Mar 12, 2024
Categories: Skin Care
If your social feeds look anything like ours, you’ve probably seen plenty of “skin care trends” promising perfect skin. While some DIY hacks look great on TikTok or Instagram, many are best avoided—especially ones that imitate spa treatments done by trained professionals. Read on to learn about popular internet skin care trends to skip and safer, more effective alternatives.
Avoid: Pore Strips
Pore strips, also called blackhead strips, first appeared in the 1970s and are back because people love the satisfying peel. It’s tempting to “empty” pores with a cheap product that gives instant results.
But pore strips aren’t as great as they seem. They yank oil from sebaceous filaments—the natural structures that help keep your skin balanced. Any redness after using a strip is usually irritation from removing those oils and disturbing the skin’s protective barrier.
The results are temporary, and the visible residue can be misleading. Sebaceous filaments are normal and help with hydration and oil regulation, but they’re often mistaken for clogged pores. Pore strips only grab a small portion of what’s in your pores and can’t remove deeper blackheads, so much of the problem remains. That partial removal leaves tiny spaces that quickly collect new oil and dirt.
Instead of pore strips, try a chemical exfoliant or a fine powdered physical exfoliant. We recommend the Eminence Organic Skin Care Strawberry Rhubarb Dermafoliant to clear clogged pores around the nose. This fine powder gently removes grime without stripping the skin’s protective oils, giving a deep clean without damage.
Avoid: Using Glue To Remove Blackheads
One surprising trend is using white glue like a DIY pore strip. Healthline warns this is a bad idea: glue isn’t meant for skin and can clog pores more. Along with unpleasant chemicals in glue, this can cause longer-term problems. Keep glue for crafts, not your face.
A better approach is to add a peel to your weekly routine to control blackheads, whiteheads, and surface texture. We like the Clear Skin Willow Bark Exfoliating Peel, a clarifying peel that refines the complexion without irritation while helping reduce problem areas.
Avoid: Pore Vacuums
You may have seen handheld pore vacuums that promise to suction out blackheads and buildup. Don’t fall for it. Although they look like professional tools, home pore vacuums aren’t the same. Professional devices are used by trained estheticians who know how to avoid damaging skin layers. At-home vacuums can cause bruising, discoloration, scarring, and broken capillaries—especially for people with sensitive skin or rosacea.
Try gommage instead—an exfoliating method where a physical exfoliant is layered over a gel-textured mask, then gently rolled away with damp fingers after a few minutes. Gommage combines physical and chemical exfoliation to softly remove dead skin cells and surface debris and is safe at home when done gently. Or see an esthetician for professional extractions paired with a gommage treatment.
If you want to try this at home, our Lead Skin Care Trainer Natalie Pergar suggests using the Stone Crop Masque with the Stone Crop Oxygenating Fizzofoliant for a gentle, refreshing treatment.
Product Picks
Strawberry Rhubarb Dermafoliant
Dual action exfoliant
$55.00
(158)
Clear Skin Willow Bark Exfoliating Peel
For problem skin types
$89.00
(19)
Try: Charcoal & Black Seed
Charcoal and black seed oil can help with blackheads and congested skin. Charcoal absorbs excess oil and helps prevent clogged pores, while controlling sebum that can enlarge pores and trap dirt, oil, and dead skin cells.
Black seed oil comes from small black seeds and contains nutrients like linoleic acid (an omega-6 fatty acid that helps balance sebum) and thymoquinone, which can reduce the look and formation of clogged pores.
Our Charcoal & Black Seed Clarifying Oil is a lightweight, non-greasy formula with activated charcoal and black seed oil to help even skin tone and absorb extra sebum for a softer-looking complexion. Pair it with our Charcoal & Black Seed Clay Masque to draw out impurities, decongest pores, and refresh the skin.
For professional help with congested pores, consider a desincrustation treatment at a spa. This uses alkaline-based solutions to soften and break down sebum and keratin inside follicles, preparing the skin for safe extractions. Often combined with a gentle massage, desincrustation removes built-up sebum and debris to improve texture and reduce blemishes. Our Charcoal & Black Seed Desincrustation Gel is made for professional use and should only be applied by a licensed esthetician.
Product Picks
Charcoal & Black Seed Clarifying Oil
Lightweight clarifying oil
$118.00
(23)
Charcoal & Black Seed Clay Masque
Purifying face mask
$65.00
(16)
Avoid: Face Taping
Some internet trends suggest taping the face at night to prevent movement and reduce wrinkles. In theory it sounds simple, but it’s not effective. The Cleveland Clinic notes any short-term smoothing will disappear once your skin moves again during the day, and removing tape can pull off a layer of skin, causing irritation, blisters, or allergic reactions.
Instead, promote lymphatic drainage and soften the look of lines with a gua sha tool. Regular gua sha gently works facial muscles, boosts glow, and reduces puffiness. Try adding gua sha to your routine and learn some gentle techniques to get started.
Avoid: Harsh Scrubs
Buffing a wall with sandpaper works for paint, but using a gritty scrub on your face does not. Scrubs that use nut shells or other coarse particles can create microtears and irritate the skin barrier, leading to inflammation and future breakouts. Vigorous physical exfoliation can strip protective oils, causing your skin to overproduce oil and worsen acne or sensitivity. If you already have active breakouts, scrubs can make them worse.
Choose a fine powder exfoliant or a chemical exfoliant instead. When using a powder scrub, work it gently with plenty of water. Chemical exfoliants can do the job without any rubbing at all. Treat exfoliation as a slow, relaxing step—your skin will thank you.
Avoid: Derma Rolling
Derma rollers are handheld tools covered in tiny needles meant to mimic microneedling. Microneedling done by a professional can help stimulate collagen and elastin because the clinician controls depth and technique. A home derma roller is one-size-fits-all and can be unsafe.
Risks include permanent scarring, darkening of the skin, infection if not sterilized properly, and microtears. Cheap rollers can even leave tiny needle particles in your skin. Because of irritation risk, derma rollers aren’t suitable for people with eczema or dermatitis, and rolling can spread bacteria—making it risky if you have acne or cold sores. Skip at-home derma rolling and choose professional microneedling instead.
Want to learn more? Watch Natalie discuss these and other skin care trends to avoid.
If you want better ways to improve your skin, consider visiting an Eminence Organics Spa Partner near you to find the right treatment options.