This story first appeared within the May/June 2022 issue of ESSENCE.

Social Media Beauty Trends Within the last decade, millennials’ digital self-care movement combined with a widespread embrace of social media to create a multifaceted interest in how we appeared to others online. Out of this, wellness gurus emerged, some certified,

others winging it as they advocated compassion for our physical selves. It became common to see tutorials for hair and skincare not only from celebrities, but in addition from our homegirls. Nonetheless, together with the proliferation of wellness content got here a deluge of misinformation in regards to the way we take care of ourselves, particularly for our skin.

Lately, and particularly for the reason that onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, this has only gotten worse.

“I’ve seen people burn themselves, scar themselves and leave spots of hyperpigmentation that they now must treat over the following months,” says dermatologist Anthony Rossi, M.D. “These do-it-yourself facial masks, where they’re telling you to mix lemon juice with other things, can really do more damage than good.”

Zoom/social media dysmorphia—the hyper awareness of how we appear on camera—has also reached a critical point, Rossi notes. It’s turn into some extent of concern within the dermatology field,

as an increasing variety of clients approach professionals with unrealistic expectations of how their skin should look. The sleek, pore-free look isn’t any longer just for glossy ad campaigns. People wish to look that way in real life, the entire time.

“We try to deal with this concept of Zoom dysmorphia, after all, because we’re using televideo on a regular basis now,” Rossi says. He adds that photo-editing filters are also influencing the best way people think their skin should look. But social media is a breeding ground for poor methodology when it comes to protecting your skin, particularly when you are Black or an individual of color.

“Misinformation can spread like wildfire, because quite a lot of us have been taught the identical skincare myths growing up,” says Sean Garrette, a Recent York–based aesthetician. “So when someone repeats these myths on social media, they gain traction—

because people have already heard the identical thing and type of conform to it.” The circulation of false notions—reminiscent of Black people not needing sunscreen because melanin offers natural protection—ends in skin issues that require skilled care.

“There’s a profit to getting knowledgeable to really assess your skin, preferably without makeup.”

In case you’re seeking to learn more about your skin type or to try a recent product or process, it’s vital to work with an aesthetician and a dermatologist. This could assist you avoid damaging your skin and point you in the fitting direction so far as products are concerned. Even though it’s often seen as cosmetic, consulting a dermatologist for conditions like psoriasis or pimples is taken into account a medical need and should be covered by insurance.

“There’s a profit to getting knowledgeable to really assess your skin, preferably without makeup,” says celebrity aesthetician Renée Rouleau. “Having knowledgeable analyze your skin allows the specialist to cater to your unique needs—with in-office, skilled treatments and product recommendations for your private home skincare routine.”

Below, experts told us about 4 social media skin trends and gave details on what’s helpful versus harmful.

At-Home Microneedling 

Used to enhance the looks of the skin, microneedling should never be done by a non-professional, cautions Rouleau. “I don’t recommend doing this at home, as there’s a risk for overuse and damage to the skin,” she says. Moreover, if the tools aren’t sterile, you open yourself as much as bacterial staph infections; and the puncturing can even cause you to bleed.

Garrette agrees that microneedling should only be done in a clean space, by someone with the right certification; otherwise, he says, “things can go really, really flawed.”

“It’s hit and miss at home, since you don’t really know the way to evaluate the recommendation you’re getting.

Shaving the Face

Face-shaving has mixed reviews from our professionals, however it really boils all the way down to your pre- and after-care. For some people, Garrette recommends heading to an aesthetician, since blades used at home may be dull, causing the shave to be uneven or promoting pimples when you go over one spot too often.

If it’s essential to shave yourself, you should definitely wash your face thoroughly beforehand. For the actual shaving, use a blade that has been used fewer than five times; and “use upward strokes in the other way of how the hair grows,” says Rouleau, who recommends ending off with a moisturizer.

Scrubs

The usage of facial scrubs brings a powerful “no” from our experts. They indicate that individuals who attempt to cut costs by incorporating household ingredients like sugar into their very own scrubs can wind up cutting their face with sharp granules.

Over-exfoliation can even disturb the deeper layers of skin. “Once we disrupt that first barrier of skin, it starts an inflammatory cascade of cells that get recruited,” Rossi says. “So whenever you over-exfoliate, you’re bringing in all these inflammatory cells, and your skin’s going to look less healthy than whenever you started off.”

DIY Face Masks 

Garrette decries the “In case you can eat it, it’s good in your skin, too” ethos that informs dangerous decision-making regarding masks. He also says that apprehension about chemicals deters people from using more rigorously tested and effective masks an authority might suggest. “I feel we’d like higher product development and consistent cosmetic formulations,

” he says. “It’s hit and miss at home, since you don’t really know the way to evaluate the recommendation you’re getting. An avocado mask, for instance, is basically doing nothing in your skin.