild exfoliation) and hydrating grape water (Caudalie's signature). I never really know if people exaggerate things to try and go viral or if these teenagers just haven't come across a clay mask before, but I've seen several videos saying this mask is pulling 'gunk' out of the skin and 'look at all of this stuff coming out of my face!' That's not what's happening... This is a clay mask, so it dries down on the skin, and as the moisture evaporates, obviously it's going to settle into pores and fine lines. It's just dryness emphasising texture, just like a very matte foundation will settle into every line, pore and crease. A clay mask is working on a surface level, absorbing excess oil, and this particular formula has some great added benefits. This is a nice mask and is pretty non-drying compared to other clay formulas on the market, but consider the claims about it debunked!
Lastly, it's the Dr. Jart + Cicapair Tiger Grass Colour Correcting Treatment* | £37. This paste claims to replace the need for foundation by counteracting redness (whether from rosacea, acne or any other inflammation) with its pastel green tone. A little goes a long way, and I did find this masked redness, however it left an ashy cast on my skin tone. I appreciate that the deeper your skin tone, the less likely you are to have that obvious redness, but I guess I'm just awkwardly in-between the two categories; I do get redness but this is too pale for me. I would definitely give it a go if you're a Fitzpatrick 1 or 2, though, and it might work if you're a 3. If you want to give this a go, you need so little product that I'd just get the 15ml tub for £15 rather than this 50ml size.
There are demos of these products on my Instagram Reels - check them out here and here.
Have you tried any of these products? Were they worth the hype for you?
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