By: Carissa Lin
Either you’ve been living under a rock (like Patrick Star)... or you’ve heard of beauty gurus like everybody’s fav, Patrick Ta! If you’re the latter, you’re probably on top of all the hottest beauty trends.
Today, we’re talking about the internet’s favorite TikTok beauty hacks– what we’ve seen and what we hope to see in the near future!
- Gua sha
Partied too hard this weekend? Ate a little too much Buldak ramen? Maybe you need some gua sha in your life! Gua sha is a handheld, smooth-edged tool that comes from East Asia. It’s been touted to supposedly reveal lifted cheekbones and a slimmer facial structure.
Does this thing really work? Yes! Gua sha is definitely not a dupe for Botox. But, studies show it’s great for promoting lymphatic drainage and boosting blood flow (aka keeping your face less puffy and bloated.)
We give this TikTok beauty trend a 10/10. Bonus points for being Asian-founded (like us!)
- Face Rollers
Face rollers offer the same benefits as Gua sha, such as lymphatic drainage and improved blood circulation. It’s really up to user preference which tool you’d like to use. Face rollers might be a better option for beginners as it is quicker and more convenient, while Gua sha might take a bit of practice to get the hang of.
We give this TikTok beauty trend a 10/10. Bonus points for being easier to use. And more bonus points for also being Asian-founded.
- Ice Facials
Ice is a vasoconstrictor (aka it constricts blood vessels). This means it temporarily reduces blood flow and inflammation in the applied area. Key word being temporarily! Scientific studies do not demonstrate lasting effects of ice therapy.
Ice facials may temporarily give you that snatched and depuffed look, but once your face returns to its normal conditions, your blood vessels will dilate again and your face will go back to how it was before.
We give this TikTok beauty trend a 4/10. It’ll wake you up in the morning, but doesn’t have lasting effects.
- DIY Rice Toner and Hair Mask
Rice water is the milky liquid that’s leftover after washing rice. It’s packed with Vitamins B, C, E, and other minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants. Few robust studies on the effects of rice water have been conducted. But there have been many studies on components found in rice water, such as squalene, Vitamin B3 (niacinamide), or inositol. Scientists will need to carry out larger scale studies on rice water specifically to prove its claimed benefits.
So what do we know so far? Rice water is full of antioxidants, which are great for reducing oxidative stress (the phenomenon that contributes to damaged hair and skin). Rice water also promotes skin cell growth, which is great for combatting skin damage and increasing collagen production. It also has anti-aging properties!
We give this TikTok beauty trend a 7/10. Tried and true by our internet friends, but needs more scientific-backing.
Let's stick to the facts!
XO,
BiotechBeauty
