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Social Media Skincare Trends That Actually Work
As a licensed esthetician and skincare nerd, I regularly scroll Tiktok, Instagram and Facebook to take a peek at the latest skincare trends. Sometimes, I’m horrified—microneedling at home? Retinol for children?! Beef tallow on your face?!
However, other times, I’m inspired! I love that in the skincare industry there are always new innovations and creative ways to care for our body’s largest organ.
Today, I'm sharing with you three trends that I have researched, tried and have come to love as a skincare professional and as a person with a face. These trends are easy to implement and they are effective at helping achieve healthy, glowing skin.
So, grab your favorite treat, cozy up with your furry friend (shoutout to my pup, Harper!), and let's look at some social media skincare trends that I deem esthetician-approved!
Trend One: Skin Flooding
Skin flooding is a skincare technique that involves saturating the skin with layers of hydrating products to provide intense moisture and support the skin's natural barrier function. Essentially, it's like giving your skin a big drink of water, helping it stay plump, hydrated, and resilient.
Benefits of Skin Flooding
Skin flooding offers several benefits for hydration and skin barrier support. By deeply hydrating the skin, it helps to improve moisture levels, leading to a more supple and radiant complexion. Additionally, the layers of hydrating products form a protective barrier on the skin's surface, preventing trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and enhancing the skin's ability to defend against environmental stressors.
As a skin therapist, I've personally experienced the healing effects of skin flooding on my clients' skin, as well as my own. I often recommend this technique to clients with dry, dehydrated, or sensitive skin, as it can provide immediate relief and long-term hydration. Personally, I love how skin flooding gives my skin a noticeable glow and helps it feel incredibly soft and nourished.
Tips for Incorporating Skin Flooding
Incorporating skin flooding into your skincare routine is simple yet effective.
Start by cleansing your skin thoroughly to remove any impurities.
Next, apply a hydrating toner or essence to damp skin, gently pressing it into the skin with your fingertips. Follow this with a serum rich in humectants like hyaluronic acid to attract moisture to the skin. Other ingredients that would work well with this technique include niacinamide, which helps improve skin lipids, and allantoin, which has skin-healing properties.
Then, seal in all the hydration with a rich moisturizer or facial oil.
For an extra boost of hydration, you can also layer a sheet mask on top of your moisturizer or oil and leave it on for 10-15 minutes.
Finally, finish with sunscreen during the day to protect your skin from UV damage.
Incorporating skin flooding into your skincare routine regularly can help you achieve a plump, hydrated complexion that glows from within.
Trend Two: 60-Second Rule
The 60-second rule is a simple yet impactful skincare practice that emphasizes spending at least 60 seconds cleansing the skin. While it may sound a little too simple, this technique can make a significant difference in the effectiveness of your skincare routine and your skin tone and texture.
Here's why: Cleansing your skin for a full 60 seconds allows enough time for the cleanser to thoroughly break down dirt, oil, makeup, and other impurities that accumulate on the skin throughout the day. This ensures a deeper cleanse, helping to unclog pores, remove dead skin cells, and prevent breakouts. Additionally, massaging the cleanser into the skin for a full minute can stimulate circulation, promote lymphatic drainage, and improve overall skin texture and tone.
I’ve learned that many of my clients rush the cleansing process—hell, even sometime I rush the process lol. Many people initially underestimate the importance of thorough cleansing, but after incorporating this technique into their routines, they notice significant improvements in the clarity, brightness, and overall health of their skin. Personally, I've found that taking the time to properly cleanse my own skin for a full 60 seconds has made a noticeable difference in the amount of congestion I see (especially on my nose) and in the clarity and texture of my skin.
Tips for Incorporating the 60-Second Rule
Making the 60-second rule a part of your skincare routine is easy. Start by wetting your face with lukewarm water to soften the skin and prepare it for cleansing. Apply a dime-sized amount of your chosen cleanser to your fingertips and gently massage it onto your skin using circular motions.
Take your time to work the cleanser into every surface of your face, including your forehead, cheeks, nose, and chin. Continue massaging for a full 60 seconds, paying extra attention to areas prone to congestion or buildup (for me, that's my nose and chin!). Finally, rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and pat your skin dry with a clean towel—or follow with skin flooding!
Incorporating the 60-second rule into your cleansing routine can help you achieve a deeper, more thorough cleanse and set the stage for healthier, more radiant skin. Not sure what cleanser to choose? I would suggest using a cleansing balm, cleansing oil or creamy cleanser for the 60-second cleanse. Also, be sure to add more water for ‘slip’ if you need to, it’s important not to drag or pull the skin! One more tip: if you wear makeup, do a double cleanse! You don't have to spend 60 seconds on each cleanse, but the second cleanse is a great opportunity to use this technique!
Trend Three: Skincare Minimalism
I’m a huge skincare junkie and I’ve used myself as a guinea pig, often trying multiple product lines and ingredients at one time. To be honest—all of that experimenting wrecked my skin. My skin was sensitized, irritated, broken out and dry as a bone until I learned to reel it in and pair down my routine. That’s why I’m super stoked to see skincare minimalism or ‘skinimalism’ (not be confused with cannibalism haha) trending!
Skinimalism is a skincare trend or philosophy that advocates for simplifying skincare routines and embracing natural, real skin. Unfortunately, social media and influencers have infiltrated our culture and made us feel like we need to buy, buy, buy and always have the latest new product or try the newest treatment. All of the filtering has totally warped our perception of what real skin looks like—we need our pores, people!
Skinimalism offers a refreshing approach that focuses on quality over quantity as well as nourishing your skin as opposed to punishing it with harsh actives and over-exfoliation like we have in the past. Here are some great reasons to consider de-cluttering your shelfie:
Streamlining Skincare Routines
One of the key principles of skinimalism is streamlining skincare routines to include only the essential products that address specific skin concerns. This often involves paring down multi-step routines to focus on core skincare needs, such as cleansing, hydration, and sun protection. By eliminating unnecessary products and steps, individuals can save time, money, and energy while still achieving healthy, glowing skin.
Reducing Product Overload
Skinimalism encourages a more mindful approach to skincare product consumption, discouraging excessive purchasing and product accumulation. Instead of constantly chasing after the latest skincare trends or "must-have" products, individuals are encouraged to invest in a few high-quality, multi-functional products that meet their skin's needs. That means less wasting your money and less environmental impact as well!
Promoting Skin Health
By simplifying skincare routines and reducing product overload, skinimalism promotes skin health and resilience. By focusing on gentle, nourishing products with minimal ingredients, individuals can minimize the risk of skin irritation, sensitivity, and reactions. This minimalist approach allows the skin to thrive and maintain its natural balance—our bodies as a whole and our skin have an innate wisdom and, when our skin is 'acting up', its trying to tell us something about our body's homeostasis.
Tips for Embracing Skinimalism
First, have a giant bonfire! Totally kidding, skincare is extremely flammable lol.
Embracing skinimalism is easy and can be tailored to suit individual preferences and skin types. Start by evaluating your current skincare routine and identifying any unnecessary products or steps. Simplify your routine by focusing on gentle cleansers, hydrating moisturizers, and broad-spectrum sunscreen. Consider incorporating multi-functional products, such as tinted moisturizers or BB creams, to streamline your routine even further. Simplifying can also be applied to your makeup routine, your wardrobe and much more. For real, check out /r/simpleliving —this concept is working wonders for my mental health and anxiety-riddled brain.
Remember, skinimalism is all about finding what works best for you and your skin, so don't be afraid to experiment and adjust as needed. Also, feel free to reach out to me or another skin professional you trust if you need guidance. Skinimalism is a great way to achieve a simpler, more sustainable skincare routine that celebrates the beauty of natural, healthy skin.
Product Suggestions
In my professional skincare practice, I partner with brands that focus on enhancing the health and appearance of the skin using proven ingredients and without the use of synthetic fragrance, parabens, phthalates or dyes. The following product suggestions are a great starting point if you have normal to dry, mature skin and most skin types:
-A creamy cleanser that soothes skin irritation and provides calming benefits. This cleanser also reduces the appearance of redness and contains nourishing ingredients including safflower, jojoba and grape seed oil.
-Rehydrates the skin while improving cellular functions and absorption of ingredients. Reduces discomfort and irritation while balancing surface lipids. Includes hydrating ingredients including Sodium PCA and Hyaluronic Acid.
-The Ageless Skin Hydrating Serum restores moisture to maintain skin barrier function, improve hydration, lessen the appearance of wrinkles, improve the health of cell membranes, and plump the skin. This serum contains the peptides as well as sunflower extract and allantoin.
-This moisturizer soothes irritation and balances surface lipids in the skin. Key ingredients include bisabolol, Sodium PCA and spin trap.
It's always a good idea to consult with a professional before changing your skincare routine! I advise against trying more than one or two new products at a time, to ensure your skin doesn't have a negative reaction.
Meet the Expert
Regina Thomas is a licensed Esthetician and Skin Therapist in San Antonio, Texas. Regina has been a practicing skincare professional for 8 years and specializes in treating acneic, sensitive, mature skin using a holistic, Corneotherapy approach.
Get in touch: TriadSkincare@gmail.com
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