I am embarrassed to admit that I scroll TikTok for an unhealthy amount of time each day. Since each video is only less than a minute long, it is very easy to lose track of time. There are all types of content on TikTok, especially about skin. People are giving out advice on how to fix bad skin. I am skeptical about the feasibility and results of the advice. So let’s discuss it and decide if it’s good or bad advice.
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Hydrocolloid pimple patches
If you search “hydrocolloid pimples”, there will be endless videos of people showing their satisfying peels after using the hydrocolloid patches. But how do these pimple patches work? Do they work? Curious about the science behind it, I turned to Google. According to Healthline, these pimple patches are effective. Firstly, they act as a protection from bacteria, bacteria from your hands and the external environment. Secondly, these patches are made to soak up the pus from the surface-level pimples.
However, these patches do not work for cystic acne. Cystic acne still requires help from professionals and cannot be solved by hydrocolloid patches. Going for facials to help clarify the skin seems to be a better solution. I found this facial that targets troubled skin. This facial includes amazing things like Pineapple Enzyme Scrub to dissolve dirt and debris, I-Clear Blue light therapy to kill bacteria and shrink pores, apple-based enzyme peel to get rid of all the gunk in your pores.
Verdict: Useful for the occasional pimples, but best to go for a good facial if you’re facing more serious and deeper acne issues.
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DIY face masks
DIY masks have also been all over the For You Page (FYP) these days. This video caught my eye. The girl in the video uses chickpea flour, turmeric, and Greek yoghurt to create a paste that supposedly gets rids of pimples and scars. Although this seems like a cost-friendly mask, it seems like a lot of work to mix all the ingredients. As a lazy person, I can’t fathom the thought of going to the kitchen to grab different materials before assembling my face mask. And I would still need to wash up the bowl and utensils. Besides, if too much turmeric is used, it will end up staining the skin yellow. I do not want my face stained yellow!
I am not sure if the DIY mask really works, but the thought of my face being stained yellow is too much for me to bear. I would rather get a mask from the shops. This product, the Earth Angel Blemish Control Masque, acts as an anti-microbial treatment for those with oily and blemished skin. Not only that, it helps to dry up existing blemishes and tighten pores. As it is already in a tub, I can simply grab it from my shelf and apply it to my face. Furthermore, since it is created by an established aesthetic clinic, I have higher confidence in the results this mask would produce.
Verdict: Better to get a tub of mask made by professional doctors which has zero risks of staining your skin yellow.
Although there are all sorts of advice and tips are available on TikTok, that doesn’t mean all of them are suitable for you. Take everything with a pinch of salt before you do your research and figure out if these options would work for you. You would