If you spend even a few minutes scrolling through TikTok, you’ll come across an endless stream of beauty hacks. Some of the content is harmless, some questionable, and some downright dangerous.
Consumption of beauty-related content on TikTok increased by 38 per cent in 2024. However, people consuming this type of content don’t always think about which content is harmless and which is actually harmful. After all, the content is often presented in a friendly, casual way that makes them feel trustworthy, especially when a creator looks confident.
Beneath the quick edits and upbeat audio, however, many of these so-called “beauty hacks” can mislead, disappoint, or even harm you. Hence, before you decide to follow these hacks, here are a few real reasons it’s better to scroll past those random beauty tricks.
1 Many Beauty Hacks Come from People with No Expertise
At the start of 2025, TikTok had over 1.5 billion users across the globe. Projections suggest that by 2029, the platform will have around 1.9 billion users. Many of these users are beauty content creators, but not all of their voices are informed. That means while a creator may sound authoritative, it doesn’t automatically make them a dermatologist, esthetician, or cosmetic chemist.
A lot of viral beauty hacks originate from trial-and-error experiments that worked once for one person under very specific conditions. When viewers try to replicate them, they often face irritation, breakouts, or reactions the creator never mentioned.
This isn’t always malicious; sometimes people genuinely believe what worked for them will work universally. But skincare and beauty are incredibly personal. Your skin type, allergies, underlying conditions, and environment all matter. Without that context, blindly copying a hack from a stranger online can cause more harm than good.
2 How Random Beauty Hacks Can Affect Your Mental Health
Constant exposure to appearance-focused content can impact your emotional well-being. The rise of discussions around the TikTok mental health lawsuit reflects this growing concern. Social media consumption affects users, especially when it borders on social media addiction. When beauty hacks flood your feed, they subtly reinforce the idea that your value is tied to how polished or “perfect” you look.
As TruLaw notes, for people already dealing with mental health challenges, this steady stream of comparison can worsen existing mental health issues. It can trigger eating disorders or deepen body image issues, particularly among young adults who make up a huge portion of TikTok’s audience.
The more time you spend consuming appearance-centred content, the more likely you are to internalise harmful expectations. Ignoring random beauty hacks can be an act of protecting your mental and emotional well-being.
3 Some Hacks Can Cause Physical Damage
A surprising number of beauty “solutions” on TikTok involve household products never meant to touch your skin. Lemon juice for brightening, glue for blackhead removal, vaseline mixed with spices for lip plumping, and so on. These viral ideas often prioritise instant results over safety.
Acidic ingredients can burn or peel skin. DIY tools can cause microtears or infections. Even simple oils used improperly can clog pores or disrupt your skin’s natural barrier.
The problem isn’t creativity; it’s the lack of proper safety understanding. Professional products undergo testing and regulation. Random hacks do not. The risk of long-term damage simply isn’t worth a few seconds of online excitement.
4 They Can Intensify Pressure to Look Perfect
TikTok is full of flawless skin, sculpted cheekbones, and “no-makeup makeup looks” that somehow take an hour to achieve. Many beauty hacks capitalise on this pressure by promising quick fixes that supposedly help you look a little closer to those unrealistic standards.
But trying to chase perfection, especially through shortcuts, can leave you feeling frustrated or inadequate. Beauty shouldn’t be a competition. Your face is not a project that needs constant upgrades based on whatever happens to be trending that week.
5 Authentic Confidence Doesn’t Come From Hacks
Perhaps the most compelling reason to ignore viral beauty tricks is this: confidence can’t be hacked. No five-second shortcut will make you love your reflection if you’re constantly comparing yourself to filtered videos or fleeting trends. The best beauty habits come from understanding your body, your skin’s needs, and what makes you feel good.
When you step back from TikTok beauty hacks, you open up space to build healthier, more intentional routines. You learn to trust professionals rather than popularity. You stop believing you need to “fix” yourself constantly. And you give yourself the chance to develop confidence based on authenticity, not algorithms.
FAQs
What are the negative impacts of using TikTok?
TikTok can negatively affect attention spans and encourage addictive scrolling habits. Many users struggle with sleep disruption due to late-night use. The platform can intensify insecurity through unrealistic content. Privacy concerns also exist because of extensive data collection. Harmful trends and misleading information can still appear, affecting young users.
What are the negative effects of beauty standards?
Unrealistic beauty standards can damage self-esteem and create constant pressure to look perfect. Many people develop body dissatisfaction from comparisons. These standards can contribute to eating disorders and unhealthy behaviours. Increased use of cosmetic procedures also results from these expectations. The mental health impact can include anxiety, stress, and social withdrawal.
What kind of content is not allowed on TikTok?
TikTok removes content that promotes violence or dangerous behaviour. The platform bans hate speech, harassment, and explicit adult material. Harmful misinformation, especially about health or safety, is also restricted. TikTok prohibits illegal activities and graphic content. The app enforces rules to protect minors and prevent exploitation.
TikTok can be an entertaining place filled with creativity, humour, and clever ideas. But when it comes to beauty hacks, “viral” shouldn’t be confused with “trustworthy.”
The UK has around 23 million regular TikTok users, many of whom are exposed to such beauty hacks or content that can be harmful. Many of these trending tricks come from a place of inexperience and can cause physical harm. They can also lead to unhealthy comparisons and create pressure that chips away at your mental well-being.
Trends move fast, but the impact on your skin and your self-image can last far longer. You deserve routines rooted in care, not chaos. You deserve advice grounded in expertise, not popularity. And most importantly, you deserve to feel comfortable and confident without hustling to keep up with every passing trend on your “For You” page.
And no, ignoring random beauty hacks isn’t about resisting fun. It’s about choosing what’s truly good for your body and your mind.
