Is Your Favorite Skincare Trend Dermatologist Approved?

When you're looking for your next skincare trend, there's no better source than a licensed skincare professional. Luckily for those of us who are chronically online, we no longer have to leave our FYP to get advice from a dermatologist. Dr. Whitney Bowe, who shares her expertise on her TikTok page, began the skin cycling movement last year. You may have heard of this viral trend that consists of cycling through your skincare products every four nights or so, targeting a certain element of your skincare routine each night. Dr. Bowe recommends dedicating one night to exfoliation, another to retinoids, and two nights to "recover ... and hydrate" from the strong products applied the nights before.

Skin cycling has become all the rage for good reason — a majority of dermatologists have deemed that this practice is not only safe, but encourage it due to the harshness of certain products if used excessively. But just like any skincare trend, results depend on the products your skin can handle. Dermatologist and associate professor at Ohio State University Susan Massick shared that "One of the biggest mistakes in skin care I see is when people use more products than are necessary or when people use the wrong products for their skin type." If you find that certain products tend to burn or irritate your skin after use, stop immediately and seek advice from a medical professional for more personalized recommendations.

We've all seen the directions on the back of a shampoo bottle that tells us to "rinse and repeat" — when your hair is in need of a good wash, scrubbing shampoo on your scalp only once may not provide your hair follicles with the benefits that the bottle promises until you've gotten the dirt and grime out of the way and double cleanse. Could that same reasoning apply to your cleansing routine? Dermatologists say yes, within reason.

Double-board certified dermatologist Dr. Karan Lal told The Zoe Report that the popular double cleansing trend has provided great results to patients who are extremely prone to acne, and recommends it to anyone looking for a deep clean. But just like any skincare trend, the results depend on the type of cleanser you use and the time of day that you choose to double cleanse. Washing twice should most often be done at night, that way you can rid your face of any dirt, oils, or makeup residue left over from the day with your oil cleanser, and then clean your pores thoroughly with a gentle cream cleanser. Any products you choose to wash your face with should correspond with your skin type in order to provide you with the most accurate cleansing without drying out or irritating your skin further. If you aren't sure which products to use, dermatologists recommend always testing on a small section of your skin first before washing your entire face with a new product.

While scrolling through your FYP, you may have noticed skin care TikTok raving about the gua sha. This smooth-edged tool might be brand new to social media, but the method has been practiced by traditional Chinese healers for generations. According to WebMD, "People use gua sha to treat chronic pain all over their body." But that's not all the method promises — the gua sha has gone viral for its face-shaping results like minimizing a double chin and defining your jawline.

TikTok creator @yurileeeee shared a how-to guide for using a gua sha, which includes a lymph nodes massage, tracing the surface of your face, and plenty of moisturizer for support. According to gua sha users, the technique is supposed to reduce facial swelling and provide serious stress relief. While testimonies are glowing on social media, experts at Curology have not found any medical evidence to support the gua sha's benefits. So if you're looking for a green light from a dermatologist, the closest you'll get is a shrug. While it doesn't seem to be harmful to your skin, there isn't much science to back up the practice — at least not yet.