Halloween is right around the corner, and it’s the season for haunted houses, carving pumpkins, and spooky costumes. But what about scary skincare trends? From DIY disasters to self-proclaimed “experts,” we’re diving into skincare trends that are more trick than treat. Let’s separate fact from fiction while having some Halloween fun!

DIY Skincare Fails

Forget witches making potions - we’ve got people mixing up their own skincare products instead. While TikTok is full of videos on how to mix up a face mask in your own kitchen, this isn’t a new trend. Blogs on making beauty products have been around since the beginning of the online beauty space - and before skincare was mass produced, many women made their own cosmetics. But times have changed and skincare is not only much more complex but we know so much more about safety.

That said, there is some room for nuance. Simple, waterless products like oils and balms can be forgiving when made properly and are a good route for everyday consumers wanting to try their hand at making products. And many responsible hobbyists make products with careful attention to sanitation and preservation. But for most people, DIY skincare has very real risks. Here’s what to avoid:

DIY DON’TS

Poisonous Skincare...Or Not?

Halloween is the perfect time for tales of “toxic” ingredients, but in reality, our skincare products are safe. Scare tactics about “poisonous” chemicals and hormone disruptors make for clickable headlines, but they rarely stand up to scrutiny. Brands and influencers sometimes exploit these fears, but there’s little to worry about. Lucky for us - and our skin!

No matter the time of year, fear sells. And nothing grabs our interest more than a news headline or post on our feed that makes us question the safety of the products we use in our daily life. Because this type of content garners so much engagement, brands and influencers that lack integrity will use this to their advantage even if it’s at the expense of sharing accurate information.

Though cosmetic ingredients don’t need FDA approval, they undergo rigorous safety assessments. These assessments consider the concentration, application, and exposure risk for each ingredient. Here are some “scary” ingredients you don’t actually need to fear:

The Rise of the Skincare Influencer

Halloween may be about costumes, but online it’s about influencers dressing up as “experts.” This can even include lab coats, scrubs, and impressive sounding titles. The number of self-proclaimed skincare experts is growing, making it difficult to determine who to trust.

We have a wealth of education available online and the internet gives us access to valuable information from dermatologists, cosmetic chemists, and estheticians. But with so much pressure to stand out and grow on social media, it’s also created incentive for everyone to add “expert” to their bio.

Here’s how to determine whether your favorite creator is the real deal or just playing dress-up:

• Qualifications: Do they have a degree, training, or experience in a field that relates to skincare? (a chiropractor may wear scrubs and call themselves a doctor but probably isn’t a good source of skincare tips) 
• Evidence-Based: Do they cite reputable sources?
• Scope: does their education relate to the topic they’re covering? (Dermatologists are experts in skin disease but not cosmetic formulation)
• Consensus with Experts: Does their advice align with credible authorities?

Overuse and Misuse of Skincare

There is so much time spent on worrying about whether cosmetics are safe with little emphasis placed on actually using your products safely. It’s human nature to think “if one is good, more must be better” but that doesn’t apply to skincare - and can lead to irritation or worse.

Follow Recommended Frequency: Resist the urge to use products like retinoids, exfoliants, and antioxidants more than once daily. Added applications usually have no added benefit so overuse will waste the product and may cause irritation. 

Use Recommended Concentrations. With most ingredients, there is no benefit to exceeding the recommended usage rate. Example: niacinamide has only been researched at 2-5%. Again, you risk product waste and irritation.

Use As Intended. Skincare is formulated to be applied topically and on healthy, intact skin. Soaking a chemical exfoliant into a toner pad and using it as a mask (a popular online hack) can increase penetration via occlusion and cause a burn. Similarly, exercise caution and consult your doctor if needed if you have broken skin or an underlying skin disorder.

Sun Protection Fails

Skincare is about more than aesthetics—it’s about health. Sun protection should be a priority, yet the misinformation on sunscreen and alternatives actually do the opposite of promoting safety. Here are some recent sun-protection fails to avoid:

Untested Sunscreens

In the U.S., sunscreens are regulated as drugs and must undergo rigorous testing. Unfortunately, with the recent popularity of tallow, we’re seeing “sun balms” sold that have no SPF rating. This means they’re not safe to use, especially as zinc oxide isn’t oil soluble and is so difficult to formulate into a decent sunscreen.

Sunscreen Alternatives

Despite popular claims, “natural alternatives” like plant oils don’t provide effective sun protection. Testing done suggests that the SPF value for these is very low and that’s if you can even glop on enough and somehow keep it there. The only true alternative to sunscreen? Safe sun habits like sun avoidance and UPF clothing, which are even better when used with sunscreen.

DIY Sunscreen Disasters

We love Nara Smith but never make sunscreen at home. Zinc oxide isn’t evenly dispersible without specialized equipment, and homemade sunscreens aren’t tested for SPF or stability. Without proper testing, there’s no guarantee they’ll protect you.

The Takeaway

This Halloween, the real danger isn’t spooky ingredients but misinformation. We hope you enjoyed this countdown of scary trends to skip and remember, products on the market are safe when used correctly. Enjoy a safe and wonderful Halloween!

Mira is a skincare educator, blogger, and the content creator behind Skin Science by Mira and The Skincare Forum on Facebook. While skincare keeps her busy, she’s also pursuing her degree in Nursing and loves to spend her free time hiking.  As a content writer for Stratia Skin, Mira shares her evidence-based approach to skincare topics and a passion for making science accessible.