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TikTok Skincare Trends and Their Impact on Young Girls

June 17, 2025

Research suggests TikTok skincare trends may harm young girls physically and mentally. It seems likely that trends like acid peels and multi...

  • Research suggests TikTok skincare trends may harm young girls physically and mentally.
  • It seems likely that trends like acid peels and multi-step routines can cause skin damage and allergies.
  • The evidence leans toward these trends promoting unrealistic beauty standards, affecting self-esteem.
  • Controversy exists around TikTok's role, with experts calling for better regulation and parental guidance.
TikTok has become a major platform for beauty and skincare trends, especially among young girls. While these trends can seem fun and aspirational, they often carry risks. This article explores how these trends might be harming young girls, both physically through skin damage and psychologically through pressure to meet beauty ideals. We'll break down the issues in simple terms, offering insights for parents and teens alike.
Physical Harms
Many TikTok skincare trends, like using acid peels or layering multiple products, can be too harsh for young, sensitive skin. Studies show these practices can lead to irritation, burns, and long-term allergies. For example, a 2025 study found children as young as seven using acid peels, risking skin damage . Experts like Dr. Molly Hales from Northwestern University warn that these routines often include ingredients like alpha-hydroxy acids, which can increase sun sensitivity, especially when sunscreen is missing from 74% of routines.
Psychological Impacts
The constant exposure to flawless skin on TikTok can pressure young girls to feel inadequate, impacting their self-esteem and mental health. Research suggests beauty-focused videos can increase appearance anxiety and body dissatisfaction, with studies showing negative effects on mood and self-compassion . This can lead to mental health issues like depression, especially when influenced by influencers promoting unrealistic standards.
What Can Be Done?
Parents and educators can help by encouraging open conversations about social media, promoting media literacy, and consulting dermatologists for safe skincare advice. Initiatives by health experts, like educational videos warning against harmful trends, are steps in the right direction.

Introduction: The TikTok Phenomenon and Skincare Trends
As of June 17, 2025, TikTok has solidified its position as a cultural powerhouse, boasting over 1 billion monthly active users, with a significant portion being young girls and teenagers. The platform's short-form videos, often set to catchy music and featuring vibrant aesthetics, have transformed it into a virtual beauty hub. Skincare trends, such as DIY face masks, acid peels, and multi-step routines, dominate the algorithm, driven by influencers and viral challenges. However, beneath the glossy surface lies a concerning reality: these trends are increasingly harming young girls, both physically and psychologically, by promoting practices that are often unsafe and perpetuating unrealistic beauty standards.

This survey note aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of how TikTok skincare trends are impacting young girls, drawing on recent studies, expert opinions, and real-world examples. We will explore the allure of these trends, their physical and mental health implications, economic burdens, and potential solutions, ensuring a thorough understanding for parents, educators, and policymakers.

The Allure of TikTok Skincare Trends
TikTok's appeal lies in its algorithm, which promotes content based on user engagement, making beauty and skincare videos highly visible. Influencers, often without medical expertise, play a significant role, with figures like Addison Rae (
@addisonre
) amassing millions of followers and promoting products . Trends like "glass skin," aiming for a flawless, dewy complexion, and collagen face masks gain traction through viral challenges and "get ready with me" (#GRWM) videos, which average 1.1 million views each, according to a 2025 study . The visual nature of the platform, combined with the desire for social validation, drives young girls to adopt these practices, often without understanding the risks.

Physical Harms: Specific Trends and Their Dangers
Recent research highlights several TikTok skincare trends that pose physical risks to young girls. A study published in Pediatrics in 2025 analyzed 100 TikTok videos by creators aged 7–18, finding an average of 11 potentially irritating active ingredients per routine, with some containing up to 21 . Key trends include:

  • Acid Peels and Chemical Exfoliants: Products with alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) like citric, lactic, and glycolic acid are popular for their exfoliating properties but can cause burns and irritation on young, sensitive skin. Dr. Brooke Jeffy, a board-certified dermatologist, notes these actives can irritate adult skin, let alone children's . A disturbing example is a video of a 10-year-old applying eight products without sunscreen, increasing UV sensitivity .
  • Overuse of Active Ingredients: Routines often include niacinamide, tocopherol, and panthenol, which, while beneficial in moderation, can cause redness and dryness when layered, especially without professional guidance. Over 50% of products contained fragrance, a common allergen, with 20 other ingredients identified as potential causes of contact dermatitis .
  • Lack of Sunscreen: Only 26% of daytime routines included sunscreen, despite many products increasing sun sensitivity, raising the risk of skin cancer. This is particularly concerning given the emphasis on "lighter, brighter skin," which can perpetuate racialized beauty standards .
Expert opinions reinforce these findings. Dr. Molly Hales states, “The majority of (children) featured in these videos didn’t have any visible acne. They had perfect, clear skin. For many of them, the harms probably outweigh any potential benefits,” highlighting the unnecessary nature of these routines . Dr. Tara Lagu adds, “We saw that there was preferential, encoded racial language in some cases that really emphasized lighter, brighter skin,” pointing to deeper societal issues.

Psychological Impacts: Beauty Standards and Mental Health
The psychological toll of TikTok skincare trends is significant, driven by the platform's promotion of unrealistic beauty standards. Studies show that exposure to beauty-focused videos can increase appearance shame and anxiety, with a 2023 study finding negative impacts on mood and self-compassion among young women . Dr. Jasmine Fardouly from UNSW Science notes, “Appearance-ideal content can pressure women to look a certain way that is unrealistic or completely unattainable,” with girls as young as six reporting body dissatisfaction.

This pressure can lead to mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and eating disorders, with 40% of teens reporting social media content causing image worries. The constant comparison fostered by influencers, who often promote expensive, age-inappropriate products, exacerbates these issues, with young girls feeling compelled to achieve flawless skin to fit in.

Economic Burden: Cost and Financial Strain
The financial implications of these trends are substantial, with routines costing an average of $168 per month, and some exceeding $500, according to the 2025 Pediatrics study . The most expensive routine totaled $621, enough to cover a month's groceries for many families . Households with children aged 6–12 spent 27.2% more on skincare in 2023 than the previous year, despite declining overall consumer spending, highlighting the economic burden.

Marketing strategies targeting young consumers, often through influencer endorsements, amplify this issue, with "Sephora Kids" demanding anti-aging products over toys, driven by TikTok's influence . This financial strain can be particularly challenging for families, especially when the products offer no benefit to young, healthy skin.

Regulatory and Platform Responsibilities: Calls for Action
TikTok's policies state it is for users aged 13 and older, removing suspected under-13 creators, and working with third-party experts for safeguarding . However, experts argue these measures are insufficient, with Dr. Liu noting the difficulty in enforcing regulation against pervasive trends . The British Association of Dermatologists and other health groups have issued warnings about copying treatments from social media, calling for better content moderation.

Alternatives and Solutions: Promoting Healthy Practices
To mitigate these harms, experts recommend simple skincare routines for children under 18 without acne, using gentle cleansers, fragrance-free moisturizers, and daily mineral sunscreen . Parents should consult board-certified dermatologists for advice, as suggested by Dr. Sonal Shah, and engage in open conversations about social media influences, per Jennifer Harriger . Educational initiatives, like videos by dermatologists warning against harmful trends, are crucial .
Promoting media literacy and realistic beauty standards can also help, encouraging young girls to value self-compassion over appearance ideals. Campaigns by organizations like the Butterfly Foundation, which addresses eating disorders and body image, could extend to skincare education, highlighting the need for a balanced approach to social media use.

Conclusion: Balancing Influence and Well-Being
In conclusion, TikTok skincare trends pose significant risks to young girls, from physical skin damage to psychological pressures and economic burdens. While the platform offers creativity and connection, its promotion of harmful practices necessitates action from parents, educators, and policymakers. By fostering awareness, promoting safe skincare, and advocating for better regulation, we can help young girls navigate social media influences healthily, ensuring their well-being is prioritized over viral trends.

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